About Dayphoto

My name is Linda Brown. I live on a farm on the western slope of Colorado, in the high mountain desert. I’ve lived here all my life, hailing back four generations on my father’s side. Today I blog about our farm, the everyday activities that keep the farm going. I also write about my thoughts and dreams and goals. On Friday’s I always write about TLC Cai-Cai. Our sweet kitty who helps keep the farm safe. And Boo Berry Betty, a breeder dog learning to be a Farm Dog! The lovely thing about blogging it opens the world up for all of us to reach out and meet people from many different cultures and different ways of life. You can find me every day (but Saturday) at https://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/ Your Friend on a Western Colorado Farm, Linda Brown

The Adventures of Fuzzy and Boomer on Friday—Welcome Back

Posted on May 2, 2014 by Dayphoto

Welcome Back by John Sebastian –

Welcome Back

Your dreams were your ticket out.

Welcome back,

To that same old place that you laughed about.

Well the names have all changed since you hung around,

But those dreams have remained and they’re turned around.

Who’d have thought they’d lead ya (Who’d have thought they’d lead ya)

Here where we need ya (Here where we need ya)

Yeah we tease him a lot cause we’ve got him on the spot, welcome back,

Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back.

source: http://www.lyricsondemand.com/

Mom was so excited!!! Our very first little Hummingbird is home!

Boomer and I were just hanging out—resting.

We are pretty good at this resting thing—

In the house

Outside—Boomer is just like Snoopy on Charlie Brown, he loves to sleep on TOP of the dog houses, sometimes he likes to HANG out!

But this time we were just resting as Mom weeded in the yard.

As Mom weeded and we slept our very FIRST little hummingbird arrived at the feeder!

Mom was over joyed to see the little thing!

“Welcome Back, little Friend! Welcome Back!” she whispered!

Boomer just opened an eye and looked then went right back to resting.

I sat up and looked at Mom…I’m always happy when Mom is happy! Then I moved over to a better spot to rest.

Welcome back, little bird!

Fuzzy!

Good Fences and Gates — May 1, 2014

Posted on May 1, 2014 by Dayphoto

Happy First Day of May Everyone!!!!!

For my “Good Fences” post today I have the wonderful, exciting photo of this delightful, outstanding, just perfect for today’s post of a fence and a Rainbow…I just love Rainbows!

I give you our corral fence………….

Yippee! How lucky am I and how lucky are you! A Good Fence and a rainbow!

My white picket fence even looks blue in the evening light. Another cool thing!

For more wonderful fences head over here. Please join up…its really fun to see all the cool gates and fences from all over the place…yours will be just as appreciated as everyone else.

Your farming friend,

Linda

Nature’s Bling —- April 30, 2014

Posted on April 30, 2014 by Dayphoto

The wind is still with us…a very sharp wind, blowing across the snow freshly dumped in the mountains all around us.

We are COLD. In my yard the asparagus has froze, the lilac buds have turned brown and dried on the stem, the fruit trees crisp white blooms are now a brown yucky color. Out on the farm everything is still okay…the alfalfa is cold but green, growing slowly, but still alive. We are still irrigating, nothing has been planted so we have no worries in that department.

Rain and snow occurred off and on all day

The wind pushing storm clouds from the west toward us, then onto the east

At different points the sun shined into the Roubidoux Canyon allowing us to see the geological formations just four miles from our farm.

The tri-colored Red-winged Blackbirds helped us while we changed water, searching for yummy things in the soil.

A hawk looking for super also, watched us while we changed the water, swaying gently in the wind on his tiny branch in the tree. The tree is still waiting for warmth so it can leaf out…waiting, just like us.

Suddenly a rainbow lite up an culvert a neighbor has ready to insert across an arroyo on his land!

We worked on the water until dark, but even the dark offered Bling in the most spectacular of ways!

The Bling of Nature…really, who could ask for more? Not I. I am most comfortable here, on the land…really Terry and I try hard to one with the land and all that shares it with us!

Your farming friend,

Linda

Still Cold and Windy —- April 29, 2014

Posted on April 29, 2014 by Dayphoto

What a cold and windy day we had yesterday…and the day before….and again today! I’m holding onto the hope that calmer weather is heading in by the weekend. It sure needs too.

Some of the sweet corn has already been planted (no, we don’t raise sweet corn), but that that drew the early lottery already have the seed in the ground, just waiting for the weather to warm up before they put the water to the seed. Sweet corn harvest is timed to come off every two weeks starting around the 4th of July and ending in late September. Those that get the extremely early or the extremely late lottery always have a crap shoot going in…weather (the house) can be the winner in most cases.

The wind blew gusts of 40 m.p.h most of the day until late in the night, slowing down some, but back up again this morning. The weather people say to expect 35 m.p.h. gusts today. Freeze warning are in effect until Wednesday at 10 a.m. I’m pretty sure the fruit is all gone…I just don’t know how it could make it through all of this wind and extreme cold.

This Boomer on the run…he didn’t come when called so he had to hurry in behind me.

Fuzz always waits for me. He used to like to get out and chase the water, but not anymore.

Back home the cats know just what it takes to make life good

Now what more could you ask for? 🙂

Still all in all I thought the sunset was a perfect spot of Bling at the end of the day!

Linda

Visual Gifts — April 28, 2014

Posted on April 28, 2014 by Dayphoto

Today our youngest daughter turns 37….it just seems like yesterday she was a tiny tot.

We are still very cold…I mean very cold! Although, it’s sunny and bright (which helps) the wind is terrible and very cold. It’s like being in January all over again. If the weather people are right, by Sunday we will be in the 80s…I can handle that! 🙂

A rainbow did appear as the sun came out from behind the clouds! I love seeing rainbows.

Anyway, while we were up at the upper end we saw another wonder of nature….

Desert Evening Primroses were everywhere….the moisture and the weather must be just right for these to pop into bloom. It’s been several years since we’ve seen them!

Although we are terribly cold…I’m now down to raiding my scrap heap for wood —(I refuse to open up the wood that is being seasoned for next winter) ….the earth and the skies have given us gifts untold!

Lucky us And you!

From a cold windy land a cherry Good Morning!

Linda

Canyons, Mesas and Hills April 27, 2014

Posted on April 27, 2014 by Dayphoto

Boy, is it ever COLD here!!! Miserable in fact. We started the heat back on in the house yesterday and have kept it going all night and even today. I’m down to four logs of wood (that have been cut to length) I was hoping the cut wood would last us until warm and settled weather of spring. So far that isn’t going to be the case.

Last night Terry and I were dress in our winter clothes —carhart jackets, hooded sweatshirts, with warm winter hats pulled way down over our ears to do the irrigation water. Miserable changing and resetting (melted snow) ice water in all those clothes. But we had to do it or freeze.

Today there is edges of ice along the rows it’s so cold out here.

Of course, the fruit trees are in full bloom—apples, cherries, prunes, pears, and plums. These trees are on our place and I don’t smudge. I’m sure the orchardist are smudging or running wind fans to try and save their fruit and their living.

Out there on the ditch bank I had to marvel at the beauty that surrounds us—sometimes it is just stunning.

The storm clouds had lifted a little bit allowing the sun to shine on the canyons, mesas, hills and the Uncompahgre Plateau (Un-come-pah-gray) highlighting the vistas surrounding our mesa.

There is something about being near these geological wonders that lifts my soul. Something mystic, even exciting. The canyons draw me to them speaking of mystery and and enchantment—opening my spirit to those who have traveled long long ago, within their captivating walls, or walked along the mesas and hills hunting, foraging, putting down roots, making a life for themselves.

Then there are all the wild animals and other creatures that complete the magic within the vista…calling to my soul!

Anyway….I couldn’t tarry long day dreaming, but for a spell, a very short spell, the canyons and mesas, the plateaus and the hills where filled with sunshine then the storm descended upon them also.

But, lucky for me, I was outside and saw…now you can too.

From the high mountain deserts of Western Colorado I sing to you a bright and very cold “Good Morning!”

You friend,

Linda

The Adventures of Fuzzy and Boomer on Friday—Working with Mom

Posted on April 25, 2014 by Dayphoto

Fuzz and I always work with Mom!

Always!!!

Sometimes Fuzzy doesn’t go, but I do! I never let Mom go anywhere without me!

Even if it is just to follow her around as she pushes the wheelbarrow here and there and everywhere!

Welllll….sometimes I do let her walk around and around in the yard…it does get boring after awhile.

When Dad goes to his meetings at night,it’s just Mom and Fuzzy and I to do the irrigation. Mom puts us on the four-wheeler with her and gives us lots of pats. “I’m going to be a long time, Fuzzy, so you really need to go with us. I don’t want you getting tired of waiting for us and trying to walk out to find us. You need to ride and you can hang out by the four-wheeler if you get tired.”

Then she lifts Fuzzy up and sits him down beside her….then up I go. Then Mom is on and we are off!

While Mom moves the water from one spot to another spot Fuzzy and I check out the news….then when Mom drives over to the other field, Fuzzy rides and I really don’t know they have gone,

because I’m somewhere far off—there are interesting things out there, you know. Stuff much more interesting than watching water going down a row.

On the last field Mom hollers and hollers for me…I pretend I can’t hear her! I have to be careful because Mom WILL drive off and leave me! When that happens I have to run all the way home!

Anyway, this time, I came. Which was a good thing, because Mom wanted to just go for a ride around the place…YIPPEE!!

We saw one of the fox that lives on our place!!!

He was running by so fast he didn’t even stop and wave!!!!We saw a wild bunny. I got off and sniffed around where the bunny was, but I didn’t even chase the bunny. Mom’s says I’m a really unusual Beagle, since Beagles were bred to hunt bunnies.

Every time she says that I just smile at her….I’m an environmentally friendly Beagle!!!

On the way home we stopped by and saw Hank and the little family…and A BEE SWARM!! They had a huge swarm in one of their trees!

Now How Cool is that?!?!?

Mom also saw a far-away rainbow…she said that rainbows always make her happy. Fuzzy and I really don’t see what the fuss is about…but, whatever works for Mom works for us!

By the time we got home it was getting dark. But you know what? Even the’ getting dark’ is pretty cool.

Working with Mom is good!

Boomer

A Fence for Thursday— April 24, 2014

Posted on April 24, 2014 by Dayphoto

A Run Around Ranch is hosting Good Fences on Thursday.

Here is our apricot blooms with complete with fence

Please join it! It’s a real treat to see all the fences and gates (you can showcase gates if you would like) from around the world.

Spring is such a nice time of year, isn’t it!

Your farm friend,

Linda

Helpers April 23, 2014

Posted on April 23, 2014 by Dayphoto

Our oldest granddaughter and her best friend came over one afternoon…and bummed a ride with Grandpa

How lucky we are

To be have the blessing of our grandchildren so close…just ten acres away. It’s nothing for them to walk over…stay a while (a long while or a short while) and then when they are tired of being here…to walk back home.

In the reality of life…Terry and I could not ask for more.

Your friend,

Linda

Trailing Cows April 22, 2014

Posted on April 22, 2014 by Dayphoto

Spring is the time all the cows are removed off the farming land, onto ground that isn’t being put into production. To the DELIGHT of Fuzzy and Boomer (for sure Fuzzy) we see many of the different herds being shifted from here to there.

The cows will stay on this new section of land until the summer pastures open up—sometime the first of June. By opening up I mean all the snow is melted and the BLM has given word that the ground is stable enough to support hooves. 🙂

Not all the cattle head to BLM ground, some head to their owners very own summer ranches. Ranchers are very good caretakers of their spring and summer pastures. The cattle are usually moved to what is called the “Spring Pastures” first.

This is the first ground that dries enough to support hooves…these Spring Pastures are owned by the ranchers….remember the word is OWNED! The cows are trailed up the roads and then onto the new lush green food, where they will graze and their calves will grow stronger. As the early spring moves into early summer the cows will then be trailed up to the SUMMER place—where ever that maybe for the rancher.

Our head gate is on another farmer’s land…when we started the water, for the first time the first year, the heifer’s had not be moved to the corrals and then onto the spring pastures.

They always ran over to see what we were up too… if you could understand cow language you just know they were say’n: ‘What ya doing?’ Just like any curious little kid!