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

July 16, 2013

Posted on July 16, 2013 by Dayphoto

I have about 4 pair of Hummingbirds

at my feeders now, plus two pair of the Bullock Orioles/

My photos are STILL not very good, but I’m working on them.

Part of the problem is how shy the Bullock’s are —

the hummers are getting better about having me around.

I can work in the flowers right under the feeders with them flying all around…

the second I get my camera…………………sigh.

Then I saw a RUFUS humming bird…he and his mate were have a great time mixed in with all the other hummers…

I was extremely excited to see and actually get a photo of the little bird.

Have a good one everyone…we are off to haul firewood today. Seems strange to think of firewood in July, but we must if we are going to stay warm this summer. We will haul seven Dodge truck loads minimum before we have enough…last year the winter went on way too long and really needed 9 truck loads. So one day a week for the next seven (possibly nine) weeks we will be hauling wood!

Have a good one everyone!

Linda

July 15, 2013

Posted on July 15, 2013 by Dayphoto

This a photo of the Black Bear road into to Telluride–

Since Telluride was in a box canyon all roads in and out of Telluride were (by necessity) very sharp and steep. We traveled over Imogene Pass from Ouray to Telluride, but there are many more passes in an around this old, old mining area leading to other well-known (now days) tourist areas — Silverton, Ridgeway, Ophir, Telluride, Ouray, Lake City…I think you get the idea.

These roads (although now jeep roads) were the first roads into the gold and silver mining towns. They are startling beautiful and terrifying all at once.

The name Telluride derives from “tellurium,” a sulfur compound that is sometimes found around gold deposits or even in the gold itself . Experts differ on whether the Telluride area mines contain the compound. But, reportedly the name arose in 1887 after a large piece of telluride ore was found in the San Miguel River near the site. You will still hear the tale that the name came from “to-hell-you-ride,” a phrase that described the difficulties traveling to the area.

The butterflies and bumble bees were many, here is one that I wasn’t sure of the name, maybe someone out there does

To answer a question about how the Quacking Aspen got it’s name (from our trip to Paonia) and good friend of mine (Rene Atchley) told me the following story:

The Aspen quake because the Indian Gods commanded all creation stand still in the Nature Gods presence. Because the Aspen didn’t so the Indian God punished them by making them quake for life.

I liked this story so wanted to pass it on to you!

Monday is here …. back to a very busy week!

Have a good one-

Linda

Right On Time

Posted on July 14, 2013 by Dayphoto

The rains have come…

Lovely quick down-pours that spark lightening and thunder (to the dismay of Fuzzy).

Our mornings start with clouds filling the sky and not much heat. But by noon we are suffering from the humidity and the oppressive clouds. Big thunderheads start to boil up either over the Plateau or the San Juan’s, sometimes they switch sides—one side starting first or the other side. Sometimes they come all at once to meet right over us.

Often times we can hear the storms squabbling on who gets to be first to swing into the surrounding mesa’s, knolls, knobs, hills, and valleys that make up the Montrose and Delta area.

They move by their own power flashing dramatic lightening from cloud to cloud, or in sheets, giving us the dramatic electrical show complete with a cloud to earth strike now an then.

I love these storms and can stand outside and watch them as they move toward us, then stop on top of us staying a short while, moving on to give their leaf cleaning rains and soaking moisture to soil.

Of course it is time to cut the alfalfa. We need to cut ours but will wait until sometime next week. The rain sometimes misses us, but it isn’t good to risk the gamble. Although, the hay will HAVE to be cut soon…if we wait too long the protein content will vanish as food value for the animals and go into to making seeds for the plant.

The other problem is the humidity which doesn’t allow the alfalfa turn to hay…it just takes too long to dry.

So on one hand we are loving our tiny little monsoon month and on the other hand we are concerned about making high quality good hay!

It’s Sunday and lovely break from the week.

Have a good one everyone!

Linda

The Adventures of Fuzzy and Boomer on Friday — The Middle of Summer

Posted on July 12, 2013 by Dayphoto

Summer is half-over!!! That’s what Mom told Fuzzy and I as we laid panting and panting under the car last night!

“Hang on, Boy! The heat will break-up soon as we get closer to the middle of July! Then, hopefully, we should have rain!”

“NO!” shouted Fuzzy and jumped up and moved under the pick-up.

“WHY NOT!” I yelled at him as he hobbled away!

“THUNDER IS COMING!!! We never have rain in the summer WITHOUT thunder!” shudder, shudder!

“Gosh, Fuzz, a little thunder never hurt anyone.” I said to him in a puzzled voice.

Dad finished up the last cultivation of the year…the pinto beans are starting to shoot feelers. Once the feelers grow the rows shut then the pinto bean plants will start setting seeds.

Until then…we go with Mom to cut the volunteer corn out of the field. This corn is from seeds dropped last year as Dad harvested, they start growing and will make a mess at pinto bean harvest.

Not from being too big to go through the combine but because the pinto beans and the corn kernels are close to the same size. You can’t have corn in the pinto bean at the beanery because you can’t clean them out. Same thing for Cockle burs!

So we head up with Mom as she cuts cockle burs and corn. Every night, just about sunset we ‘weed’ several rows…the cockle burs she throws away, but the CORN! The corn gets to go into a pile and go with us to feed the GOATS!!!

Fuzzy usually stays on the four-wheeler waiting for Mom. Or he lays in the shade by the four-wheeler.

Now ME!!!

I jump off the second the key turns off and head out for news. I have to really keep an eye on Mom while I do this because she will LEAVE ME!

Oh, yes, I know she will call and call and if I don’t get there in time she goes.

I’ve missed getting to go to Misty’s a couple of times (that is where the goats live). Since I’m not sure where Mom really went I have to run home and wait for her.

I REALLY DO NOT LIKE WAITING FOR HER!!!

I really do like ‘going’ so I pretty much try (I really do try-honest I do) to keep an eye out or an ear up so I’m not LEFT BEHIND!

Oh, I just about forgot — the corn is starting to shoot tassels!

I guess Mom is right…we ARE in the middle of summer!
Boomer

July 11, 2013

Posted on July 11, 2013 by Dayphoto

On our four-wheeler ride in the Paonia mountains

Terry

and

Cliff took roads that only those like them want to try…Kimberly and I stayed on the main trail!

We had rain…those few drops you see on the stones. Here we need rain, (after 2nd cutting of hay) and back East they can’t get the rain to end! A strange summer of weather.

A little robin dropped by last night while I was sitting outside at the end of the day.

A perfect ending to another really nice (and extremely hot) day!

Have a good one!

Linda

July 10, 2013

Posted on July 10, 2013 by Dayphoto

We picked up our friend, Sheryl Williams, by 8 in the morning and headed off to Ouray, Colorado.

Once there we started up the Million Dollar Highway turning off a short way above the Box Canyon turn off onto the road to to Imogene Pass.

We would go up this side of Imogene and come down into Telluride.

The weather was perfect!

This shows you the road up. To get to the top we will climb over 13,000 feet.

We took it slow, stopping and getting photos of wild flowers, and eating lunch along the way.

The assent was steep, to say the least

That patch of green was full of wild flowers of all types and COLUMBINES!!

Almost on the top we saw an area of even more Columbines….

Stunning!

When you stand on the top

You can look down into the area where Telluride exists, a sea of mountain tops

And over the side to Red Mountain where the Million Dollar pass and the Red Mountain Pass are.

The road down the other side into Telluride is

We took some friends with us once, who lived in New Jersey…they kissed the ground when we finally got down into Telluride. I think you can see why.

That is the road we had to keep going down to get to that tiny spot called Telluride.

Once in town we ate ice cream and headed back home.

This is a quick trip, but I hope you enjoyed yourself!

Linda

July 9, 2013

Posted on July 9, 2013 by Dayphoto

I loved the Quaking Aspen trees….my maternal grandfather and grandmother (Bill and Ruth Thomas) would take my brother and I camping and fishing – sometimes even for a weekend — on Grand Mesa. He loved the Quaking Aspen trees and would always say he wanted to buried in a pine box with a Quaking Aspen for a tombstone and wildflowers all over his grave.

I love those trees also, more than likely it was his love of the trees that gave me my love of them — grandparents give so many things to their grandchildren don’t they? And the things they give are never with strings attached.

Anyway, as soon as we get the water set we are off to Imogene Pass—this is a old, old pass between Ouray and Telluride (To Hell You Ride) for a little day of four-wheeling.

I will be taking you with us…so off I go now to get ready. The lunch is packed and so is the pick-up!

Linda

July 8, 2013

Posted on July 8, 2013 by Dayphoto

We went with our daughter, Kimberly and her husband, Cliff, to this lush wilderness close to Paonia, Colorado. I was really excited to get to go and to see this delightful opportunity!

The landscape was outstanding

Fields of wonders

With exuberant Quaking Aspen to shield them

As we rode deeper and higher into the mountains — masses and masses of other plants started showing up — in full bloom

Then we came upon forests of ferns some stood as high as my head…the sight was stunning!

Walking the last little while, we made it! To the top of the mountain and the dwelling

Over these rocks into that dark space below is the dwelling.

See that ledge, Cliff is looking at that tiny, itty-bitty, teeny little ledge that requires a person the crawl on hands and knees, then to slink around on your belly and toes to get around in the cave!

The drop is straight down and a very, very, very, long way down…not only do you have to crawl and slink into the cave with your head going over the ledge at different points, you are at least heading INTO another cave…coming back OUT is worse as your head is always OVER the ledge until you can get back into this side.

I couldn’t do it!

So I didn’t get to get a photo for you, my readers.

I am sorry!

I just don’t do height very well.

With feet firmly planted on the ground,

Linda

July 7, 2013

Posted on July 7, 2013 by Dayphoto

I have a pair of birds (of which type I do not know) who have made a delightful little nest in the lilac tree.

They used lots of different things to make the nest including pieces from one of the old tarps we have out by the grain bins. 🙂

I always have to smile when I walk by and look up.

They don’t…both Mom and Dad scream alarms and take off swooping and flying to hurry me on by.

Next week Terry should cut our second cutting of alfalfa… sometime around the 12th or so!

The summer is flying by. Only one more cutting of alfalfa here and then it will be fall.

I am hanging onto every day for I really dread WINTER!

Today is lovely so we are off to see some ancient Indian dwellings. I’ll have photos for you tomorrow (I hope)

Have a good one!

Linda

The Adventures of Fuzzy and Boomer on Friday — In the Good Old Summer Time

Posted on July 5, 2013 by Dayphoto

I LOVE SUMMER!

I don’t even care if it is HOT!

Summer and I go together no matter what… there are things to do outside always!

Heck, I don’t even sleep in my dog house in SUMMER!

I sleep out next to the dog house in the cool, cool dirt!

We do lots of stuff in the summer…every day is FULL!

There is helping Dad irrigate … we ride up on the four-wheeler with Mom and then while they set tubes we help stir up the mud in the ditch so it washes away!

Our dog cousins like to hang out in the canal…Boomer and I NEVER go in the canal it would wash us away, away, away.

The little kids play in water also…Boomer, Hank and I have never been invited into that water, but I’ll bet I WOULD LIKE IT!

We always help Mom when she works outside…I like to rest my eyes while she is working. Lots of times Boomer keeps watch to see when Mom moves from one garden to the next garden.

(I have scared Mom a time or two because she says I sleep ‘like the dead’. I’m not sleeping! Hurampf, puff, puff I’m just resting. I always wake-up when Mom touches me and asks if I’m okay. OR GO!! I AM ALWAYS READY TO GO!)

Mom says I have to change sides with Boomer on the four-wheeler because I’ve fallen off twice. On the side I now ride on I can lean on Mom’s back to hold my balance. You see I always Stand UP and sometimes my legs get tired. The way I liked to ride on the other side I just would NOT lean on Mom when I got tired. Now I do.

It has taken Boomer and me a lot of getting use to these other sides, but Mom says We Have to switch so we are learning.

Then when Mom goes inside we go in also. Cool air is really nice when the days are too hot. We are having humidity with our heat now—panting isn’t always cooling ENOUGH!