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

Just for Fun

Posted on September 9, 2013 by Dayphoto

Just for a bit of fun or in the interest of the moment I thought I would tour you of the parts of the farm I talk about — The Back Forty and the Upper End.

This is the head gate…you’ve been here many a’time with me, but I’m going to start here…where the lifeblood of the land (the irrigation water) starts

Those are two alfalfa fields on either side of the irrigation road. They are not our fields but our neighbor’s.

To get to the head gate we go past lots of ‘fun to hide in’ areas. (Fun for the cows when we had them.)

When we had cows this was their favorite pasture. We call this the Upper End. It is the Upper End of our place. You can see one of our alfalfa fields in the corner.

The Upper End is full of hills and dales. When the kids were little we would take them and their little plastic sleds and head up here and go sledding in the winter.

Shannon had a goat, Bambi, and the dogs who always went with us…the dogs didn’t sled, but Bambi always road down on his own sled every time. He would even help pull it back up for another go at the hill. 🙂

From the Upper End we take the only road over to the Back Forty,

That is Terry the tiny blue dot going toward the Back Forty.

The Back Forty is stunning (in my opinion). All of the front of the photo is our land. The view is from the hill on the Back Forty. Our land ends way over to where you see the two trees and the dry looking spot. This was also the area that burned, a couple of years ago.

I could take you to the Burn Road, but I didn’t this time. The Burn Road is the road Terry built so the fire trucks could make it to the burn instead of waiting for the fire to ‘get closer’. The ‘get closer’ was almost a disaster –coming 1 foot from the equipment and 5 feet from Misty’s house and barn. “Never again,” he said, so he built a road. I’ll have to do that sometime, just so you can see the West side of the place.

We are not big, we are small farm, but we are lovely farm full of diverse lands and wonderful pastures. At the new alfalfa field

You can see the into the south west portion of the Uncompahgre Plateau. You say “Un-come-pah-gray,” meaning — rocks made red by water, rocks that make red water, or just plain dirty water.

Between the two blue mountains (part of the Plateau and another mesa) is Grand Junction

This is a little further away so you can image the span.

Well that is a short little trip to give you and idea of the places I talk about when I say the Back Forty or the Upper End.

Thank you for coming along for the ride,

Linda

Tired

Posted on September 8, 2013 by Dayphoto

Today is Sunday…Thankfully a day of rest. We always try to take this day off, of course there are some things that just don’t rest–like changing the irrigation water. But for the most part we ‘MADE IT THROUGH THE WEEK!’

The last load of pinto beans went to

The Beanery at 7:15 in the morning.

Terry went over and helped Nick unload our truck at 1:00 in the afternoon. The truck is now all cleaned up and put away until we start the corn harvest –sometime after the middle of October on, depending on how the corn dries down.

The little girls spent the day with us so they helped me do my job in the hay field.

I had a load with the old dog, the crippled dog and the two girls 🙂 but they enjoyed themselves. Linkin (I call her Nee-Nee) helped me straighten and pick up bales.

(Tallen is waving at Grandpa coming into the field for a load)

It was her first time, but she is old enough now — our kids started around 9 years of age so I figured she could too.

The tractor broke down on the first load of hay heading into the haystack 😦 but by that time is was supper time and Misty was back home. (Kelly and Bladen went to Bladen’s soccer game in Leadville and were spending the night in Gunnison with a college friend of Kelly’s last night.0 So Misty stayed and helped us. She is feeling better again, thankfully.

While Misty and Terry brought the broken tractor to the shed, the girls and I finished up the dishes. The last load of hay came in just as dark was settling down on the land. They wanted to help irrigate so off we all went to the old alfalfa field to start the water … IN the Dark!

While up there I lost Fuzzy. The poor old thing just has the hardest time keeping up with everyone. He wanted off the four-wheeler to walk with the girls so I put him down.

While following them he must have stopped to sniff around for a spell and they walked on. He didn’t come back and didn’t come back and didn’t come back. Fuzzy can’t hear or see very well so I was getting very concerned. Finally I took the four-wheeler and drove into the upper end, which is by the hay field…turned on the lights and drove around looking for him. I was almost to start panicking when I saw his white paws trying to get to me.

He and I were VERY happy to see each other that is for certain and sure!

By the time all of this was over and we sat on the back patio for a spell just to wind down it was past 10 o’clock when we finally went into the house and the little family went home.

We are supposed to have a couple of rainy days starting today sometime so getting all the crops in and covered feels very nice.

Have a restful Sunday everyone, Terry and I are sure going to try.

Linda

The Adventures of Fuzzy and Boomer on Friday — Bean Harvest

Posted on September 6, 2013 by Dayphoto

Bean Harvest! Dad and Mom sure have been having a hard time getting all those pinto beans out of the field.

First the belt broke on the auger (day one) so the hopper had to be emptied BY HAND from the combine into the truck.

That was a huge job.

Boomer and I took it seriously and stayed out of the way.

Besides it was really super-hot! Super-hot like that just takes everything out of you.

Then everything was going along really good

Boomer and I were helping….

right after supper the folks headed back out and it

STARTED TO RAIN!

Rain is NOT good.

Everything grinds down to halt.

It messes up the whole works.

Dad said maybe by four this afternoon he can begin again…the rows of beans have to be dry, VERY DRY, to combine or the combine won’t pick up the beans.

The other sad thing about the rain is it rained on the hay. Dad was going to bale first thing this morning, but now he can’t do that either. Rained on hay is not good…rained on hay can ruin the protein of the hay. Dad is up there checking out the hay to see how much damage occurred. 😦 (Maybe not much, as sometimes the rain will miss areas of the farm.)

It was muddy enough Mom walked up to do the irrigation so we ALL walked with her…

all three of us…

every step of the way.

The rain helped cool stuff off so the evening was rather nice.

Well, back to work…it’s warming up so Boomer and I

think we had better get some serious sleeping

in before the work starts.

Fuzzy

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Posted on September 5, 2013 by Dayphoto

We started the pinto bean harvest –which reminds me, Terry raises Bill Zee pinto beans. Pinto beans have many different types of beans just like apples have different varieties.

Everything was going really good

Until around Three in the afternoon

When the auger broke. A belt.

The hopper had to be unloaded by hand.

This is the sunshine on Grand Mesa

What a day..

That evening I went up to fork the ends on the hay and to fluff the rows. (While Terry changed the water).

I must say I enjoyed myself very much, I even saw a tiny (almost) rainbow.

The hay is ready to bale. I’m not sure if Terry will bale today or tomorrow morning, but he will have to soon. Plus keep on combining.

Lots of work hitting us right now, but when we are done we can take a break until the corn is ready.

Exhausted but happy,

Linda

Wednesday September 4, 2013

Posted on September 4, 2013 by Dayphoto

Sort of in a rush…we begin combining in an hour.

So far the rains are staying away…

if everything holds together we hope to be done by this week end.

Your harried friend, Linda

Monday, September 2, 2013

Posted on September 2, 2013 by Dayphoto

Although today is technically a holiday here, Terry and I will be doing what the day calls for—Laboring. 🙂

My little hummers are becoming less and less at the feeders, although I see many of the little juveniles feeding on the flowers throughout my yard.

The honey bees are having a great time at the honey bar…I do feel a little concerned they are not out gathering pollen but hanging out at these feeders. I hope it doesn’t cause a problem at the hive later on this winter. 😦 😦

If I don’t feed them they want to swarm the Hummingbird feeders so I guess it is six of one thing or 1/2 a dozen of another. Sure is perplexing.

I caught this little moth having a great time in the petunias…yes, I am one of those that adores petunias. I love their colors and the heavy rich scent that fills the air.

The rains are being really nice and staying away. But they are still here and moving all around us. I loved seeing the sunset on the rain chuts last night.

Well, off to do the many things for the day. Terry will be cutting the old hay field, then he has to remove all the bean pulling equipment, and move the bean combine up to the shop to get it ready for the harvest (hopefully by Friday).

As for myself I have the lawn, the hedge, the many, many weeds to take care of and canning, plus all the other chores that keep a house and yard going.

Best wishes for a perfect Labor Day,

Linda

Saturday the Last Day of August 2013

Posted on August 31, 2013 by Dayphoto

Terry pulled half the pinto beans yesterday before the dew left and the pods became too dry. Pintos have to be pulled early so the dew will keep the bean pods from cracking open and spilling the pinto beans out onto the ground. Once the beans are spilled there is no way to pick them back up.

Today he has been out there since full light. He hopes to get the other half of the field done before the heat hits.

Depending on the weather he will wait about a week then start combining the rows, gathering the beans into the hopper and then the truck and then off to the Beanery to be sacked and sold.

Rain clouds keep building every afternoon, which causes us a huge amount of tension. So far so good, the storms stay around us in the foothills and on the plateau, which is good.

Another thing that is good is we sometimes get a rainbow!

Feeding the bees seems to be working. I use a dollop of honey early in the day…by nightfall it’s all cleaned up.

Terry also said we are on the very last irrigation of the corn. Boy, has summer ever flown. Although, we will still irrigate the hay fields the work load of changing water is fast disappearing.

I’m not sure but I think most of the adult Hummingbirds have left, I still have lots of little ones feeding. I’m not having to fill the feeders as much so I’m thinking this is a sign the large majority of those delightful little birds have gone. I know the Bullock Orioles are gone since I haven’t seen any for two weeks now.

I’m off now to fork the bean ends back so we don’t lose any…those tiny little beans are what we’ve been working all summer to have. 🙂

Your friend,

Linda

The Adventures of Fuzzy and Boomer on Friday — Around the Farm

Posted on August 30, 2013 by Dayphoto

Last night Dad had to go to a meeting so it was just Mom, Boomer and I to hold everything down.

We checked water at 3:30 in the afternoon and then Mom took us for a little ride around the place.

The alfalfa is looking … little blooms are popping up all over. You don’t want lots of bloom because the plant puts all the protein into the bloom. But when the blooms just START the protein is perfect for feed.

This will be the last cutting for the year.

Mom, Boomer and I saw three Turkey Buzzards flying over us…I’ll bet they are after the dead raccoon over on the upper end.

Mom says the grass is really looking good…too bad we don’t have any cows. But Mr. Davis’ cows will enjoy when they get here in February.

Mom stopped and enjoyed the view on the Back 40 — she told Boomer and me she really likes seeing the Rabbit brush in bloom. After lots of photos we headed on over to the new hay field where we had to change the water for the last set of the day.

We saw some young Chico plants starting to grow big…that is always good. Mom and Dad really like Chico bushes. So having some to replace the ones that were burned is nice.

On the way back in we saw a really tough cat taking a dust bath in the corn field. A dog just doesn’t mess with Sam if he values his nose. No sireee….noses are nice things to have.

We only see the ‘house cat’ when we are inside. We have an agreement with her (and with Sam) we won’t bother you so you can leave your claws in your paws.

We had to go back out at sunset to change the water for the night. Boomer and I really enjoy helping Mom. We hope you enjoyed seeing some of the stuff we see when we help Mom.

Life just doesn’t get much better does it?

Fuzzy and Boomer, of course!

The Way It Was –From the Past

Posted on August 29, 2013 by Dayphoto

From the Past

Compiled from Delta Newspapers by the Delta County Historical Society

251 Meeker Street, Delta, Colorado, 81416 (970) 874-8721

From the Delta County Independent

A horse belong to Edward Goddard took fright at a passing automobile on Delta’s Main street last Tuesday morning and raced around the corner of Main and Fifth with enough speed to cause everybody and everything to give undisputed right-of-way. The buggy trailing behind the Goddard horse went over and was considerably wrecked before the race was concluded.

Linda