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

June 23, 2013

Posted on June 23, 2013 by Dayphoto

We are still having hot windy days. No rain in site here…it’s gathering forces and waiting for the second cutting of hay…. 🙂 …just saying.

Some days smoke fills the air coming from some horrid forest fire somewhere, then the wind starts and moves it out.

We have wind gusts up to 30 m.ph. hour in the afternoons and early evenings.

But if you get in this little convertible

and take a little ride…the sun feels good on your head and the wind feels lovely in your hair.

Summer….who could ask for more?

Linda

The Adventures of Fuzzy and Boomer on Friday — The Lazy Days of Summer

Posted on June 21, 2013 by Dayphoto

Summer (well technically we aren’t there yet, but its hot enough a Dog can call it summer) is the bestest of times.

Sure beats winter…freezing cold, so cold your nose freezes shut, wind that takes your nose right off your face and then laughs at you because you can’t breathe anymore and no rides in the back of the pick-up because it is just WAY TOO COLD!

Just like in winter we go everywhere with Mom and sometimes Dad. But in summer they go lots more places we get to go with them too—

Like town—Fuzzy and I wait with Mom while Dad goes into the parts store or the hardware store…Mom always waits with us because there are people around that will kidnap dogs.

We always go irrigating and sometimes just for walks with Mom. There we see things like rabbits…

I NEVER CHASE RABBITS. Mom says I’m a funny beagle because that is what my breed was bred for…to CHASE RABBITS.

But I don’t.

They are my friends.

I’m more interested in just smelling the smells and seeing what news is out there. Maybe I was a news reporter in my former life. Tee hee, hahaha…snort, churckle!

Fuzzy likes to bark at the birds…he never bothers the Robins, but he sure does like to bark at the Barn Swallows! 🙂

We help with hay, the irrigation, (morning, noon and night) and we work with Mom in her yard.

Lately the heat has been ‘over-the-top’ not just the heat but lots and lots of high winds. But Fuzzy and I have it figured out how to stay cool.

Nothing beats underneath Dad’s pick-up!

Nothing!

We lay under there and we stay cool and unruffled!

On top of all of those really cool things to do we get to chase

SQUIRRELS!!!

Gotta go! HURRY FUZZY HE IS HERE!

Boomer

Nodding Thistle or also known as Musk Thistle

Posted on June 20, 2013 by Dayphoto

We have many, many weed here…some are just a pain, but others are really horrid. The invasive species are the worst….nothing likes to eat them, they sterilize the soil so only ‘they’ can grow, and (usually) they are ugly –Russian Knapp Weed, Canada Thistle are examples.

Randomly there is a weed that is just downright beautiful-but still a weed and still an invasive weed. I chop them down the second I see them start to form. Sometimes I miss one or so, before you know it…there they are.

The Nodding Thistle or also known as the Musk Thistle is one of those horrid weeds which is incredibly beautiful.

This one got by my shovel, so I took photos of it for you.

A beautiful weed

Now chopped off.

But I can assure you there are more out there! Invasive species have incredible survival skills.

Linda

June 19, 2013

Posted on June 19, 2013 by Dayphoto

Since it has been so hot we drove up to Lee’s Reservoir for a morning of relaxation.

The dogs loved the swim and everyone loved the break.

Sometimes you just have to get away for a couple of hours. In this case we took three hours out of the day. When we got back the wind was blowing with gusts up to 30 m.p.h.

The weather people are saying we can expect the same again today. The wind should help in clearing out all the smoke which came in over-night from the fire in Utah.

Fire is such a sad part of summer.

Linda

June 17, 2013

Posted on June 17, 2013 by Dayphoto

I have some ‘new’ to me birds feeding at my Hummingbird feeders. I really don’t know what they are so if someone out there does, please let me know.

It is possible these are the Lesser Goldfinch, but I’m not sure.

I am surprised that these big birds like to drink the sugar water…they chase the hummers off and have a go at it; draining the feeder in a very short while.

At first the hummers tried to dive bomb these big birds but they have given up now. If the big birds show up the hummers just move down to another feeder or fly up into the tree branches.

I tried putting out other types of food, but nothing tastes as good as sugar water! 🙂 They just let the oranges turn to cardboard….

If you know please drop me a comment…it would be fun to know who is ‘bellying up to the bar’, so to speak.

Linda

Happy Father’s Day

Posted on June 16, 2013 by Dayphoto

Happy Father’s Day to all of you Dads!

Linda

The Adventures of Fuzzy and Boomer on Friday — The Time of the Skunks

Posted on June 14, 2013 by Dayphoto

Let me tell you about our night visitor—-A SKUNK!

Spring, summer, and fall are all TIME OF THE SKUNK! They do not hibernate in the winter but they do become less active.

We have another skunk!

Mom said unless it tries to get into the chicken house just LET IT PASS ON BY!

No chasing it!

EVER!

Did you know skunks only live in the New World and they are part of the weasel family!

They also have a NASTY spray this STINKS! And if you get sprayed it is comes out has an oily, yellowish/greenish liquid!

Just ask HANK! The grand kid’s dog and our goodest friend!

OH! YES! They can spray up to fifteen feet. (and the spay smell can travel a good mile.)

Hank took one on and tried to kill it…phew we can smell Hank clear up here!

Oh, yes!!! Mom says that we all need to be careful because skunks are the number one carrier of the Rabies Virus!

So all you dogs out there BE CAREFUL!!!

Because Hank REALLY, REALLY, I meant REALLY STINKS!!!

Boomer

Get Ready for July

Posted on June 13, 2013 by Dayphoto

July is Butterfly Count Month!

The North American Butterfly Association needs volunteers to count butterflies in a selected are 15 miles wide in diameter, called count circles.

Our milkweed is blooming now and, of course, other really fun food for butterflies.

If you are interested in being part of the butterfly count go here: http://www.naba.org/

Have a nice Thursday!

Linda

Crop Report

Posted on June 12, 2013 by Dayphoto

We only grow three products. That is all we grow. Back in the day…not so very long ago we also raised pigs, goats, and cows. As we aged the raising of the animals diminished. Every year Terry says this is his last year…we had a big laugh about that yesterday. He finally admitted that the only way he is going to stop farming is if there isn’t anymore water or the Good Lord calls him home.

He says there is dirt in his veins instead of blood 🙂 Probably. He’s been farming (helping his Dad) since he was tall enough. He tells a story of the first time he got to go help his Dad…his Mom drove he and his little brother and smaller sister out to the field that his Dad was working in –his job was to harrow the field behind his Dad who was on another tractor. He said he felt really big and grown-up —although he couldn’t sit on the tractor seat and could only stand.

His Mom drove up…he got out…got on the tractor….Mom, brother and little sister stood by the side of the pick-up and watched him…he turned and waved, they waved back ..he then gave the tractor gas and drove off…..leaving the harrow behind.

He was so embarrassed because he hadn’t even thought to check to see if everything was hooked up and ready to go.

They all had a good laugh at him…he backed up and his Mom helped him hook everything up and off he went.

Anyway, everything is looking good…the corn is almost as tall as MY kneecap, the pinto beans are growing taller every day and the hay is sold. The Delta Elevator told him they wanted everything he had, don’t even unload and stack up…just bring it right down to them NOW!

This is the last load to take — sure is nice to just move it once!

The heat is on here…early for this time of year BUT I’ll take this any day over winter! I love the long days, the warmth (heat) and the color that surrounds us.

I need to get outside and get the hedge clipped before the wind starts!

Have a nice day!

Linda

I Should Have Known

Posted on June 11, 2013 by Dayphoto

And with the 4010 also!

The Doctor said it was a torn muscle…it will heal, the tear doesn’t seem to be real bad—so with ice, rest, elevating the leg in two weeks it will be good to go.

Sure!

Two weeks –an eternity–so off we went.

I made sure the bales were straight so he wouldn’t have to get off the tractor; he did the rest.

Today he says his leg feels a lot better and he will soon be back in shape by the weekend.

I sure hope so! He is going to make sure it is.

I guess I’m not surprise.

Linda