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 —First Babies

Posted on February 15, 2013 by Dayphoto

Yesterday was BATH DAY!!!!

Mom said that we had to go because Fuzzy needed to get his fur cleaned up from the surgery.

So we went…

It wasn’t bad. Fuzzy and I actually enjoyed it!

Then when we got home Mom, Fuzzy and I went for a walk.

We saw lots of birds again-

Ring necked doves,

Our chickens,

A tree full of blackbirds

A hawk,

Sammy the cat

went with us…

First me, then Mom,

then Fuzzy and then Sam.

It was great!

But, I must admit I stayed really close to Mom,

because…

You see…

Hum……….

THERE WERE BABIES OUT THERE!!!

We saw two babies! Now every day there will be more and more!

Pretty Cool, isn’t it!?

Boomer

February 13, 2013

Posted on February 13, 2013 by Dayphoto

There is a hint of spring in the air!

The dogs didn’t want to stay in the house this morning, leaving around 5 :00 to hang outside and do dog things. I have asked them to come in a couple of times, but they just aren’t interested.

Today I head down to the Museum and Historical Society to work on transcribing one man’s many journals about his life. I’m on book three, there are 120 pages to each book.

He is one of the original settlers to our area, settling on Ash Mesa, which wasn’t named that when he applied for his homestead acres. It was so named after he applied — the mesa is named after him. His last name of Ash.

I am at the part where he and the other settlers of the mesa are starting to dig the Ironstone Canal to bring water to the mesa. (The Ironstone Canal is also the canal that brings water to our farm on California Mesa.)

Our sunrise this morning was outstanding!

It does have a hint of spring in the air….I do believe the dogs are on to something!

Linda

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Posted on February 12, 2013 by Dayphoto

Yesterday we had a snow storm move in about mid-night.

It left some pretty nice wet snow, which was gone by noon.

The cows came out to eat after the snow left and the air warmed up. They were still eating around ten at night so I figured we might be having more stormy weather today.

There was nothing happening before light, but I saw the cows heading back into the corn field…appearing as ghostly shadows until it lighted up enough you could see them

Now this morning (as I write this) big fat lazy snowflakes are drifting down out of the heavens, taking their time leaving the clouds and softly landing on the earth. It’s cold, but it as to be cold to have snow.

I always watch the cows, they know…trying to fill up before they have to hunker down and wait a storm out.

I worked at the animal shelter yesterday. Some of the things people do to animals just amazes me…and I really would like to choke out the people……….GRRRRRRRRRRRr

Four dogs were brought in from a Real Estate woman, who had gone to a foreclosed house to make sure everything would be ready for a showing that afternoon…inside she found the foreclosed on families three bird type dogs (I think Brittany Spaniels) and the little tiny bit of fluff poodle. They had been left in the house by the family in the hopes that the animals would leave huge messes for someone to find. Of course there was no food or water (all the water and electricity had been turned off…this was a foreclosure).

The dogs were just stunned and hungry and extremely thirsty. One of the bird dogs got adopted yesterday, which was good. But the others have to wait.

The things people do to animals, just makes me sick.

These people are known and will be prosecuted for animal cruelty, which will take time, but it is something. In the meantime I hope just the right families will come looking for wonderful sweet animals that need love. The shelter has lots to chose from.

Linda

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Posted on February 10, 2013 by Dayphoto

A lovely storm cloud rolled in last night, I just had to take photos of it while I was hauling in firewood…

the setting sun made the coming storm a delight to see.

This morning it starting sifting big fluffy flakes down for a short time, leaving us with just a skiff of snow.

The whole experience has been really lovely and the best part is the snow is wet.

However, as I write this it has a melted…giving the earth a nice drink.

Have a good Sunday Everyone!

Linda

The Adventures of Fuzzy and Boomer on Friday —A Walk through the Cows

Posted on February 8, 2013 by Dayphoto

It sure seems we have been hang’n at the house lots lately.

Sigh!

BUT Mom has started walking out on the place this week and WE GET TO GO WITH HER!!!!

Sure is fun!

I try….really I do…I, hum, try to stay with Mom and Fuzzy…BUT

THEREISSOMUCHTOSMELLANDDOOUTTHEREITISREALLYHARD!

Mom walks LOTS slower than I do…I mean, heck, I can be clear to the end of the field and BACK by the time she and Fuzzy get just a little ways into the field.

But to be fair, I think Mom walks with Fuzzy so Fuzzy doesn’t get lonely.

I really should also

BUT THERE IS SURE SO MUCH TO SMELL OUT THERE ————————–

We walked over to the equipment hillside, where Fuzzy scared up Robby the Rabbit. Fuzzy and Robby ran every which where, until Robby got tired and hid in the roller. Fuzzy barked at me to join him, but I was over with Mom looking at the old junk which really is homes for the mice.

The mice were not as interesting as the Robby the Rabbit but I was just too far away to be part of the fun. By the time I got there, Robby was tired and sitting in the roller just watching us.

Phooey.

We sat on the hillside and looked at the canyons of the Esclante and Dominguez for a short while….then we all moved over to the little pasture and Mom told us if it were night we could see all the cars coming across the desert from Grand Junction to Delta, but of course it wasn’t night so we couldn’t see the traffic.

Mom assured us it was there.

I headed down to the cattails, but Mom and Fuzzy didn’t they headed over to the little alfalfa field, Mom said half the place was good enough to walk for now.

The cows have made a path in the same spot in the field and in the dirt ditch that they have for over 40 years…Mom says it’s the shortest distance to where ever they are going.

Every time Dad sees the flattened out ditch (just in that one spot) he threatens to lay pipe there and cover it up. But he never does, he just gets out the ditcher in the spring and makes a new ditch.

I think he just likes to talk about the path, he really doesn’t care!

On the way back I joined Mom and Fuzzy, I really needed to be close to Mom because…..

My hurry had sort of vanished!

Because….

Well….

HAD

THROUGH

THE

COWS!!!!!!

I’m really afraid of the cows!

I’ll bark at them if they get too close to the electric fence around the yard, but I don’t want to do more than that.

WHY?!?!?!

Those girls will CHASE YOU!!!

THAT’S WHY!!!

I had them chase me when I first got here, that sort of thrill I didn’t need again in my life!

Mom has to make me go in front of her, but I only go one step in front of her foot…

Mom and Fuzzy laughed at me, but I didn’t care.

As soon as we got through the herd of 70 pregnant females —- you think about that…

SEVENTY

(70)

PREGNANT

FEMALES

I ran right to the house!

Whew!

I enjoyed the walk, I sure did. But getting through all those cows is best!

Boomer

A Good Day–Old Dog

Posted on February 5, 2013 by Dayphoto

So far I’m having a good day. Thank-you each and every one of you for your wishes of wellness and for writing and giving me ideas on how to recover. Your comments and emails are very appreciated.

Yesterday was a good day… which is good, if I can have a good week, then I’ll know I have this licked.

Anyway, enough of me.

It was warmer yesterday, so the dogs and I went for a short walk. It was warm enough that as I sat on the point of a hill I could feel the sun warming my shoulders, which was heavenly.

On the way back I stopped at the old grainery. Terry wanted to tear this down, but I want to keep it. We have only two buildings left of the original farmstead (outside of our house); the tractor shed (build out of adobe dirt) and this old grainery.

This spring (soon, any day now) Terry is going to move it up from behind the barn and the haystacks and put it next to my gardens by the corrals. After that I’m not sure what I want to do with it — potting shed, play house, whatever I want.

Today is Tuesday, February, 5, 2013…the sunrises at 7:15 in the morning and is setting at 5:38 in the evening. A month ago on January 5th the sun was coming up at 7:31 and setting at 5:04. The days are growing longer -January 9 hours and 34 minutes and today- 10 hours and 23 minutes. More sunlight…which is a true joy to me.

I haven’t seen the old dog for some time now. I might drive around the farm neighborhood now that I’m feeling up to it, and see if I can see the dog in someone’s yard. If not… I wait, but I will also know that the possibility of the dog taking a path to the other side just might have occurred–one of those sad parts of life.

Once more thank you all for your kind thoughts,

Linda

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Posted on February 3, 2013 by Dayphoto

It’s cloudy, grey and chilly again here today.

I’ve been sick.

Well, actually I got sick the week before Christmas and seem to not be able to get well. I have a good day here and there, but nothing that lasts.

I’m taking the day off…resting by the fire.

I hope this finds all of you well.

COME ON SPRING!

Linda

The Adventures of Fuzzy and Boomer on Friday —Cow Dog to Farm Dog

Posted on February 1, 2013 by Dayphoto

The word “cowdog” did not exist in the English language until after the trail driving period of 1870 and the 1880s.

Today people understand that we dogs are important to help out on the farm and the ranch.

I was raised to be a help on the ranch. For five years I lived with a wonderful old man, we were great friends and partners. Then one day he passed on over the rainbow road and his kids didn’t want me. They took me out to the country and dumped me out on the road.

I waited for days and days and days right at the spot they dumped me out. Mom and Misty would try and try and try to get me to come to them, but I waited to have my people come pick me back up.

Finally I got too hungry…I was a bone, when Misty and Mom came out with ROAST BEEF…I couldn’t turn it down.

So now I’m a farm dog.

I love being a farm dog. I still get to help out with the cows (not as many as I used to, and no horses, but that is okay.)

I still help haul hay and load hay, I help irrigate, and I go everywhere with Mom.

Now we have Boomer.

My best buddy in the whole wide world!

Boomer was a complete and total house dog. He isn’t any more; he’s a farm dog also!

So I told you all of this to tell you… I’ve feeling really good! My stitches are out….my scar is healing nicely and my fur is coming back!

We have another dog hanging around. Mom is really worried about this dog…it is old, and thin, and very afraid of people. This dog is wearing a collar so Mom is trying to catch the dog to see if she can find the people who own the dog —neighbor ??? dumped off???

And help the dog.

Boomer and I always ALERT Mom when the dog is on the property. We sure hope to help this dog out.

I think this really old dog would love to be a Farm DOG!!!!

Fuzzy

January 30, 2013

Posted on January 30, 2013 by Dayphoto

Today is my volunteer day at the Delta County Historical Society and Museum. ( I do the blog from home and other research from home, but today I go in to help.)

I’m entering a year’s worth of Obituaries in the data base for future reference. Last Wednesday was really interesting, while I was there a gentleman came in wanting to know something about a relative who ‘supposedly’ lived in Delta in 1902.

The curator gave me the task of helping solve this little mystery, which was very easy to do through the census. On-line we also found a couple of people who are related to the same person, but the coolest part of all…….

The elusive man on the census had several borders-people who were renting rooms from him at the time of the census. Mr. Wetzel, the curator, knew immediately where the man’s business was located — it wasn’t the El-Dina, a boarding house still in use today, but none other than the Delta House! Delta’s First Hotel! (I will post some photos tomorrow on both blogs.)

The relative was the second owner of the Delta House.

It’s little victories like this that make history, research, and helping others out ever so much fun.

My 4 O’clock photos show that for a small amount of time we had clearing skies and shafts of sunshine then the next storm rolled in out of Utah.

It’s snowing all around us today, but NO WIND! I can handle cold (it is 10* right now) if the wind isn’t blowing.

Almost to February the count down is completing!

Linda

Winter has Returned

Posted on January 29, 2013 by Dayphoto

We are back to snow and wind and cold 22*f outside with a windchill making it really 12*f. The cold is easier to handle than the wind.

I have a light on the chickens, which they really seem to enjoy. Often times (when it is cold like this) I check on them and they are laying or sitting in the heat of light. Sort of like a wood stove for us! 🙂

The days are longer now, which helps, the hens have started laying eggs again–they are thinking spring also. 🙂