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

Houston Better Known as Princess

Posted on November 25, 2012 by Dayphoto

Houston a.k.a. Princess is a Mountain Cur dog. She is four-years-old. And papered.

Houston was Buddy’s dog, the two Rottweilers are Shannon’s now with Buddy’s passing, Houston is Shannon’s dog also.

From what we understand, Mountain Curs are a breed the originated in the southern Appalachia mountains. They are hunting dogs used to tree squirrels and raccoon’s and other critters that climb trees. They are known to be able to climb a tree and hold the creature right there. That’s called ‘hard treeing’ —

(Just to set the record straight…I know nothing about hunting, or hunting with a dog. Buddy came from a tiny town on the Texas/Louisiana border and grew up hunting. I only know this stuff because he told us.)

The rancher that rents our place in the winter to calve out his cows has Black Mouth Curs, they are also hunting and treeing dogs.

Princess Houston not only climbs up a tree but she can climb down a tree. The first time the dogs and I saw her do it, we just stopped and stared. Boomer ran up to the tree and put his front paws on the trunk and hallooooooooooooooowd at her. But he could in no fashion ever get up there. Fuzzy looked at her like she was out of her gourd some how. The Rottweilers didn’t even pay attention to her since they have lived with her from her puppyhood.

Since Boomer and Houston are both hounds they love to go searching and sniffing around all the holes and hollers and dales and valleys on our place, but they are both good about coming back and being with us — if we call.

Oh, wait…Boomer sometimes has to play tricks on us and only come way after we call! 🙂

Anyway, I had lots of questions about Houston and if she could also climb down the tree once she was up there…yep, she can!

And she has a heart of gold and is an outstanding watch dog although, she no longer goes hunting.

Linda

The Adventures of Fuzzy and Boomer on Friday — Who’s Walking on OUR FARM!!!!?

Posted on November 23, 2012 by Dayphoto

We went with Mom and Dad to order the corn seed and the alfalfa seed for next year.

It seemed to TAKE FOREVER!!!

Fuzzy and I had to wait in the back of the truck. Fuzzy doesn’t mind waiting in the back of the truck, but if I have to wait I get bored. I want to get out and sniff around!!!

But Mom made us all wait with her while Dad talked water and seeds and stuff like that.

All seeds are short this year because of the HUGE drought last summer. Dad ordered most of his corn seed, but got three bags to bring home and three bags of pure gold (alfalfa seed) to also bring home. The rest he will order in January and hope to pick up everything he ordered in March or April.

They are saying that we just MIGHT get to have 40% irrigation water next year…no one knows how to prepare. Dad said he will prepare as always, but also be prepared to not plant as much.

After we got home

I could SMELL something different on the farm…I took off hallooooooooooooing to the upper end, Fuzzy right behind me.

Mom came along with Fuzzy.

Yep!

I was right!

The whole pack was here walking on the farm!

We joined them.

Then Houston and I went off to sniff things around all the hillsides and just left everyone else in the dust.

Houston is a ton of fun…did you know she can climb trees? Yes! She CAN!!!

Fuzzy and I just look at her, who would have every thought? I know cats can climb trees

and foxes can climb trees, but I sure didn’t know Houston could climb trees.

The day was pretty warm and nice so they all walked together for some way.

I kept an eye on them, even though they couldn’t see me! Then when everyone headed for the house and Hank and his family headed to their house, I waited and waited while they called me then……

I gave it my all and caught up with them just as they started down the road to home!

Of course, after we got back and Shannon and her family went home, Fuzzy and I figured out the sun was just right for a

NAP!

I love surprises like this!

Boomer

Monday, November 19, 2012

Posted on November 19, 2012 by Dayphoto

I’m back. Slept off and on yesterday and even slept in really late this morning. I got up at 6:30, with everyone else up and doing stuff.

I feel good.

I think I just got really tired from doing our things here and then running down to our oldest daughter’s place (only 2 miles away) to feed her fire and watch over her animals. She only heats with a wood stove so I had to be extremely diligent to keep the fire going so her pipes wouldn’t freeze all through the day and night.

She is back home now so everything will mellow out until our other daughter and her family heads to Nebraska for Thanksgiving on Wednesday. They heat with wood also, but they have a backup propane system. I will just have all their animals to take care of, which won’t be as exhausting.

Terry and I and the dogs all went around the place yesterday checking on the fences. It’s getting close to pheasant hunting season, which means people will cut, break down, and destroy fences to get to the birds. Everything is posted, not because we are against hunters, but because we are against property damage. It works most of the time.

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These lovely birds are back. I tell them all of the time they are most welcome to land on our place…we are a no hunting zone. Although, I don’t think there is a Sand-hill Crane season I know there is a Canada Goose season, of which they will be safe here!

Linda

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Posted on November 18, 2012 by Dayphoto

I guess I’m going to have to take the day off — I a bit tired for some reason or other and can’t seem to get myself together.

I will be back Monday, bright and early, that is for certain and for sure.

I hope you have a really nice Sunday!

Linda

The Adventures of Fuzzy and Boomer on Friday — Dogs in Charge

Posted on November 16, 2012 by Dayphoto

Okay, everyone knows we have work to do around here, Boomer and I have lots of jobs! The biggest job is TAKING CARE OF THE FARM!

We are the Security Team for the farm. That’s big work.

For instance we caught a guy stealing Dad’s car parts….I barked and growled and even bit him. Dad was a little shocked I did that, but then he saw the car parts lying on the floor of this man’s pickup cab. The whole thing was pretty tense for some time, but I got lots and lots pets and love’n and three—GET THAT (!) —3 yummy DOG COOKIES!!!

YIPPEE!!

Boomer got two, because Mom said he is still learning how to protect the farm. She is confident that he will learn because I’M THE DOG IN CHARGE!

Both Mom and Dad said they would not have known if I hadn’t gotten so upset. See I never really get upset so they ‘knew’ something was up.

I think Mom told you that we closed up the entire gated pipes, the transmission pipes and any culverts on our place. It keeps the critters from nesting down over the winter. Next spring it saves the critter’s life since they never really know when the water is coming and they always drown, which isn’t a very pretty site.

BUT……………

The neighbor to the east of us never closes up his pipe or culverts.

Three nights ago Freddy Fox and several Raccoon’s came into the yard (at different times) and sniffed around the chicken pen, we barked and barked and really raised a ruckus.

Mom came out with the flashlight and checked out everything. The hens were asleep. Chickens have a really hard time waking up when it’s dark. That’s why they make excellent food. Easy pick’ns as they say.

Boom and I sniffed around and showed Mom the ‘leavings’ of the raccoons, we just told Mom about Freddy Fox. But Mom knows about Freddy Fox as we saw either him or some of his clan in the transmission pipe on the neighbor’s land. His/her little head was poking out just watching us last week as we went for our daily walk.

Mom said “Well, guess you boys are going to have to be real diligent watching the farm.”

We both wagged our tails in excitement and agreement.

Since we sleep outside until the temperatures drop real low, Mom decided that she was going to take matters in her own hands… on the internet she ordered three Nite Guards which flash lights from dust to dawn. This emits pulses of continuously red light which repel both ground and aerial predators. Mom got three because she wanted one at the door of the hen house (which is shut up tight at night), one for the end of the run and one for the other side of the house because, we would be inside and not see or hear or smell anything.

Like I say – we sleep inside most of the winter, but if the weather isn’t THAT cold, like below 20*, I like to sleep in our dog houses.

Sometimes I just go on out and sleep in my dog house, without Boomer, I really take guarding the place serious you understand.

Now, Hank, he NEVER sleeps outside, he sleeps with Bladen —boy and his dog stuff you know.

The sunset sure was beautiful last night.

Well, gotta go…Boomer said he smells something rather cool and he wants me to come smell it with him.

Fuzzy

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Posted on November 14, 2012 by Dayphoto

8:00 this morning saw much warmer temps than yesterday at the same time….

Still cold, but I’ll take it.

The dry, powdery snow is just about gone except in spots on the north side of things.

But we have snow in the high places

This a photo of Grand Mesa at the front of our place

The snow along the Craig Crest Ridge on Grand Mesa. This part is closer to the Cedaredge, Eckert area.

The snow along Green Mountain and the Ragged’s. I wasn’t able to get a photo of the Paonia Mountains or the Gunnison Mountains or the San Juan Range because of a haze covering those parts of the mountains surround us.

But the Uncompahgre Plateau was looking good, with a little snow ridge in the higher parts of the Plateau

The canyon, that our mesa tops off, is called the Roubidoux…

No snow there, unless you look way, way, way at the top where you can see a tiny white ridge of snow.

A good start for the potential of water for next year!

Linda

Clear Skies and Warming Up Some

Posted on November 13, 2012 by Dayphoto

The windy, sleet-filled, blustery, bitter cold storm has moved on. The last two nights have been very cold but beautiful. When out getting wood or checking on something the sky is a delight of twinkling stars in the deep, deep frozen sky.

The dogs always sleep in the house when it’s winter time, but Fuzzy much prefers outside in his dog house, he will open the back door and go out — I will find him there and ask him to come back in. He always comes, but if he gets too hot out he goes again.

Boomer has very little fur so he very much enjoys the house routine.

As it warms up (at night and in the daytime) they both like being outside, as there is so MUCH to do while others sleep, you see.

I have to force them to come in, soon Fuzzy is outside and Boomer is panting at the door to be let out. (He can’t figure out how to open the door—just push Boom, just push)

Anyway, as the storm played around with our area, a gentle little rainbow glowed over our neighbors metal building.

We were lucky enough to see it!

( I hope you can see it)

I was lucky enough to have the camera ready.

The temps this morning were around 18* (at 5 A.M.). The weather guy says we are going to have a small warm- up before the next storm comes in sometime next week.

Thank all of you for your support and also for your understanding of what a fool and a jerk that man was Sunday at Wal-Mart!

Linda

Veteran’s Day

Posted on November 12, 2012 by Dayphoto

I missed Veteran’s Day yesterday, but I did NOT forget!

I had a horrible incident at Wal-Mart that made me very mad and then made me very sad.

I had stopped at the table where a lady from the VFW was selling Poppies (for remembrance and pins for support for those returning vets with Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome.

As I was giving the lady my money, she called out to a man (I will NOT refer to him as a gentleman—ever) and asked if he would like to purchase a poppy!

He replied in a nasty sneering way: ” I never support your F*%*&%# organization and I ain’t going to start now”!

Right at that moment my daughter called me on my cell phone, which (in hind-sight is probably a good thing) as I was ready to give him a good talking down too.

After he smugly walked on in I asked the lady if that happens a lot.

She replied: “Sadly, yes,”

What has this world come too? I am horribly embarrassed for that man and for those who think like this way.

People may not agree with the policies of the government, but the men and women who are there–in the fight — are putting their lives on the line.

And NO it isn’t just a job to them…it is a fight for US-you and me! Just ask any vet or any person in any branch of the service. They are foremost and first fighting for US, you and me, and YES for that pathetic man who was so incredibly rude.

In his 11th hour of need I wonder if anyone will be there for him?

I thank both my grandfathers, my uncle, my Daddy and my son for for care and belief in America and in freedom for all.

Linda

Baby It’s Cold Outside

Posted on November 11, 2012 by Dayphoto

It’s terribly cold here! As you can see….wind chill is zero. Not much snow and it’s a dry snow right here on the farm.

Although, we can see lots and lots of snow on the mountains surrounding us….which is wonderful! The farmers in our area have been told that, unless we get lots of snow in the mountains there will be no water for the farmers next year.

Towns and cities come first, then however the call of the water happens in the rank of seniority.

Please pray and cross your fingers and your toes and whatever else that we get lots and lots of wet snow in the mountains. Please also add in that this horrible drought, which has effected all the states in the mid-west and the west ends. Food is a precious thing.

Yes, I am well aware that food will still come in from other countries, but local food is always best.

And Yes, I know that I am also saying, that with local food the local industry of farming stays solid and whole. Another dust bowl is not something the United States needs or should ever want.

But I should not preach to choir, as all of you loyal readers know and understand the plight.

So I will get off my soap box and show you….