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 — What More Can I Say ?!?

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Dayphoto

The next to the last field has been opened — that means Dad is done doing enough of the tractor work it’s time to put the gated pipe together and start the water on that field. This field is another corn field, but the gated pipe will water the pinto bean field.

Dad and Mom had to put the pipe together for the pinto bean field because the run off from the last corn field goes to water the bean field and the last alfalfa field before leaving our farm and heading on over to the next farm. But since the bean ground isn’t ready yet, the water will run through the gated pipe anyway and water the older alfalfa field then leave our farm.

We moved siphon tubes and got the water flowing. Sure was a good feeling.

The next day, Mom asked us to get in the back of the pick-up and go to TOWN.

Oh, what joy!

Boomer has learned to hop in the back now and he loves to ride with us. Remember when he first came he was very afraid and wouldn’t get in the truck unless I got in first? I think he has made huge strides in being a good farm dog!

Anyway we got to town and Mom dropped us OFF at the Dog GROOMERS!!!!

That was hours of misery. I shook and trembled and moaned the whole time. Boom of course LOVED the whole experience. He hopped right into the bathing tub and sat there while Mom and the groomer put me into the waiting area.

DID

NOT

WANT

THERE!

About 90 minutes of pure hell and torture Mom came and picked us up.

Yep! That’s me.

I can’t decide if I like this new look or not!

Makes me feel —- well naked.

And Mom wouldn’t let me jump into the ditches, said I was just shampooed so I have to stay out of the muddy water.

MEAN

GEEZ!

Then the heat of the next day hit and

Hummmm

I guess this new look is alright.

I feel a lot cooler!

Fuzzy

88* Yesterday A Heat Wave for This Time of Year

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Dayphoto

My monthly tree post will be today…. I’m afraid I will forget it if I don’t do the post today.

First the Willow tree

Green is showing up nicely. Every day there is more and more tiny little willow leaves

(I’m still working on the messy pile of wood, every day I cut a little more and move it too the area where we stack wood.)

The Cottonwood tree’s leaves are also tiny and shiny….still the leaves are making very welcome shade.

We were 88* yesterday. Horribly hot for this time of year. The Uncompahgre Valley Water Users have already locked the head gates. Usually that doesn’t occur until the middle of May. (The Uncompahgre Valley Water Users/ ditch riders, managers, board members, manages the water from which everyone in the Uncompahgre Valley uses to irrigate with—-the Uncompahgre Valley is made up of a water area. This water comes from Gunnison and Ridgeway, Colorado, to the Gunnison River, which flows through Delta, Colorado, on its way to the Colorado River through a hugely fascinating series of canals) This means we did NOT have enough snow in the high country this year so water is going to be short.

Our water moves through all of the farms then dumps into the Gunnison (as I said before) on it’s way to Nevada, Arizona, and California. We are required by law (water rights–first filing on the water etc.) to send so many feet of water into the Gunnison so the other states can have water.

Terry is out harrowing off the corn field. We will start water back on this field this afternoon.

Once he gets done harrowing then he needs to re-mark the second corn field, and mark out the new bean ground so we have places to move the water. And to keep from drying out.

Once the head gate is locked we have to make do with an allotment of water, which means we have to irrigate more, move the water more, even if we have to move the water every four hours instead of every 8—and yes even in the middle of the night, if necessary.

So far the alfalfa is looking good. First cutting should be the last of May or the first of June.

You can see the heat haze in the background.

Well, off now lots to do today.

Linda

Corn Planting Time

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Dayphoto

One field of corn seed is in the ground.

Terry planted Friday and with this hot weather we’ve been having 80+* for the last several days, the corn seed has already past the swelling stage and starting to shoot roots.

Terry will plant the other field of corn today.

Since the first field is already shooting roots he will harrow off the top of the row bed so the little tips of the corn won’t have a hard time coming through and also that will knock some of the weeds down. Usually the corn bed is harrowed about five days after planting. (This should happen Tuesday sometime-Wednesday at the latest, if it goes too long the corn will be up and will struggle to get through.)

Friday and Saturday we spent getting the gated pipe ready for the other half of the farm and setting the new earth/dirt ditch. After much thought and heavy pondering…..gated pipe is EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE NOW…..We decided to go to earth/dirt in place of some gated pipe that broke. The ditch is pretty soft right now so will take lots of extra effort on our part until it seals. Or imprints — meaning holds water and remembers where the water is supposed to stay….not run off here and there and everywhere.

Of course the gated pipe (two sticks) had to break somewhere in the middle and at the beginning of the pipe. So we had to ‘adjust’ all the remaining pipe so we could put the earth ditch at the END of the gated pipe. That meant lots of jerking apart (by hand) and picking up and moving, one on each end, then shoving back together again.

We had a little break and watched our oldest granddaughter play soccer. Breaks are always nice, they make you appreciate what you’ve accomplished and give you a mini-rest.

The soccer field is in the valley, on the banks of the Gunnison River, and at the doorway of the Adobes. You can see the ‘dobies in the background. The ‘dobies give rise to the foothills surrounding Grand Mesa.

(All the locals call those adobe hills, which skirt the base of the mountain ranges in Utah, New Mexico, Colorado and Arizona, ‘dobies.)

Linda

Sunday Stills– in Honor of the First Sunday Stills Author — Ed

Posted on April 22, 2012 by Dayphoto

Ed’s brain child, Sunday Stills, was to create a place where people from all over the world could come together once a week with a photography challenge. This week our challenge is to pick our favorite assignment and post it in honor of Ed’s birthday on April 18th.

I picked flowers.

Go here to see some of Ed’s favorite assignments!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Linda

The Adventures of Fuzzy and Boomer on Friday — The Canyon

Posted on April 20, 2012 by Dayphoto

Boom and I have been DYING to get to go somewhere, besides just here on the farm….you know—a mini-vacation. By that I mean A RIDE IN THE BACK OF THE PICK-UP!

But it hasn’t been happening!

Yes, we’ve been to the upper end and to the back forty and over to bad burn and irrigating.

We have helped Mom in the yard and even road with Mom to deliver stuff to Uncle Evan’s (although we didn’t get to get out and see Zookie and Bella), but we have NOT got to go for a fun pick-up ride!

A pick-up ride to some place really cool with lots of new smells.

Mom did make her house-cat….Monkey…go outside and work with us in the yard a couple of days.

Boomer and Monkey like each other so they had fun until Monkey went back inside.

Sammy-Sam the outside cat doesn’t put up with Boomer and me very much so he’s no fun.

We just wanted to GO FOR A RIDE!!!!

We would beg and hop up (well, Boomer hopped up, I can’t hop anymore) and put on our happiest faces, even whapped the ground with our tails (well, Boomer whapped, I just wiggled mine).

Nothing was working!

Bummer!

Huff!

Sigh!

THEN IT HAPPENED!

Mom came out and asked if we wanted to go for a ride!

Yippppeeee! Boy did We!

Dad and Mom gathered up a huge rope and a great big chain, put them in the back of the Dodge with us and headed down to the Canyon!

WEEEE! DOWN TO THE CANYON!

Couldn’t be a better place!

When we got there we saw why—Aunt Shannon had gotten her truck stuck in the spring river run off.

Dad got her right out. Just a quick hook-up and pull.

And we went back home.

Boomer and I loved every second of it.

I sure hope we get to go again soon.

Mom, said she hopes the next trip to the canyon is NOT for something like this!

Fuzzy

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Posted on April 17, 2012 by Dayphoto

After several days of extremely cold weather, we are gradually starting to warm up. During that time the Sour Cherry trees started to bloom

Then we dropped down even colder — 18*– a couple of nights in a row, which took out some of the blooming fruit I’m sure.

Still the Wild Plum trees that I have growing in a thicket started blooming

We have these trees along the edge of the canal to keep the water from eroding the bank

By the weekend the Crab Apples were in their full glory

Terry sat up the alfalfa marker and got that field ready for water. By which I mean he marked out all the rows so we could turn water into the field. Several morning this week there was ice on the furrows. Not heavy amounts of ice, but still ice.

When you think of it that is cold….it takes lots of cold to form ice on running water.

The good news is that cold front has moved on, the bad news is this very same cold front is what causes horrible storms in the plains….cold air moving out of the Rocky Mountains hitting warm air coming up from the oceans.

My heart goes out to everyone in those storm damaged area.

Linda

Sunday Stills—Reflections

Posted on April 15, 2012 by Dayphoto

The Sunday Stills assignment this week is called Reflections.

We were moving water the other evening (from this field to another field) when I noticed the beautiful sunset reflected in the water (bokeh) off the trash catcher!

The weather is pretty cold here again. I had to light the wood stove back up and keep it full we are so cold. 43* with a wind (always the wind in the spring always) making us 30*.

We supposed to have warmer weather next week, which pleases me. It’s no fun being outside (in water) when its darn cold.

We have two more fields to set water on

Then we should be able to start planting.

Happy Sunday everyone!

Linda

The Adventures of Fuzzy and Boomer on Friday — The Upper End

Posted on April 13, 2012 by Dayphoto

We headed up with Mom and Dad to dig ditches to the burn area over on the Back Forty and to the back pastures. They are going to put run-off-water there to see if anything can start growing again. It was lots of work for Mom and Dad but Fuzzy and I had a right jolly old time! We sniffed around to see what is happening up here. The Upper End is where the HEADGATE is. Right now all the cows are around the head gate but they will be moved off tomorrow. These are not our cows, but the south end of our farm’s neighbors. He had to move the bulls when the water came in as the ditch riders and Mom and Dad (and us) have to get to the head gate to keep the trash out. Bulls don’t like to have strange people moving around on their property. The head gate is SCARY! It thunders and foams and roils. It’s really big and has a tiny board to walk across it, which I never do. You have to walk across it, then stand on the tiny board to clean out the trash from the gate with a rake….Mom is terrified, but she ‘gets it done’. We had a sort of mini tornado last evening the wind was so horrible. Dad was on— ON — the head gate (terrible frightening thundering crashing water)…when the storm came through the place. The wind about threw Dad into the roaring foaming mess and even ripped his glasses off his face. We all tried to find the glasses but figured they were swept away in the canal. This morning Dad went on back to clean out the trash and guess what…THEY WERE THERE! Safe in a whole other spot! AND the cows didn’t stomp on them either. We are so joyful! Anyway, as Mom and Dad were working on the burn area, Fuzzy and I found Bunny. We like bunny and he seems to like us. Just hangs around us as we sniff back and forth. Sometimes Bunny even lets us sniff really close to him before he hops away. Sometimes we find footprints…those get really good sniffs. We don’t have wolves here, which we are ALL glad about, but these foot prints will help you see what we sometimes see.

Getting water to one of the burn areas took all morning. Dad said “that will have to do. If this works then we’ve helped part of the burn.”

Mom asked Fuzzy if he was ready to ride back to house.

Man, that dog can move when he wants too. Fuzzy beat both Mom and I back to four-wheeler he was so ready to get home.

The sunrise this morning was pretty cool…there was a cloud that looked like a mini-tornado.

Hummm, maybe that isn’t a good thing!

Boomer

A Cat and Catnip

Posted on April 11, 2012 by Dayphoto

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

While I was working in the herb garden Sammy-Sam, one of our cats, decided to work with me.

No, hummm, he decided to partake of the catnip.

A spring storm is blowing it’s way into our lives starting this afternoon. But last night, Boy, was the sky beautiful!

The whole sky over us and around us was amazing!

Linda

Opening a Ditch

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Dayphoto

I dug out a camera I had purchased awhile back. It wasn’t a real expensive one, I think I got it for around $90, since I knew my other dear old battered and well-loved camera would someday bite the dust. This camera doesn’t seem to take too bad of photos so I shall continue to use it.

We finished watering our largest field. Which means it was time to move the water. We had to take the water from that field down to the one by our house.

Therefore we had to open the ditch. (Winter is not good for my body, but I’m fast getting into shape.) We only have to open the ditches once, but, oh my, is that ever a job!

Even though Terry makes the ditches with the ditcher there is still lots of trash in the ditch, he turns the water down and then leaves and goes on down to the trash gates, I stay behind and fork the trash out of the ditch.

It starts small, but by the time I make it to the trash catchers I’m hefting huge wads of wet weeds out the water. ( I couldn’t get photos of the wads — I think Terry would have been a tad upset to see me taking photos while massive amounts of weeds were heading toward him.)

Weeds plug up division gates and get caught in the pipes causing floods. Floods are never good as they always go where they are not supposed to go.

By the time I get to the trash screens Terry is already in the field flushing the pipe. This field by the house is set with gated pipe, trash in that pipe is one major pain. It plugs up the little gates and backs up the water. You are looking at a screen that has stopped trash.

We like gated pipe for some fields and cement ditches and siphon tubes for other fields. We even have dirt ditches with siphon tubes for even other fields. Terry is thinking of changing out some of the gated pipe back into a dirt ditch, they (dirt ditches) really are lots easier to work with than gated pipe. You wouldn’t think so, since it would seem all you have to do is open a gate and the water flows out. Pouring another cement ditch is financially not feasible so if we change it will be to dirt.

Trash is the main reason. Here in our part of Colorado when the wind blows heavy it always blows in weeds and icky stuff which lands in the water and then get caught in the gates. With a tube the weed will usually flow on by since the tube is under the surface of the water. With a gate the weed runs right to the gate and tried to get out with the water and plugs up the gate. You then have to put your hand into the water and dig out the trash. For every gate that is open all 20-30 gates.

Anyway, I could lift and toss an 80 pound bale of hay now if I had too. Three weeks ago I don’t know if I could even pick it up.

The pear trees are blooming! They sure are pretty. We’ve had three nights of bitter cold (18* one night) and another cold front moving in by Friday. I remember these days from my youth and how my Dad and my Grandfather would stress out during spring.

Being and orchardist isn’t for the faint of heart that is for sure.

Linda