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

Morning Moon

Posted on September 23, 2010 by Dayphoto

As I left for work (Paonia) at 6:30 this morning I was struck by the beauty of the morning and the low lying full moon

It had been raining for two days so the air had a fresh feel about it. It felt like a perfect day.

And it has turned out to be one. I made it to and from without a hitch, not even having to stop for the road construction. The 2010 Coal Conference we were hosting turned out even better than anyone could have imagined; with 100 people in attendance.

The morning moon started my day out just right so I had to share it with you!

Linda

Reintroduced Wildlife

Posted on September 22, 2010 by Dayphoto

Well, now we have another type of reintroduced wildlife on our farm and in our farming area–first we have the kit fox, and we do not have any more pheasants or quail, now we have the Lynx.

(This is not my photo but the DOWs)

And of course they are not staying on the plateau and have moved down to the farmland.

Our kitty, Sammy-Sam, had a horrible run in with one of the Lynx. Yes, we know it was a Lynx. Sammy is starting to recover but what a mess he was for some time.
I am so not for these recovery programs…If the wild animal wasn’t hungry and wouldn’t migrate to find food, then okay. But they do migrate and they do so when they are hungry!!!!

The DOW guy that manages the Fat Man’s Misery area said they brought in several and put them in the Roubideau (which Fat Man’s is part of), but the cats have not been seen in the area for several weeks now. OF COURSE NOT THEY ARE ON THE FARMS…there are chickens, cats, mice, lots of smaller animals to eat! Shish! A Golden Corral is ever so much easier to eat from then some place where you have to really HUNT for food!!!!!

We have let them know that we have had the cat in our yard, in our tree, and saved our kitty from it, so let’s see if they come to take it someplace else. I hope it moves on, but really I hope it goes back to the canyon or better yet to the Plateau!

(I took this at Cabelas in Grand Junction)

I know now what I saw for sure was a wolverine….

For I saw one again – on the other side of our field. (Of course they are not real until a DOW person confirms it). The second I fill out the form for the DOW to come out and see if what I saw is real, the animal will move on and I will look like a ‘faker’ (a person who makes up stuff). —So some of the neighbors are on the lookout also. If there are at least two or three of us who see these animals then it will be reason to call in the DOW.

I sure am wondering why they are here….possibly too many people have moved into their area and game is hard to come by. Maybe this one is sick (?)

Anyway, I don’t know, but I am on the look out.

Linda

Pick’n Corn

Posted on September 21, 2010 by Dayphoto

Those that have raised onions and potatoes are now starting thier harvesting projects. The last thing to be harvested will be the hard-dent corn. This is the corn used for cooking (corn meal) and critter feed.

So far the weather is holding…we got very close to killing frosts, but we are now heating back up. Which is good, if you are trying to get produce in. Killing freezes tend to kill what you are trying to harvest.

The pick’n corn is at the hard-dent stage. Now we wait until all the moisture leaves the ear. If shelling corn is harvested wet it will mold. Last year we hauled our first load to the Elevator on October 20th. One month away.

Of course that doesn’t mean there isn’t lots still going on, just that we have reached our goal.

Linda

As the White Rabbit Said

Posted on September 15, 2010 by Dayphoto

“Oh, Dear, I must not be late!”

Even the spiders’ are feeling the need to prepare

I really don’t much care for the builder of the web, but I do so like to look upon thier works of art.

Linda

Fall is All About Harvest

Posted on September 14, 2010 by Dayphoto

Traffic on our country roads is now at it’s highest point

If it isn’t an ensilage truck, it’s a truck hauling, onions, or potatoes, or pinto beans

The weather is perfect…..warm days (high 80s) and cool nights (low 40s)

Without even a HINT of a rain storm

Or the ever-lasting wind.

As I write this all these cute little beauties are sorted and sacked and stacked ready for sale.

Nothing left but the bean straw. (Which, by-the-way, cows love to eat!)

Linda

Standing in a Rainbow

Posted on September 9, 2010 by Dayphoto

A rainbow landed in our yard….

Which was one of the coolest things I think I have ever seen

Since the grandchildren were up…I had Blade stand in the rainbow

Of course Talli wanted to too.

I didn’t have a lens that could capture it all

So this has to do.

But what a gift!

Linda

Harvest On Hold

Posted on September 8, 2010 by Dayphoto

It’s raining here….again!

The only farmers working are the sweet corn harvesters and the farmers/ranchers with ensilage or chop’n corn. These guys must think a big freeze is coming, because most times farmers don’t want to work in mud. But they have tractors pulling the trucks out when they get stuck. The other thing they don’t like is to have half thier field out on the highway or roadways.

We are stopped until it drys out. Pinto Beans Can Not be harvested in mud. Rain smashes the pod down into the ground so the combine isn’t able to pick up the vines and thrash out the beans.

So we wait.

I did see a patch of blue sky last night so hopfully by this weekend we can begin again.

Linda

Harvest in Full Swing

Posted on September 7, 2010 by Dayphoto

The summer flowers are getting lots of attention

Everyone is feeling the need to have a full larder before the heavy frosts hit.

The insects, plus Terry and I, are feeling like a killing freeze is coming

Our night time temperatures are in the 40s now, about a month early.

Of course there are always those who think singing is enough to make it through the winter.

Linda

Desert Big Horn Sheep

Posted on September 3, 2010 by Dayphoto

We have a variety of wildlife that either lives on the farm or in the canyons just below our area

This Desert Big Horn Sheep were re-homed in our area a few years ago

They are known for being shy creatures

But easy food has made them comfortable and maybe even a little bit careless.

Fuzzy is terribly shy when it comes to the camera, but because he is always ‘right there’, he ramdomly gets his photo taken.

We’ve made it to Labor Day! If the weather stays nice this time next week the pinto beans should be in the hopper, so to speak.

Happy Labor Day one and all!

Linda

Busy, Busy, Busy

Posted on September 2, 2010 by Dayphoto

Sorry for not posting for awhile, but I have been busy, busy, busy. Both at home and at work.

Over the weekend we headed to the plateau to cut firewood…winter is coming on so we need to get a huge pile of wood for heat.

A fire wood cutting permit only costs around $20 for a cord of wood. BUT you are required to purchase 2 permits at once.

You are only allowed to cut dead standing trees—which helps clear out the potential of fuel for a forest fire.

So we took a truck, Evan came and filled his truck, and Misty and her family brought thier truck. Between all of us we were able to get our permits full.

We have several deer that live on our farm and love to eat with the cows and snack on the corn. They are NOT appreciated when they start snacking on the corn! This big fellow seems to be the head of the herd and you can tell he has lived here a long, long time.