Terry, myself, Boomer and Monkey, Sam the kitty would like to wish all of you
a Very Merry Christmas.
And for all of my friends who celebrate in other ways and at other times,
I hope your day is a good day filled with precious moments!
(Mom made me put this stupid thing on…I’m just going to lay here…I refuse to get up.)
“Hey, Boomer! Do you want a cookie?”
COOKIE!
Oh darn! I stood up and she flashed the camera!
From our house to yours!
Merry Christmas!
Terry and Linda
Not much happening here…
It snowed, then it got cold, colder, coldest
The UPS guy arrived…JOY! I didn’t get to bark him in…I was sleeping next to the fireplace, toasting the pads on my paws when he showed up. But I DID get to bark him OUT of the yard and down the lane
Which reminds me…why do I have to sleep on the floor and the cat gets to sleep on the sofa?
I’ve been checking on the squirrel brothers….lots! They like to play in the woodpile, so I hang out there and try to play with them
Sam and I are the only ones who go outside. Sam doesn’t like a litter box and I don’t use one
Mom has the tree up. Monkey keeps taking the ornaments off the lower branches—I don’t even DARE to think about doing something like that!
Cats get away with tons of stuff! Tons!
The days are short, but really they are Long, Longer, Longerer…I’m ready for action!!
Until then…I’ll just sleep by the fire and toast my pads.
Boomer
Every day, Mom, myself, Monkey cat and sometimes the really old, old cat, Sammy-Sam —Sammy is 15 that is ancient for a cat! —go for a walk.
Sometimes we go far, far, far, and sometimes not so far. Mom doesn’t like to walk far, far, far, with the cats, because cats can become FOOD! Also, Monkey doesn’t stay with Mom and I, she is here and there and everywhere. If we walk by the corn field, she runs into the still standing corn field.
Mom says the still standing corn field is a dangerous place for cats… fox like to live in the still standing corn field and the coyotes hide in the still standing corn field. Therefore, we don’t ever walk by the corn field if Monkey is with us. Sammy usually doesn’t walk as far as the cornfields anymore anyway, so Mom doesn’t worry about Sam.
Yesterday we all went for a walk…Sammy stopped by the equipment shed saying he was going to hang around there and search for mice. We all waved our paws good-bye, Mom gave Sam some really nice body rubs then we were off again.
This time we walked along the, now, dry canal…Monkey LOVES the canal. She likes walking in the canal looking for mice and other interesting things that hide in the grass.
I sometimes hop into the canal with her, but I much prefer sniffing along the bank and down the canal road.
We usually walk all the way up to the Cross-Over Pipe. Up there Mom lets us play on the pipe that crosses over the canal from one field to another field. I walk very, very fast over the pipe my toe nails clicking the whole way…I try to move fast, because, well, toe nails and metal make for some slippery sliding times.
Sometimes Mom walks over and back with us. We all laugh and have a great time. Monkey runs across and doesn’t even think a think about it.
I try to sniff in the pipe holes, but Mom and Dad always cover them up so the skunks, raccoons, fox and other critters who like to den up can’t hunker down in the pipes. Still I sniff, it’s interesting to see if anyone has tried to live in one of the pipes.
Then we walk back home, sometimes fast (if it’s getting dark and colder) sometimes we take our time. Either way, it works for me, and Monkey, just being outside with Mom is always fun.
Boomer
Dog Cookies!!!
Boomer loves these! He won’t eat them in the house, always takes it outside to a ‘special’ spot. I guess he is afraid the cats will want a bite.
Cranberry Spinach Dog Cookies
Place 2 1/2 cups brown rice flour, 1/4 c chopped fresh cranberries, 1/4 cup chopped spinach thawed and drained, 3 large eggs, and 1 T olive oil. Mix together until it forms a ragged ball.
Turn out onto a floured (with brown rice flour) surface and knead until the dough is smooth. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill until firm—I let it set overnight.
Remove from the refrigerator and roll a generous thickness between two sheets of waxed paper. Cut out and place on baking pans, then back in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350*
Place baking sheets in preheated oven and bake 6 minutes then reduce the temperature to 325*. Bake until cookies are firm. Turn off the oven and leave the cookies to dry completely for 2 hours.
Remove and leave cookies on your counter at least overnight to continue drying. A perfectly dried cookie will snap and crumble when broken. Place in jars and seal.
From Boomer to Your fur children with much Love,
Linda
“Come on, Boomer! Let’s go with Dad and get a corn sample!” Mom patted her leg for me to follow them. Off we went into the corn fields. An ear here and an ear there…all through the three corn field.
“Be sure and get an ear in the down spot, it seems to take forever to dry.” Dad pointed so Mom would understand just where he wanted her to get a sample.
“Okay, I’ll head to the top corn field and get one from the down side of the big field.” Mom told Dad, as he headed to the front field—“Alright, and I’ll get one from the road side of the big field.
Back home we shelled the corn into cans to take to the elevator to have it tested. It doesn’t matter what YOUR tester says (if the corn is dry or not) it matters if the Elevators testers says it’s dry.
While Mom and Dad shelled I tasted out the knurls to see if they were hard or soft. I like to do MY part!
Then we all loaded up and headed to the elevator. We went in the car this time, it’s just too cold for me to ride (LIKE I LOVE TO DO) in the back of the truck.
At the elevator Mom and I sat in the car and waited while Dad walked the samples in. Waiting is OKAY BY ME!!! Mom rolls the window down and I sniff and smell all I want.
Then Dad was back and we were heading home.
“Not yet” Dad said. “Still too wet…15.9.” Dad gave a HUGE sigh. We wait some more.”
“Two weeks, do you think?” Mom asked.
“Who knows,” Dad replied glumly. “Who knows?”
“Well, I guess it is what it is.” I hear Mom say.
Then Mom said: “Hopefully the weather will dry and warm up, which should help. Also, if it will dry and warm up, Boomer and I can get out there and get all the siphon tubes, dams and other things picked up and stored for the winter. It’s just been too wet and cold to get the farm put to bed.”
Hum, I thought, I think the farm is already in bed, it’s just Mom hasn’t got the room picked up and straighten up for the company…meaning Mom needs to get the irrigation stuff picked up and brought into the farm yard so the COWS don’t ruin it!
GOOD! Let’s hope for warmer, drying weather…I LOVE picking up all the irrigation stuff. Just Mom and me and the farm. YAY!
Boomer!
About 7:30 or so last night Mom and Dad got a phone call. I didn’t pay much attention to them getting a phone call—it happens all the time.
Mom picked up the phone: “Hello” then she didn’t say anything for a very long time. Since Mom was sitting next to me, and I was lying next to the fire place toasting the pads on my feet, I did hear the phone say—to repeat this message press any button now.
Suddenly Mom was jumping up, sort of stumbling over me…shish! I got up and moved out of the way. By the time I got up, Mom was over at Dad’s chair, handing him the phone. I saw her push a button and then put the phone to Dad’s ear.
Dad listened awhile and said. “This is serious!” as he hung up the phone.
He told Mom to call my oldest Sister to let her know about the reverse 911 (a 119) call.
Here is what I heard as Mom talked to Shannon—
“We just got a call from the Sherriff’s department. There are two armed and dangerous fugitives on the loose. They are two men wearing dark hoody type coats, each man has a dark backpack and is wearing camouflage shorts. If you see them call 911 immediately. Do NOT approach them, do Not try to detain them in any manner. The armed fugitives have been spotted in our vicinity. We are advised to lock all out buildings, all vehicles, the doors and windows to our house, and stay inside.”
Then Mom and Dad turned on all the outside lights, got flashlights and headed out to do as instructed. Of course I went with them. I AM the protector of the property, and of Mom and Dad.
As we were doing all this we could see down our country lane and way across the fields of our neighbor’s there were lots and lots of car lights and activity on the roads surrounding us. Later on a helicopter flew by. It was all very….unusual for our little part of the world that is for sure.
Mom made me come inside and locked the doors. “You can go out only if I am with you, Boomer. No since in you getting in harm’s way.” She said, as I bedded down for the night.
This morning everything seems to be back to normal. I checked out the lane, nothing there but the usual.
Sure was a watchful night.
Boomer
It’s been a busy week!
We’ve — meaning Mom, Dad and myself, have gone
here and there,
and then over there, and then back there.
Romeo, my oldest sister’s horse and my oldest sister came over to see us. I barked at Romeo…in the BACK of Romeo, but he turned around REAL fast and snuffled all over me.
Everyone laughed because I laid as flat as I could get on the ground. I didn’t think it was funny at all.
Let’s just say Romeo and I have an understanding…I don’t bark at Romeo anymore. There is just something rather intimidating about a HUGE horse nose sniffing all over your rather small dog body.
Sammy and I scared up a ghost one night, we were outside by the gated pipe, just hanging around, when we heard the back door open and then close. I was going to head in to see if Mom or Dad came out, but the door sounds came again, so I figured whomever it was, had already gone back inside.
About that time, Sammy scared up a couple of mice, which he and I gave a good chase.
After, that the night air was starting to cool down—I gave Sam the good-bye paw and headed back toward the house.
Just then a ghost came around the grain bins! Sam and I let out a holler, meowwwwwwwwwwwwwwww, WOOOOOOOF!
GHOST!!!!
Silly us…it was just Mom.
The next day Mom and I went to town again, when we got home…
I HAD a new yummy bone!
Sure has been a busy week!
Boomer
My sister and her husband (they live in Grand Junction, Colorado)
By the way, I have three sisters and one brother!!! They all have dogs. But this is not a story about my nieces and nephews this is a story about Love.
The kind you see on a Subaru ad…
Anyway, Kimi and Cliff were up visiting…without their dogs. I think I heard something said to mom and dad about just stopping by after spending time in Ouray, Colorado.
Personally I didn’t care what they had been doing—just that they were here.
So…
if Love makes a Subaru…
Love can also make for a really nice nap.
Boomer
The geese are back! They fly over-head honking and talking to one another. I like to sit outside and watch them. Mom thinks it’s odd that I watch them, my head tipped back, my ears pulled forward, causing my forehead to wrinkle, but I’m interested in knowing what they are saying and where they are going.
Dad has been checking out the big truck, getting it ready for corn harvest. That won’t happen for a spell, yet, maybe by the end of this month. It just depends on the moisture content of corn!
We finished the last of the irrigation. The whole alfalfa field is now ready to head into winter in fine shape.
Anyway, the corn is ripe and starting to dry down.
There are still some green leaves at the top. I run down the furrows checking out the news, nose to the ground most of the time, but I do look up once in a while. You see corn harvest is a BIG deal around here. It’s Dad and Mom’s main crop. Meaning most of the farm is planted to corn.
So every day I take a little walk out and check out the corn…when it is about time to start harvest Mom and I will go out and put the farm to bed…we will gather up all the siphon tubes and the dams moving them to safety – away from cows hooves. Its big work and I LOVE IT!!! Sometimes I stay with Mom and sometimes, well, you understand, I check for news!
Boomer
“Hurry up, Boom! We’ve got things we need to be doing!” Mom patted her leg and took off at a good clip of a walk.
Huh?! Hurry! UP!? That only means one thing… we are going somewhere!
Yep, Mom lifted my up on the back of the four-wheeler, waited a spell. Dad was moving the tractor with the loader out of its shed, which is right behind where Mom and Dad park their four-wheelers.
Then Dad took off going one direction and Mom and I headed to the Back Forty!
Soon as we were up where we were going mom gave me the talk: (I get the talk EVERYTIME, okay…Mom go ahead, get it over with so I can go do my stuff) “Don’t roll in anything stinky or nasty, Boomer. Or you won’t get to sleep inside tonight! Also, come when I call or you hear my four-wheeler start…there will be a treat for you when we get back home.”
TREAT! I love TREATS, so I really, really, really, try hard to remember to come when mom calls or the four-wheeler starts. I really do TRY hard!!!!
So anyway, Mom started doing whatever it was she wanted to do up there and I took OFF! There so many things to sniff and smell!
Fun things to look upon and interesting animals….sniff, sniff….badger… porcupine—hum, don’t go that way…once quilled is enough for me. Let’s see the swamp is full of Red-winged blackbirds…Pheasants, doves, quails…ah so much to learn ab…..
HUH!!! Do I hear Mom calling? Maybe…I’ll go in a minute or so…sniff, sniff… OH! The four-wheeler is starting up…HURRY! I got to hurry or I won’t get a treat….HURRY!!!
WAIT MOM!! I’M COMING!!! WAIT!!!!
Yumm—dog cookie!
Humm, mom is back outside and has her purse… “Come on, Boom! Let’s go to town.”
TOWN! Oh, boy! TOWN!
Gosh, this has been a great day…and it isn’t even noon yet!
Wonder what the afternoon is going to bring!
Boomer
Life on a Colorado Farm 