Category Archives: Life on a Colorado Farm

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

Under our Western Colorado Skies—Sunday, September 29, 2019

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(From Pinterest)

Harvest is here.  The corn choppers are moving through all the silage fields now, filling silos and laying the once growing corn fields bare.

The pinto beans on our farm are all harvested, and the renters moving on to their other farms with the big combines, trucks, and tractors

Terry and I took a ride to see if the hemp is being harvested

Not yet.

I hope to see the fields harvested, but not yet.

Pinto beans, the last cutting of hay, ensilage/silage; the onions are starting to be readied for harvest.

But not the hemp.

Or the picking corn.  (The picking corn will be in October early November, depending on the moisture in the corn.)

Harvest!  What all the farmers have been waiting for.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

 

Nothing Stops for Very Long — Thursday, September 26, 2019

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(From Pinterest)

It was in this month I lost my maternal Grandfather, years and years ago… September 23, 1974, to be exact

Then my father died on September 24, 1999

Odd how these two giants in my life (and in my Mother’s life) passed away in September.

For some reason, maybe this fact, of the two deaths, of men who shaped me, September is a tad bit of a sad month.

I’ve been missing those who have gone before.  All of them. There seems to be so many, taking their peaceful loving selves to other places unknown.

I miss my best friend, the sister of my heart, we were babies in blankets together.  Friends until she also left for places beyond the veil.

Sometimes, like right now, I wonder.

It feels like I can still hear these souls I’ve loved. I feel them touch me, I hear their voices in the wind, their song singing loudly in the stunningly bright skies.

Watch them walk past me; the leaves catching their silhouettes

Loving me still; as I love them.

From my world to your heart,

Linda

 

 

Vanishing for a Time — Wednesday, September 25, 2019

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“You know you have read a good book when you turn the last page and it feels like you’ve lost a good friend!”—Paul Sweeney

The air warmed up causing Terry and me to crave a little magic in our day

Everything was done, or at least to points whereby we were tired of doing them

So we loaded up and took off

(game camera photo by the game camera I have up to take photos of raccoons 🙂 )

Nice!

A Special little God-given adventure!

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

 

Gossip Talk Loud and Clear —-Tuesday, September 24, 2019

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“The Best Teachers are the Ones Who Tell you Where to Look, but do Not Tell You what to See.”

In the Fall the Crows and Ravens arrive

They are amazing creatures…never holding their tongue.  Talk, talk, talk, there among the tired and worn leaves.

For, if they know it! They tell it!

CAW!!!  CAW! CAW!

Gossipy birds! 🙂

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

Thanks to the Gods Who Create the Creatures —- Monday, September 23, 2019

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“I Really love that feeling when you finally find out why that book got its Title!’ Unknown

We have a beautiful young buck roaming our yard at night

The game camera I set up to capture photos of the raccoon’s; captured this wondrous creature

Moving through the flower beds, his coat shimmering in the camera light

The gracefulness of his delicate and slender strong legs, the chiseled planes of his face, the long tufted ever-moving ears are delightful to behold.

Unbeknownst to me, Boomer followed the bucks tracks.  (I didn’t know until I checked the camera.)

Thankfully I can enjoy this creature and not be upset with him…I have planted all things deer don’t like to eat.

Now raccoons, let me tell you they enjoy lots of things in the yard…the apricots, the pears, the cherries, the prunes, the wild plums, the apples, and my tomatoes!

Just say’n. 🙂 🙂

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

 

Returned—-Sunday, September 22, 2019

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“After reading a good book I have a hard time coping with reality.” Unknown

Early in the morning, Stephan, one of the kids renting the farm, stopped and came in for a visit

He wanted to let us know that the alfalfa fields were ours once more.  Their contract for three cuttings had finished.

So, as the sun warmed the day, and before the winds generously swept across the farm

Terry and I went out to start the irrigation water in the fields.  It is not good to have the alfalfa go into winter dry.  Nor, does Terry try to get a fourth cutting.

This allows fields to put on nice growth.  After which the cows will have grazing and the plants will be healthy come Spring.  Not stressed.

We were pleasantly surprised that Stephan picked up all the siphon tubes in the pinto bean field, readying those fields for harvest, protecting the tubes, and helping us get the farm ready for winter.

Stephan also picked up his tubes so Terry and I had to jocky some around to begin the water in the alfalfa fields.

It was a lovely surprise those gathered siphon tubes. They returned the land as they found it.

Terry and I commented to each other; that it felt really nice to be back out on the land.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

 

On a Fine Autumn Day —- Thursday, September 19, 2019

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Yes, I feed the little wild creatures

It’s my lure.

A wee win for me

A delicious and marvelous treat

Dazzling eyes and tummies!

Creating a bright winter stash

During the long dark winter days.

From my world to your heart,

Linda

In the Sun and Clouds We Worked—Wednesday, September 18, 2019

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We were over working on some fencing needs

Off and on all day yesterday

We were in the rich pastures

And along the bottom of the hillsides

Back and forth, checking fences, bringing things needed to repair them, bringing trash back home

It was a good feeling to be out in the golden world,

The air was spiced with the mix of weeds, wild alfalfa, and corn pollen

The sun warmed the day and a cooling breeze kept us refreshed

The air is full of sounds of fat pollen-covered bees, nasty grasshopper wings, and the fluttering of butterflies.

Then over-head, in the middle of a large color muting cloud, was the first of the big winter birds; the Canada Geese!

Winter is not far away now.

Welcome Back You Big Beautiful Birds!

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

There Arching Across the Sky —- Tuesday, September 17, 2019

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Off and on for a few days, we have had clouds, then splatters of rain, or nothing,

Just beautiful clouds.

I’m still painting in the house.  I, now, have the back porch, the kitchen and the fireplace room painted.

I need to rest my shoulder for a few days before I start again.

Last Sunday I received two gifts, one from my daughter, Kimberly, who took the photo

Of a double rainbow as we were all driving home from the Black Canyon

Then another one from her husband, Cliff; I received that same evening.

Very welcome Rainbows, perfect blessings of magic.

From my world to your heart,

Linda

 

In the Search of Shadows — Monday, September 16, 2019

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I went about for a few days looking for shadows

They were not hard to find, as long as one, timed the time correctly

They were here and there, giving pleasure just by looking

(Boomer asked me if his shadow really was that fat.  I told him the shadow was, that is all 🙂  ) 

The fullness of Summer is now long past

Time rushing by like the sloughing of a wind

The light is mellow, no longer a brilliant gold

The shadows deeper

Bringing a chill with them in the early morn

Each day the sun rises later and sinks quicker

With a growing coolness to the air

Promising soon, real soon, hang on…it won’t be long now…until frost descends on the land.

From my world to your heart,

Linda