The Urge to Farm — Sunday, January 28, 2018

Posted on January 28, 2018 by Dayphoto

It’s been terribly dry. So dry there is huge talk among farmers of what the growing season might bring.

The talk is also all about what to grow. Corn prices are extremely low–due to many factors, but mostly because there is just too much corn stored —not only here– but in the whole world.

The cost of raising corn is outrageously high …the two don’t really go well together.

Still the urge to farm is there. Alive and well in the hearts of those who love the land and love to see the crops growing.

February is typically a very wet month. Typically. So, with that in mind, and the fact the earth is very dry Terry (and others) have gone out to ‘stir’ up the corn stalks. Breaking them down in the hopes we have lots of moisture very soon. The moisture will soften the chopped up bits and pieces help them dissolve; enriching the soil as they diminish.

This light disking (not a vigorous deep aggressive disking) will also stir up the fodder left over from the cows allowing those wonderful Canada Geese and Sandhill Cranes to find more nourishment when they land on the fields.

(This is grand MEsa to the north of us. Although, we don’t get IRRITATION or drinking water from Grand MEsa, Cedaredge and even Grand Junction, does)

So we prepare and get ready for moisture, if not right here, hopefully in those huge,

(This is a prior photo of the Paonia Mountains to the East of us…up there–somewhere– is the Taylor Park Dam)

magnificent mountains which surround us

(This is a photo from last year of the San Juan MountAin Range…to the west of us)

and for which the irrigation water

(This is an old photo of mine of the Blue Mesa Reservoir where our IRRIGATION water comes out of)

(This is the dam that is the beginning (the head water) of the water which helps fill the Blue Mesa RESERVOIR — thus the water, which comes to us for irrigation AND DRINKING WATER then on down the Colorado River clear to California)

comes from.

(Right behind us to the west and to the southwest of us is the Uncompahgre Plateau–this is a spring photo)

As you can see we are surrounded by mountains all rich is natural resources–which pass on down to town dwellers, people who live in subdivisions, gardeners, farmers, and ranchers. The life blood of everyone and everything —-water.

All the product of melted snow.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

Brilliant and Beautiful—-Thursday, January 25, 2018

Posted on January 25, 2018 by Dayphoto

The woodpile is growing somewhat thinner…leaving me with huge base chunks of tree stumps, so Terry dug out the wood splitter

Giving us lots of more pieces of wood to heat the house with. I enjoyed this satisfying bit of physical work in a thin heat of afternoon.

Later that evening, as the sun started to set…the sky became a kaleidoscope of rotating lovely colors

Coming back toward the house I noticed the sunset reflected in the Tilehouse’s windows

Pure and

Simple magic.

Your friend on a western Colorado Farm,

Linda

On a Quiet Crisp Winter Day—Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Posted on January 24, 2018 by Dayphoto

Thankfully the Canadian Geese have found our corn fields, although methinks the picking might be slim after the 196 cows in December.

Terry says he is going to disk up the cornfields soon, this will stir up the feed and knock down the stalks, which, hopefully will bring in more birds.

The day was a tad chilled, but still Boomer, Mindy and went for wee walk-about seeing what we could see, stretching our legs and filling our minds with something besides toasting by the wood stove

The Sand Hill cranes have found a lovely spot at the Upper End to rest and search among the cattails for tidbits to eat

(I didn’t let Mindy go that far with Boomer and I. We left her at the the shed with Terry.)

This is way too far for a kitty cat to go, but not to far for a beagle and a human 🙂

We made the round trip, following the farm roads by the now dormant fields, then came back home to walk down the long lane to go get the mail. While doing so I saw a hawk coming in for dinner.

The little bird lived another day, alerted by the camera snapping human, not even realizing the Black Horseman of the Apocalypse was about to descend into it’s little bird world.

Then home again, camera on one side, best beagle pal on the other.

(Yes I wear short and flip-flops most of the time. It has to be REALLY cold and/or snowy for other shoes and long pants.)

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

Look at this Stunning Photo—-Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Posted on January 23, 2018 by Dayphoto

I opened my email yesterday to find a message from a long-time blog reader KageDog, who lives in Cedaredge, Colorado.

She lives high on a hill — here is what she wrote: “Linda, I thought you might like this even though it’s not a rainbow. 🙂 Devil’s Thumb from our deck at dusk last night. Hope you are having a great day!”

Devil’s Thumb is that distinctive point way over there in the Badlands.

WOW! Really neat! Thank you, Kagedog!

Love,

Linda

The Wind Sang a Frozen Song—-Monday, January 22, 2018

Posted on January 22, 2018 by Dayphoto

After a long-icy day of snow, sleet, sideways wind, and air so chilled nothing tried to move

The storm left us with a distinct feeling of relief—the driving needles of the sideways sleet, augmented now and then with huge bursts of sleetless wind; nothing sticking to the ground

a huge chill came to today’s vast blue sky.

The wild birds are back pecking at full tilt on the feeders, making up for the fat lost by a day of hovering wherever they hovered.

This morning’s sunrise lite up the few remaining clouds and the lack of strong wind sang peace to me. Inspite of the cold.

From my world to your heart,

Linda

The Sky is Alive with a Huge Wind/Sleet Storm—-Sunday, January 21, 2018

Posted on January 21, 2018 by Dayphoto

A big storm blew in last night. The air buoyant with sleet and cold.

Late last evening we took a wee walk-about, buttoning down all the hatches and feeding the equines some carrots, and giving them lots of pets and love

This morning the sky was gray the air energetic with wind so rough it was almost hard to stand up in it.

It’s sleeting now…coming in sideways from the west…tiny little flakes that beat into your skin and feel more like hail than snow.

If you look outside the things in the distance are all shrouded and filled with mystery–the pearl-gray light making known objects look unreal

The many and varied bird feeders swing wildly in the rush of the wind…no birds clinging to the little wires…hunkered down someplace safe I’m sure.

Terry went with me on my late night walk during the night…this time we only went as far as the equipment area; the wind was too sharp and the visible whirling sleet a tad too much to enjoy the steps and strides.

So for the rest of the day we will hunker down, I will make soup, we will watch football, and take a nap…the world is full of winter today. (Which is a good thing)

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

Yesterday’s Eve—Thursday, January 18, 2018

Posted on January 18, 2018 by Dayphoto

After doing ‘not much’ all day yesterday I decided I had better get to moving and bring the firewood in for the night.

But on my way to the wood pile I felt the tiredness starting to lift from my body, mind and soul

The air was still, the sky blue, and the sun just starting to set. I had waited a tad long to ‘get busy’ you see.

I’m glad I did.

The golden light brightened the frigid air; highlighting the brown and dormant plant life in my yard.

Putting the empty wheelbarrow down Boomer and took off for a wee walk…letting the cold brighten my skin, the fresh air stripped away the warmth of the house, the tiredness which enveloped me from the start of the day until…

I went out for the nights wood supply.

Boomer and I walked a quarter of a mile, not very far, but enough — breathing in the last of the bright blue day, breathing in the gold and rose quarts glow of the coming night. The farm was beautiful in the lavender glow of the twilight sky.

Walking back toward the house the Paonia Mountains picked up that amazing color, the one which makes me feel like I’m looking at the world through rose-colored glasses.

As the day lost it’s hold upon the land, the air picked up into a faint little breeze

And the last dramatic rays of light filled everything and everyone with flush of prefect color called perfection!

From my world to your heart,

Linda

I Will Not Ask for More —- Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Posted on January 17, 2018 by Dayphoto

Yesterday was a odd sort of day for me —

Although, I had a very busy day.

Now today I am tired.

Tired enough I can’t seem to get myself moving.

So please forgive me the lateness of this post. And my slowly dragging along.

The day has warmed up from a very chilly start and I must get busy.

The sun is shining, there isn’t a cloud in the sky, and the air is still.

It short it is beautiful

I really can’t ask for more.

Tomorrow I promise to be back to myself,

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

The Cold Wind Singing—-Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Posted on January 16, 2018 by Dayphoto

Yesterday evening I had to run to town for some milk for today’s breakfast; the shadows were falling long, pink and orange, with a cold wind shaking the bare branches of trees and shivering skin.

I hurried in and then quickly started home. I HATE missing even one second of the beauty of the coming night.

Sometimes the sky makes me feel like I walk in a dream. A good dream, where life is quiet and welcoming.

Where Silence gives a sense of true unabiding peace.

Early Morning light all golden and shading toward blue, stretching until the early morning mist disappears starting another day—another point in time I hate to miss.

Today the wind is gone, the sky is a clear and bright blue.

We are extremely dry, with huge concerns what next farming season will bring…will there be enough water to plant, if not what do I plant? It’s the talk anytime two farmers get together.

It’s all befuddling.

Still there are those amazing beginnings and endings to each and every day…promising beauty and peace and hope and happiness (at least in my mind).

One second at a time…that’s really all we have.

My world to your heart,

Linda

I Have a Wee Story to Tell — Monday, January 15, 2018

Posted on January 15, 2018 by Dayphoto

I was out by the grain bins this morning coming back from a short walk-about, when I saw several geese land in the field I was walking by

I was delighted!

I have been hollering to the large skeins of geese, as they fly by, that they are always welcome here.

Now Romeo and Lady were coming on to the same corn field. As I stayed there and watched Lady the Mule walked as fast as she could to the rustling flock–walked right into the flock scattering the geese.

The geese rose up in a little tiny flutter to get out of Lady’s way…then settled down in a flurry of feathers.

Up Lady came again scattering the geese so she could pass by.

I was a little afraid the geese would all rise up and fly away, but they didn’t. Just settled themselves over a small way and started pecking up loose corn.

Then that silly mule decided she has reached the perfect spot to take her morning DUST bath. Down she went…rolling this way and that way, so hard and fast the dust rose off the ground in puffs.