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

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

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.

Romeo just looked at her twisting and rolling—-and walked right on by like a bath of that nature were not for him (today).

A short little pleasant story, to start the day.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

 

 

Today is the Last Year of a Decade—-Sunday, January 14, 2018

Today I have entered into the last year of the sixtieth years of my life.

Today I am 69.

 All those many seconds, minutes, hours, days and weeks of my past has come together allowing me to live for one more year upon this amazing, beautiful, stunning earth we all call home.

Each day has brought with it a true sense of satisfaction, in the (now) era of old age.

I am ever grateful for all that I have, for Terry, our children and grandchildren, and for each of you— my friends.

The world can seem like place of suffering, but it is also a place of healing…it’s all in the way we choose to look upon it.

No greater joy is there, than being given each and every day to experience life to it’s fullness.

Thank you for coming along with me on this amazing journey called everyday living.

Love,

Linda

 

Our Part of the World —- Thursday, January 11, 2018

January 10th we had rain!

Moisture falling from a pale gray sky

Beautiful and wet!

We took the day off and went to Grand Junction, where we learned they also were experiencing this wonderful phenomenon…Moisture!

YAY!

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

 

 

 

Sometimes They Run Crazy—Wednesday, January 10, 2018

196 cows!  Gradually over the month of December the 100 head of cows grew by 96 more

Lots of cows!

Many cows!

As with cows…there are always those ‘clever’ ones who are NOT afraid of the electric fence

Many times in the last week they were here Terry and I had the privilege of putting them back in

Not just in the daytime, but nighttime also

After several times of chasing cows

Running through the night

The enchantment of the cows wore off quickly.

Come Saturday morning, just before noon.  The rancher and his crew arrived

Off they went to another farm on Falcon road.

Regnegade cows—just like regnegade people, chickens, dogs, cats exist anywhere!   🙂

Your friend on a western Colorado farm!

Something Strange This Way Came—-January 9, 2018

For several days we had thousands of Canada and Snow Geese landing in the field next to our house

They were ever so much fun to watch, listen to their calls and hear the rustling of their feathers as they searched the field for corn.  (We don’t own this field)

Then, either late Saturday night or early Sunday morning — all under cover of darkness

Stick figures appeared in the field.

Of course the geese didn’t land there—thinking these represented danger

Then during the night Sunday or under cover of darkness Monday morning the figures were gone.

We think it was some avid hunters trying to get the thousands of geese to fly to whatever field they were in so ….. well, you know the rest of THAT story.

Anyway…

(This is an old photo, but I loved the colors)

The geese are long gone…only flying over the field, not landing.

I stand outside and call to them as they pass over-head—“You can land on our farm.  You are most welcome here!”

But they fly on.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

Sunlight Creeping Slowly — Monday, January 8, 2018

We were fogged in all night last night, until a wee while after sunrise

A white mist curling through the darkness into the light

Touching everything remote and close, making the world look beautiful and unreal

The silver air chimes softly, as the sun climbs over head…

Although (still) not warm enough to melt the hoar frost (it’s ten o’clock in the morning) the very air seems to peal and cascade like ascending and descending notes of a harp.

Cascading, singing, praising the beauty everywhere.

From my world to your heart,

Linda

An Icy World Arrived—-Sunday, January 7, 2018

Although it’s nice and warm inside, outside the winter day of a typical January has returned.

Last night we had a skiff of ice transforming our extremely dry land into sharp shards of miniature ice.

A stiff wind is shaking the branches of the Blue Spruce adorning our house and fringes of ice are slightly dripping off our metal roof.

There really wasn’t anything to call snow, but it is a moisture of sorts.

I’m not surprised

While working outside Thursday, we (Terry and I)  saw a Sun Dog.

In three days time (the sky prophecy announced) cold weather will descend.  Even colder weather than you are experiencing right now.

But what did surprise me…is there were two Sun Dogs in the sky!

That evening (Thursday) as the shadows turned to deep blue, the sinking sun transformed the sky into an amazing burst of light; I could see the snow clouds gathering way over on the Plateau.

By Saturday night (after a beautiful day of sunshine) I could breath cold in the air…colder than normal.

And I hoped some much needed moisture.

We got some, enough to settle the dust in the air, and damped the soil.

That’s better than nothing.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

 

The Perfect Stillness of Golden Light—Thursday, January 4, 2018

My brother and his wife, Cloudy, live in Boulder, Colorado.

Cloudy was walking downtown one late afternoon when that golden hour just after sunset occured

Cloudy said she stood and took photos in all four directions—north, south, east, and west in the graceful, soft hour before the coming of dark.

I loved the photos!

Cloudy graciously shared them with me, so I could share them with you.

This perfect solitude amazing color,  in the heart of downtown Boulder.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

Cradling Warmth—Wednesday, January 3, 2018

We are cold today.  So cold it’s painful to walk out and about doing the things needing to be done.

Although it isn’t a cold without noise.

Which makes me happy.

I have been thinking and thinking of what I want to do this year…I no longer make Resolutions–they seem so negative…a take away of sorts.  So of course I can never keep them.

 

I have reached an age where I don’t want to ‘take away’ but to add into my life.

Every morning I read my favorite blogs and visit my friends on FaceBook,  happily touching their lives, when I came across Connie’s post for the New Year. 

It’s stuck with me for days.  She picked one word….just one that would help her strive toward the things she is interested in achieving this year.

So I’ve decided to follow her example and pick one word—

My one word for this year is Resolve.

I want to resolve so many things—finish cleaning out my house, yards, around the farm buildings;  getting rid of ‘stuff’, either through selling it or giving it away.

Resolve to see anew objects that have grown familiar and share these new found things with you on my blog.

I would be incredibly happy to finally resolve two family lines in my genealogy.  My Dad’s side — the Doyles.  And my grandfather’s on my mother’s side — Thomas.  I have been stuck for 48 years on those two lines, moving them beyond into the place where they all crossed the pond would be a huge accomplishment.

I would like to use this intention (Resolve) to approach so many things; not resting and hoping I will ‘find the time’ to do this or that, but that I do it!

Time (at my age) is now like a twilight wind; I want to enjoy, love, experience and share each moment to the fullest!

And, yes, I want to continue sharing with you—this tiny piece of life on a farm.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda