Corn is Made—Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Posted on September 13, 2017 by Dayphoto

After much checking and checking and more checking Terry has decided that the corn is now made

All the signs are there

The husks are turning golden

The silks no longer bright and shiny

When the animals try to bite into them the kernels are hard

We made it!

The growing season is done.

Although, we are NOT over yet….

The pinto beans are drying…big fluffy plants

The new fall field is soaking up the water..

The alfalfa is really growing, but it won’t be cut again. Four cuttings deplete the plant going into winter. (For us anyway)

Slowly, slowly, the summer is dwindling down…sinking into that hugely busy time called harvest!

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

Between One Lift of a Wing and the Next—Tuesday, September, 12, 1017

Posted on September 12, 2017 by Dayphoto

These bright Autumn days are full

We had an overnight visit from our Grandson…he is getting TALL—5’11”

Tally came for two days and two nights

Then the last load of hay

Left…1,500 bales all cut, stacked, sold and gone! YAY!

Terry’s sister and brother-in-law came for a couple of days

The hydraulic pump broke, went through the fan and pushed the fan into the radiator..sigh!

Of course, there is always the water to change

Life is busy, but still good.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

With a Great, Deep Breath—-Monday, September 11, 2017

Posted on September 11, 2017 by Dayphoto

It’s constant now…that checking of the crops… are they made? Is it time?

We can’t take the water off too soon or the little seeds will not be at premium fullness.

As for the pinto beans….

In the wee early pause, between shadow and sunlight. as the sky paled toward sunrise

While the dew filled the plants, making them pliable and soft Terry headed out to begin the harvest of the pinto beans.

Then, when the sun filled the air, and the western stars started to fade…I went out to take photos.

Terry will work until the dew starts to dry up…then he will stop and start again the next pre-dawn day.

I’t important to pull the plants up from the ground, while they are cold and damp, so the pods do NOT shatter and spill the beans all over the soil.

Then we wait. A week, maybe more. All the time continually checking. Making sure the timing is right…. soon. Very soon…we will be hauling pinto beans to market!

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

I Wrote Audubon —- Sunday, September 10, 2017

Posted on September 10, 2017 by Dayphoto

First I wrote to ask if this was the right place to ask what typed of hummingbird was in my yard —“I have never seen this hummingbird at my feeder. I have been feeding the Hummingbirds for 8 years now, and know the type I have here (I have seen Broadtail, Calliope, Black-Chin, and Rufus…for sure) But this one is new to me. I was hoping you could tell me what type this one is.
I took the photo on August 20, 2017 Here on our farm, in Delta, Colorado in our back yard.”

Linda

******

“Hello Linda,

Many thanks for the interest in the hummingbirds in your yard there in Colorado! I’m sorry for the slight delay responding here–we are swamped at this time of year with taskings for the Citizen Science team, and the Admin mailboxes for all programs are not able to receive the attention we would like.

You should be able to attach a photo to send to us here–a number of people have done that over the summer so far. Then hopefully we can help you figure out what was visiting your feeders.”

Thanks and good birding,
Geoff

Geoff LeBaron
Christmas Bird Count Director
Audubon Science

The Christmas Bird Count is now free to participate.
Visit www.christmasbirdcount.org to find out more.
Please consider donating to support the CBC:
www.audubon.org/GiveCBC

“Hi Linda,It’s hard to be completely sure, but it looks like what you had there was a female or hatch-year Calliope Hummingbird. They would be moving southward by late summer, and I know when I used to spend time in Southwestern Colorado near Pagosa Springs this was the time of year that Calliopes would come through.

Thanks for sending the pictures, and I hope you’re having a great birding year in 2017.

Best wishes,

Geoff

Well, I guess this is what I have! I only saw her one day. But one day was a gift!

Here is the What is This bird FB page

The answers were mixed so I decided to go to Audubon!

Thank you one and all for your help in this little quest to know what type of hummingbird stopped by!

Your friend on a western Colorado Farm,

Linda

Feathers of Air and Light and Color— Thursday, September 7, 2017

Posted on September 7, 2017 by Dayphoto

A tiny movement of color

Shining like stars amid the flowers

A spirit of air, sunshine and wings

Shimmering in the light like sparkling waves on water

A whisper

On little wings

Love,

Linda

I Thought You Would Like to See—-Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Posted on September 6, 2017 by Dayphoto

“Movement is a medicine for creating change in a person’s physical, emotional, and mental states.”–Carol Welch

I thought you would like to see where we are in the new building

All done by Terry

And some random help from me—

the would you get me, hand me that, help me lift this up….sort of help.

The real stuff

All created by him!

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

Color Poured Over Us —– Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Posted on September 5, 2017 by Dayphoto

“August has passed, and yet summer continues by force to grow days. They sprout secretly between the chapters of the year, covertly between its pages.”— Johnathan Safran Foer

The horrible fires here in the west

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Are wrecking havoc on all the wonderful trees, homes, and lives of people—although the news is not mentioning anything about them.

Our skies tell the story….clouds running thin and high or even slackening veering off to other places … leave only the smoke to color the world

We work under that huge orange orb; evening, noon, and

Morning.

Although, there are no fires right here. There is testiment, in the skies, of the horror others in the west are experiencing.

The sun, like a torch (which it is) throwing masses of color into the air…speaks volumes of the terror stalking those in the burning west.

From my heart to your world.

Linda

The Last Day of August—Monday, September 4, 2017

Posted on September 4, 2017 by Dayphoto

On the last day of August we had a thunder storm! The clouds roiled and thundered, but dropped only a smattering of rain.

But we still received a gift of light

Making the sky look like we were in a globed crystal

The light strobed through the dark and dreary cloud, rippling upwards through the raindrops, then grew brighter as it arched through the heavens

A great prism of color! Shouting it’s incredible beauty for anyone who saw!

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

Single Notes — Sunday, September 3, 2017

Posted on September 3, 2017 by Dayphoto

Single notes, following one by one—

Everyday things are happening… moving soft-footed throughout time, from daylight into nighttime shadows

The bird migrations are in full movement now…less and less attend my hummingbird feeders, most of the spring and summer birds have left; leaving only the Barn Swallows. I dread the day when they rise up in a body of one, dancing all together in the sky…then…gone—leaving behind a stillness a lack of chatter, and a loss, of their busy swooping as they feed.

Our oldest daughter sent to me these two stunning photos she took at her work in Grand Junction, Colorado

In the pause of utter stillness after the storm…Rainbows.

The air is cooling now…everything is starting to beat with single notes; the song of Autumn in the air.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

A Sea of Yellow—Thursday, August 31, 2017

Posted on August 31, 2017 by Dayphoto

From a long-time blog reader, Onefly: “This is hard to pinpoint, but it’s 65 miles north of the New Mexico state line and 50 miles north of Trinidad,CO, with Taos,NM 100 miles south west over the wind turbines.”