It rained off and on all day and well into the evening yesterday. Bringing with it a chilly cool down. (Although, it didn’t stop the boys once, or even slow them down on what they were doing.)
Heading into to town to take them to the Rec Center for swimming and basketball
We saw a wonderful site in the sky
Since I was driving Bladen took these for me. He knows how much I love collecting rainbows.
Love,
Linda
Zack, Blade’s first cousin on his Dad’s side (their dad’s are brothers), is also spending the week with us!
Yesterday Terry and I took the boys to Ouray, Colorado, to go swimming. This morning they were up bright and early to go to open weightlifting at Delta High School, after which they are putting together a pool party for the Rec Center this afternoon.
They are both fourteen, so I have picked up and dusted off my ‘drive the kids here and there’ skills. It’s diverging from my daily routine, but I love it.
Our house smells like pizza, hot pockets, and other teenager food…the sounds of potato chips crunching and pop corn popping. Surprisingly they are not pop drinkers. Water only. (Sugar is not good for athletes, I hear. 🙂 )
Tomorrow they will (again) head to open weightlifting and then I’m sure there will be other plans for the afternoon.
Some evening Terry and I will challenge them to a Miniature Golf game or two. In-between all of this, Terry always likes to compete with them in a game of dominos.
Of course, there is always their IPads to fill in any down time. For Terry and I , there are short little cat naps.
Your friend with a house full of laughter!
Linda
Yesterday morning, around nine o’clock, we got a phone call from our grandson—“Come I come spend several days with you?”
COULD you come?!?!
OH THE JOY!
“Okay, we will be there about three this afternoon”!, he explained.
Three o’clock! For seven days! Seven days of happiness and joy—(for Grandpa and I)
Several “snap chat” calls later, we took this fourteen-old-boy to the Carnival in Delta
Where he met his old group of friends,
from Delta when he went to school here
When he got out of the van I was stunned to see how much he has grown. He is now as tall as I am.
Today his cousin is coming to stay with us. Two boys! Two FRESHMAN in high school, filling the upstairs with boy things…clothes, ipads, cell phones…all sorts of stuff. At some point we will take them to Ouray, Colorado to play in the water.
Terry and I will challenge them to a Domino’s game or two.
His cousin doesn’t get to spend the whole time with us, but there are other kids in the neighborhood Blade will want to see…then we will take them to the rec center and drop them off, at some point there will be miniature golf game or two…I’m sure there is a movie that will need to be taken in…it’s not just about seeing grandparents at this age, but getting to see old friends.
After all His grandpa and I want him to have the best of time.
Love,
Linda
There it was — a tiny little rainbow starting to take shape. It was precious, although short lived; the clouds quickly covered the sun taking the beginnings of a rainbow with it.
As we were heading back to the farm yard a rain chute dropped down on to the land, across Highway 348, and the sun dropped passed the dark rain cloud into it’s resting place for the night —
In doing so, the brilliant ending of the sun caused the sky to light up with that special glow; illuminating all the dark corners of the earth, the sky and within the soul.
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
Nothing stops for very long. (Getting ready to cultivate)
There is always something to do. The work begins in that strange dawn light, called First Light. That time when the light just starts to swell and become real.
The work is solitary, but not lonely
There is always something (here he is going to knock down the dirt so the plants come push through)
Planting the last of our crops, the pinto beans. The type we plant is Bill Zee.
And always, always there is the water to change…morning, noon and night….and sometimes at mid-night.
I do NO tractor work, but Boomer and I always help with the irrigation.
Wind, rain, sun, and in the shredding of the night, called Dawn
or the slow leaving of the sun’ dominance of the day
We are there. Moving together as one.
From my world to your heart,
Linda
We finished up the last set as rain clouds played over the Uncompahgre Plateau, and in the canyons, between us and Grand Junction, Colorado
The air was like walking through a hum of bees…the ozone strong enough to be felt on your skin.
It had rained earlier, creating a slick mud on the earth, but only one layer deep.
When the air is like this it give me a sense of intimacy, as though my soul is flowing out to mingle with sky.
I was thinking how I would love to transport you here with me…sometimes photos are just simply not equal to the experience.
It was then I looked down, walking where I had walked many, many times before, when I saw it…
I took it home, washed all of the dirt off then took a photo for you. (I realize, now, I should have taken a photo of it right there, mud covered and all, but I didn’t)The earth had given me a heartbeat…one to share with you; my friends.
From my world to your heart
Your friend, always
Linda
If ever I leave You—You will find me here. Somewhere ‘out here’ where you can hear the dark descending upon the land.
The busy day full of humming bees, sky of blue, and puffy white clouds, the temperature hot and the air full of the fragrances of all growing things.
(How we let ourselves know that the water didn’t make it to the end of the row.)
Standing on the ditchbank Terry and I watched a huge lighting storm flashing over Kebler Pass between Crawford and Crested Butte.
If ever I leave you…please stand still…listening… for I will be here. On this farm where the land, the sky, and air speak to me.
From my world to your heart.
Linda
The heat has arrived! The sun started the day with a promise of warmth..of air smelling like Iris, Columbines, roses, and pink daisies.
I woke feeling ever so creative and full of energy that I took upon myself a staggering amount of work: clean in the basement, mop the floors in the kitchen, bathroom, the back porch, wash all their windows, clean all the cupboards and cabinets, and refrigerator, oh, yes and scour the stove.
Work in one flower bed: weed, prune, deadhead, etc. Painted two of the garden benches.
While I’m at it —why not try three new recipes I’ve been wanting to try for some time
AND….start making paper. (Something I’ve been wanting to do for—ever)
By the middle of the day the heat was sucking down into the earth, causing the soil to glow and simmer and Terry and I to do so right along with it!
It was still hot when we went for the last set of the night, but starting to cool down. (As a side-bar note–I really love the heat; it’s the cold I don’t care for.)
When we finally got back home after the last set (9:30 p.m.) I was obliged to admit to myself— I can not work like that anymore.
I have to pace myself…I was way too tired. I may have been able to work like that a few years ago, or even last year. But not this year. From now on I’m going to ‘save’ some things to do later. There really isn’t a time clock on my work. The only real time clock exists with the plants on the farm and in my yard. Everything else will wait.
And if people come and the house needs dusting, or the windows washed, I hope they understand—-somethings will just get done at another time.
Besides…I’m sure it’s okay. I never go see someone’s home, I go to see the people who live there.
From my world to your heart,
Linda
“A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart.”—Unknown
Each one of you have touched my heart in some way, every day. From heartfelt comments, to joyful celebrations on your blog or through your comments on my blog.
For that I thank each and every one of you!
This came in the mail today! A glorious canvas photograph wall hanging. all the way from Canada. (If you would like– hop on over to Linda’s blog. She lives on a huge ranch in Alberta, Canada. Just click on the blue lines and you will be taken there. 🙂 )
I am so humbled by all of you!
From my heart to your world,
Linda
We’ve been busy the last several days.
First was the planting of the new alfalfa field, followed by
(just as soon as he got off the tractor) irrigating that field. ( We are still a tad cold early mornings)
Then came our largest field….now planted to pinto beans! (We water it first, let it dry a bit, then plant)
After which we loaded sweet corn into the planter and headed up to my sweet corn spot.
Almost done!
We finished up the new irrigation of the alfalfa field (the seed is so tiny we plant and then water)
About 9:00 p.m. we started the water on the Middle Field.
We were setting water drenched in an amazing sunset!
The whole sky seemed to flame in vivid yellow and orange!
The bright light flared and drained from the sky
Leaving a tiny afterglow.
No matter where you live, I’m sure you will agree with me how amazing nature is.
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
Life on a Colorado Farm 