The evening skies are just lovely…the colors warm and dramatic
Sometimes the colors even look hot, although it is cooling down by sunset.
My 4-wheeler is broke, the part comes in today. It will be nice to have it back…walking in the heat is rather ‘smashing’…you come back home feeling two feet tall. 🙂
Enjoy your days and evening, my friends!
Your friend,
Linda
To some working on the land is lonely. Only you and the sky and the earth. But to me (and to Terry) it isn’t lonely.
There are plants who need our care and plants
we despair of (the nodding thistle, lovely but a huge nuisance).
Light floods the air and heat shimmers up off the land. Just to glace upon the brilliance is to think there is nothing but silence there. But it isn’t true…the song birds fill the air with music and bugs (the good bugs and the not-so-good bugs).
The new momma deer and her brand new little fawn scamper close to us, not afraid. They are many generations of deer, who have lived here safe. We feed them so they stay out of the crops. They do their part and eat at the pastures.
The thought always runs in the back of the mind…’my this is pretty. I feel so tremendously blessed’…all the while acknowledging the inadequacy of the word blessed.
Your friend on a western Colorado Farm
Linda
The heat is ferocious–late July and early August heat. Bearing down and smashing one into the ground. Still I’ll take it any day over the long, dark, cold, and dreary days of winter.
Anyday!
Years ago I saw these beautiful flowers growing in my Mother-in-law’s yard. She was ripping them out and tossing them in the trash heap.
“Oh, what are those beautiful plants”? I asked her.
“Scotch Bluebonnets”, she replied. “You don’t want them, they spread like weeds.”
“Oh, but I do! May I have a couple of shovel fulls to plant in me yard?” I replied with shinning eyes!
“Honestly you will NOT want these things” she said in disgust, as she put two shovel full of starts in a cardboard box for me.
I hugged the box to my chest and placed it very carefully in the trunk of the car. “Thank you!” I cried. “I’m sure I will love them.”
“Don’t thank me”, she very tiredly replied. “I guarantee you will not like them, in the long run.”
I can assure you, many, many, years later…SHE WAS RIGHT! I do NOT want these invasive weeds masquerading as flowers. Horrid plants! Just HORRID! They are everywhere in my yard, in the grass on the lawn, in every flowerbed, along side the ditches—-ugh!
Every morning the earth, the sky, and the air seem so fresh and alive. If one stands still surrounded by the chirps and chitters of all the birds; stands outside and is very still. Still in the mind, not just the body, still so your soul can hear—the voice of the earth will speak loud and clear.
It seems that the rocks and the trees and even the soil underneath your feet is waking refreshed and eager to start the day.
As the day ends and night creeps along our mesa; lengthening it’s way toward the west; I can sometimes feel the sweet song of bedtime flowing down deep within the earth.
Today is Sunday. Today we only do those things that MUST be done…today we rest and enjoy the fruits of the past week, preparing for the new week.
I hope each and everyone of you have a good Sunday, my friends!
Your friend on a western Colorado Farm
Linda
Our stupefying heat has broken! Yesterday a big storm blew in, crashed around and blew out–no real rain. But right behind it was cool air! Enough cool air to feel like an early fall day! It isn’t, but it is a nice.
This little Swallow was a little puffed up this morning waiting for the sun to break through the clouds.
We have been seeing lots of the Gambel’s Quail in the hollows and valley’s along the hillsides of the farm. This one was trying to keep us from the nest!
Boomer and I saw Ruth the Wise Owl…she was waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay over there, that’s why the photo is so blurry. Boomer bayed at her. She did not respond.
Then there is this lovely (does anyone know what type of bird this is?) I have several living in the old cotton wood tree in the yard.
Terry and I are just about caught back up…only hay to haul and wood chips to scatter on in my yard. Sure is a good feeling. The ditch rider cut the water back, we will have to change water more now and not be able to set as many rows. It can all be done, it just takes time.
I hope each and everyone of you are having a perfect summer day.
Your friend on a Western Colorado Farm,
Linda
I am sorry about not being able to post yesterday…the internet was down. Sure was frustrating!
Anyway, it’s back up today, for which I rejoice greatly!
We are racing madly here. Everything came together all at once—the pinto beans needed watered, the corn needed fertilized and cultivated, and needs water —the hay needs hauled in from the last field, and the water sat on it. (Not to mention weeding in my yard –two more huge beds to go—helping a tad down at the other house…clipping hedges and other yard work–ironing and straightening up my house, mundane things but necessary.)
The days are just not long enough 🙂 🙂
Although, we get up at 4:15 and then finish around 10 at night, there always seems to be something more needing done.
Don’t read bad into this —————— I LOVE EVERY MINUTE OF IT!!!
We hauled hay until too dark…Boomer and I picked up the loose bales and broken bales and Terry hauled in the loads.
It was miserable hot yesterday…my car said it was 111*f (43.89c) when I ran to buy groceries for the month. That’s HOT!
Around 8:30 or 9:00 p.m. it looked like a hail or rain storm broke over Peach Valley. It was just too hot not to develop some sort of activity in the heavens.
Today we are still in the same race…although, we are gaining on the pinto beans (the beans are up! YAY!) with the water, the small corn field is wet, and cross all fingers, Terry will get the big corn field fertilized and cultivated today-then we start water on it tonight).
Two more days of hauling hay and that will be over. Then, if it rains, all is well.
Although, we are busy; it’s a good busy!
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
Yesterday was the Summer Solstice…the longest day of the year!
Now we start losing daylight hours…we start going backwards! At least that is how I feel.
Although, we don’t just suddenly jump from summer right into the dark and dreary winter, it’s a process…a rather nice one. We will still have warm (hot days—it was 104* yesterday) and lovely sunshine. 
I just know that winter is looming —shudder!
For now I’ll not think about it and relish in these lovely hot days!
I hope you are enjoying the perfect weather, where ever you might live.
Your friend,
Linda
I miss you very much, Daddy!
Linda
We have had Bladen here for the week. It’s been a full and busy week having a 13 year-old, very energetic boy staying with us. (We feel so very blessed.)
(We went from a cool rainy time to a suddenly HOT 100* -37.77 c– all over night. Time to cut the alfalfa!)
I have had my lawn mowed, the edges cut, and a variety of other things done, which cut my work load in half. There have been rides to get the pinto bean seed with Grandpa, then many trips out to the field to take the bean sacks to Grandpa— so Grandpa could plant them. Then a trip out to bring Grandpa home for supper or lunch, or to gather the pinto bean sacks from the edges of the field.
But all work and no play makes life very dull.
So a fun evening with Uncle Evan and Auntie Jolyne playing a game occurred.
Cousin Zack, (Blade’s Dad’s brother’s son) came and spent the day (yesterday) with us..swimming in the afternoon, ice cream with 8th grade friends, and a round of miniature golf. (All withOUT grandparents hovering around!)
Terry and Blade have been staying up ”’WAY”’ late watching American Ninja Warriors. Since Zack spent the night it was guys night watching the amazing feats of the competitors. (Going to bed early can occur at their own homes. 🙂 )
Zack will go back home this evening, but not before more ‘cool’ things happen. Life at Grammy and Grandpa’s should be extra special don’t you think?
We will pick up Linkin on Saturday (she has been at camp) then we will take the kids and meet their parents half-way Sunday afternoon.
July the kids will be traveling with their parents, then in August we will have Linkin for a week.
Every moment is one cherished!
Your friend,
Linda
This is my grandmother, on my father’s side, recipe.
If you make this in a small batch they will store in the refrigerator for up to 6 weeks.
My grandmother always water bathed, but the process does make them soft. (they will darken and get softer). I’ve even tried soaking the cherries in slack lime (like you do for pickles), although I still didn’t really like the results.
Today I rarely can them.
This recipe is for one pint-sized jar. You can easily double or triple the recipe if you wish to make more at a time.
Makes just 1 pint-sized jar
Ingredients:
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups fresh cherries
To each jar you may add:
1 small (or piece of) cinnamon stick
4 whole allspice
I always add:
1/4 tsp. almond extract
In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine water and sugar. Heat until sugar is dissolved, stirring gently.
Set aside and let cool to room temperature.
Add lemon juice and vanilla and stir again.
Wash cherries, leaving on the stems, if you like. I usually don’t since I never pick the cherries with the stems. I have to hurry to beat the birds.
Pit the cherries by hand. A cherry pitter will destroy the whole look of the cherry.
Add the cinnamon, allspice and almond extract to each jar, if you are using. I have made them all ways, but always love have the extra almond extract.
Fill your jar with the pitted cherries, leaving a 3/4 inch headspace.
Pack the cherries in tightly without smashing—you want the cherries to stay whole.
Pour in the flavored syrup, leaving a 1/2 inch headspace.
Use a knife and VERY gently go around the edges of the jar to dislodge any bubbles
Wipe the rim and place on the jar lid.
At this point, you can store the cherries in the refrigerator for up to 6 weeks or water bath process them for longer storage.
Either way, the flavor will take at least 3 days to soak into the cherries and then they are ready to eat.
Water Bath Processing: For long-term storage, process the pint-size jar(s) in a boiling water bath for 20 minutes. I don’t know how to adjust for your altitudes.
If you want me to email you the recipe, let me know.
As always your friend,
Linda
My Sour Cherry THICKET (yes, I have a thicket—I made one on purpose. You see we need to keep the sides of the canal from eroding—lots of trees create lovely roots that hold the bank together.) is starting to produce.
Lovely sour cherries! Perfect for pies and homemade maraschino cherries, sauce for ice cream and jellies and jams.
I must pick a little every day, since that is how they ripen.
I try to pick first thing in the morning. Then those, which ripen during the day the birds may eat. I have to be fast…very fast! The Robins and Red-winged black birds and all the hordes of little brown birds, the Starlings and doves sit in the the pear and apple trees screeching at me telling to me to SCRAM!!!
I talk to them as I pick…’settle down. I won’t be here long. Just long enough to get some for us—it’s polite to share, you know…’
They share, but grudgingly, very grudgingly. The second I pick up my two buckets and head to the house the call goes out—SHE IS LEAVING! Hurry, we have to get as much as our tummies can hold! The tree limbs shake and shiver as the masses descend.
I won’t get tons and tons of cherries, because I do have tons and tons of birds. But what I do get will be just enough for Terry and I, and to serve for special meals come winter.
Your friend,
Linda
Life on a Colorado Farm 