Sail Along Silver Moon– Thursday, December 4, 2014

Posted on December 4, 2014 by Dayphoto

The moon is rising late in the day,

It’s not a completely full moon yet, but it’s getting there.

By six in the evening it’s dark here, but the moonlight casts beautiful silver light illuminating the corn field. Boomer and I don’t even have to use a light to drive back home from the combine. 🙂 A gift from nature.

I got these photos on Monday. I was hoping on Tuesday I could get better ones since the moon would be fuller by then. Of course high thin clouds started drifting in–by three in the afternoon the high thin clouds had turned in to thicker heavier clouds that promised rain or snow. CROSSED FINGERS —-go away moisture…go away…we are just getting good and started —hiss, hiss!!!

Anyway, I was glad I got a photo of the moon on Tuesday!

Your friend,

Linda

A Small Set Back—Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Posted on December 3, 2014 by Dayphoto

The first thing we had a small set back…the starter failed. (Well, not the first thing, the first thing –just before light–Terry took the corn down to the elevator. Arriving back around 11 a.m. was the first time he could get back into the field!)

That is what happens when you use old equipment, although Terry does keep them in good working order you just never know when some part is going to break. The kids laugh because we have a ‘herd’ of combines. That ‘herd’ comes in handy every now and again! 🙂 🙂

Boomer and I went out to help him…(it’s one reason he keeps other combines around…for parts). My stead…just incase he needed me to pull start him. Usually I go out on the four-wheeler, but with something broken down you just never know. The loader is also a good place to carry parts and chains (if you have to pull, say—a combine.)

Then an hour later…every system was go! The second load of the day left at 1:30 for the elevator. Gradually, gradually this corn is GOING to turn into a paycheck!

Keep on smiling…two more weeks to go!

Your friend on a western Colorado farm in the middle of corn harvest,

Linda

Underway–Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Posted on December 2, 2014 by Dayphoto

Thank you so much! All your magic thoughts and your crossed fingers (and toes) and prayers have worked!

We are underway! The corn measured 14.6% with the first load and 13% with the second load! YAY!

The line wasn’t too bad; thirteen trucks when he showed up the first time and only 6 the second time. When he called this morning there were 8; it’s good to be close to the front of the line when you first drive in. Very good!

It only takes two hours to load the truck, but four hours to unload. 🙂

This time of year this type of corn is all used for animal feed, although it is the same corn that can be used to make cornbread or breading for corndogs. Our elevator is strictly for animal feed—dairy cows, chickens, sheep, beef cattle and hogs. Although, there are different mixes that go into feeding each type of animal.

The sweet corn…the kind that you buy in can (tins) is harvested from July until the first of September. This corn—sweet corn is also the corn that is eaten fresh right off the cob.

For us, our corn harvest is our main crop of the year…we have the most land tied up in the production of this crop. Corn prices are dismal this year, so next year Terry is thinking of raising more pinto beans and less corn. If he does that the Pinto Beans will become our major crop. (if he continues to farm…every year he says he is done, every spring the itch to get out on the land drives him back. Every year I wonder if it is going to be the last year…the reality is I really don’t think he can give up the farming—but we will see.)

For this year, and for now, the corn harvest has truly begun!

Thank you so much for your support!

Your friend,

Linda

Once More–Cross your Fingers and Your Toes–Monday, December 1, 2014

Posted on December 1, 2014 by Dayphoto

Daily we check the corn…riding out on the four-wheelers to get samples from all the fields. Samples on the ends, samples in the middle…then THERE IT WAS…the moisture content said…”Give it a go!” So we did!

Down the rows he went

Opening the driest field

Filling the truck with red/gold corn

Because it was the Thanksgiving holiday and the Elevator was good enough to stop and let everyone have a break….we parked the truck under the car port

Where Monkey-the -cat spent lots of her time checking to see WHY the grain truck was close to the house and not out by the barn.

Silly cat!

Gradually the sun started to set filling our skies with a purple haze

It was stunningly beautiful,

Unusual and gorgeous all rolled into a swiftly darkening day

Terry left for the Elevator at 5 this morning…when he called he was 13th in line and more arriving. It’s 9:00 a.m. right now and he still isn’t home. He will be lucky to be here at noon.

Keep your fingers and toes crossed, send prayers and magic thoughts, please that this load passes and we are out-on-the-land until all the corn is in!

Your friend,

Linda

The Sounds in the Sky—Sunday, November 30, 2014

Posted on November 30, 2014 by Dayphoto

Even as I write this the sky is loud with the sounds of the Sandhill Cranes (above) on the east of us and the Canadian Geese on the west of us! Both species group together in great numbers, filling the air with distinctive cries...the Sandhill Cranes have a rolling sound

the Canada Geese sound close to their calls but more honking in tone.

The Sandhill Cranes are staying in the field just above ours, but across the canal…there are hordes of them. I wish I could have gotten a good photo, but it just wasn’t possible. When I’m outside and both species are flying the sky is full of sounds.

The Canada Geese seem to be on the Buttermilk Creek…spending the night (it really isn’t safe down there—coyotes and big cats and other types of predators also live around the Buttermilk. But so do Mr. Davis’ cows and calves. The geese flock close to the cows, then in the morning rise up and head toward Delta and Confluence lake and the two rivers that converge there—The Gunnison and the Uncompaghre.

I’m sure thankful for the birds; makes the dreary days a little bit brighter. We also have fun little hordes of brown birds, of which the Junco seems to be a part …then the big hunting birds…Owls and hawks, ravens and crows. The birds of winter—there are more, but for today I share with you the Geese and the Cranes.

Your friend on a Western Colorado Farm,

Linda

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone—Thursday, November 26, 2014

Posted on November 27, 2014 by Dayphoto

Wishing each and everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. For those who do not celebrate the American Thanksgiving, I wish for you a day of Thanks for the blessings and gift of another day, another year, another joy.

Your Friend on a Western Colorado Farm,

Linda

The Clouds have Left–Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Posted on November 26, 2014 by Dayphoto

Oh the joy of a sunny sky! Albeit a weak wintery sunny sky, but still storm and cloudless!

I’ll take it! The temperature is even a small bit warmer! I dance for joy!

Today Boomer and I will walk right after lunch and enjoy the high point of the warmth of the day…we will walk down all the corn fields and over toward the hay field. Which reminds me, today I really need to take the four-wheeler out and gather up all the siphon tubes….sunshine and warmer temps flood my soul!

I also need to finish up all my Thanksgiving baking…now THAT is going to be a chore, because the out-of-doors is calling to me!

Your Friend,

Linda

Where to Find Canada Geese—Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Posted on November 25, 2014 by Dayphoto

I find it interesting the Sandhill Cranes are taking over the farms and the Canada Geese

Are hanging out down in town by Confluence Park/Lake and the rivers.

Terry and I ran to town to see how long the line was at the Elevator (to unload the corn) and we ran into to masses of Geese

Masses! 🙂 It made me smile!

Look at all that fertilizer on the road….can you just imagine what the grass and banks of the river looks like?

We liked having them in the fields just for that reason. But now the Sandhill Cranes have come (I’m not complaining); and the Canada Geese have left—it is extremely rare to see the two species in a field together. If you are lucky enough to have those beautiful birds on your field I’m sure the fertilizer is just as much and just as big—if you want to know. 🙂

Thank Heaven for winter birds…they are a bright spot in rather dull days!

Linda

Storms and More Storms–Monday, November 24, 2014

Posted on November 24, 2014 by Dayphoto

The weather people were right…storms and more storms following each other right on each other’s heels…

Our neighbor got his corn field baled just at the miserable winds arrived. Although, the loose corn leaves would not have bothered us, it would have made a huge mess for the Church of the First Born on the corner by the corn field.

The the rain and the sleet descended blocking our view. That’s okay, the corn fields have blocked our view until just last week. 🙂

Then the flurries started bringing snow to the foothills of Grand Mesa, the Uncompahgre Plateau (Un-come-pah-gray), and the area of the Black Canyon, and rain to us.

Sunday was a good day to sit by the fire!

Last night the storm left and

another one arrived around 4 in the morning. The sunrise around 6:30 was a promise of more storms—which is true, it’s snowing as I write this.

Later on today we will travel out and gather more corn for sampling the moisture. A tedious routine now, but necessary. Just as soon as the meter hits 14% the combine will roar into the life and the big orange truck will find it’s way out to the proper field, waiting for the corn to be loaded into the back. As soon as the bed is full, the truck will head down to the Elevator…hopefully! That’s the plan anyway. Finger’s Crossed and Magic thoughts we can start again (I think I’ve said that at least two times before this time…shish!)

Your friend on a very cold western Colorado farm,

Linda

Checking it Twice—Sunday, November 23, 2014

Posted on November 23, 2014 by Dayphoto

Some of you have asked if the corn is tested at the elevator…for it looks like unscrupulous souls could just truck in wet corn and drive away laughing, if the workers at the elevator didn’t check.

You are so right!

The new combines all have computers in them—monitoring everything from the time the seed is put into the planter to when the corn is harvested. The operator knows what the moisture is when he puts it in the truck. BUT it doesn’t matter what the farmer says the moisture is…it matters what the workers at the elevator say the moisture is. They are the last word…it is their product once it goes out of the truck into the silos. Depending on the size of the truck probes are inserted into the load and samples of the each and every load is taken before the corn is approved for purchase.

YES! there are always those that try to slip in a wet load….but they always get caught and the word is out on them. Who wants that type of reputation?

Our combines are not computerized (at all); we use a moisture meter at the house. Sometimes Terry drives samples on down to the elevator, but mostly it’s done here.

The best time of the day to take the test is in the afternoon, before the sun starts to set and the air starts to chill down. We –Terry, Boomer, and I drive to all the different fields and get two or three cobs to test from each one in different locations of the field.

The cob is shelled and then dumped into the tester, if we get a consistent count (14%) we are good to go. (Dry corn will take on the moisture of wet corn raising the moisture content within the truck bed–so we aim for the 14%).