Traffic Jam—Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Posted on January 6, 2015 by Dayphoto

You honestly don’t see this much here anymore. Most of the time the shepherds and the cowboys truck their animals from one pasture to another.

BUT if the need to move to a pasture just a short distance the animals are driven there.

Terry and I were on our way to Grand Junction, Colorado, when we ran into about 300 sheep around Camel’s Switch! It was a hoot to watch the dogs working the sheep.

To give you a tiny idea of cowboys herding cows here is an older photo of the cows leaving our place for a pasture just down the road. Moving cows has the romance of ranch life all wrapped up in herd—cows, horses and cows boys!When I was a child sheep and cattle drives were very common. Often times children were let out of school to help drive the cows up to the pasture on Grand Mesa (I went a few times) or to gather the cows in the fall and bring them down.

Sheep were moved from one orchard to another in the winter…(Shepherds Walk WITH their flocks), many a time my brother and I would leave for school in the morning and come home that evening to sheep feeding along the trees in our father’s orchards. Overtime we would head out to school then come home to find the sheep had moved on…to a back orchard or to a neighbors. Sheep were perfect for mowing down all the weeds between the trees and along the ditch banks in orchards. They were short enough they didn’t eat twigs from the trees and always hungry enough the orchards were void if ladder binding weeds when it became time to start pruning the trees before spring buds appeared.

Watching the animals move ALWAYS makes me think of that old song RAWHIDE!

Keep movin’, movin’, movin’,
Though they’re disapprovin’,
Keep them doggies movin’ Rawhide!

Move ‘em on, head ‘em up,

Head ‘em up, move ‘em out,

Move ‘em on, head ‘em out Rawhide!
Set ‘em out, ride ‘em in
Ride ‘em in, let ‘em out,
Cut ‘em out, ride ‘em in Rawhide.

Wasn’t it Clint Eastwood that starred in that tv series?

Anyway, most ranchers and sheep people move by truck now days. Head over to the post about this happy photo. (I came upon this cattle truck one day way back when I was still working. Just click the blue lines to go to the post. 🙂 )

As a side-note…the guardian dogs were having a great time DOING NOTHING!!! Hahaha, tehe! It was all up to those hard working border collies.

There were three guard dogs and there were EVERYWHERE! They checked out every smell, peed on many a bush, walked down the train tracks…trotted into yards. They were having a DELIGHTFUL TIME!

Just so you don’t think the border collies (four of them in the back, two in the front) had their noses out of joint (my maternal grandmother’s saying 🙂 ) they DID not! They were having the time of their life pushing those sheep along!

I think it is safe to say…I enjoyed every minute of being ‘stuck’ (I use this term very loosely) behind a fast moving flock of sheep!

Your friend on a Western Colorado Farm,

Linda

Housebound—Monday, January 5, 2015

Posted on January 5, 2015 by Dayphoto

Feeling a tad housebound Terry decided that a short walk to hook-up the fence down by the head gate (for the next farm) would fix the problem.

Starting at the electric fencer each strand of wire was checked and re-hooked–working around our farm yard; gradually making it to the gate at the end of the pinto bean field. This is also the head gate (for irrigation water) to the next farm.

Sunday we try to only do those things that MUST be done. But, sometimes the air inside starts to feel closed in an way too warm.

Still feeling like we just DID NOT want to go back inside Terry and I finished up the cleaning of the grain bin. We swept up two buckets of corn, cleaned out the tubes and hooked up all the doors and vents. (Boomer wanted very much to help…but doggie toes on the mesh floor was NOT a good idea.) Then we took the two buckets of corn and flung it out into the ditch to feed the quail and pheasants—the mice and song birds—and yes, any deer that might trot along looking for a nice winter treat.

When we finished our slight chores I noticed that the sun was setting; breaking through the clouds in a tiny rim along the Uncompahgre Plateau. What a joy to see even that tiny bit of sunshine.

This morning the sun rose causing the thin clouds to turn a brilliant red…another joy for a winter’s day. This color is rare, rare, rare in the pale frozen time of winter! I sang a song of happiness when I saw it!

Now, as I sit upstairs in my little office, looking outside I see the thin clouds have become thicker and typical white/blue colors that mark each day have arrived. Today Terry and I will continue to work on the fences and do all those every-day things we each must do.

I am also sending to each and every one of you warm thoughts for a perfect Monday, filled with pleasures and happiness!

Your friend,

Linda

Saying Good-bye–Sunday, January 4, 2015

Posted on January 4, 2015 by Dayphoto

There are so many ways to say Good-bye—so many.

When a life passes on to the ‘other-side’—where that is we will never truly know until we also pass over…the tangible pieces of every day living are left behind. “You can’t take it with you,” is a very true statement.

Rick’s brother and sisters respectfully asked Terry if he could/would come help them with the gathering of Rick’s assets and collections. Farmer’s always have collections, you know. It takes many pieces of this and that to keep things running.

So down the road Terry would go tractor and loader at the ready.

Another neighbor, Shea’s brought over the trailer for Terry to load the equipment for the ready of Flower’s Consignment Sale the first Saturday of February.

Saturday other friends and neighbors arrived— a community of men helping the family complete Rick’s life on earth.

Yesterday they finished. There is something so sad in the thought that one life is finished. The farm house will be sold- a new family will move in excited to begin life in the country- the equipment will go on to someone delighted to have it, and the personal items sorted and delivered to favorite nieces, nephews and cousins. Although gone, the memory of Rick will stay alive in everyone thoughts.

Saying Good-bye.

Even in death people pull together to make one last gift to the person who has gone on.

Your friend,

Linda

The Pause—Saturday, January 3, 2015

Posted on January 3, 2015 by Dayphoto

Winter colors are always so soft and muted. They lend no warmth to the land…none.

While the colors of summer blaze forth and simmer in intense bold shades of red, orange and purple

Springs hues are all fresh and new…the new green of leaves as they unfurl, the sprigs of bright green grass showing up among the dry shades of winter brown, Either-Way Fall’s golden flames shine forth from the brilliant trees to the bright blue of the sky

But winter…pale and cold and frigid.

Surrounds everything in the color and feel of snow

Wind relentless in its fury picks up the snow and flings it burning and biting into anything it touches

The colors of winter…blue, lavender, pink and white. The colors of silence, of waiting, of hunkering down, resting….

Your friend on a very frozen farm in western Colorado,

Linda

Right on Time–Winter’s Chill–Friday, January 2, 2015

Posted on January 2, 2015 by Dayphoto

The Sunday after Christmas a strong winter storm made it’s way across the Utah border and onto the the Uncompahgre Plateau (Un-come-pah-gray accent on the pah). We watched it slowly fill in the canyons and draws, skimming the tops of the mesas until it started to push it’s way into the Roubidoux Canyon. Once in the canyon it’s just a matter of a fast wind before it hits us. We are the first mesa after you leave the canyon…you can see the flat lands below us (we are the last farm on California Mesa – just before the flat lands which drop off into Roubidoux Canyon.)

Monday morning the kids headed back in a snow storm, leaving well before the storm stopped.

By afternoon the Uncompahgre Plateau was white and we had about an inch of snow. Today we we have about and 1 1/2 inches— not a lot of snow. But what we do have is COLD!

That typical cold, which freezes your skin the minute you head outside. Your air puffs white and steamy as you breathe in and out, in and out. With conditions just right you nose even freezes shut. Sure is a nasty feeling.

Boomer and I still go walking late at night. The moon is almost full now, which allows me to walk without a flashlight—-although I do take one with me.

The air is crisp and full of sounds. Sounds carry far in cold air…I can hear the coal train going through Delta on it’s way to Utah, I can hear the neighbors cows from over in the hollow, and the sound of cars and trucks passing way over there.

Boomer and I walk along …he smells all the news along the way, I see the foot prints…bunny, mice, birds, deer, Sammy the cat’s paw prints, and other canine prints…dog? Coyote? Wild dog packs? Cy-dogs? I don’t pause to decide what I’m looking upon. Lots of our neighbors allow their dogs to roam the farms (never a good idea–a dog chasing livestock is sure to be shot).

When the chill starts to be too much we head back toward the house and the heat of the wood fire. Boomer settles back down for a long winter nap. After filling the wood stove I like to sit by the window watching the frozen world full of white/silver moonlight; the cats sit with me–Sammy on top of the sofa and Monkey in the window. We all stare outside marveling at the mid-night beauty of ice, snow, and sparkling white moonlight.

Your friend on a very frozen farm in the western part of Colorado,

Linda

2014 in Review—Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Posted on December 31, 2014 by Dayphoto

It’s always fun to see what the WordPress site says in their annual report each year. Some of you will find this stupid, but I always find it very interesting. So for those of you (like me) who like this sort of thing—here is my annual report for the 2014 Year.

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

The Louvre Museum has 8.5 million visitors per year. This blog was viewed about 90,000 times in 2014. If it were an exhibit at the Louvre Museum, it would take about 4 days for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

Your Farm Friend from Western Colorado,

Linda

Back to Normal—Tuesday, December 30, 3014

Posted on December 30, 2014 by Dayphoto

We are back to normal…our children are all back at their homes- our house is empty and lonely.

Boomer did really well with all his dog company– Puff Cake (this photo is from this summer as he was taking a nap have a hard run while irrigating) came and stayed with Boomer.Shannon brought up two of her six dogs to hang out for a spell—Rocky and Black Beauty (sorry no photos), which added to Boomer’s joy.

I’m very behind with my comments and blog visiting, but I hope to get caught-up today!

Thank you all for stopping by and visiting. The photo and video of the cougar that GNan sent was just stunning!

We have Mountain Lions here…

many a time we have walked down the ditch bank and saw paw prints in the mud. Thankfully we have NOT met the ‘in-the’flesh’ cat.

Those big cats also hang out at Confluence Park in Delta..(the food source is rather plentiful there) The city has placed signs along the walking paths to be aware of the Cougars in the area and how to defend yourself if you happen to meet one.

Anyway, today is getting us back to normal…Terry is hauling the next to the last load to the Elevator and I’m putting up the Christmas stuff. Then when Terry gets back with the truck we will load out the very last load of corn from our Butler Bin into the truck. He will either haul it today (you have to be there before 2 in the afternoon) or he will head down the first thing tomorrow morning.

We are so grateful for the call to take every last kernel of corn we have…who cares if it has to be there by 2 on the 31st. The gift of having this year’s crop delivered and sold in this year is HUGE!

I hope this post finds all you doing well and ready for 2015…it’s almost here!

Your Friend,

Linda

Mountain Lion Video from a Blog Friend– Sunday, December, 28, 2014

Posted on December 28, 2014 by Dayphoto

Mountain Lion

Cool mountain lion sighting from this morning near Roxborough Park, in Colorado, sent in by Gnan P.

GNan sent me this photo that she shot out her bedroom window. She said I could share it will all of you.

Wildlife up close and personal!

It was posted on the Denver News …go here to see the whole video!

Your western Colorado Friend

Linda

Merry Christmas –Thursday, December 25, 2014

Posted on December 25, 2014 by Dayphoto

We are wishing each and everyone of you a very Merry Christmas this year of our Lord 2014!

I have enjoyed getting to know you through this very humble blog. The gift of your support and cheers through our struggle to get the corn in was always a hearting experience when I read your comments each day.

Your HUGE kindness when Boomer and I lost that most wonderful Dog–Fuzzy Dude—words can not say how much I appreciated your sympathy.

Thank you to those of you who also have blogs, and allow those of us who visit, a tiny peek into your lives. From here in Colorado, to England, Canada, the orient, Turkey, South America, Africa…the whole wide world—I am most grateful to know you!

Merry Christmas from the Brown Farm in Western Colorado!

Terry and Linda

Joy in the Small Things–Christmas Eve, Wednesday, December, 24, 2014

Posted on December 24, 2014 by Dayphoto

The elevator called and asked if Terry wanted to bring in all the rest of his corn…they were a tad short and could use it—the catch was it has to be there before December 31st.

“You bet’ya! And Thank YOU!” Terry replied and headed out the door.

We loaded up the truck in a bright (YAY FOR SUNSHINE) brittle cold, with a freezing wind straight off the snowbanks.

But who is complaining? This year’s crop all sold THIS year!

Thank you for your concern for Rick and his sister’s. It will be a hard Christmas this year for them. Yet, also a blessing—no longer is Rick in any pain. The funeral will be Monday.

Everything always works out for the best, my Momma used to say. And you know what? I do believe she is right!

Merry Christmas my friends!

Linda