The Fox Returns January 26, 2014

Posted on January 26, 2014 by Dayphoto

Well, I know for sure we have a fox in the yard. He tried to be a fox in the hen house, or even the poultry house last night. Stuff like that makes me really mad.

Although, I have Night guard lights surrounding the poultry area, he was sitting by the wood pile. Hollering at me…more than likely hollering at the poultry! Now I have to very diligent because once a fox finds out you have yummy food, just for the taking, they will show up day or night.

One time I was out raking by the hen house, the hens were pecking around close to me, we were all talking and having a good time getting the yard cleaned up— when a Mother Fox zoomed in, grabbed a hen right next to me and ran off down the lane. I gave chase, but the fox is many, many, many times faster than I. I’m sure the hen was great food for her den full of kits!

Anyway, I turned all the outside lights on and ran out the door faster than Boomer and Fuzzy with my flashlight yelling at it to “GIT!” Of course, that worked for the moment.

Like I said I have to really be on the look out during the day (which means keeping the dogs outside) then putting the poultry up early, before dusk really. I’m hoping I can keep everyone safe until the fox starts to find much easier prey.

The sky was a blaze of pink last night. Stunning really! I stood outside a long time and took too many photos. I truly enjoyed standing in a color so pink that everything around it took on the same shade.

Your friend on a Western Colorado Farm,

Linda

Hauling Junk January 23, 2014

Posted on January 23, 2014 by Dayphoto

Yesterday we started on the clean up of the equipment area. The first to go is the old grain head, plus a bunch of other stuff that we piled into the back of the pick up.

Terry did all the work, I just drove the tractor to and fro. There are just somethings I draw the line at–things that could smash something, wreck something, in general get me yelled at and make me feel doubly bad.

It works out perfectly this way.

Then early this morning, while the ground was still frozen, we hauled the scrap up to Montrose, Colorado.

Those huge machines up there are always rather exciting to see. This machine picked up the extremely large grain head like it was a piece of paper.

Done! The only green spot in the whole pile.

Now we start loading up stuff for the consignment sales. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but the time has come.

The setting sun was wonder last night. We have not been having any clouds for days, but a few blew in allowing the dying rays to bring warm colors to the winter sky.

You Farm Friend,

Linda

Weeds January 22, 214

Posted on January 22, 2014 by Dayphoto

You are looking through one of the ugly weeds that grow taller than Terry’s head (he is 6’2″ tall) has a billion tiny seeds (you can see their little casings still left on the branches). Just a small, ever so slightly touch will send the seeds cascading through the air and down to the ground waiting for SPRING! Kochia-Chenopodiaceae of the Goosefoot family a noxious plant.

The above is on our neighbors’ farm’s fence…I work diligently to keep this stuff from growing within the farm yard. The farm itself is on it’s own. The stems get 4-5 inches around when in full height. It’s a bugger to chop down once it’s at that height. Lots of people just let it grow, die off from the freezes, and let the wind shift them here and there and everywhere…sort of like tumble weeds. Although, these don’t tumble.

Once more this is a plant that originated in some other country—ASIA, introduced to Europe and then carried across to North America as a wonderful, delightful, ornamental for the back of someone’s flower bed.

I’ll bet they regretted the first year they they planted it.

This plant is one reason I wish we still had cows. Cows love it, so do sheep and goats, but only in the early stages of growth, once it gets ankle high the plant is safe.

I’ve been out trying to gather and destroy this dried up weed, although the seeds have already spilled. I can at least get rid of the stalks.

It’s also a good time to get rid of any and all winter annuals….cheat grass, for one.

Of course, if you are living in that horrible winter storm and deadly arctic air, you aren’t thinking of weeds.

Here we are way too dry and way too warm for this time of year. It is really scary — one half of the USA is freezing and the other is drying up.

Prayers and Magic Thoughts, with crossed fingers, for everyone to be safe and warm and dry in that huge winter storm. Here I offer the same for water to quiche the ground, fill the reservoirs and provide drinking water.

Your Friend,

Linda

Skunks and Winter Birds January 21, 2014

Posted on January 21, 2014 by Dayphoto

Well, the skunks are awake. We’ve been warm enough that the skunks have come out of their semi-hibernation. One o’clock in the wee morning, really nighttime, our farm was inundated with skunk perfume.

Gag!

Terry thought the dogs must have stirred one up; not our dogs as they were sleeping inside.

I got worried about the poultry so the dogs and I headed out to see if everyone was fast asleep and safe! They were. I have Night Guard lights on the house, but one never knows what a hungry critter will risk.

The poultry house is extremely safe, locked door, cement floors, wooden walls — still I like to make sure those things that are in our keeping are secure.

They were.

The smell was horrid…lasted until morning when the air shifted as the day warmed up.

That evening, when I was gathering firewood for the night, a string of birds (I couldn’t tell if they were Canada Geese or the Sandhill Cranes) lifted up from a field about a mile from us….very swiftly they flew closer and closer to our farm, forming their v, on their way to some other corn field for the night.

These birds sure do make winter bearable. I love watching them as the stream across the frozen heavens, calling loudly to one another—gather up, gather up, we are heading over there, come fly with us….come fly.

The sounds fade as they get further away. I then load my wood and head back to the house. The winter shades of pink, lavender and shadowy blue fading into dusk.

Your farm friend,

Linda

Memories January 20, 2014

Posted on January 20, 2014 by Dayphoto

Although, my brother and I grew up on an orchard in Eckert, Colorado, our father owned and operated a gas station in Delta. He ran this gas station until I was fourteen then he sold the business but continued on with the orchard.

That’s Daddy, Lester Allen Doyle, standing on the bumper of his cousin’s cattle truck. John Doyle and Bill Hamilton (both cousin’s) owned and operated a cattle trucking business.

At this time Sinclair and all other gas stations were full-service gas stations—meaning they would wash your windshields, check the air in the tires, check all the fluids in your car and fill the gas for you. No woman’s gloved hand ever touched a gas pump nozzle; not when I was a child!

The best thing I remember about those times were getting up with Daddy before he left for work….he always got up at 4:30 in the morning, then he left for work around 5:15 to have the station opened and ready for business at 6 a.m.

We lived in Eckert, but the gas station was in Delta…the county seat and the largest town in our county.

Often times Daddy never got home until 8 p.m., closing the doors to the station around 7. If I didn’t get up in the morning I just wouldn’t have seen him until Sunday. Sunday every business closed, it didn’t matter what type of business.

Gradually over the years, the business grew so he could hire help, then he hired a manager, and he took over the deliver of the bulk gasoline and fuel oil and diesel. Gradually that increased so he had two trucks and a helper. Momma did the books for all the businesses.

In the summer my brother and I would ‘go to work’ with our Mother, spend the day at the office with her. This meant we would walk down to the library, check out books (four at a time) come back and read. We also took toys to play with. Our Dad would get us big boxes we could make forts and houses and ‘stuff’.

Ahh…memories!

Your friend,

Linda

The Letter G — January 19, 2014

Posted on January 19, 2014 by Dayphoto

The Show and Tell date was changed from Friday to Thursday afternoon. Since we have this ~~tremendously busy~~ free schedule Thursday was a perfect day.

Right at 3 O’Clock we arrived, checked in, got our Visitor’s Badge and headed on down to the classroom.

The classroom was fun, bright and full of about twenty Kindergarten children.

Clap, Clap, the teacher called everyone into a circle…it was now time. The first little boy brought a Star Wars toy… At first he was so scared he couldn’t remember the name of the toy…just one question from the surrounding kids and his face lite up and the excitement spilled out as he explained all about his Star War character. I can’t remember his letter, but I do remember his shining bright eyes!

The next little girl brought a pony—Rarity from My Little Pony-for the letter R. She told how much she loved this pony and hoped that someday she could own a real My Little Pony.

Then it was Tallen’s turn…up we went…Grandpa on one side, I on the other…she gave Grandpa a hug, kissed my hand and looked at all the kids and FROZE!!! The teacher then had to ask her questions…why are they here…G for grandpa and Grammy. Okay, and thing else…silence…Grandpa said he had on a GREEN shirt…a little boy yelled for G! Then I whispered to Tally that she could pass out some G’s, which brightened her face–the teacher then asked Tally to explain what she was passing out–not shy now she said-glitter G’s with Gummy bears! Everyone got one.

Then it was time to line up for the bus. Tally got to leave with us…another treat!

That was our day at Kindergarten—a delightful fun fifteen minutes with shinning faces and eager smiles!

As Always, your friend

GRAMMY
(Linda)

The Alamo, The Steps We Take to Growing Up, January 16, 2014

Posted on January 16, 2014 by Dayphoto

My Momma was a Texas girl raised in New Mexico. Her Momma, My Love Grammy, and all her sisters and brothers were born in Texas and still lived in Texas. (Except for Gram and Lois). My Grandfather was also a Texas boy, although born in the last land rush of Oklahoma, but raised in Texas.

Every year of my growing up we went to Texas for part of the summer. The year Walt Disney produced the movie DAVY CROCKETT it was smitten with the history of the Alamo. I wanted to go! I begged and asked, and probably whined…in general I was probably very irritating.

My wonderful great aunts and my hero great uncle Fred and my fun great Aunt Marie (we stayed with them at their ranch in Junction, Texas) told my parents they would take us to San Antonio to see the Alamo.

From: Junction, TX To: San Antonio, TX

(Google maps)

So we all dressed up (back then all women wore hands, gloves, and hose, even little girls had gloves and hats) got in Fred’s big car and made the almost two hour trip to the ALAMO!!! I was soooooooooo excited.

Not only was I going to get to see the Alamo, but I was going to get to see a real picture of Davy Crockett! Of course it didn’t enter my mind that the REAL Davy Crockett wasn’t the same as Fess Parker. I just knew he was going to look just as daring and handsome and wonderful as Walt Disney could ever portray him!

There a many things I remember about that trip…how hot it was. How old the Alamo looked, the many displays of the battle…being allowed to stand and stare all I wanted at whatever I was interested in…and how UNLIKE Fess Parker looked like the REAL Davy Crockett. (I laugh about that now.)

It was the ‘opening of my eyes’ that if you see it in the movies…it just might not ALL be true. It also told me that history really was a real thing and even today you can make it come alive. I think this was the step that turned me toward studies of history and genealogy.

Momma gave me this photo when I was about twelve. I’ve kept it ever since…just to remember the Alamo!

Your friend,

Linda

The Moon in January – January 15, 2014

Posted on January 15, 2014 by Dayphoto

Before I begin today’s post I want to THANK each and everyone of you for all of the wonderful Birthday Wishes! I am so blessed to have such a large group of blog friends! You have blessed me with so much, I do treasure you friendship!

The moon has made its month long journey back to being full! Just in time to help me celebrate my day of birth!!!

According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac today, January 15th, is the day of the Full Wolf Moon: (Full Moon names date back to Native Americans, of what is now the northern and eastern United States. The tribes kept track of the seasons by giving distinctive names to each recurring full Moon. Their names were applied to the entire month in which each occurred. There was some variation in the Moon names, but in general, the same ones were current throughout the Algonquin tribes from New England to Lake Superior. European settlers followed that custom and created some of their own names. Since the lunar month is only 29 days long on the average, the full Moon dates shift from year to year.

• Full Wolf Moon – January Amid the cold and deep snows of midwinter, the wolf packs howled hungrily outside Indian villages. Thus, the name for January’s full Moon. Sometimes it was also referred to as the Old Moon, or the Moon After Yule. Some called it the Full Snow Moon, but most tribes applied that name to the next Moon.)

Since we don’t have wolves here (in western Colorado—that I know of) maybe we should call it something else?)

Anyway, the moon was delightful once more. The dogs and I walked, without a flashlight, although I always take one with me, sometimes the quick turning of of light will scatter whatever is out there away.

Once more I humbly Thank you!

Your friend on a farm in Western Colorado,

Lindath

Today is My Birthday January 14, 1949 (2014)

Posted on January 14, 2014 by Dayphoto

Today I am officially a Medicare recipient. Said like that I feel O.L.D.

But I really don’t feel old. I’m sometimes surprised when I see myself in the mirror: “OH! Why that IS me. Hummmm I don’t feel like that person,” is the glancing thought I give myself as I finish washing my face and going about the day.

Sometimes I am struck by the beauty of my grandchildren’s little hands…Bladen’s long nimble fingers, Linkin’s busy, always busy, doing something hands, and Tallen’s sweet little baby hands that are quickly turning into a 6 year’s old.

I see those hands and reach out to touch them…. mine with years of work on the backs, fingers sort of bent and crooked from old-time injuries, and the hard and lumpy joints starting to show up where my thumb meets my wrist. There are many years between us…those bright-eyed wonders waiting to experience the world and myself and Terry. We have reached the age of wisdom and ability and true hard-knocks education — they are still at the age they know the world is big and they have much to learn and to give to it.

Terry and I have the privilege of knowing we get to pass on to them —the memories of us. The other stuff is up their parents. 🙂

On Friday Terry and I will become Tally’s show and tell—for show in tell she has to bring something that starts with G… she decided on GRANDPARENTS! Terry and I want to take something to give to all the little Kindergartners that starts with a G…we are still thinking on it. If you have ideas we are open!

Anyway…today at 4 minutes to midnight I will enter this world. 65 years later I’m still going strong!

This is an old photo! I posted it on my 60th birthday…I love the colors! A celebration in the sky!

You farm friend,

Linda

A Home on the Ditch — January 13, 2014

Posted on January 13, 2014 by Dayphoto

While we were checking on the equipment Terry wants to take to the up-and-coming consignment sales we also checked on the condition of the ditches and the gated pipes.

We are just checking, making metal notes of what needs to be done in the spring.

Outside of the typical shove and heave of the winter ground everything looks pretty normal…a little work here and there, dirt needs to be hauled in over at this spot, we want to put in the next set of the transmission pipe. By the time we got to the last ditch next to old Apricot tree we were feeling pretty good about the spring (ditch) work load.

Then we saw it! Squirrel holes, complete with path to and fro. Now you must understand that I really like squirrels…I love their fun approach to life, their naughty little antics and their cute little faces.

What we don’t like is when they make their homes in the side of the ditches. Since they make many holes (the main door, and at least four other doors) they turn the ditch into a sieve.

We will let them finish out the season here, then just before we turn water down we will block everything up. Before we do so we will watch the hole and make sure they are gone, how many are in the hole and how many holes we have to deal with. The best way to move the critters on is moth balls—spread a layer of mothballs at the mouth of all the holes, (but one) allowing the family to escape. (The smell drives them out) Once gone…it doesn’t take long –one day at the most— we cover the holes, turn the water down and the season begins.

I have thought long and hard about posting this, but decided that I will anyway. Ground Squirrels in Colorado and other states are not a protected species they are considered pests. We try hard to be good stewards of our land and the creatures that live on this land, even if they are considered pests. Please don’t leave an ugly comment we do care and we do take strong humane measures to protect our wildlife.

(Fuzzy, Sammy the cat, and I draw a line a mice…sorry…I just can’t support mice populations in the buildings or the equipment or getting into my house. If they want to live all over the farm out on the land, good for them, but around the buildings…well you get the picture. Also, if you are a firm believer in saving mice populations please don’t leave me a nasty comment I will just delete it.) 😦

The storm flew out yesterday riding hard on freezing winds. The sunset strung itself across the western sky lighting up

The ‘dobies and Grand Mesa

Gradually the day darkened; still the pink remained. As I watched I wondered if those that live in Eckert and Cedaredge could feel that pink light surrounding them. Possibly like looking through ‘rose-colored glasses.”

Your Friend,

Linda