It Happened Last Night

Posted on August 8, 2012 by Dayphoto

My four-wheeler didn’t want to start last night so the dogs and I walked up to the middle field to help irrigate. I have to go slow as Fuzzy just can’t walk fast but he does so ever want to come along.

We were taking our time, Fuzzy and I, Boomer was searching out something in the corn field.

To get to the pinto bean field by Misty’s we must go through two corn fields, to get to the pinto bean field where the water is flowing. We need to walk along the bean field by Misty’s and our largest corn field, it’s a walk, but not bad and one I have done more than once.

The evening was starting on, the day had been hot, and Fuzzy and I were taking our time, when I suddenly knew…

a shift has occurred with our time.

Something about the air, the look of the sky, how the plants feel and smell and the soil underfoot–if I didn’t know better I would have thought that this evening, this walk through the crops, was an evening in September.

There was just that sort of feel about it.

I stopped and checked an ear of corn…the kernels are starting to dent…

When I got to the first bean field I noticed that there are yellow bottom leaves showing up everywhere

The weeds even look fallish…

Goldenrod is in full bloom and the rabbit brush is blooming

All the farmers and ranchers around us are saying the same thing…something is afoot…everything is about three weeks early.

Will we have an early freeze? Are we going to have a hard winter?

Who knows only time will tell.

But last night, both Terry and I, felt a subtle shift on farm.

Linda

I Just Have to Share

Posted on August 6, 2012 by Dayphoto

This looks like a repeat of the last post, but really it isn’t. The day clouded up in the afternoon and then we saw showers playing across the Uncompahgre Plateau.

We had been sweltering in the middle of the corn field hoping some clouds would come in from somewhere.

When they did they blocked the sun which cooled us down, even if the rain stayed far away.

Then the clouds cleared of the moisture

And a little wind sprung up pushing the moisture and the cooling clouds in a different direction, leaving behind

a delightful couple of rainbows!

A gift from above….clouds, moisture, the heat from the sun and the corn blocked, and the gift of promise and hope!

Priceless!

Linda

Enter—a Rainbow

Posted on August 4, 2012 by Dayphoto

Although we haven’t really been having rain here, the heavens do pour around us.

Coming in last night the sky was very dramatic, I wish I could have taken a photo of it. The whole sky was lite from each corner of the globe.

There within that amazing sky was a rainbow!

Linda

Just for Wednesday

Posted on August 1, 2012 by Dayphoto

The sky has just been beautiful lately…

From the sunrise to the sunset

And everything in between….

Just lovely.

Linda

Hanging Lake

Posted on July 30, 2012 by Dayphoto

After lunch we decided that we would go to Hanging Lake….a short drive out of Glenwood Springs going toward Denver.

The trail to Hanging Lake is plainly marked with a nice walking path to the trail head. We met many, many, many people either going up the 1.2 mile trail or coming back.

This is something I have always wanted to do, but we just never have. My parents did it when they were about my age, Momma was 63 and Daddy 66, they delighted in seeing this incredible natural wonder.

Several of Kelly’s friends had walked up to the lake so making the decision to go was easy.

If you are EVER in the Glenwood Springs Canyon area I HIGHLY recommend you stop, walk to the top and visit this amazing lake. The hike is free. You will not be alone as there are lots of people going up and coming down.

I took way too many photos so I’m going to only give you a tiny idea of the grandeur of this place.

There are 7 bridges and several water falls.

The two oldest grandchildren ran all the way up and all the way down. Tally walked both ways by herself, never once crying or asking to be carried.

We more than enjoyed the waterfalls

Some small and some large.

There are sign markers letting you know how far you have traveled

The closer you get to the lake the flora changes and you start to see ferns…which are rare in our part of the world.

Then suddenly you are there!

A magical world, making one think of fairies and elves and unicorns.

The water is so clear you can see the fish.

Not many people get to walk under a waterfall…but maybe, just maybe, if you are lucky you get too.

Back at the real world we were met with cars and roads and well, reality.

I encourage everyone to walk this short distance of 1.2 miles at least once in their life.

Linda

Leaving the Train Station

Posted on July 29, 2012 by Dayphoto

As the train would come to crossing we would hear the whistle blow…of course it would bring to mind that song by Hank Williams “I heard that Lonesome Whistle Blow…

I HEARD THAT LONESOME WHISTLE BLOW

I was riding Number Nine,
Heading South from Caroline.
I heard that lonesome whistle blow.
I didn’t trouble had to roam,
I left my gal, I left my home.
I heard that lonesome whistle blow.

Just a kid acting smart,
I went and broke my darling’s heart.
I guess I was too young to know.
They took me off the Georgia Main,
Locked me to a ball and chain.
I heard that lonesome whistle blow.

All alone I bear the shame,
I’m a number, not a name.
I heard that lonesome blow.
All I do is sit and cry,
When that evening train goes by.
I heard that lonesome blow.

I’ll be locked here in this cell,
‘Till my body’s just a shell;
And my hair turns whiter than snow.
I’ll never see that gal of mine,
I’m in Georgia doing time.
I heard that lonesome whistle blow.

Not the most romantic of views, but still exciting! But in our case it isn’t a lonesome sound, but the sound of

The Train Song by Phil Rosenthal

The train is rolling down the track,

Listen to the wheels go clickety clack,

Over the bridge, around the bend,
Taking me for a ride.

The engine’s up at the front of the train,
Pulling all the cars through the sun and the rain,
Over the bridge, around the bend,
Taking me for a ride.

When the engineer pulls the throttle down,
And the whistle starts to blow,
You can hear that sound for miles around,
And it lets all the people know,
That the train is rolling down the track,
Listen to the wheels go clickety clack,
Over the bridge, around the bend,
Taking me for a ride.

Now we sit here in the passenger car,
And the freight car’s next in line,
And way in back is the little caboose,
Rolling along behind.

And people stand by the railroad side,
And wave to us as we go by,
Over the bridge, around the bend,
Taking me for a ride.

The train is rolling down the track,
Listen to the wheels go clickety clack,
Over the bridge, around the bend,
Taking me for a ride.

Linda

Train Ride

Posted on July 28, 2012 by Dayphoto

Yesterday, July 27, 2012, I booked a train ride for our youngest grandchild and her family, and Aunt Shannon to go to Glenwood Springs, Colorado.

Tallen has been WANTING to ride a train….wanting, wanting, wanting.

So Terry and I thought….heck, why not!?!

We left the train station at 10:23 in the morning.
(This is the old station, but I loved the building and the charm. Too bad they don’t use it anymore.)

The trip took 1 hour and 45 minutes. Terry followed us by car—van–because the trip back was the next day. With irrigation there is no way we could spend the night, and for sure not because our irrigater (for when we are gone) was with us on the trip.

Terry put the water in a spot that must have 12 hours to get wet, off we went.

What a delightful way to travel! And cheap also…only $78 for seven of us, one way.

Blade enjoyed a short rest.

We kept track of Grandpa, but he couldn’t see us. All the windows were black to him.

Still there were hopes he would see us!

Terry said the train moved at a good clip…about 55 m.p.h. through the towns, and 70-75 m.p.h. on the countryside.

He met us as we unloaded.

Then off we went for a short stroll around Glenwood Springs and get a bit to eat for lunch.

After that we drove to the Hanging Lake turn-off for a hike to Hanging Lake.

I’ll tell you more about that in the next post!

Linda

We Live in the Middle of a Corn Field

Posted on July 24, 2012 by Dayphoto

This year, (because we do rotational planting —-meaning all crops are rotated from one field to the next keeping disease and bug problems down as much as possible) the corn all happened to be planted around the house and the buildings.

The heat inside of a corn field is hot and humid, corn just loves a hot day, add in the water to keep the corn growing and you have a huge humidifier!

Breezes don’t make it inside this box of heat and moisture unless we have a wind…I relish wind now…

On the flip side I love smelling the corn, so rich and full and alive. Sounds carry from far away so it seems the train (6 miles away) is right down the field. The dogs can’t figure out if they should bark or not. They mostly don’t unless someone is right at the yard, so the nighttime dog phone has rather stopped.

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And we get an up close and personal daily report on how the corn is doing, just be looking out the window or working in the yard.

Harvest for sweet corn is on….you should be seeing Olathe Sweet Sweet Corn or Mountain Sweet Sweet Corn in your market soon. If you do just know that the corn was grown somewhere near our farm!

(No we don’t grow sweet corn, we grow corn that used for feed or to be made into corn meal. Our season of growing lasts much longer than sweet corn.)

Linda