From Kate —- YAY— Sunday, August 15, 2021

Posted on August 15, 2021 by Dayphoto

It is ever so much fun to open my email and find a wee gift:

“Hello!

We’ve just had the first rain of the season. Winter’s nearly over, storm season (spring) is on the way and is forecast to start early.

Each morning that the Husband is on day shift, I take Mouse out for a walk, carrying a sandwich for the Husband in my pocket. He pulls up his fuel tanker at the bottom of the hill near our house on his way back into the fuel terminal to reload, and I hand the sandwich up into the cab. Today, it was drizzling a little, but the sun was also out, and there was a faint rainbow in the dark sky behind him. You can see the A and B trailers of his truck on the left, he was just pulling out when I took the photo. I told him he’d dragged it into town from out in the bush specially so I could take a photo for you 🙂

I hope you’re OK, and not missing Mindy too much. Our animals are tied by such strong strings to our hearts, aren’t they?

Love, and hugs,

Kate

http://talltalesfromchiconia.wordpress.com

http://happygreyssocialclub.wordpress.com

Thank you so much, Kate. Yes, they wrap themselves into our hearts, minds, and souls. 🙂 I do believe Mindy is gone, although, I keep looking for her every day.

From my world to your heart,

Linda

The Adventures of TLC Cai-Cai on Friday—-Farm Life Series 4, We Continue On without Mindy, Friday, August 13, 2021

Posted on August 13, 2021 by Dayphoto

“People like us, who believe in physics, know that the distinction between past, present, and the future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion.”—Albert Einstein reflecting on the death of his friend Michele Besso

Mom took me on her lap and started petting me, I began to purr, LOUD, just for Mom.

Mom said I know Mindy Lou-Sue, my wonderful Min-Min, was teaching you about our way of life. I guess I should try and pick up where she left off.

So, while I purred; Mom petted me, she told me about the Business of Farming.

Mom told me that ranches are mostly grasslands for cows and sheep and horses and mules and… and farms raise crops.

Ranchers raise animals for meat and farmers raise crops that feed and clothe animals, including human animals.

Dogs and Cats, (purr, hum, purr) are important parts of farms. And ranches, Mom explained.

Dogs help ‘work’ on the farm and help ranchers take care of the animals on a ranch. Here on our farm, when Mom and Dad had dogs (Mom stopped and sighed.) The dogs went everywhere with us and helped irrigate.

I CAN GO! I stopped purring and stood up; looking Mom right in the eye. I can help.

Mom smiled and turned me back around and sat me down so I could get more scratches and pets.

Kitties, of which you are one, Mom said, all the while petting me, as the keeper of the farmyard/ or if the kitty lives on a ranch, the ranch yard.

Kitties keep the mice away from the house, the barns the work sheds, the grain bins, everything.

Kitties are a very important part of making a farm or ranch run smooth.

I got up again and gave Mom a head butt and a lick on her cheek.

Then I jumped down, stretched, fluffed my tail, and strutted off.

We, Cats, ARE very important!

Mom is so right!

Now, I have ‘stuff’ to do, important Stuff!

TLC Cai-Cai

In the Cool Gloom of the Corn —- Thursday, August 12, 2021

Posted on August 12, 2021 by Dayphoto

The lively action of the ears developing

Signals of an abundant crop come Autumn.

The long and dark shadows cool the earth offering shade to any who need it.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

Gradually a Wee Breeze — Wednesday, August 11, 2021

Posted on August 11, 2021 by Dayphoto

Finally, helped thin the smoke

Lifting the thick and heavy layers

Allowing more air to circulate

While somewhere else the embers

Keep sending sparks and fire onto ravaged earth and into the sky.

My prayers are with everyone. I am so sorry this is happening.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

A Classic Pick-Up Goes Home —- Tuesday, August 10, 2021

Posted on August 10, 2021 by Dayphoto

When Terry’s Dad passed, Terry’s Mother gave to our youngest daughter, Jack’s pick-up. Misty loved her Grandpa very much and felt more than honored to be given this very visible reminder of her Grandfather.

Misty and Kelly drove this old pick-up for several years, gradually moving to different pickups over time, but always keeping this special reminder of Jack and the very generous gift of the pick-up from Marjorie.

Last month, Misty and Kelly gifted this classic GMC to their oldest daughter, who LOVES the pick-up and wanted it for her own.

Since the truck had been living here, Terry got it all aired up, greased up, oiled up, spruced up; ready for its new life.

Sunday, around 4:00 in the afternoon, the GMC went to its new home. Ready to drive around with a cute blonde wearing a cowgirl hat. 🙂

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

Some Where there are Dreams Being Lost — Monday, August 9, 2021

Posted on August 9, 2021 by Dayphoto

The smoke is thickly here, looming and seething into every crack, washing everything in grey vapors.

The smoke is thick enough we can’t see the beginning of the cornfields

unless we are close

Air quality is terrible.

Still, the regular work goes on.

Although, this is miserable for us…

I am fully aware

We are experiencing the result of someone, somewhere losing everything they own, whether human, or animal, or Forrest.

Smoke is the result of huge sparks and flames; taking away everyone’s dreams.

My heart goes out to each soul and all lives experiencing these horrible, horrible fires.

From my heart to your world,

Linda

Expanding Our World — Sunday, August 8, 2021

Posted on August 8, 2021 by Dayphoto

We were coming home, down the long lane to our house, when this little creature starting running across our path.

I haven’t seen one for a long-time.

A wee little muskrat.

How fun, to have this creature expand our world.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

The Adventures of TLC Cai-Cai on Friday—-It’s Just Me, Friday, August 6, 2021

Posted on August 6, 2021 by Dayphoto

When I woke up one morning, I realized Mindy was missing.

She didn’t come in for her regular spend the night and eat some kitty candy

Nor was she anyplace I could find her on the farm.

I meowed out at the barn,

I called by the Grain Bins,

I meowed and called and squalled in the hay stackyard.

I looked in Dad’s collector ‘parts’ cars,

I looked in all the grain trucks (there are three of them)

I walked down the corral fence and hollered constantly.

Then I went over into the orchard and meowed,

When I got back into the farmyard,

Mom was outside looking for Mindy also.

So, we both called.

After all that I knew.

But Mom kept calling for her for days and days,

Even going out at night (which she would NOT let go with her)

and called for Mindy

Sigh!

It’s lonely here without Mindy.

TLC Cai-Cai

Gathered Close—If Only for a Brief Second, Thursday, August 5, 2021

Posted on August 5, 2021 by Dayphoto

Sometimes I am doing something when I see my hand

It shocks me, if only for a brief moment of time

For I think, I see my Momma’s hand. It startles me for I know she is not here, she is beyond the Veil, somewhere.

This sudden ‘seeing’ of Momma started sometime this farming season, I can’t pinpoint when.

But there she is, just for a moment, reaching through the veil touching me, gathering me close, stirring my heart, filling my mind with the memory of her and her tender yet firm love of me.

I am now older than Momma when she died. I no longer have a compass, a way to approach each day, year, or a single tiny bit of time. She passed away, many years ago- the year 2000, when she just turned 71.