Friday night, five classic cars lined up by the scoreboard
Then they were off—the first set of Senior attendants
The second set of Seniors
The Junior Class of attendants
Followed by the Sophomores
And the Freshmen.
The beginning of an exciting Senior Year for the class of 2022!
Delta High School’s 2021 Homecoming.
I just love all those huge smiles, don’t you?
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
This is what we have been doing
It took some time
But we finished!
The third cutting of the third fields DONE!
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
“Now, just so you know, the reason Dad (and I) farm is: to make money.
Well, that doesn’t always seem to be the case. The idea is to make money. You can’t farm if you don’t have money. So, the whole idea of farming is to make money.
Just like people who go to work for someone else…to make money.”
Mom put me up on her shoulder and petted me, while we walked toward the house.
“So, you see, TLC Cai-Cai, (Mom calls me by my full name all the time,
Dad calls me things like CLT, LTC, TLC—he makes stuff up all the time, sometimes he calls me a GIRL!!!! It’s okay I still come to him no matter what he calls me. 😊 )
It is very important that a farm makes money, for without money there is no canned cat food or dry cereal to munch on…it takes money to buy your groceries.”
Farming is a risky type of business. It’s not like a regular job, where every two weeks or once a month you get a paycheck. Paycheck time is whenever the crops come in, which can be only once a year, depending on the crop.”
Mom and I sat down on the sofa where I can stretch way out while Mom pets on me.
“For us, You, Me, and Dad, the paychecks come in each time we sell hay. Hay is a big deal around here. It brings in money three times a summer.
Then in the fall and early winter, Dad will get out the corn combine and combine the corn, haul it to the Elevator by which, around Christmas time we will get the most money. This is the money we live on. It buys everyday living, all the spring requirements: seed, fertilizer, fuel, it holds us together.”
I am purring so loud; I’m starting to get tired. Just a little bit tired, like maybe just rest my eyes tired.
“And you know what, TLC Cai-Cai? Farmers can’t control the weather or the price you get paid, ever. That’s just how it is—the reason farming is such a risky business.”
ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
“Hum, I guess you feel safe and warm and fed, Little One. And THAT is a very good thing.”
Mom got up very slowly leaving me there on the sofa to dream on.
TLC Cai-Cai
The sky is shot-through with bugs, this time of year
Their little bodies are caught in your hair, on your face, and smashed on your glasses
Sometimes they like to sting you
Diving right to you—————-RUN, I think, but instead I snap a photo 🙂
Then taking off like a speeding plane
I mean…after all…I have to see if I can get a photo.
I think you know me well enough by now. 🙂
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
The smoke is back, seeping into everything (again)
We have made it to the third cutting of alfalfa…both fields are cut and drying now
It will take longer to dry since the nights tingle with Autumn cool
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
I like it when I can find ditch foam. It’s not rare but it is unusual. (TLC Cai-Cai is walking with me)
Then there are the NAUGHTY Girls, who broke out of their pasture
Yep. Not a good sign.
Thankfully I was home and able to catch them and put them back in the corral.
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
The hot, hot sunlight is gone, in place is more of a crisp bite in the air in the early morning–a shiver, which often-times ripples over your warm skin.
The day warms to up to show glistening heavy dew on all the plants.
Thankfully, the sun heats the day hot enough it still feels like we have the gift of Summer.
Nighttime is a wee bit darker, even if there is a moon or a slew of a million zillion stars
Daylight starts later, with evening shadows crawling quicker and quicker
Autumn…a different kind of peace is now on the land.
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
My little flock of Hummingbirds is starting to dwindle
Gradually the feeding at my feeders is becoming less and less
I have gone from 12 feeders
Down to two.
And the reality is, I really only need one. But I keep up two so they don’t have to fight for a spot.
Soon the Swallows will follow. When that happens the Summer birds are all gone.
Sigh!
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
“TLC Cai-Cai, what are you doing?” Mom said as I jumped up to grab her foot.
Just Playing, I said.
Mom reached down a picked me up. “Oh, good, Sweet Little Kitty. I’ve been thinking I had better tell you about some other BIG noisy and dangerous pieces of equipment Dad has on the farm. Equipment you need to stay far, far away from.”
There is the swather— this is the thing Dad uses to cut down all the standing alfalfa, to let it dry turning into hay.
STAY away…it will swath you right up, then there won’t be a TLC Cai-Cai anymore!” Mom admonished.
Mom put me on her shoulder and walked over to the outside chairs and sat down.
“Then there is the combine.
The combine will move through the corn and chop down all the corn stalks, separate the corn cobs from the stalks, then shell the corn from the cobs, flinging the stalks, and cobs out onto the ground and the corn kernels into the hoper in the back.
If you were to get in the way of the combine, you would come out just like those tiny pieces of corn cobs and stalks, so you MUST stay out the cornfield during harvest.”
Mom started scratching my head, my ears, hum puuuuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
“Then the big truck will come through the yard, taking all the corn kernels to town.”
Purrrrrr, hummm, purrrr
“So, TLC Cai-Cai, when anything like this is going on, you have to RUN to the House! And stay IN the HOUSE where Dad and I know you are safe.”
I looked at Mom. Then I looked around and realized I WANT DOWN.
So I squirmed off Moms’ lap and headed over to the water tub—that fountain is intriguing!
Bye Mom, Gota Go!
TLC Cai-Cai
Although, these two photos were taken a day or so ago; joy is in the air, here.
We are having a momentary break in farming!
It’s raining!
Yes, there are still hay bales in the second field (30 bales).
But this lovely shower of air-cleaning rain is just perfect for the soul! (and everything and everyone else 🙂 )
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
