High in the sky
In a flash of feathers
Appearing and disappearing, emerging solid and larger than life
Dipping closer and closer
was the sad fact for the little chipmunk, but a necessary lunch in the of the circle of life.
Sigh.
From my world to yours,
Linda
This Red-winged Blackbird was in such a hurry to get away from me I got to see each and every feather as he jolted into the sky
In fresh pale air, I saw little dangling feet
I love to hear this little quail calling, calling —a Gambel’s Quail
Their voices like ruffled water
The flight so effortless to birds, so fascinating to me
When watering our lawn the birds come in flocks to thin out the worm population
A tiny little Killdeer lingering as I walk by
Summer bounty in birds 
And of course more feet…and wings
The flash of feathers
Among the soughing Red-stemmed grass, in the beautiful small beating heart, of the feathered and winged world.
From my world to your heart,
Linda
Way back in the First Grade our granddaughter and Ellie became the very best of friends.
Then our granddaughter and her family moved, first to Craig, Colorado and now to Parachute, Colorado.
Over time, their friendship never really changed. Sure, for a wee spell it looked like they were drifting away…because, after all, you do need friends to carry you on.
In the vast span of their (in reality) short lives
Their friendship has not changed. Only grown warmer and lengthened to include their experiences in different towns and schools, yet still circling their hearts with smiles for each other.
Truly friends for life.
From my world to your heart,
Linda
(Photo by the Ute Trails Car Club)
The Ute Trails Car Club met at Hotchkiss City Market yesterday at noon, for a cruise to Hermit’s Rest on the Crawford side of the Black Canyon
Right at noon, we all headed out…it was impressive to hear the cars come to life and to watch the cars in front of us leading the way to the meeting site.
The place was cool/cold, but stunning in its beauty
Although, the air stopped just short of being visible while one talked
(Photo by the Ute Trails Car Club)
the company we were keeping was light, happy and warm
It’s at places like this one knows we truly live in the Rocky Mountains.
Anyway head on over the FaceBook page to see more photos
(Photo by the Ute Trails Car Club)
They got many wonderful photos of everyone’s car and activities.
And if anyone lives in the area of Delta or Montrose county and has a cool collector car you are welcome to join. It only costs $10, no matter how many cars you own. And there are really neat things to do.
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
I had to smile great big at this little series of photos for a long time ago
Grandpa was holding Blade and baby Tally
He speaks to Tally who looks at him in a very puzzled way
Then Grandpa looks up at something. Blade peaks around the blanket; Tally is WIDE-EYED at Grandpa
Blade covers up his head, Grandpa looks rather content, but baby Tally looks at me just stunned!
I’m sorry but I had to laugh out loud at this little series of photos!
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
Finally.
After ever so long.
I woke up.
No, Handsome the Pheasant.
No, Stewart the Squirrel.
No Stanley, Stewart’s brother.
Just me myself and I.
And it was dark.
Very dark.
Not even a moon in the sky.
ALTHOUGH, Mom would love it out here the stars were scattered hugely up there in the blue velvet of the sky.
I took myself down and got a drink of water, My that tastes good. Then stuck my nose into the air trying to get my bearings.
Oh, I know where I am. I also know how far away the house is and Mom and Dad. What I don’t know is who is out here with me and do I need to be concerned.
I had just started up the little incline heading back toward the four-wheeler road going around the bottom of the new alfalfa field when my nose picked up someone coming toward me.
Then my eyes picked up a big black furry animal with a white strip waddling here and there alongside the alfalfa field.
“OREO!” I hollered.
Oreo the skunk, stopped in alarm. Lifted his tail and flung his body in a circle, always pointing the tail in the direction he thought the danger was coming from.
“STOP! OREO! STOP! It’s me, Boomer!” I bayed at him while making sure I was in front of Oreo not in the back of Oreo.
“Boomer? Boomer, what are you doing up here?” Oreo lowered his tail and I trotted forward.
“Just checking things out, Oreo. Mom and Dad are not doing lots of farming anymore and I got bored. I miss seeing all my friends out here on the farm. Momma Deer and her fawns, Kit and his Mom, the bunnies, Ruth, the Owl, you know, all my friends.” I explained.
Oreo started walking, so I fell in beside him. “Well, I can take you over to where Momma Deer is staying this year. It’s not far from where we are now. As for Kit and the bunnies or Ruth. I’ve not run into any of them for a spell.”
“Although, I have crossed paths with some new coyotes to the farm.”
“COYOTES!” Shudder, shake. “Let’s stay away from them. New coyotes? New coyotes to the farm?” I sat down, bringing my back leg up to my chin I gave my jaw a good scratch. Sure, felt nice.
“Yeah. New to the neighborhood. Three of them. Two males and a female, or is it two females and a male, maybe it’s three females. I’m not sure. I just know they are new and looking to take over the farm as their own.
I saw one of the coyotes checking out a snack awhile back. I hid. I didn’t want to have to shoot one and have the other two attack me.”
Oreo waddled on totally unconcerned about coyotes.
“Well, if you want to see Momma Deer you had better come with me. She’s not far from us now.” Oreo turned his head over his shoulder and gave me a stare.
“Oh. Right On! I’m right there with you.”
We trotted on into the night. Oreo and I.
Our grandmother, Mother to my Dad, was a very bright woman. She only had an 8th-grade education but had taught herself to grow way beyond that limited formal training.
All the while my brother and I were growing up she was the Post Mistress of the Eckert, Colorado post office. Having past the very exacting exam; not missing one question.
Our grandmother, Mother to my Momma, was much more fortunate getting to go to college and earning the right to be a teacher of education in the Elementry grades.
Our Mother graduated high school and married in June. For her high school was enough.
(My brother and myself)
What these three women believed in propelled my brother and myself to become enthralled and enamored with the written word and books.
Grandma Holder (Dad’s mother) would read to us from the newspaper. Yes, I know. What child in their right mind would enjoy listening to news articles from a newspaper?
I know we would sit by her side, Dan on the left, me on the right and she would read to us; ending with the comic page. Where she read each and every comic to us.
I’m sure we didn’t understand it all, and often times would fall asleep to the sound of her voice. But truly she gave to us a gift untold.
Grandma Thomas, Mother’s Momma, would read to us little Golden books and other short stories, but what she truly did was TELL us stories. True stories from her childhood, made up stories with morals…like cleaning the house is fun…and imaginative stories about rabbits and other furry creatures.
As Grammy told the stories her voice would change and she would ‘become’ each character so we could ‘see’ in our minds what she was saying.
Momma would always read to us at bedtime. Danny first, he was younger so went to bed sooner. But not much sooner…just sooner enough for Momma to read the story. Then it was my turn.
What an amazing gift they gave us…the spreading of our minds, the unspooling of distant lands and cultures, the ability to reclaim peace through stopping a moment with a good book in hand.
Some gifts are so precious we never really understand them until we actually make it through each day of our lives until we have a nice large space of time to look back and understand.
From my world to your heart,
Linda
My oldest daughter took her dogs and went for a walk at the canyon a short ways from us
It one of those magic places where the gentlest of soughing winds play down the canyon floors
And graffiti is slashed and cut and painted onto the canyon walls
But in spite of the human’s destruction. The area still feels like the desert faeries live there in the warm Earth and celebrate life.
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
The pastures are looking lovely
All rich and green. The whirring insects, large and small hover in and around each blade of grass
The roses are still bright and cheerful, spilling heavily all along the building and even rambling onto the rooftop
June has been lovely this year.
The first of the mean-spirited biting flies (horse and deer) have arrived adding their buzzing drone to the air
Gradually I’m developing immunity to their vampire bites so I can be out longer and longer without itching to death.
Not long now until the first day of Summer. The longest day.
A day of joyful celebrations! The peak of the Sun’s long reach, before the lingering light starts turning to dusk.
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
P.S. Are you getting tired of birds taking off? I get a kick out of taking their photo while they fly up, up to get away from me. But I could try something else…possibly.
As the moon goes from crescent
To the glorious heralding of
FULL!
The first of the stone fruit has started to ripen
Cherries enough for the birds and us!
I’ve been picking strawberries for a spell now; adding in the cherries makes meals yummy
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
Life on a Colorado Farm 