Roads—Thursday, September 27, 2018

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As we traveled along the, sometimes easy to drive upon roads,

And the sometimes challenging roads my thoughts would turn to the wonder of this most ancient of living things—our earth

The majesty of the noble trees, the huge mountains of slow moving, and slow thinking rocks

The yellow silver dollar-sized leaves falling on us as we moved throughout the forest my heart, mind, and soul was filled with awe

We, each and every one of us, are very blessed to live here on this world we call Earth!

Very blessed.

From my world to your heart,

Linda

 

 

The Loss of Vital Moisture—Wednesday, September 26, 2018

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Back to our little trip with good friends, Larry and Glenda, on Saturday.

Although, we have known, have driven around and seen all the horrendous loss to the lakes in Gunnison and Ridgway, and on Grand Mesa

Riding in the backcountry, brought the tremendous loss right up front.

 The need for snow and rain is huge

Since Larry and Glenda live on Grand Mesa year-round, I asked if there are any signs that the snowpack will be abundant this coming winter.

They both explained that if the Fireweed is correct….(the old-timers say when the Fireweed is abundant it means there will be lots and lots of snow come winter)—Grand Mesa should have lots of snow.

Click on the blue link to see information about the Fireweed.

They continued on explaining that this year, on the Grand Mesa, the wildflowers were rich and abundant and very plentiful.  Especially the Fireweed.

Click on the blue link to see photos of Fireweed.

Excellent news, don’t you think?

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

That Rumpled and Weary Plateau—-Tuesday, September 25, 2018

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Coming down from our Autumn Four-wheeler ride we started into the smoke from the Bull Draw fire, which is occurring right behind our farm on the Uncompahgre Plateau

The smoke was thick and intense filling the clear sky with the smell and feel of damaged forest 🙂

But yesterday, Monday, we had lots and lots of wild scattered showers of rain, with very little wind and no lightning,  here on the farm and up on the Plateau.

The FaceBook page for the Bull Draw Fire is very positive:

“Date: Monday, September 25, 2018
Acres: 36,549 acres as of September 23 at 1800
Containment: 95%
Personnel: 85

Yesterday’s Activity: Containment is now at 95% due to successful firing operations completed on Saturday, Sept 22 and multiple days monitoring fire lines. Wind gusts up to 20 mph were present and served as a strong test of all lines in place along the north and east sides of the perimeter. Fire behavior was moderate and well within the interior. Yesterday’s operations did not require water drops from a helicopter or a reconnaissance flight by an Authorized Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), or drone. Crews continued with snagging operations in aspen stands along Divide Road and around UC Cow Camp. The fire did receive precipitation, but no measurable quantity was observed.

I must say that is news which expresses great pleasure to my mind and heart.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

 

 

 

Autumn a Distinct Kind of Loveliness—-Monday, September 24, 2018

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Very early we rose on Saturday morning, got all our chores done and headed to Grand Mesa

Where some good people, friends of ours (who live on Grand Mesa year-round), offered to take us on a four-wheeler trip to Green Mountain and back to their house again.

We rode in a bright chilly morning,

Stopping along the way to view the burst of joyful color on the land and the amazing blue of the sky

By mid-morning, the air was soft and warm, with a gentle breeze now and then causing the yellow leaves to drift down of us as we rode along.

Forty-two miles round trip we went…over and under and around so many gorgeous places

The exhilaration of the views, the physical demands of the ride, and the good company we enjoyed made for a day most special.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

Back in the Day—-Sunday, September 23, 2018

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Back in the day—

Terry grew up on a diary not far from us.  Lots and Lots of work a dairy requires, but one of the big things about dairies is the fact you have dairy cows to sell the milk so people can have ice cream, butter, cheese and MILK to drink!

Terry’s Dad, Jack Brown, (in time) sold milk to the Association (purchaser of milk) his grower number was 25.

Terry said his Dad wrote the number on the milk cans with red fingernail polish 🙂

Way later, after we were married and the dairy cows were sold, Terry’s Dad, Jack Brown, donated several milk cans to Meadow Gold Dairy, located here in Delta, Colorado.

Those milk cans have become part of Meadow Gold’s fun little delivery truck they take special places, we were lucky to get to see the truck, the Jack Brown cans with his name on them and Grower number 25 still polished on the cans with red fingernail polish this weekend.

It was a very special treat for us (Terry especially) to see the cans and to tell the story of Grower Number 25 and his Dad, Jack Brown.  (He also mentioned he and his brother, Roger, milked cows as they were growing up… :), just say’n.)

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

The Adventures of Boomer on Friday— A Visit with Friends

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Mom and I headed over to the other equipment area to ‘do some work’.  Mom goes over with Dad to help Dad do something hard…like change out a fuel pump, work on the chain on the pickup header, you know ‘stuff’; things I don’t have to do EVER!

So, while they were working, I took myself off to see what I could see, learn what I could learn, and find out all the news on that part of the farm.

I was sniffing along

when suddenly from out of no-where came Quade’s wife Quick and all the little Quails…cheeping and chirping as they scuttled along…they came so very fast and in such a large group I nearly jumped out of my dog fur!

As they scuttled away Quade appeared.

Quade and I visited for a spell, then he was off…he didn’t want Quick to get too far out of his sight.

Closer to the old (filled in) ensilage pit I ran into Stewart and Stanley.

They chattered with me for a long time, but I found listening to them rather hard…full cheeks and communication do NOT make good partners….

Stewart kept spitting little chunks as he talked…kinda interesting and gross all at the same time.

I had headed over to the little asparagus patch, down the tiny draw there when I hear the high-pitched whistle of …. HAWK!

I jerked my head up to look into the branches of the very ancient willow tree and saw….a wind-blow hawk surveying the place where Quade and his little family had just vacated.

I raced back up the small rise in the land, ran over to Mom, turned around and, raised my right front paw, straightened out my whole body so I was an arrow from the tip of my nose to the tip of the tail, lifted my head up and HOWLED!!!  Pointing with all my might at the tip of the old Willow tree and the hawk!

Mom and Dad stopped whatever they were doing looked at me, looked at where I was pointing and saw that hawk surveying the farm for lunch!

“Good Job, Boomer!”  Mom came over to where I was standing, took out her camera and took several photos of the hawk.  Just as she finished the hawk took off; flying up high into the sky, then way over onto the back of the farm on the Back Forty…a long way from where Stewart, Stanley, Quade, and the chipmunks live. Thank Goodness!

Mom and Dad did a little bit more of whatever they were doing.

Then Mom called me and put me on the four-wheeler, gave me a pat and a kiss on the nose; we were off.

 

Heading home

where Mindy Cat is safe from the likes of at big bird predator in the sky.

And Mom and Dad and I can do ‘stuff’ around the farmyard, instead.

Boomer Beaglie Brown

 

 

 

There in the Sky Simple and Definite—-Thursday, September 20, 2018

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We had thick heavy clouds all day yesterday, threatening rain, but none fell right here

Then as the sun was starting to set the whole sky lite up in a lighthearted affair…the sun striking the clouds in a golden shower of color.

The slanting rays sending out streaks of light blazing the underneath of the heavy hanging clouds with a brilliant glow of gold, and orange, and pink, and purple…

The color echoing throughout the sky and on the land, making plants, soil, buildings, even Terry and Boomer, Mindy, and I thick with the beautiful light

Then there in the southern sky was a blazing sign glittering and trembling in the liquid gold of air.

A crescendo ending to a grey and storm filled day!

From my heart to your world,

Linda

 

That Sad Fire on the Uncompaghre Plateau—-September 19, 2018

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And so it still burns….on and on, consuming everything in its path.

Sigh!

We are in the process of winding things down on the farm.  There is still much to be done, things to do and stuff to finish.

The last crop to harvest will be the corn…but that is weeks ahead yet.

But in my spare time, I’m still making crepe paper flowers

Fun little whimseys that have no real earthly use

But that is okay….it gives me something to think about

Which is totally useless and therefore,

Relaxing.

Relaxing is a good thing!!

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

 

 

There in the Star-Flexed Sky—-Tuesday, September 18, 2018

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Boomer and I went for wee walk last night (and a couple of nights ago)

Mindy following along behind, besides, in front, sometimes hidden, sometimes right at my feet

We went when the moon was just a sliver, followed by a shining star

I got it in my head to try and take a photo or two of the stars shining down on us as we walked along…the orange lights at the bottom of the photo are the house lights way over the mesa and down in the holler from our farm

 

It was surprisingly fun to soar up above the earth with my camera

This is Venus shining gloriously in the west.

Someday I would love to have a camera which could take better photos of that wonderous sky at night.

But until I am very rich…I will enjoy the camera I have…

and my wee walks

with very good friends

As we explore the beauty of the night!

From my world to your heart,

Linda

P.S.  That is the pinto bean header on the pinto bean combine at night.  I thought it was rather neat looking!

Hugs

 

 

That Mournful Throb in the Western Sky—-Monday, September 7, 2018

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The huge fire on the Uncompahgre Plateau (Facebook Page) has grown and expanded to an even larger amount…filling the sky with more dark smoke as fresh timber is consumed.

The visible smoke is directly behind us now. Rising to meet the sky where the smoke and the air become as one. 

(You need to be signed onto FaceBook to open the blue links)

It’s all so terribly sad to me.  The beautiful forest quickly becoming nothing but ash, the animals fleeing…some with their fur on fire….all the fooddestroyed for those who must forage to stay alive—-the thoughts of this destruction over-whelms me.

Very sadly your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda