I’m BACCCCCCCCCCCCCK!!!!! —Thursday, July 17, 2014

Posted on July 17, 2014 by Dayphoto

Yippee! I’m back! The Skybeam repair guy showed up yesterday, did some of this and some of that got out his ladder, climbed up on the roof….stood up there for some time with his laptop. Made a sort of ‘ho’ sound. Climbed back down, went back to the back of his truck, took a little tiny dish out of the back of his truck, climbed back up on the roof…changed the bigger dish this out for the tiny dish thing and BAM! I had the internet!

YAY!!!

In the meantime Terry got the rest of the alfalfa cut, laying it out in rows to dry. Now we wait as the green alfalfa turns into protein rich hay.

Depending on the weather five to six days. Then it will be time to bale and haul the hay. A man called and talked to Terry for some time about coming down and checking out the hay. He is interested in doing his own baling and, of course, will haul it away. In other words he will buy the field ‘as is’. Now that would be nice!

Since today is Good Fences and Gates day over at Teresa’s Place, I thought I would slip in our neighbor’s a mile away from us. pillar Here is how he fenced off his fields (he doesn’t farm, just owns a farm and rents all the land out).

And the gate to his house. (That isn’t his house, its the Gate House….his way back there!)

We did have a small cool down the last three days (just as the Sun Dogs said). We were in the 80’s—it was real nice. Today we are heading back into the low 90’s. 94-95* or so.

Anyway, it’s good to be back. I’m really far behind on comments and visiting everyone.

Your friend,

Linda

The Internet and a Tiny Cool Down —-Monday, July 14, 2014

Posted on July 14, 2014 by Dayphoto

I had the internet for exactly ONE HOUR yesterday! Grrrr! At least I was able to post and let everyone know why I wasn’t visiting your blog or answering comments. This has been SO irritating. Of course, I kept checking off and on all day long until I got sick of doing so and just shut everything off. 😦

The towers are still not working correctly. The Skybeam individual told me there are 17 people on the same wave length (beam?) and every one is having the same issues as I am. He sounded rather ragged.

Right now I have service…at least I can (maybe) get my blog up and (maybe) get around to visit many of you. If not, please understand. I will be BACK!!! Just like MacArthur….snerk and chuckle.

We saw a sun dog yesterday…sun dogs occur anytime of the year, any place in the world, at any time. They announce that cool down (or much cooler weather) is about to occur.

I can just guess what and when it will happen….today or tomorrow because Terry is out cutting the alfalfa! We do NOT need a cool down for several days…a cool down in July (here in the high mountain desert) usually means rain is about to descend. Although I love a nice rain to cool down hot summer days…we just don’t need rained on alfalfa which is turning into hay! Please keep your fingers crossed that we don’t get rain on our soon to be hay!! PLEASE!!! Thank you!

I got the five acres of pinto beans weeded. I won’t be able to go out there anymore since the pinto beans are now shooting feelers. The feelers will reach and stretch until they meet each other causing the rows to grow shut. All weeding stops from that point on. There will be weeds, but at least I got it cleaned for this amount of time.

Once the rows grow shut the blooms will turn into little pods and the pods filled with beans. Gradually the beans will swell until they mature. Once they mature the water will be removed and the plant will dry up. After that we harvest. Probably sometime in late September.

I suppose I had better close this up rather quickly. I’m feeling lucky to get this much done before we lose connection!

Your friend on a farm,

Linda

Frustrations, Friends and Family—-Sunday, July 13, 2014

Posted on July 13, 2014 by Dayphoto

Frustrations first–because I need to complain, since it has been irritating, and because once I tell you I’m not saying it again. (I hope)

Our internet has been down!!! I’m way, way, way behind on answering all your great comments, visiting your blogs and my emails since my request to know what type of bird I have visiting our sugar water feeders. I’ve called Skybeam and they just keep telling me it’s the tower. Okay…I wait.

Right at this moment I’m able to get on…I’m typing fast, just in case I lose connection. 🙂

We had a wonderful visit from Elaine and Bob Kenny….very long-time blog readers on Friday. They were heading over from the Front Range–Eastern Slope—of Colorado and stopped by.

Linkin was hanging out at the house when they came so she stayed for dinner with all of us. At some point in the table conversation it came up that Linky loves archery. Bob’s face just beamed at her; why he does too. In fact he was a State Champion in Archery and set to go to the Olympics when the dire need to ‘go to work’ set in and he never got to go.

As soon as we were through eating, even before I did the dishes…dishes can always wait…Linkin and I jumped into the pick-up and drove down to her house and got her two bows and quiver of arrows.

The rest of the evening was a fun filled archery experience. Something Linkin would not have gotten if Mr. Bob and Elaine had not come to visit!

Gradually, the light started to fade.

Elaine and Bob got into their really cool, go-fast car, waved good-bye and headed off to Montrose, Colorado.

What a neat experience for Linkin, Terry and I!

Elaine wrote today saying it rained all the way back and was cool in the forest they call home.

Here is a rainbow she sent me two weeks ago when she was out for a walk. Giant Pines and a gift of hope and love in the sky.

Don’t forget if you would have a great photo of a rainbow (or anything else) I would love to publish here on my blog. I will always, always, always give you credit!

I hope my internet stays and I can get back into my routine of visiting each of you!

Your friend

Linda

Lavender and a Fence —-Thursday, July 10, 2014

Posted on July 10, 2014 by Dayphoto

Gosh, summer is flying by. It wasn’t too long ago (around the Summer Solstices) the little birds were waking up at first light…singing sleepily to the lightening day. For us ~~here~~ (it’s all relative I know) that was 4:40 in the morning. Today I wake before the first cheep of the day, which occurs around 5:11 a.m. The Sunrise: 5:56 a.m.; it now sets at 8:39 p.m. Our Day length is fourteen hours and fort-three minutes.

On the Summer Solstice the sunrise was 5:48 a.m. and the sunset at 8:41 p.m. Making our day fourteen hours and fifty-three minutes. It doesn’t seem like much because the days are warm and lovely and long.

I’ve been weeding in the pinto bean field. I do it every evening. I’m 3/4 of the way through. I need to hurry as the pinto beans are starting to bloom and to shoot feelers. (The mosquitoes and hoards of other biting flying insects are having delicious time with me out there also!)

Once the rows grow shut the weeds will get to party. (Then Terry and I will just have to ignore them. It’s sort of hard because the pinto beans are planted in front of the house this year. Not only will we see the weeds, but so will everyone else driving down the road 😦 )

My lavender is just lovely! I had to share it with you!

The joyful sound of bees working with each blossom fills the summer air. When you move past the lavender plants the smell is of heaven. (I’m sure heaven must have a smell…don’t you?

My contribution to this weeks Good Fences and Gates over on Teresa’s blog is a decorative cement block fence going up Third Street Hill in Delta. This house was originally built by a really good Physician in our town.

For more fun and unusual fences head on over to the Run *A* Round Ranch and check what others have posted. It is surprising how many unusual fences and gates are out there in the big wide world.

Your Farm Friend on a lovely July Day,

Linda

Birds in the Yard— Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Posted on July 9, 2014 by Dayphoto

I need some help….I have this cool little bird(s) that loves to come and check out the Hummingbird feeders. If anyone can tell me it’s name I would be delighted!

But first I thought I would show you a darling little Calliope Hummer. We have the Calliope and the Black Chin again this year. I’ve counted five pair of the Black Chin and five pair of the Calliope.

We also have four pair of the Bullock Orioles.

I was extremely excited to see one pair of Rufus Hummingbirds!

He is sort of hard to see in the above photo, but look closely he is there.

But what is this little bird? I was thinking it was a finch of some sort, but my finch food is untouched.

Of course it is terribly shy…not letting me near it at all.

This little darling comes for a drink often…or is it just curious?You can’t see the red here so now I’m wondering if this is a different bird. Anyway, any help on identifying this bird or birds will be appreciated.

Your friend,

Linda

Tuesdays with Friends — Fog Bows—Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Posted on July 8, 2014 by Dayphoto

I’m a tad late today as we had to do some stuff before it got too hot to breathe. We had several weed trees (Chinese Elm) that had taken root in my tiny orchard and sprouted to enormous proportions–some dead branches in the ancient (95 years old lilac tree) and some low hanging and dangerous limbs (Rio Grande Cottonwood) and a nasty branch (Colorado Blue Spruce) which kept scraping my neck as I mowed the lawn which all needed Terry’s expertise with the chain saw.

Awhile back I asked if anyone had cool rainbows or other really neat photos that they would love to share with me and with the readers of my blog. If they would send them to me I would put them on my blog and give the appropriate credit for the photo gift.

Leenie from Side Trips sent me two photos of Fog Bows. I have never seen nor heard of a Fog Bow so this was a real treat!

The Side Trips folks stopped by not long ago on their way from Telluride to Grand Junction, Colorado. How cool was that!

Leenie is an amazing watercolor artist. You might take a look at her Esty store to get and idea for a neat gift or two.

Well, off now to get the lawn mowed, the edges trimmed and the hedge clipped. I need to fertilize some of my lagging plants so I best get on the move. The day is heating up…which I LOVE!

Your western Colorado Farm Friend,

Linda

Dance of the Veils— Monday, July 7, 2014

Posted on July 7, 2014 by Dayphoto

Our second daughter and third child, loves Middle Eastern Dance. She has been doing this for years…I’m not sure how many years….maybe around 15-20 years. I’d have to sit down and figure it out, but probably not going to. 🙂

She is the one closest to us in the red, with the royal blue veil.

There! That’s a better photo.

I was glad that Tally was with us…she loves music and sparkles and glitters and singing and dance.

We both (Tally and I) agreed that seeing the beautiful women dancing and twirling was really sparkly and fun!

Your friend,

Linda

Thursday Fences and a Look at the Fields–July 3, 2014

Posted on July 3, 2014 by Dayphoto

I was sitting at the stop light waiting to turn right when I realized that right there!!! Why right there in front of me was a cute fence with colorful roses sitting off it’s charm. Quickly I pulled out my camera, took a shot just the light turned green and drove on by.

Looking at the photo later I still thought the fence was charming. It off-sets the family home (which you can just see the corner of the porch roof) and the Antique Shop on the other side of it!

The whole feeling is of a bit of whimsy as a person is sitting at the stop light waiting to move forward with the day. (The Antique Shop is pretty neat also—one has to remember that we are a fairly young state so the antiques here will not go back to the beginning of America–like you would find in the original Thirteen Colonies! 🙂 )

The corn is looking good! (I forgot to get a photo of the pinto beans…will try to do that today. It should be a no brainer as all I have to do is walk out the front door 🙂 !

You saw the Alfalfa the other day. I’ll get a photo of the pinto beans so you can see how fast they are growing.

Our days are nice an hot. Not so hot it is hard to breathe but nicely hot. We are still have wind in the afternoon…and THAT is a hot wind. Still it only lasts for four hours then dies down.

For more fences head on over to Teresa’s blogspot!

I’m off to go buy my monthly amount of groceries…lots of nice sales right now because of the up coming Anniversary of our countries Independence from England!

See you in the comments,

Linda

And Crown Thy Good With Brotherhood — Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Posted on July 1, 2014 by Dayphoto

I am very bless! Most assuredly I am!

John Myerson recently wrote me to tell me he has added my site to his Family Farmer Support resource page. How cool is that!?

Hi,
I recently added your site as a family farmer support site to my resource page at www.familyfarmer.org
Thank you,

John Myerson.

You can find your site listed here:
http://www.familyfarmer.org/blogs-by-family-farmers/

Kate also sent along these following photos from the Kingdom of Chiconia (smile)

A rainbow

Rain clouds

Not just one beautiful sunset

But TWO beautiful sunsets!
I have some other great photos that have come in over the past week, but I think I’ll save them for next Tuesday.

Photo gifts from sea to shining sea!

We’ve started July! The early summer days. Hot weather and (continuing) hot winds! BUT I AM NOT COMPLAINING…I know what six months down the road brings — and it isn’t just my birthday. 😦

I’ll leave you with a shot of the alfalfa field…two more weeks and it will be haying time again!

Your Western Colorado Farm Friend,

Linda

Warmth for Winter — June 30, 2014

Posted on June 30, 2014 by Dayphoto

Terry and I have been hauling wood for winter fires.

We have three more large box pick-up loads to go then we should be set for those dreary, long, miserable, horrid, nasty, bitter, ugly cold months. (I guess by this sentence you get the impression that I hate winter. 🙂 )

We are hauling pine beetle killed trees…nothing alive, only downed or standing dead tree.

We gather the firewood on Friday’s, which pretty much zonks me for Saturday. We were both wondering, after this last load, if we can keep this up for several more years or not. I guess we will just have to have it delivered, if and when that time comes.

(Although, NOW we do have the propane furnace fixed so we have a very expensive back-up if we need it.)