Running Late— Thursday, June 26, 2014

Posted on June 26, 2014 by Dayphoto

Sorry I’m running late today on my blog post. Terry and I were over at the equipment storage area working on the hay swather. (The biting bugs are horrid!!!—Lots of horse flies, deer flies, mosquitoes, and those other nasty biting things!)

He had to remove a broken piece off the sickle bar and needed my extra hands. If you are going to farm it’s a real good thing to be able to fix the variety of farm machinery that seems to fall apart just when you are not wanting it too. 🙂

I want to thank all of you who have clicked the follow button, left comments of where you hail from, and asked to Friend me on Face Book. We are a great company of wonderful blog friends from here to there! (Uncle Spike is even from Turkey)

Sara, from a Punkin’s Patch sent me a beautiful rainbow to start my day with! How lucky we all are!

Remember if you would like to share anything with my reader’s on this blog I am open to do so…especially if you have a rainbow or moon bow (on my bucket list) or just something really cool I would love to post it. I always ask your permission first and then give you credit.

I must be off…Terry had to come in an make a phone call. I had to come in an make a post on my blog, but it’s time to get back over there.

(One of the corn fields)

Your western Colorado farm friend,

Linda

An Invitation —-Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Posted on June 25, 2014 by Dayphoto

Long before the real work of the farm starts I head upstairs to my office, turn on my computer and sit down and publish my blog post of the day. Once that is done I take a few moments to read and answer emails then I read blogs.

Like many of you I have many blogs I read, each of you reach out to us in blog land offering up a tiny bit of your life (a sharing, if you please).

Often times we readers gather inspirations, new thoughts, insights and creative ways to do something in our own lives and on our own blogs.

The Kitchen Garden Cecilia blogs daily at sunrise. She is a beach raised New Zealand girl now married and living on a farm in Illinois. She is the farmer determined to raise good clean food for her family and for other people in the area.

This is one very busy lady…not only is she the farmer, she creates items for purchase (such as calendars of her delightful pig, Shelia) plus a book (with help from her blog readers) soon to be release: Letters to my Sister. On top of all this (as if she doesn’t have enough to do) she and her husband have opened up their home for nightly or weekly visits with all inclusive breakfast, lunch and dinner.

I was reading through her tabs—please do when you visit. And I ran across her invitation to join her on the blog. It was such a wonderful idea that I wrote her and asked if she would mind if I did something similar on my blog. She was very gracious.

So here is my invitation to you- I will post this in a tab as soon as post this for today.

I would love for you to join my blog. To join this short, daily blog about a life on a farm in Western Colorado. All you need to do is click the button on that says: Sign Me UP! That is all there is to it. Once you do you will receive a notice in your email box the minute I upload a new post. I post every day, except on Saturday.

I post every morning, telling you about yesterday, or today. I sometimes muse about things that interest me, or offer, for your consideration, a brief look at the history of where we live—Delta, Colorado. Then when I stop for a break I read and answer the comments left for me. For me this is a pleasure before I head back to daily chores — my conversations with you!

On Friday’s Fuzzy and Boomer, the two farm dogs, like to take over and blog about their adventures throughout the week. You will find that these two dogs are really very friendly and do have a fun take on every day farm work.

If you would like to join Life on a Colorado Farm (whether you feel like you would want to comment or not) please scroll down a short way from the header photo and click the Sign Me Up! Button. I would love to have you part of our daily life.

If you do sign up, or even if you have been signed-up for a very long time, it would be interesting (no pressure…ever in this world of blogging) to learn where you are from—state or country. I have had the most delightful time getting to know my many commenters over the years. I would like to get to know you also.

If you would like to join the Face Book page go here: FACEBOOK

If you would like to join me on Pinterest, where I post my favorite photos of the day please go here: PINTREST

I know there are many other social sites, but these two I’m most active on.

I thank you very much for joining me, my husband, the cats, and our two farm dogs, Fuzzy and Boomer, in our daily lives on a western Colorado farm in the high mountain desert.

Your friend on a farm in Delta, Colorado,

Linda

Capturing the Spirit– Wednesday, June 24, 2014

Posted on June 24, 2014 by Dayphoto

I was asked yesterday if all the photos were from my yard—yes they are. I love pink flowers for late spring, then my colors move into a riot of reds and hot pink with splashes of yellow. Yellow and oranges with touches of blue carry me through until frost. ( My Spring colors are blue with pale pink.)

The only thing I don’t grow in my yard are cactus…we have plenty on the Cactus hill. The pink cactus are just about finished blooming, then the yellow will appear.

The yellow is the last to bloom. After blooming the cactus will set fruit. If I were really industrious I would pick the fruit and make cactus jelly. But that isn’t going to happen.

I make sure my photos are current to the day…meaning, I take my photos the day before, then post them the next day.

Also, Salli mentioned that I gave her and ear worm yesterday with my post about the Good Old Summertime …I was glad to share that particular ear worm! I had it running throughout my head for two days!!! 🙂 🙂

When out and about around 5:30 this morning taking some more photos, I developed another ear worm. Paul Simon’s –Kodachrome (While others of my age dancing their way through the Beach Boys, I was immersed in Simon and Garfunkel.)

My paternal Grandmother even liked them with me. Her favorite was a Bridge Over Trouble Waters. She would often times be humming this song as she went about her daily work cleaning the house or tending her rose garden.

Kodachrome is running rampant through my thoughts…I guess because I am really enjoying this day of digital cameras…no more taking a photo and waiting for the film to be processed.

Cameras have always been a part of my life, I was given my first one at 10…from that point on I was hooked. Capturing the spirit of the day!

Off I must go from this pleasant activity of visiting with you, my friends, from around the world, to the mundane things of every day living. Today I must wash windows and screens (again). Washing windows has become extremely taxing on my shoulder and elbow, but my eyes feast upon the outdoors. Looking through sparkling glass is delightful!

Your Farm Friend,

Linda

In the Good Old Summer Time — Monday, June 23, 2014

Posted on June 23, 2014 by Dayphoto

My Mother and my Mother’s family were always a musical group. Momma didn’t really play the piano, she more or less played at the piano, her Aunt Lois Did Play and very well. (She was a music teacher for an Idaho school system all her working life), my grandfather played the guitar, his brother played the fiddle, Momma’s Uncle Henry played the Cornet, and my brother played (and still plays the guitar).

My point to all of this is we grew up with music in our every day lives—and we grew up with a radio playing songs. (And we all sang with them…even off key!)

This morning is beautiful here! A perfect song of a day. (Suddenly) thinking about the day I remembered an old song In the Good Old Summer Time… Momma would sometimes sing this to my brother and I as we made our beds in the morning, or if we were walking down to our Grandparents in the evening.

Sometimes, while playing outside, we could hear Momma burst into song, singing her way through the day.

For some reason this song is running though my thoughts today:

There’s a time in each year

That we always hold dear,

Good old summer time;

With the birds and the trees-es

,And sweet scented breezes,

Good old summer time,

When you day’s work is over

Then you are in clover,

And life is one beautiful rhyme

,No trouble annoying,

Each one is enjoying,

The good old summer time.

Of course there are more verses, but this says enough.

Today is a day they write songs about!

Your friend,

Linda

Grammy Come Quick — Sunday, June 22, 2014

Posted on June 22, 2014 by Dayphoto

“Hello”

Hi, Grammy! Can you come down here quick?

Why, Tally? Is there a problem?

Yes, Grammy! We have a hurt Hummingbird. Momma wants you to come help.

Okay! I’ll be right there.

Grabbing a hummingbird feeder (one never really knows what to expect), loading the dogs up in the pick-up truck, I drove down to the Kid’s house—forgetting the camera. (How could I do THAT! I never go anywhere without the camera, but I did it this time!)

HURRY, GRAMMY! Momma has it on the back porch of the old house…run, Grammy, RUN.

Honey, I can’t run I need to carry the Hummingbird Feeder.

Okay, Grammy, I’ll walk with you, but can you walk FAST?

Yes, I’ll walk fast!

*************************************************************************************

Once there I found an almost dead little hummingbird. A youngster, not long out of the nest, maybe a teenager. Misty said she found the little bird collapsed in the old house, panting and chirping, the chirping had stopped by the time I arrived. It was just laying there eyes closed, beak closed, breathing very hard and fast.

Goodness, what to do.

We decided that the little thing must have flown into the old house through an open door by accident. Once inside panic set in and the little bird couldn’t figure out how to get back out.

Operating under that assumption I was thinking how much the little birds eat and how often. Gently, gently, gently I picked-up the tiny flying jewel and dipped it’s little beak into the hummingbird feeder.

Nothing.

We waited awhile. In which Misty remembered the camera, which I didn’t have, so she took a photo with her cell phone. The light is not good and we were both very concerned about the bird, but I think if you look closely you can see the little beak is open.

I dipped the tiny beak into the sugar water once more, waited and then once more.

Gradually, the little one could bring all it’s feathers back against it’s body, then open it’s eyes. I continued to hold it in the open palm of my hand–the breathing slowed to regular breathing instead of extreme panic breathing.

I could feel it’s body stop shuddering and a gathering of energy..swoosh…it was gone!

Yay! We all three expressed triumph, approval, and encouragement to the youngster!

(Of course, we don’t know what the hummingbird thought, but I’ll bet this little one was just as jubilant as we were!)

As we were starting to leave Tally pointed and exclaimed….Look there is a hummingbird nest right there! Misty climbed up to see if it was an empty nest…no, she said…peaking carefully inside (from a very safe distance)…I see three tiny, tiny, tiny eggs!

With that knowledge we hung the hummingbird feeder I had brought with me close by.

We saved the Hummie, didn’t we Grammy?

We did! Tally-two, we did! It’s a really nice feeling isn’t it?

It is, Grammy, it really is.

A true story with a happy ending!

Your joyful friend,

Linda

It’s Good Fences Thursday— June 19, 2014

Posted on June 19, 2014 by Dayphoto

(The white roses in my yard are beautiful right now)

I know this is weird, but I like cemeteries. I love the feeling of peace and calm that prevails. If our town would have ever hired a woman as a caretaker for the cemetery I would have liked to be that person.

I like cemeteries so much I do research for people interested in getting a photo of a headstone in their family. I also help find people who have lost the knowledge they have an empty plot in a local cemetery.

My children have grown up waling around with me looking for this headstone or that. They have also grown up reading the headstones…some are very sad.

Delta is a fairly young town —established in 1883, so our stones only go back that far.

Every month I go to the two in our town, refreshing the the faded silks flowers I placed upon the many graves of family.

On my last visit I realized that the corner fences would work perfectly for The Run*A*Round Ranch’s Good Fences and Gates Thursday.

I felt that these corner fences do a nice job of keeping people off the grass and corralling the stone…:) Just a joke…please don’t send hate email!

If you would like to visit Theresa and her many blogging friends and there fences (and gates) head over here. While you are there post a fence or two of your own! Good fences always make good neighbors; in this case neighbors from around the globe!

Your friend,

Linda

A Gift to Me From Kate, and Now to You —- Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Posted on June 18, 2014 by Dayphoto

Here is the point of the Cactus Hill…a rocky point on the south west side of our farm. This is the Back Forty—Those two trees, a dark green and a grey green make the boundary of the south side of that part of the Farm. That dark wasteland is the west side. When we had cows they loved this part of the farm second best…first best was the Upper End.

The cactus are just starting to bloom up there…a peach colored,

And hot pink right now. The yellow ones are a bit later.

The grass at the Upper End –also at the south end of the farm—is thick and full…

Sure makes me miss cows.–That’s Terry coming back from checking on a drain ditch.

Anyway after a night of horrendous 55 m.p.h. winds we woke to a beautiful morning and only 20 m.p.h. wind.

I’ll take it! It’s cooler but nice!

Then when I came upstairs to read my emails I found I had a gift from Kate Chiconi

A double rainbow all the way from, Dorrigo, New South Wales, Australia!

It’s so nice to have a rainbow after wild storms! Even if this one didn’t appear out my window, it did appear as a gift to me from a friend way around the world!

Thank you, Kate, for giving us this wonderful sign of Friendship and Hope and Beauty!

Your farm friend,

Linda

P.S. Don’t forget, if you have something you would like to share—story, photo, rainbows, animals, or birds. I’m always interested in what you send me. If you don’t mind I would love to share them with all of those who have subscribed to my blog.

Time Long Ago —- Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Posted on June 17, 2014 by Dayphoto

This is our sky…full of dirt and wind and wind and dirt and dirt and wind…oh, yes I said that.

Here is the Roubidoux just the other day

Here is the Roubidoux now and yesterday. I think all of Utah has come in on the 40 m.p.h. gusts we have been having.

But enough of that! I wanted to relay to you a story told to me by a long-time blog follower- Mr. John North.

Here is what he had to say:

Speaking of long ago— you are so good in relaying history of your area and your family too, I am going to start a bit of that myself. Not a blog, but just “personally” to you.

My maternal great Grampa,Charlie, an original settler west of the White Mud River in Saskatchewan ( early 1900’s) told the following story to my father when he was a relatively young man and around the time my dad married his wife, Grampa Charlie’s daughter.

He was a rancher and at the time of the story I am about to relate, he was a widower.

One day he was out inspecting his cattle. (The pastures in Sask. are measured in Sections, they were that large. My cousins still do that. ) He was an excellent horseman till nearly the age of 90 and sat tall in the saddle, dad would tell.

Well, it so happens that Charlie needed to dismount and walk nearer some of his cattle. So intent was he on looking after the Mums that he failed to notice that a big bull walked between he and his mount. (I wish I could remember his horse’s name, but I can’t.) He heard the bull sound off and turned around to see him pawing the prairie. He could do nothing to save himself, running was a waste of breath. So he locked eyes. The bull charged him.

Great Grampa Charlie was pretty fearless as the one tonner closed in. At the last second he sidestepped the big fella. But back in that time the bulls had their horns. As he rushed on by with Charlie doing some quick footwork, he swung his head and hooked Grampa, laying open his stomach.

There was a grievous wound, as you can imagine. Being far “out there”, there was no possibility of medical help.

Period.

He held himself together, and somehow made it to his horse who hadn’t drifted too far. He finally got up in the saddle and rode slowly back to his house. It was not easy and it was not a short ride. The distance is lost on me and I can’t ask my dad because he has passed on. But by and by he made it home and slid off. He got into the house and came out with a needle and thread. He then found an old plank which he laid on a flat area. Then he laid on the plank, tucking his innards back in. As best he could he stitched himself back together.

I know there are other details, now forever lost, but Dad said that he returned to the house, recuperated and went back to work. Not sure how long it took but he was up and doing and didn’t look back.

This happened while he was an older man, I forget what age, and he went on to live many more years. It all seems incredible, but he did what he had to do.

I guess it was episodes like that that made him the man that he was, Dad loved the ‘ol guy and the the feeling was mutual. He was strong and he was kindly. He had grit and he had cattle savvy. And it seems he was a “Doctor” as well.
Your friend,
John

What’s a little wind and dirt in the air compared to this?

At some point in this week the wind will leave and the dirt will settle down upon the land adding new soil to the old. The clouds will reappear and the sun will rise and set with outstanding colors. Just like Mr. North’s Grampa we really need to do whatever it takes to ‘get ‘er done’, then move on.

Thank you, Mr. North for sharing with all of us this feat of ‘just making it through the day’!

Than you, Dear Readers for sharing your photos of rainbows, and birds and fun stories. I’m always interested in what you send me. If you don’t mind I would love to share them with all of those who have subscribed to my blog. Life is full of wonder every where we live.

Your friend,

Linda

I Flew to the Moon —-June 16, 2014

Posted on June 16, 2014 by Dayphoto

Remember back in March when I posted the fact that I love the Wind? Well, I still do. BUT….I am getting a tad tired of it.

We are having lots of wind! Usually it starts slowing down in the late afternoon; stopping by nightfall. But not last night…the wind blew all day yesterday…not the fun, playful kite flying winds, or the gentle soap bubble blowing breezes, but the kind that slams doors shut in the house, lifts curtains to flap and snap in the bedrooms. We are to have (yet) another day of such nonsense and then another day with 40 m.p.h. gusts lifting anything that is not nailed down up into the air and then dropped somewhere not close by.

Still the wind didn’t stop the moon light from bursting forth from behind the leaves…shining brilliant silver light upon the night-scaped land. It ruffled the dogs’ fur…making them look like little rag-a-muffins as we walked along.

During the day the wind caused the clouds to shift and scuttle across the brilliant shining sky.

So far we are not too cold, although a nasty cold front is due in here on Wednesday. If it doesn’t stall we will start to warm back up on Thursday. One day of potential snow in the mountains.

A baby water snake slithered out on the gravel to warm up…soaking the heat from the soil into his/her scales. This little snake didn’t stay long, the wind ruffled even it’s little scales.

Then suddenly, I was lifted up into the air, flung wildly into the heavens!

The view was stunning!

The wind shifted the clouds here and there…causing sun-rays to stream through the gathering mass of condensed water vapor floating in our atmosphere, lighting up the Uncompahgre Plateau and the canyon just below our mesa…the Roubidoux.!

It was so beautiful I am sure the stars even sung!

There is much joy in every day, isn’t there.

Your friend,

Linda

A Quick Stop —Sunday, June 15, 2014

Posted on June 15, 2014 by Dayphoto

The nice thing about summer is the fact people are traveling…and sometimes that means they are traveling ‘through’ where we live.

My brother, Dan (this is from last year)

And his pretty wife, Cloudy were also in the area, but could not stop by this time. They usually come over sometime in August so I’m thinking we will get to see them at that time.

Terry’s sister, Carolyn, and her husband, Wayne where traveling back from Arizona when they called and said—“We are coming through”,

Then the “Side Trips” blog folks posted about this really nice trip they were on and I realized THEY WERE GOING TO BE PASSING THROUGH!!!

I quickly emailed them and invited them to stop and have supper with us on their way back home. They took me up on the invitation!!! YIPPEE! It is great fun to meet people in person after years of reading and commenting on each other’s blogs!

We had hot dogs and hamburgers and all sorts of picnic food, ate outside and the wind blew us away. Even blew my salad right off my plate. Shish!

But everyone was was kind and gracious. ate the food, sat in the kitchen while I put stuff together, chatted together outside – passing the time quickly. Suddenly it was all over, everyone back on the road to home.

The wind…it hung around until today turning colder on Saturday; bringing in another cold front for our area. It’s actually cold enough we had to turn up the heat just to take the chill off the house. A strong cold front with heavy gusting wind is predicted until Wednesday when it will finally push itself out of here and we will start to warm back up.

I guess in the scheme of things, five days of gusty winds of 30 m.p.h, or more, is really just a quick stop. This time next week we will have the heat and warmth of late Spring.

Your friend on a farm in Delta, Colorado

Linda