A Request for Help, Please—August 21, 2017

Posted on August 21, 2017 by Dayphoto

We have a varied and wide variety of Hummingbirds in Colorado…I have personally identified at least three here on the farm—-

According to hummingbirds.net this is the types of hummingbirds identified to Colorado— Colorado
Broad-tailed, Rufous, Black-chinned, Calliope, Blue-throated, Magnificent, Anna’s, Ruby-throated, Broad-billed, White-eared, Green Violet-ear.

I think this is the Black-Chin hummingbird

This is a Rufus…they are the bullies of the whole bunch

Although I adore their coloring!

I think I’ve seen a Calliope and a Broad Tail

But I don’t know what this little one is

It’s little beak is even blue like it’s adorable feathers.

If anyone of you happens to know would you leave a the answer in the comment section?

Thank you very much!

Linda

An Enchanted Place—-Sunday, August 20, 2017

Posted on August 20, 2017 by Dayphoto

“There is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place where colors are brighter, the air softer, and the morning more fragrant than ever.”— Elizabeth Lawrence

If I had to pick a favorite season….I think I might struggle a bit…the early spring days lift me up after the thin winter sun, which painted long blue shadows void of warmth and color. Spring lifts me up like the greening of the trees color the brown drab landscape.

Then summer with all it’s heat, which sits heavy and still, on the land, and swarms of chores—which seem never ending.

After which comes fall with the crisp, clear days and immense bursts of color; bring the world into life, in a way none of the other seasons can.

But if I am forced to pick…I would pick SUMMER!

For beats with a song only the humming of the stars in the heavens, (and in my heart, my mind, and my soul), can understand.

From my heart to your world,

Linda

Each Day a Brilliant Victory—Thursday, August, 17, 2017

Posted on August 17, 2017 by Dayphoto

Each day we are moving closer and closer to fall…there is a wee nip in the air come first light, enough to make Boomer, Sam and Mindy curl into balls to keep warm. Those silly furry things still want to sleep outside, but soon they will [all] choose the warmed of the house.

It was 51* f here (10.55 c) when we got up this morning. Very odd for August. More like September…late September.

Still the view on the farm is green and gentle; the mild air warming up to a soft and lovely warmth.

Terry is baling hay in the lingering dew…too much and the bales will rot, not enough and the leaves fall off the stem, making the hay useless. So carefully, at just the right time, the dried alfalfa is gathered by the baler and smashed into bales spreading that fresh hay smell throughout the farm.

Then later in the day we—and yes it is a true ‘we’— have been working on laying steel for the extension to the other building.

And I have begun painting the trim on the house. I want to get it done so I can paint some of the lawn furniture. I also need to go down to the other place and paint the old chicken house. I’ve been wanting to do that for several years, but can never seem to get the time. I’m hoping this is the year I can get it done!

Anyway, not much going on here with the crops…changing water the big thing and the consistent work.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

When God Speaks—-Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Posted on August 16, 2017 by Dayphoto

When asking to have time with the Universe I often walk upon the farm, or sit quietly amongst the flowers in the yard, and, of course, there are those ‘just before sleep’ times when communicating with a Power much higher than I helps me close down my brain and sleep.

But I have found that the answers do not come to you, if you, as the seeker do NOT have time to listen. So I often seek out solitude — watching — for answers on the land, in the sky, or in the thoughts feeding my mind.

Three days ago Terry and I saw (the first photo) while we were up on the Rocky Point, a slight sundog in the clouds ––a ‘slight’ cool down is coming in three days, so the old-timers say. The weather people (for our area) are confirming that today will be slightly cooler than yesterday and the day before.

The announcement made me smile.

From my world to your heart,

Linda

When You Set your Life—-August 15, 2017

Posted on August 15, 2017 by Dayphoto

I have noticed over my years…that those, who seem to grow old are those who set their lives toward one goal

All their life is pointed into that one direction….working hard until the hilltop is reached. But once there, nothing is left to do. There isn’t a way to climb higher, the peak is now at hand…there is nothing really to do WITH the goal — maybe polish it a bit is all. So the flame starts to die out—and age creeps in chilling the body and shrinking the soul.

To stay young…well, at least youthful, the need to keep goals warming your thoughts is a very good thing.

(At a tractor pull one October a few years back)

Our neighbor, who attaches to our farm on the south side, is an amazing example of how to stay young. He is eighty, or very close to eighty; broke his hip last winter…worked until he could walk again— without aide, and is on oxygen.

(A photo taken awhile back…that junk is cleaned up now 🙂 )

BUT!!!!!

He still farms!

YES!

We see him out there on his tractor doing all the things all farmers do…disking, plowing, planting, cultivating, opening rows for water, all those things. He wife told me he told her: “Farming makes me happy!”

(Taken one day close to harvest a year or so ago)

I’ve thought of that statement a lot this spring and summer…the nice thing about farming is (to us, Terry and I and to our neighbor) the beacon on the mountain top— the goal is still out there, still attainable, the leaping blood of youth still warming the body, mind and the soul.

Farming IS the goal.

(Current taken this week)

The work is still fun, the days still full of wonder, the evening water checks still something beautiful, the first light of the day a marvel to behold.

So I guess the whole secret to staying youthful is staying happy. For Terry and I in our ancient years…we can truthfully say, like our neighbor, “Farming make us happy!”

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

That Wonderful Light and Hollow Feeling—Monday, August 14, 2017

Posted on August 14, 2017 by Dayphoto

Way back in June I sat about making a couple of Hummingbird swings….

I hung them and waited…and waited…and waited…then last night

As the sun faded quickly from the heavens, and the night air scented with the smell of Four O’clocks and sweet Lilies

Several of those tiny flying jewels tried out the swing!!!

I WAS DELIGHTED! (to say the least 🙂 )

Then while I watched and waited, for that perfect photo, of a hummingbird on a swing…a little wasp decided to see what all the fuss was about. I had to laugh-out-loud as the joy that little swing has brought, not just to me, but those creatures living in our yard!

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

Time Falls Away—Sunday, August 13, 2017

Posted on August 13, 2017 by Dayphoto

Time falls away, while I sit and watch the hummingbirds.

Your friend on a Western Colorado farm,

Linda

In the Soft Clear Air—Thursday, August, 10, 2017

Posted on August 10, 2017 by Dayphoto

This is a most unusual August. It feels more like September. Not even early September, but late September.

We are having lots of rain…scary now that the alfalfa is down; needing to dry and become hay.

The air is very cool, although it makes for nice sleeping at night.

While working out by the 1970 John Deere grain auger a little Quail flew up on the corral fence…then in a graceful movement walked

to the the bottom rung of the hay stack fence…calling gently in the velvet air for his or her mate.

Later in the day, as the sun warmed the air, making pools of bright light, and the bees worked busily in the Russian Sage; I watched a hawk land lazily on the electric pole next to our yard.

We watched each other for the longest time. Then with a very silent lift of it’s wing — the sun sent the hawk’s shadow over the lawn, then over where I was working; rising up, up, up in the sky I saw it no more.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

All in a Day’s Work —- Wednesday, August, 9, 2017

Posted on August 9, 2017 by Dayphoto

The pinto beans are setting on and starting to fill out —harvest will be sometime in September

Since we leave all our windows open day and night, the house smells like fresh mown hay. Third cutting… time is passing quickly now

While Terry mowed the hay I mowed my lawn…it was in dire need of my attention! 🙂

Yesterday we hauled in gravel and spread it on the long, long lane from the farmyard to the road….also putting down gravel in the farm yard itself

Then the thing I hate to do worse than anything….is getting Terry out of a tight spot.

He went over to make a ditch, got stuck…I had to come over and pull him out…

When he is in a ditch like this I’m always afraid I will pull him ‘wrong’ and cause the tractor to tip over.

When I was young our neighbor did tip over and it killed him. Then (when our kids were grown) Terry’s good friend was working on one of his ditches when his tractor tipped over and killed him.

Scary stuff…working on wet ditches!