FIRE!!!—Thursday, March 23, 2017

Posted on March 23, 2017 by Dayphoto

Sunday afternoon I looked over our fields and saw a huge plume of smoke!

HUGE…of course I didn’t think to take a photo of it.

Hoping it wasn’t a farm on fire we drove down to see if we could help. Although, as we started down we were passed by a fleet of fire trucks heading toward the Rubidoux Canyon.

Now most of the Roubidoux Canyon is the ranch of Mr. Davis and his daughter. (There are other homes and farms and BLM land down there, but they are way at the other end of the canyon.)

(Davis settled they whole canyon and the ledges just above the canyon many years ago when Delta was just opened up for settlement around 1881 or so.) This is a photo of the hold home place in 1882.

The canyon is the winter home of the bulls, the horses and the cows and yearling calves.

And it is posted!

Still people trespass and ‘camp and picnic’ on their property. Leaving behind broken glass, beer cans, all sorts of nasty trash.

Sunday a careless camper started a campfire to cook potatoes; the result was a canyon on fire.

Our oldest daughter and Jason were down in the canyon when the fire broke out and were able to help move the bulls to higher ground. Teresa Davis and other members of the Davis family moved the rest of the cows and calves.

The fire was so intense it even jumped the river.

Sigh!

We haven’t gone down to see the damage, I’m sure it’s extensive. What a sad mess. What a hard lesson for that camper to learn—the whole thing is a bad deal.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

Something Larger Than Yourself—Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Posted on March 22, 2017 by Dayphoto

The work goes on…first light –until way past last light– arriving back in the yard in a flurry of falling stars in the velvet night.

Yesterday Terry worked in the alfalfa field and I finished up raking the whole yard, all the flower beds, around all the outbuildings, and

(This is an old photo, but it gives you an idea of what I did yesterday)

worked on getting the canal bank ready for the water to come. A huge job.

The fertilizer truck arrived around 7 this morning. So now Terry is

rolling the fertilizer on the corn fields.

Water is supposed to be in the canal any day now. We took a short drive around 5 yesterday afternoon, checking the canals above us to see where the water was…our lives revolve around water.

It’s a busy time of year, but a good time. It gives me a sense of reaching out to something ever so much larger than myself. Our farm, a small, vibrant island of life.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm

Linda

Moonlight on Water—Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Posted on March 21, 2017 by Dayphoto

(This is an old photo, but one I loved so thought I would share it again 🙂 )

George, a long-time blog friend, sent me a gift of a lifetime.

A moonbow! He and his dearly beloved wife, Betsy had gone to Cumberland Falls State Park in Kentucky for his birthday. Heading out on a clear moonlight night they went to the falls to see if they could see a MoonBow in the water. You can read about their experience here.

And here is Betsy’s wonderful blog.

What an amazing gift!!! There they were with the moon making a path stretching all along the water, shadows of the night along the trees and bushes, the mist from the falls cold around their feet, the silence that isn’t silence for the thundering of the fall…and then

The moonlight shimmering all along the mist of the water!

Wow! Thank you, George!

From my world to your heart,

Linda

Why I Come Here—Monday, March 20, 2017

Posted on March 20, 2017 by Dayphoto

Yesterday I got a message from WordPress:

Happy Anniversary with WordPress.com!

You registered on WordPress.com 10 years ago.

Thanks for flying with us. Keep up the good blogging.

Ten years! Goodness times has flown. Terry and my hair have turned color, in that time, his is white and mine gray….we are both retired from downtown jobs

Our grandchildren have grown from tiny infants into much bigger kids.

Still the drifting clouds and the breezes continue to move over the land we call home.

And we still continue to farm. Working the soil, building fences, taking care of the this piece of property that calls to Terry and I.

And for me, I love blogging.

I’ve met so many wonderful friends here, people who have become more than a push of the like button…

For you — each one of you…sit close to me for a spell and we get to know each other.

Thank you for my wonderful ten years of blogging.

Love,

Linda

Moment’s Clipped in Time—-Sunday, March 19, 2017

Posted on March 19, 2017 by Dayphoto

Friday afternoon Terry came in with a broken roller harrow.

One whole roller came off and flung itself all down the row. Twenty three rollers and other parts and pieces.

What a huge expensive mess.

Terry made a quick call to U.S. Tractor in Montrose, Colorado; ordered parts (they will be in Saturday morning).So that gave us the rest of the day to work on FENCES!!!

Then Saturday morning a fast trip to Montrose, and Terry started to put the roller back together. I helped, but that is all I did. ‘Here hold this. When say push, push. Do this or that’…while he put it all back together again.

Terry is multitalented that is for sure.

By late afternoon he was back in the field.

There are some moments (clipped out of time), which seemed to be perfectly adhered in our memories… watching Terry finished plowing one of the field the other night—-I saw a beautiful sight. One that says, in Spring — everything is possible!

(Only if you get the ground ready for the crops!)

From daylight to dusk….the land is jarred loose from it’s long winter’s nap.

And the small spring buds start waking; drowning out the voices of last years old growth.

Until one magic morning the earth is full of glorious smells (fresh turned soil, apricot blooms, growing green grass and alfalfa) and a feast for the eyes.

What a joy!

From my world to your heart,

Linda

A Wonderful Book: Loyal—-Thursday, March 16, 2017

Posted on March 16, 2017 by Dayphoto

I just finished reading this great book: Loyal: 38 Inspiring Tales of Bravery, Heroism, and the Devotion of Dogs by Rebecca Ascher-Walsh (Author) it is a wonderful book….telling the tales of love and loyalty and that special something between humans and the dogs that love them….or is it between dogs and those humans that love the dogs?

There are 38 tales of amazing and wonderful dogs complete with full face photos of the dog being featured.

This is a serious book but also an uplifting book about those wonderful creatures called ‘man’s best friend’ or for many others of us, ‘our fur children.’

It a quick read, but a read, which confirms dogs enrich and enhance our lives in so many different ways. Many times the stories are about dogs who come to the rescue of the humans in their lives, or as true unconditional acceptance of us, that lifts us up and helps us become better selves.

This is a book you can sit on your coffee table for the lovely photos alone. It is also a book you can give your visitors, children, and grandchildren to read. This book can be read and re-read for years.

It’s a great book that reminds us why dogs are an important part of our daily lives.

If you love dogs this is a great book for you. I highly recommend this outstanding read.

This is the customer comment I left on Amazon.com. It is such a good book I thought I would share my words with you also!

Love,

Linda

One Field Finished with the Second Step — Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Posted on March 15, 2017 by Dayphoto

Terry has finished rolling one field…there are many more field to work , but this one is finished with the plowing and the rolling.

This is what plowed ground looks like —all lumpy and bumpy

And here is what it looks like after being rolled. There are several more steps to go before we can start water and then plant. (Terry wet plants…the seeds come up faster and they come up all at once, that way.)

It’s always a good feeling to get one step done and ready for the next step!

Always!

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

The Soft Susurrus as the Night Gathers—-Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Posted on March 14, 2017 by Dayphoto

There is a silence, which descends on the land, as the day starts to fade and night begins creeping into all the corners of the earth

Although the day time sounds are muted. But darkness, you understand, is not silent…small melodious voices break out through all the long time, of that mysterious shadowy time of sleep.

Invisible intimate sounds: the hoot of an owl, a squeak of a scurrying mouse, a nightbird calling;the howl of a distant coyote…are a constant flicker at the edge of hearing.

There are those who feel an uneasiness in the night. But not I….

I find a late night walk (among those creatures of the land) a rather comforting journey of peace.

From my world to your heart,

Linda

Romeo Comes for an Extended Stay—-Monday, March 13, 2017

Posted on March 13, 2017 by Dayphoto

Yesterday Romeo decided to come to “Grammy and Grandpa’s” for a visit. He left his home and trotted his little (BIG) self all the way over to beg for carrots, horse treats and a sugar mint. (I know we spoil him. 🙂 Mainly for just this reason. If he gets out of his pen, or he decides to leave his yard, or for whatever reason, he WILL head to us.

His mom wasn’t far behind this time. She had stopped to shut a gate—it was one of those wire gates that must either be laid down or leaned up along the other fence. While Shannon was busy….Romeo came for some horse treats.

Terry mentioned that the cows didn’t clean up some of the ditch banks very well; with a little fencing effort Romeo could come up here and eat to his heart’s content.

So now it is a fact…Romeo has come for an extended visit—a perfect feast for him and slicked up ditch banks for us!

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

The Farm Waking to Spring—-Sunday, March 12, 2017

Posted on March 12, 2017 by Dayphoto

I finished cleaning and prepping my gardens by the the corrals, which led me to figure out I had better get the corrals back into order, fences and gates in repair, take down the metal fences and store them until next year (for when the cows come). Clean out the loafing shed and move some things around.

A little squirrel chattered at me, from one of the corral posts; the call of a Robin sitting high in the Willow tree made a sweet song as I worked.

Terry finished plowing one field and started rolling it. The soil is just right for plowing, but drying fast.

so the rolling had to occur as soon as he could hook up the roller or the earth would turn into clods.

In the fresh extra edge, of cool air and rising sunshine Saturday morning we finished the last load of the wood. A slight breeze moved restlessly caressing our work heated skin.

It was a lovely feeling.

Friday and Saturday we kept a steady pace.

Then as the day came to a close, cool mist of the evening rose up to wrap the world in drifting peace…the Red Winged Blackbirds came to feast; filling up their tummies for the long night of rest.