What We Have Been Doing, Part One, —- Thursday, April 22, 2021

We spent all day Monday…from 9:00 in the morning until 6:00 in the evening (after irrigation and before irrigation)

Moving dirt.

You see our canal water is so full of dirt that settling ponds have to be dug; allowed to have the water flow into the pond, and the dirt to settle out, then the pond is dug out in the Spring.

Not to waste the dirt, or let it blow away in the ever-present wind

We load and haul the dirt to different spots on our farm.  Putting the dirt back into the SOIL of the ground.

A long day sandwiched in between the other stuff.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

Did We Leave Spring and Return to Winter? —- Wednesday, April 21, 2021

It’s cold again…fire in the woodstove cold

Miserable out on the ditch bank cold

Cold enough there is ice on the running water

Which is very cold.   Our breath smokes and plumes in the air.

The wind has been a huge mess, days of it…blowing gusts of 40 m.p.h.

I keep hoping soon…very soon we will settle into a soft and lovely Spring.

Soon!  Please!

From my heart to your world,

Linda

The Sun-Glossed Sky — Tuesday, April 20, 2021

There is something wonderful about this life we live

I really don’t know how to put into words what it is

I think for me—it’s being at one with the land

Being part of the constant shift and care the farm requires

Being a part of those winged creatures who fill our skies

Yes, even the bugs.

The windswept experience —-dirt in the teeth, eyes, and ears

The predators,

The sparks of a bazillion stars

The whole parcel, which makes up our days,

And then there is that moment, of a wild heartbeat, when the glowing setting sun spreads across the heavens.

I know Terry and I are blessed.

From my world to your heart,

Linda

 

 

 

In the Peace and Quiet — Monday, April 19, 2021

“Age has given me what I was looking for my entire life…I fit into me now…I have become the woman I hardly dared imagine I would be.”  Anne Lamott

Shhhhh…go slowly in the low sun

Allow the light to dazzle your eyes.

Watch the sun blazing through the dip in the canyons way up there on the Uncompahgre Plateau

See the hawk, on silent wings, flying softly —-hunting, hunting

The sky, slowly darkening

Until the first stars start to show.

From my world to your heart,

Linda

 

Working with Wind in Your face—Sunday, April 18, 2021

It’s been more than miserable here the last several days

The wind has been as wild and dirty as any time I can remember—-You are looking at the sun going down in DIRT

Not only is your voice snatched away in the wind

It’s also cold.  With the ditches and canal full of trash and weeds from the wind.

It’s terribly miserable, with a feeling of menace.

ALTHOUGH!  For a rare and beautiful moment

We saw a faint but lovely burst of light, for just a second…But that was enough.

Perfect!

Onward we go!

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

The Adventures of TLC Cai-Cai on Friday—-Helping Mom, Friday, April 16, 2021

Mom says I’m the bestest of helpers!!

I help all the time

I sweep the floors

I help mop the floors

All the floors

And I watch the grandkids’ volleyball games with Mom and Dad.

I am a GOOD helper!

TLC Cai-Cai

The “Wilderness” of the Farm — Thursday, April 15, 2021

If you look close — here in the brief, surreal daylight of early morning is a bevy of Gambel’s Quail 

I love their songs and calls. 

Their darling little feather on their head 🙂

Then further along, just over that wee knob is one of those gorgeous male pheasants

We have several here and there—staking out their own area of the farm

He is silent and careful until 

You stumble upon him then his call is most acute and totally startling to all

It’s courting season right now

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh There she is…His Girl!

From my world to your heart,

Linda

P.S. Of course there is more bird and wildlife, but for now, this is a start.

 

What We Have Been Doing, (all in caps :) ), Wednesday, April 14, 2021

We have two fields of alfalfa being irrigated now…one is almost done (tonight) the other one tomorrow night.

Terry has finished leveling one cornfield, and marked it out, then packed the rows

After which, we started water on it last night.  This will take several days to have this field wet, but we have begun.  After the whole field is wet then it will set for a spell to dry out some. Then we plant.

Of course, there are other fields of corn to go through the

leveling, marking, irrigation, plant process

And another hayfield.  But we are making progress.

 

Besides helping Terry set tubes, I have been working in my yard.  Two days worth of work and three more to go

And I can say—Spring has arrived in my yard!

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

Optimistic Hope— Tuesday, April 13, 2021

I came upon a crow singing a most unusual song.  It was soft and gentle and oh, so sweet.

I sat still for a spell just listening.

Then, over-head, another (tantalizing) crow flew and the spell was broken.  Up up and away he/she flew to be with that intriguing, rather intoxicating ‘other’ crow!

What a gift I was given.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

A Lovely Package Arrived —- Monday, April 12, 2021

A delightful package arrived in the mail, full of hand-created treasures

Two scrubbies, two wasp nests, and a lovely, lovely hand-made card.

TLC Cai-Cai and I are most delighted.

Thank you ever so much, my Multi-Talented Friend, Connie, from Far Side of Fifty.

So exciting!

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda