The Adventures of TLC Cai-Cai on Wednesday —The Back Bone and Life Blood of the Farm, Wednesday, April 13, 2022

Posted on April 13, 2022 by Dayphoto

The backbone of the farm is not Dad—although, he does put lots of backbone into making the farm what it is. Nor is it, Mom. Mom doesn’t make the farm go; she helps Dad make the farm go. Mom says there is a difference.

The backbone isn’t the land, the land IS the farm.

Nor is it the seeds, fertilizer, or crops. Those are extensions OF farming.

The backbone isn’t animals with backbones…we all have backbones, so living breathing things don’t count as the farm’s backbone.

The Back Bone and the Life Blood of the Farm is WATER!

It takes Water to make the farm and it takes water to make the farm grow so for this last series of FARMING—We are going to learn all about water on the farm!

TLC Cai-Cai

Who are Those, Ethel? —- Tuesday, April 12, 2022

Posted on April 12, 2022 by Dayphoto

“This hunting for bugs is fun, Skitter Bug!”

“Yes! Bugs and a nice fluff in the dirt, Ethel.”

“WAIT! ETHEL! WHO ARE THOSE BIRDS?”

“WOW, Skitter I don’t know!!!”

“RUN!! RUN INTO THE HOUSE, ETHEL! DANGER!!!”

ETHEL! DANGER!!!”

“No. Not danger. Just some big birds stopping by for a rest. Which I think we need to do. Rest in the dirt and the sun……………..zzzzzzzzzzzzzz”

“Oh. Nothing to worry about then. Back to looking for bugs.”

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

When the Work Starts to Over-Whelm —- Monday, April 11, 2022

Posted on April 11, 2022 by Dayphoto

When the workload starts to over-whelm

And exhaustion starts to murmur and whisper

Then begins thrumming throughout your body

Then it’s time

To give yourself a little treat.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

Each Day Brings Something Different — Sunday, April 10, 2022

Posted on April 10, 2022 by Dayphoto

Spring is here now

Bringing to us a different type of day

On a daily basis.

Sometimes the morning feels like we are still in Winter

Then after a long day of Spring-time work

Our bodies feel like we’ve joined a gym

A gym that requires you to move at top speed

Gradually, gradually the last bit of winter is leaving

The plowing is now finished

The rolling, the leveling done

Terry and I cleaned ditches yesterday

Then while he worked on the land

I raked and cleaned in my yard

So, the work will hitch up another notch

When we start the water on the land.

Soon, probably Monday or Tuesday, depending on how much we get done.

Our simple life…but well treasured.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

The Adventures of TLC Cai-Cai on Friday —Farm Life Series, Chapter 9, BUGS, Friday, April 8, 2022

Posted on April 8, 2022 by Dayphoto

We have BUGS!

Sometimes I try to catch them.

Sometimes I try to eat them.

We have bugs of all sorts: crickets, grasshoppers, beetles, ants, and spiders.

We have:
FLIES—flies I try to kill! I chase them, I pounce on them, I swat them—there are all sorts of flies: house flies, horse flies, deer flies, biting flies, blowflies, fat flies, skinny flies we got them.

They all buzz, bite, and get in your ears! ALL OF THEM!

You know what? They don’t get in my ears! Nope, but they do get in the equine’s ears and in the dogs’ ears. I don’t know why they don’t bother cats, but they don’t.

Heheheh.

Mosquitoes—monsters, each and every one of them!
Gnats—Mom and Dad think these are the most obnoxious, annoying, creatures. They can even chase Mom and Dad on their four-wheelers. (Right along with the giant Horse Flies)
Giant Horse Flies and slender little horse flies. These winged monsters eat anything walking around with warm blood in it. And they will chase you down to get the blood.
Wasps—Mom is very allergic to these and Honey bees. Their harpoons have been known to knock Mom down and out. Until the Benadryl kicks in and she can get her get-up and go going again.

Well, I think we covered all our wildlife,

what a farm is,

how to live and

work on a farm…

I think the next and last thing I’m going to talk to you about is the life-blood of the farm.

WATER!

So, see you soon!

TLC Cai-Cai

I Was Sent a Heart —- Thursday, April 7, 2022

Posted on April 7, 2022 by Dayphoto

I received a very nice gift in my email—

“I think of you whenever I find one; the photo is yours to use any way you wish.

I like that we share the heart rock connection. I have always looked for them!”

Marianne

Northview Diary

Look at this perfect heart. She said it was frozen solid to the ground and not moving, so she photographed it instead.

Photos are perfect!

Gosh, I am blessed with so many lovely friends!

My heart goes to each and every one of you!

Linda

The Adventures of TLC Cai-Cai on Wednesday —Farm Life Series, Chapter8, Those Things that SLITHER and Hop, Wednesday, April 6, 2022

Posted on April 6, 2022 by Dayphoto

First, there are

SNAKES!!

(this is a snakeskin)

We have two kinds, that Mom and I know of

(This is a bull snake. Photo is by Linda Pierson in Alberta, Canada)

Bull Snakes and Water Snakes.

Bull Snakes are non-poisonous…they can get BIG…Long…and they are fast. Mom and Dad see them, once in a while in the alfalfa fields, but Mom said they haven’t seen one for a long time now. She doesn’t know why.

Then we have

WATER SNAKES! They live here, there, everywhere. We have them in the farmyard, on the ditch banks…in the fields.

Mom has two that live in the hen house with the hens. I see them once in a while when I’m in the hen house.

They don’t bother anything, but the mice. One snake can eat one mouse a week.

They seem to eat everything whole, so if you are in the hen house and see a snake with a bulge in its tummy then you know said snake was helping me keep the mouse population down.

That said—they do scare me a bit and I have seen Mom jump a little jump when one of the snakes comes slithering out from under the nest boxes.

Mom and Dad try to take care of the water snakes, if they are laying on the bridge taking in the sun and the warm cement…then one of them shoos the snake off the bridge so the vehicle can drive on over.

If there is a snake on one of the farm roads – yep, Dad or Mom takes a shovel and lifts the snake off into the weeds so the tractor or four-wheeler can pass by.

Snakes. Fuzzy hated snakes, he would shake and snap them to death. Me…I just go the other way.

Other Things that are a creepy factor to them are:

Lizards—we have little greenish-gray lizards with strips along

It’s back and sides…I think they are called—six-lined race runner. I call them “FUN TO CATCH!” which is exactly what I try to do when I see one!

Frogs and Toads:

We don’t have lots of frogs

Once in a while, one or two will float down in the irrigation water,

but that’s all.

What we do have lots of are toads.

Mom LOVES toads.

She has little toad houses for them.

She tells me to leave the toads alone

She tells me to leave the toads alone they eat lots of bugs.

Mom doesn’t have to worry about that…they don’t even look good enough to chase.

TLC Cai-Cai

Finally We Got Both Sides Done — Tuesday, April 5, 2022

Posted on April 5, 2022 by Dayphoto

Cliff and Kimberly came out one day and

helped us get all the shingles off the other side

Then Terry and I began the next step

Measuring; getting everything so it will match up perfectly

After, which, we (Terry and I) started putting the boards up

I pushed the boards up and Terry caught them and nailed them down

The next day, Saturday,

Cliff and Kimberly came out

We had a great weather day to work in 🙂

Gradually, gradually

The end of the big sheets started to appear

Done! With the big sheets

Now Terry and I will hang the trim and put the cap piece on top!

YAY!

New roof on a very old (built-in 1924) building!

Saved for the rest of our lifetime!

Your friends on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

That Joyful Burst of Spring — Monday, April 4, 2022

Posted on April 4, 2022 by Dayphoto

The wild apricot trees have burst into bloom!

Maybe apricots this year—

Maybe.

Only time will tell

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

Half for Sam and Half for Us —Sunday , April 3, 2022

Posted on April 3, 2022 by Dayphoto

“Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths.” — Etty Hillesum

We’ve reached a place in life where farming the whole farm, maintaining the whole farm, the farm equipment, the buildings and stuff around the house is a tad too much.