Corn Report–Thursday, December 17, 2015

Posted on December 17, 2015 by Dayphoto

We ~~pretended~~ decided to get ready one more time,

One field is very, very, close. By our moisture tester is says we are there. But the corn sample Terry took to the Elevator said it was still too high. The second field is still over-the-top wet.

No matter what your corn moisture tester says, it’s what the Elevator’s moisture testers reads.

Today, around noon, we will get different sample from the third field and take it to the Elevator…maybe this one will be good to go. Maybe.

Three fields waiting. We’ve checked them one by one.

December is flying by…what an amazing year for corn harvest. Although, to be sure, we are NOT the only ones with this problem. A few of the farmers have gotten ‘some’ of their corn in, but not many, and not a lot of their fields. Together we all wait.

Your friend on a Western Colorado Farm,

Linda

A Frozen World—Wednesday, December, 16, 2015

Posted on December 16, 2015 by Dayphoto

After a day of snow and wind…mostly wind, we woke to snow scattered here and there in small little drifts.

Brown patches of earth scattered in the tattered and bunched snow.

But the sun came up all red and pink and gold, causing sparkles on the snow drifts, the brown frozen earth appears a softer brown than the melted dark mud will appear (if we warm up.)

The wind-snapped and bedraggled corn reflected the morning light, echoing the glow coming over the mountains, wherein lays Gunnison, Colorado, and a wee bit closer, the Black Canyon.

Terry is going out to check the corn, thinking maybe this cold has driven down the moisture. While he is doing that I will go sweep out the bed of the grain truck, then with the bed facing the rising sun we are hoping the wood will dry.

If this all comes together, maybe, just maybe…harvest can begin.

What a crazy time of the year to [still] be hoping to get the corn in.

Oh, well, it is what it is.

Wishing you a good one today,

Love,

Linda

The Adventures of Boomer on Friday—Not Yet

Posted on December 4, 2015 by Dayphoto

“Come on, Boomer! Let’s go with Dad and get a corn sample!” Mom patted her leg for me to follow them. Off we went into the corn fields. An ear here and an ear there…all through the three corn field.

“Be sure and get an ear in the down spot, it seems to take forever to dry.” Dad pointed so Mom would understand just where he wanted her to get a sample.

“Okay, I’ll head to the top corn field and get one from the down side of the big field.” Mom told Dad, as he headed to the front field—“Alright, and I’ll get one from the road side of the big field.

Back home we shelled the corn into cans to take to the elevator to have it tested. It doesn’t matter what YOUR tester says (if the corn is dry or not) it matters if the Elevators testers says it’s dry.

While Mom and Dad shelled I tasted out the knurls to see if they were hard or soft. I like to do MY part!

Then we all loaded up and headed to the elevator. We went in the car this time, it’s just too cold for me to ride (LIKE I LOVE TO DO) in the back of the truck.

At the elevator Mom and I sat in the car and waited while Dad walked the samples in. Waiting is OKAY BY ME!!! Mom rolls the window down and I sniff and smell all I want.

Then Dad was back and we were heading home.

“Not yet” Dad said. “Still too wet…15.9.” Dad gave a HUGE sigh. We wait some more.”

“Two weeks, do you think?” Mom asked.

“Who knows,” Dad replied glumly. “Who knows?”

“Well, I guess it is what it is.” I hear Mom say.

Then Mom said: “Hopefully the weather will dry and warm up, which should help. Also, if it will dry and warm up, Boomer and I can get out there and get all the siphon tubes, dams and other things picked up and stored for the winter. It’s just been too wet and cold to get the farm put to bed.”

Hum, I thought, I think the farm is already in bed, it’s just Mom hasn’t got the room picked up and straighten up for the company…meaning Mom needs to get the irrigation stuff picked up and brought into the farm yard so the COWS don’t ruin it!

GOOD! Let’s hope for warmer, drying weather…I LOVE picking up all the irrigation stuff. Just Mom and me and the farm. YAY!

Boomer!

Corn Report—Thursday, December 3, 2015

Posted on December 3, 2015 by Dayphoto

The deer are eating the corn, yum-yum. Not a good thing. Good for the deer. but not the bottom line.

Still I don’t think we are going to be hurt! It would take more than the small sized herd we have living on our place.

We did have a nice melt yesterday.

A few of the farmers have started started corn harvest. Just a small amount of farmers. Terry is thinking possibly Friday we can start…of course it depends on the melt, the mud, and the moisture content of the knerals. I’m sure when everything gets just right for us the rest of the the farmers will be ready also. 🙂

That is when the lines are long, long, long at the elevator. Still, it will mean Corn Harvest (and paycheck)!

Today we are building fence. Seems like there is always something that needs done. 🙂

I hope your day is going well for you. As always, Your friend on a western Colorado Farm,

Linda

Corn Report—Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Posted on November 18, 2015 by Dayphoto

Well, here we sit, the corn is still standing, albeit growing shorter and shorter as the days go by. The weather and the wind has started breaking the tops off the stalks, the moisture is keep the corn kernels wet, and the ground is muddy.

It’s not just us…it is everyone who has corn to shell and sell.

Still we wait. There isn’t anything else to do.

Corn harvest…not yet!

Your friend on a western Colorado Farm,

Linda

A Rare Day—Sunday, November 1, 2015

Posted on November 1, 2015 by Dayphoto

Yesterday was a rare day.

The breezes sighed through the corn, rustling the the dried tassels and the papery leaves, rubbing the stalks together with a soft rasping sound.

The pulse of the earth is slowing down, gradually cooling, settling in for a long winter’s nap.

But yesterday, just for a spell, the air warmed, jackets were not needed, the fire died in the woodstove, and joy filled the souls of all living and breathing things. A reprevie, a warming back up…or at least a stopping of the cool down for an afternoon.

As the Chinese Proverb says: “One joy will scatter a hundred sorrows.” A warm afternoon was proof of that proverb.

Very much your friend,

Linda

I Give to you a Love Song—Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Posted on October 20, 2015 by Dayphoto

The weather is decidedly cold and wet. Boomer, Sam the Cat and Monkey the Cat, have decided going outside and ‘hanging out’ is best left for another day. 🙂

Still Boomer and I went for a small walk, tramping down the ditch bank roads filling our lungs with sweet, cold, fresh air.

As Boomer checked out the news I realized the wind was playing a lovely Love Song. The following is the melody…and in the end you get to hear my old lady voice as I storta stumbled while trying to turn off the camera. Be Kind, now. I was shocked to hear how much I sounded like my paternal Grandmother….I put it down to almost falling. (Lets hope so.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRsiCRTMzog

As always your friend,

Linda

Gifts—Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Posted on October 14, 2015 by Dayphoto

We are all blessed, each and every one of us. But sometimes…just sometimes life gets in the way.

Something that takes us away from looking at the good–something that makes our hearts and minds roil in panic or sadness.

Still the gifts of this world keep on shining…

Telling us to be calm. Given time everything works out.

Everything!

As my dear departed Momma always said: “Everything works out for the best, if you just let it.”

And it does. It really does.

Your friend,

Linda

The Adventures of Boomer on Friday—Corn Report

Posted on October 9, 2015 by Dayphoto

The geese are back! They fly over-head honking and talking to one another. I like to sit outside and watch them. Mom thinks it’s odd that I watch them, my head tipped back, my ears pulled forward, causing my forehead to wrinkle, but I’m interested in knowing what they are saying and where they are going.

Dad has been checking out the big truck, getting it ready for corn harvest. That won’t happen for a spell, yet, maybe by the end of this month. It just depends on the moisture content of corn!

We finished the last of the irrigation. The whole alfalfa field is now ready to head into winter in fine shape.

Anyway, the corn is ripe and starting to dry down.

There are still some green leaves at the top. I run down the furrows checking out the news, nose to the ground most of the time, but I do look up once in a while. You see corn harvest is a BIG deal around here. It’s Dad and Mom’s main crop. Meaning most of the farm is planted to corn.

So every day I take a little walk out and check out the corn…when it is about time to start harvest Mom and I will go out and put the farm to bed…we will gather up all the siphon tubes and the dams moving them to safety – away from cows hooves. Its big work and I LOVE IT!!! Sometimes I stay with Mom and sometimes, well, you understand, I check for news!

Boomer

Getting Close–Thursday, September 25, 2015

Posted on September 24, 2015 by Dayphoto

We are getting close (now), to being done, with the pinto bean harvest. Tomorrow should see the end!

Prices are low. They are low on the corn and the hay also. But storing something doesn’t always produce a higher price later on.

I always find this so odd…the farmer get a small amount, but the retail in the grocery store is extremely high…too many middle people along the way, I guess.

We are still irrigating the alfalfa field. It’s a big field and takes a long time to get across, but we should finish with the irrigation by Saturday.

After that we wait.