We are set. Unless our winter is over-the-top cold..
Then we have to do more. We do have a cord of wood still to split. So I think we are fine.
(Caught on the game camera—I wanted to see if the deer came into the yard, but they didn’t)
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
Under a bright Fall (September is Fall to me) sun, we headed into the forest
Yep! That time of year again! 🙂
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
Even though the sky is a brilliant blue
This time of year doesn’t take long for thick clouds to blow in from the west
And a person can smell snow or frozen mix in the air.
We, also, have Sandhill Cranes, instead of cows, gleaning the fields. 🙂
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
Everything is starting to wind down now.
The farmer’s around, who grown onions are now harvesting, the sweet corn harvest is over, and the big ranchers are chopping ensilage/silage, plus the pinto beans and soybean harvest is underway.
The air is different, washing the world in a golden misty light
The morning mist is chilly; the air still. Although, it does burn off quickly;
Coats required for a spell.
True Summer is now fading like a dream.
I keep putting out food for my cute little creatures—
Not daily, but every once in a while…
I don’t want them to become dependent, but I do want them to go into winter fat!
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
A load of pine arrived
Just as the sky was turning to crimson.
We only have to head to the mountains for aspen, then we are set for the winter!
Not long now to gather all the firewood
There is a ‘for-real’ chill in the early morning air now.
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
“Embrace and love your body. It is the most amazing thing you will ever own.” Author Unknown
We started hauling our winter’s heat yesterday.
We only got one and a half cords. 4 and 1/2 to go.
Today I rest.
Well, not rest, exactly, but I will do other things: like weed, iron, and water— light work.
I need to wash windows, but it just isn’t going to happen anytime soon.
I also need to paint the inside and outside of the house. I’ve needed to do this since March.
Maybe in August. Maybe.
I will just have to wait and see. The firewood must come first.
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
Yesterday morning was brisk and cold
So we worked on the log pile cutting and sorting firewood (not having to work in mud–the ground was frozen, you see)
I am NOT a fan of cottonwood…it stinks when it burns and leaves lots of chunks
Gradually our wood is getting cleaned up and sorted and hauled to the house for warmth
There is still lots of winter left, soon we will be hauling from our other wood piles behind the barn and up at the Back Forty
But the stack yard is starting to look rather nice
Then in the late afternoon, as the sun’s heartbeat poised for a wee second on the western horizon, just before the dark rose up
Our sky turned golden
Filling our world with long shadows
And stunning light!
From my heart to your world,
Linda
We finally got all the firewood we ‘think’ we will need for the coming winter.
We’ve hauled, stacked, loaded, sorted, and arranged. We have some logs out by the machine shed for the stove out there.
Our son said he heard that winter was going to come upon us suddenly and last a very long time.
Only time will tell.
It was the coldest night so far last night. We woke up to 45*. The dew is thick upon the grasses and weeds. The air has a decided turn about it.
Still there is the everlasting light that surrounds us and the farm, bathing all with the start of a new day, or the closing of the old one.
Softly each day brings with it the sheer ordinariness, which is a comfort to the soul.
As always, your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
Just before noon, around 11:30 that morning, our eldest daughter, Shannon and Jason came driving down our lane. They were bringing to us a very nice gift….
Heat for many, many cold winter days!
They had gotten up at the beginning of light, headed up the Uncompahgre Plateau (Un-come-pah-gray —accent on the pah) to 25 Mesa. There they filled their fire wood permit with wood just for us!
Terry and I were completely surprised. We knew they had filled two permits for their winter heat, never dreaming they purchased another permit to cut and haul to us wood. (Wood permits are for dead wood and beetle killed wood–they cost $25)
We had been working on getting set for the winter; they finished the work for us! (We try to have all our firewood cut and hauled by August…summer is always about preparing for winter, it seems.)
What a wonderful surprise! (It seems odd to being thinking of winter heat, when we are melting now. But come winter we will be every so grateful)
Your friend,
Linda
Life on a Colorado Farm 