harrowing | Life on a Colorado Farm

We spent Sunday afternoon with our daughter and son-in-law in Grand Junction, Colorado. They wanted to take ‘Dad’ out for dinner for his birthday.

It was lovely. Being with family is always special to Terry and I.

When we got home we took the four-wheelers out to check on the corn–if the corn is sprouted little roots it’s time to harrow off the dirt so the seed doesn’t have a hard time coming through our soil. (It was time—today Terry is harrowing the first field)

Twilight was coming on when we headed out…and so was another storm. (Looking east toward Paonia)

When either Terry or I, or just one of us is in need of peace we feel it out here. (Looking toward Gunnison, Colorado) The wind was sharp and a little brisk. A chill from a passing clouds cooling us even further.

The farm and the surrounding area were filtered by the gathering clouds, dappling us in shadows.

(Possible rain or snow showers on Grand Mesa.)

Then coming home we saw it

The brilliance of sun, and sky; a gift from the heavens!

Your friend on a Western Colorado farm,

Linda

You are all heard the old adage: ” a race against time” I am sure. We are in a race against weather. Thunderstorms and light rain are predicated for this afternoon and tomorrow. Therefore, the planting of the corn is in a rush stage. Terry is planting the last field today. First he rips open the ground, lets it dry for two hours, goes back in and plants.

But by the end of the day he will have every little seed of corn in the ground and starting to sprout. The other two fields are already planted. If the rain holds off (rain will crust the ground and make it hard —we are mostly clay here—for the little sprouts to poke their heads above the soil) Terry will then get out there and harrow off the hilled part of the rows, making soft soil for the sprouts to come up through.