Even in the middle of winter
There is always so much to do.
Just ask T’Ata and Glory B…
Scattering Sandhill Cranes is just ONE of those fun things to do. 🙂
Your friend on western Colorado farm,
Linda
The dappled light as we head out to change the water
The early morning sunlight casting purple shadows on the land
Reflections speaking loudly of our daily work on the land
T’Ata coming to help
While Glory stands sentinel on the Rocky Point
The day, always generous with gifts
Hidden just so
But still there, whispering, for us to see–
Look.
Please, there are gossamer threads of beauty everywhere.
From my heart to you, My Friends,
Linda
Earth ditches are a lot of work!
To move the dam (the orange thing) all the mud (the water is full of mud and it settles against the orange dam) has to be dugout; by hand, back, shovel.
Then moved down the ditch to the NEXT spot.
While we were there—Terry doing all the work and I taking photos 🙂
The girls had to come over to see just what we (Terry) were doing
Each one took a turn sniffing and running their noses on the orange dam
Then over to have a wee visit full of pets and rubs.
While working there a handsome feller rushed by
The Joys (and work) on a western Colorado farm
Where magic occurs every day. 🙂
From my heart to your world,
Linda
Every day, we are so extremely blessed; besides a million or so heartbeats we enjoy
There are trillions of other wee gifts— such as the silence of the land
tiny little presents, of everyday joys;
gusting like small soft breezes,
as we move throughout the day
(and in some cases, the night, or almost night)
Sometimes I think I would like to ‘know the future. To be able to turn the page, like we do in books’, then I tell myself–
Perhaps, I really don’t want that knowledge
I would miss the changes throughout the time I am living in
Therefore, I remind myself—until the cords of my soul are cut from my body;Â I will wear out each hour of the day, with contentment and peace.
From my world to your heart,
Linda
“Forget not that the Earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.”–Khalil Gibran, The Prophet
I was either seventeen (17) or eighteen (18), when my paternal grandmother, offered to me a much worn red, leather-bound book, with thin onionskin pages and a red silk ribbon for a bookmarker.
She told me how much she loved the tiny book and thought that I (possibly) might like it also.
She was so right. I did love the book and I still do!  The book is The Prophet, By Khalil Gibran.
Winter is heavy here now..the clouds cover us like a tomb, but the sinking away of the sun lights those very same clouds; showing dark and dreary really isn’t totally dark and dreary.
Snow is on its way. The Moon tells us so.
The heavens are brimming with clouds, but still…in a wee break; the moon sits quietly in a moisture-laden circle of rainbows.
From my world to your heart, Linda
The wind has enjoyed tossing the corn leaves high, high into the air
The horses have enjoyed the clear, sharp wind
Running, running, tossing their heads, manes flying
The air so sharp it seems to glitter
Racing up, and back, then over and down. Their hard hooves picking up wee clods of dirt flinging the bits of earth in all directions
Lifting their tails, shaking their heads they race —onward then back.
While watching, T’Ata and Glory Bee, I saw another Sundog in the sky.
If these amazing omens are correct…we are heading toward major cold.
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
Glory Bee, short for a Blaze of Glory, and T’Ata are sisters and the best of friends. They have different Mothers but the same Dad.
They live here on the farm and much loved.
They do EVERYTHING together. And if they don’t get to the other one throws a fit
(The above series has been published before, but I needed to tell you the back story so you would understand this story)
So, while Terry and I were working on the new fence, T’Ata got to go for a ride.
Just a wee little ride down the long farm road — just to stretch around a bit.
Glory went berzerk…running, running, calling, screaming — a crazy girl
It wasn’t long…minutes actually, that T’Ata was back, without her rider.
Naughty girl!
After catching T’Ata, the rider took off again. This time Glory was locked in the barn.
Sometimes you just have to go to your bedroom and wait out a tantrum.
And if you make a break and runaway—You still have to go on a walk.
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
Black Dog came over to play with me. We had a great time.
Haley came by
Lots
But we never get to play
Mindy and I went for a long walk with Mom
up to the cross-over ditch
Where Mindy was SURE there was a pack rat living in the ditch
I sniffed out lots of news
So did Min-Min
The horses came to see what we were doing. I have to be careful because the one in the back always wants to sniff my butt…which makes me RUN fast!
Then we all walked home and sat in the sunshine
Then, after Mom put Mindy in the house,
Mom and I went for an evening walk to see if she could find a rainbow or a beautiful sunset.
Life is good!
Boomer
Terry and I were extremely surprised and excited and blessed to have our oldest grandchildren call and say they were coming to spend this past weekend with us.
Having teenagers call and ask to be with you, as elders, is so amazing and moving.
You see, as a person ages you stop being ‘seen’. It really is that simple. Women are much more than men. It’s not that we vanish from sight, but the showy glitter of youth and the marvelous golden shine of adults cause ‘elders’ to recede into shadows.
I know we are still loved, but there is a sorta struggle to relate—after all grandparents were never really young, never really ‘did’ stuff like they or their parents do and —sometimes don’t even understand all the tech gadgets all the kids know and use, thereby making elders — well, boring.
But our life here on the farm gives us an unusual identity
And old friends from Delta an added bonus.
So, for a marvelous three days, we had our oldest grandchildren with us—we played dominos, Skip-Bo,
went swimming at Ouray, the kids got to see old friends, and I cooked all their favorite meals.
Today we are back to our regular routines, tired but ever so pleased.
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
We are having rain again today; the air is sharp and cold, there is a feeling of snow just there on the surface of the rain, but not really.
The blessing in everything there is no wind. Although, the wind would take the rain away…just say’n. (I guess I’m being fussy)
Although the moisture was very needed, the weather gods need to slow things down a bit and bring on some warmth and sunshine.
Farming is already three weeks behind and everyone is starting to get extremely worried. Our clay ground needs to have time to be worked up, left to mellow out, before it can be planted.
So here we are waiting…and the rains continue. Maybe soon we will see sunshine and warmth.
Maybe.
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
