More Signs—Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Posted on August 25, 2015 by Dayphoto

We are still having haze from the fires! Although, and in spite of, yesterday was a lovely fall day.

The leaves are just beginning to turn; some are already falling. Not many, one or two, silently, a slight flicker at the edge of eyesight.

Sunday we had over thirty of these flying little jewels. Flitting here and there, getting in squabbles with each other, dipping and dodging. I go through a gallon of sugar water every day.

After we came in from setting the last of the water, the dappled light from the setting sun, glowing through the haze Terry, Boomer, and I rested before going in. Glow It was at that moment I realized the sounds of the Hummingbirds had dimmed. Only six little birds were visiting the feeders. The same count this morning. The hummingbird migration has begun.

I would much prefer Fall/Autumn to begin the last of September, not now, not in August. Still it is here…the sunlight this morning caught in the cobwebs heavily dappled in dew. Many of the other spring and summer birds have left…it won’t be long now until the Swallows leave. They seem to be around the last to go. Not always, but close. I understand why we measure time—for it is the hope that in doing so it will not leave.

As always your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

Shimmering Heat—Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Posted on June 2, 2015 by Dayphoto

Yesterday was HOT, so hot that my towels dried on the clothes line in half-an-hour, flapped and snapped with the afternoon wind.

It made my laundry chores easy–wash, hang out, bring in, fold, and put away–load after load quickly ‘done’, no waiting about, finished!

The honey bees, the bumble bees and the hummingbirds all hummed and buzzed over the messy colorful flower beds as I washed windows and watered the flowers and the lawn.

It may have been hot, but it was peaceful.

The evening was still extremely warm as we sat the water in the top field of corn, then skirting the alfalfa field we changed the set in the pinto bean field.

People think of night falling…falling down around the land, closing off the day.

But really night doesn’t fall, the shadows of the land rise, filling first the hollows and the valleys, climbing up the slopes of the mesas as the sun sinks lower and lower toward the west. Gradually the shadows become darker creeping imperceptibly up fence posts and weeds.

The fields were so warm we could feel and smell the water as the earth and the plants sucked up the moisture. It was a joy to irrigate since the irrigation water has also warmed, no longer feeling like a fresh melted snowbank.

I stopped work to try and take a photo of the moon, which was gradually moving behind a pink cloud. I turned to smile at Terry I told him there is a huge joy of trying to capture what we see on a daily basis and share it with you.

By the time we were done, the sky had turned from pink to flaming gold. The sun was somewhere over Utah and the ground, the farm, was started to join the greater dark of the star and moon lite night above.

My cup of joy runneth over! I wish for each of you, my friends, the same.

Love,

Linda

My Tiny Feathered Friends—Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Posted on May 13, 2015 by Dayphoto

One thing I am not is a very good photographer of Hummingbirds!

Although, this can sorta give you an idea of the cute little things as they hum and buzz around the feeders. I don’t have all my feeders out right now, only six, but I think I have arrived at a place whereby I can add a couple more.

It sure is a joyful sound having those little birds buzz over your head as you are weeding. Makes me laugh out loud, and even duck a few times.

My “Some Day I’ll” list has right at the top of it:

1. Take a good photo of a hummingbird.

Maybe this year I’ll make that wish come true.

I hope your day is full of joy and happiness!

Your friend,

Linda

Summer’s Gifts—Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Posted on September 2, 2014 by Dayphoto

It is cold here this morning. 49*…a light jacket was in order to change the irrigation water.

As a gift to me I was sent several photos of those beautiful little flying jewels of summer. Kagedog lives in Cedaredge, Colorado and is a regular visitor to our little blog. She knows how much I enjoy the Hummingbirds so sent to me some very nice photos. She also gave me permission to share them with you. 🙂

I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

We still have lots of Hummingbirds here. I don’t know if they are the regulars or if they are moving through. This morning they were fluffed way up as they drank from the feeders. Although, it is cool in the mornings the days still warm up nicely, as much as 89*.

I hope your Tuesday is a good one. It’s time to put the bean puller on and finish work on the combine. We are still waiting for the alfalfa to turn into hay. Hope the rains stay away for a least two or more weeks!

Your friend on a western Colorado Farm,

Linda

The Joy of Hummingbirds–Monday–August 4, 2014

Posted on August 4, 2014 by Dayphoto

One the most enjoyable parts of Summer, for me, are the Hummingbirds, the Orioles and any other little bird which eats from the feeders.

We now go through 8 sugar water feeders a day.

(Rufus)

I know that I have the Black chinned Hummingbirds, the Calliope,and the Rufus. But yesterday I saw a new one…the Broad Tailed Hummingbird. I was so delighted in seeing those that I did a happy dance.

Then this morning, as I was filling the feeders, I saw my very first in my whole life…Ruby Throated Hummingbird! Oh, happy dance, jiggity jig!

Oh the joy! I felt like I was ten years old again and the world was new!

The beautiful little Orioles as just as fun and exciting to watch.

An added bonus is they all seem to share very well. My world is full!

I hope you have a wondrous day today!

Your friend,

Linda

Monday, September 2, 2013

Posted on September 2, 2013 by Dayphoto

Although today is technically a holiday here, Terry and I will be doing what the day calls for—Laboring. 🙂

My little hummers are becoming less and less at the feeders, although I see many of the little juveniles feeding on the flowers throughout my yard.

The honey bees are having a great time at the honey bar…I do feel a little concerned they are not out gathering pollen but hanging out at these feeders. I hope it doesn’t cause a problem at the hive later on this winter. 😦 😦

If I don’t feed them they want to swarm the Hummingbird feeders so I guess it is six of one thing or 1/2 a dozen of another. Sure is perplexing.

I caught this little moth having a great time in the petunias…yes, I am one of those that adores petunias. I love their colors and the heavy rich scent that fills the air.

The rains are being really nice and staying away. But they are still here and moving all around us. I loved seeing the sunset on the rain chuts last night.

Well, off to do the many things for the day. Terry will be cutting the old hay field, then he has to remove all the bean pulling equipment, and move the bean combine up to the shop to get it ready for the harvest (hopefully by Friday).

As for myself I have the lawn, the hedge, the many, many weeds to take care of and canning, plus all the other chores that keep a house and yard going.

Best wishes for a perfect Labor Day,

Linda

Saturday the Last Day of August 2013

Posted on August 31, 2013 by Dayphoto

Terry pulled half the pinto beans yesterday before the dew left and the pods became too dry. Pintos have to be pulled early so the dew will keep the bean pods from cracking open and spilling the pinto beans out onto the ground. Once the beans are spilled there is no way to pick them back up.

Today he has been out there since full light. He hopes to get the other half of the field done before the heat hits.

Depending on the weather he will wait about a week then start combining the rows, gathering the beans into the hopper and then the truck and then off to the Beanery to be sacked and sold.

Rain clouds keep building every afternoon, which causes us a huge amount of tension. So far so good, the storms stay around us in the foothills and on the plateau, which is good.

Another thing that is good is we sometimes get a rainbow!

Feeding the bees seems to be working. I use a dollop of honey early in the day…by nightfall it’s all cleaned up.

Terry also said we are on the very last irrigation of the corn. Boy, has summer ever flown. Although, we will still irrigate the hay fields the work load of changing water is fast disappearing.

I’m not sure but I think most of the adult Hummingbirds have left, I still have lots of little ones feeding. I’m not having to fill the feeders as much so I’m thinking this is a sign the large majority of those delightful little birds have gone. I know the Bullock Orioles are gone since I haven’t seen any for two weeks now.

I’m off now to fork the bean ends back so we don’t lose any…those tiny little beans are what we’ve been working all summer to have. 🙂

Your friend,

Linda

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Posted on August 25, 2013 by Dayphoto

We have arrived at the last week of August! I already miss Summer!

The corn is starting to dent…maybe (just maybe) only one more irrigation then the corn will be left to dry. Harvest should occur in October.

The snakes are starting to hole up for the winter…we are seeing fewer and fewer every day.

The Hummingbirds are still here, although I’m having a terrible time keeping the honey bees off the feeders.

This sugar water is like some sort of drug to them, even crawling clear in PAST the bee guard then drowning.

Any suggestions on how to stop the bees from eating at the feeders would be greatly appreciated.

A huge storm blew in late yesterday evening complete with flood watches and warning out for today and tomorrow, then in will gradually leave just in time for the third and last cutting of the old hay field and to pull the beans.

Magic thoughts for at least two weeks (possibly three) of warm drying weather would be greatly appreciated. 🙂 🙂 🙂

I picked the cannas and the datura as my daily view for today…my tribute to a tiny tropical garden in western Colorado. 🙂

I guess there really isn’t much going on here — which I’m loving. I hope your day is just as nice.

Your friend, Linda

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Posted on August 20, 2013 by Dayphoto

The day’s are shorting now…around 7:30 in the evening we head out for the last check of water for the day.

We also are monitoring the pinto beans. The field is turning yellow, which means the pintos are now ripe and ready to be pulled.

Probably next Friday Terry will pull the pinto’s so they can start drying.

We will need the days to stay hot and dry once they are pulled.

(see the nasty bull thistle seeds)

(The steps for pinto bean harvest is — pull the plants and leave them lay until nice and crispy, combine the plants, which is taking the beans out of the dried plants and putting them into the hopper then the truck to be delivered to the Beanery, have the beans sacked and the sold—DONE for the year)

He is baling the new cutting of hay as I write this. The first of second week of September will be the third cutting of the old hay field. Dry weather needs to prevail for at least a month now. 🙂

The moon was lovely last night.

I also saw a small rainbow from the storms playing around us.

My four o’clock photo of the Daily View features my Sun dial garden… rich and lush with 4 O’clocks. The Hummingbirds love this area!

A very contented friend, Linda

The Adventures of Fuzzy and Boomer on Friday — Whew!

Posted on August 9, 2013 by Dayphoto

One set of company has gone home. Zooker and Bella are now home with their Dad and their soon-to-be new Mom and TWO CATS!!!!!

Teehee Bahhahahah laugh chuckle

Fuzzy and I took them for many walks daily for about a week!

Now Hank is staying with us while his Dad goes to work and the little kids and Mom-mom stay with our Mom and Dad until their Mom-mom gets to feeling better. She is really sick so we are helping out.

The other dog cousins (Houston, Chaco, and Balou) have company also, so those companies are also staying with Fuzzy and I and our Mom and Dad. They have some really cute kids we love playing with. Then Sunday our other first cousins…our Mom’s Brother and his wife and their two fun dogs…Cocoa and Butter are coming to play with us.

The hummingbirds are THICK…all of the little kids like to stand in the flower beds trying to get the hummingbirds to land on them. The birds don’t land, but the kids seem to have heaps of fun trying to get them too.

Fuzzy says that is the longest he ever sees those kids stand still!

We had a very exciting ‘tree event’ right smack in the middle of all this, but I will let Mom tell you about it later.

Anyway, for now…just know that we are taking care of lots of pets and kids and our Mom is taking care of our sister Misty and other really nice people who are visiting.