The last of Summer’s hay leaving for tummies close to Olathe.
The only thing we have left to do now is harvest the corn. It is drying down, but not there yet.
Soon!
Real soon!
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
My beautiful sister-in-law, Cloudy, and my brother (Dan) were driving through Durango, Colorado last winter when they came across a piece of property that spoke to Cloudy’s soul.
Dan agreed, It was the place of their dreams.
They invited us to come see— so into the San Juan Mountains we drove.
So off we went over the Million Dollar Highway
On to Red Mountain Pass
Then through Molas Pass
And Coal Bank
Until we arrived!
It’s a stunning piece of property
Their house overlooks several ponds, a large meadow
Many buildings
Including a greenhouse, which Cloudy loves.
Lots of Rainbow trout, they are raising
And Cloudy’s new pets—6 ducks
(This photo is taken at our house, their house is more artistic)
I am so happy for them
Serendipity—something we would all love to experience.
Just look what Serendipity did for Dan and Cloudy!
From my heart to your world,
Linda
Terry and took a wee ride about the farm, just for the fun of riding.
Our neighbors to the west of us also have their cattle grazing on last year’s stubble. Their bull watched very carefully everything we were doing.
They already have sweet little babies on the ground
Tiny little bits of happiness!
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
Well, here we are …Dad has pulled and bladed all the pinto beans and they are drying in the field. Now everything depends on the weather for how long it takes the pinto bean pods to dry.
So that is enough about that!
Now about the birds…. the little Barn Swallows are starting to try out their wings. Every day they fly just a little bit further than yesterday.
Still coming back to sleep in that very crowded nest at night. FOUR little ones in one nest! Beats me how they do it.
Sleep in the nest, I mean. When I look up there they look C.R.O.W.D.E.D!
They aren’t big enough to go out on their own…the mom and dad birds are still feeding them. 
Even when the kids are sitting on the rooftop.
The hummingbirds are becoming less and less here. Makes Mom sad, but she told me (while petting all over my belly); “They have to leave, Boomie or they could never make it through the winter. Winter is coming.”
While out doing the ‘stuff’ we always do on the farm
I ran into a couple of pheasants! Boy! Those birds sure can scare the heck out of me…if I run into them they squawk really loud, flap their wings and fly right up into the air. Sometimes it scares me so bad I lose my scent on the ground!!!!!
Oh.
That reminds me. I saw Quade the Quail yesterday!
Quade was checking out the neighborhood on top of one of Dad’s pieces of equipment. He didn’t run off or jump down or anything, so I stopped by and we had a wee chat.
Quade agrees with me…. Fall is here! Quade also predicts a hard winter. I asked him if that means lots of snow…he just shook his head and said Hard. Very hard. Then lifted his wings and flew way up into the nearby tree.
Well, I guess hard is hard. Either too dry or too much snow. I guess only time will tell.
Boomer Beaglie Brown
It started snowing hard yesterday afternoon flinging the snow into the night and on to the morning, where it is still snowing today. Big soft wet flakes of pristine whiteness.
Of course there are more babies out there…we counted three, just hours old, but up and following the Mom. That is in the bunch close to the house. The older calf is somewhere else, I haven’t seen it this morning.
Winter has returned here. Storm warnings are until tomorrow with 18″ on Cerro Summit. Water should be good this year. 🙂
Your friend on a Western Colorado Farm,
Linda
We are wishing each and everyone of you a very Merry Christmas this year of our Lord 2014!
I have enjoyed getting to know you through this very humble blog. The gift of your support and cheers through our struggle to get the corn in was always a hearting experience when I read your comments each day.
Your HUGE kindness when Boomer and I lost that most wonderful Dog–Fuzzy Dude—words can not say how much I appreciated your sympathy.
Thank you to those of you who also have blogs, and allow those of us who visit, a tiny peek into your lives. From here in Colorado, to England, Canada, the orient, Turkey, South America, Africa…the whole wide world—I am most grateful to know you!
Merry Christmas from the Brown Farm in Western Colorado!
Terry and Linda
Yesterday there were 40 trucks in line to unload their corn. The wait was long, long, long. Most of the trucks are semi’s with belly dumps so it goes fast ONCE they get there.
BUT….the corn harvest has turned out to be another one of those terribly hard to ‘dry down the corn’ years. Everyone is struggling and frustrated. The joke is we will be doing corn in January —OH! LET US HOPE NOT!
A field will test dry then as they get to different area, within the SAME field, the moisture content zooms up and the harvest has to stop.
So we do what we can, then wait until the moisture drops and start all over again. Terry is out checking all the fields now…a sample here and a sample there…at the end of the field, in the middle of the field, in a random spot. You sure don’t want to combine wet corn, have it turned down at the elevator and then lose the whole load because it molds. We could get the drying granaries ready, but Terry much prefers to haul straight the elevator. Keeps the crop costs down (electricity to run the big dryer) and we don’t have to load the bins, then get back in and unload them. Unloading a grain bin is TONS of work—we’ve reached an age where back breaking work is something we don’t want to do anymore.
Yes we use a auger to get the corn out of the bin, but you still have to get inside and scoop out the last of of the corn.
Anyway…life goes on. The other house is done, until the furnace is put in; now we will need to look for a renter. But that process won’t start until we get the furnace in. It will be nice to find just the right person who would like to live in the country, take care of a lawn, and maybe enjoy an animal or two in the corrals…our daughter and family had goats.
Today I’m still setting up Christmas…I’m thinking the tree…it’s fake so I can set it up anytime and enjoy the lights. (It’s the lights I love). (Or I’ll be helping Terry…we will see)
Your friend on a western Colorado Farm,
Linda
Look at these outstanding Sundogs!!!! Charlotte’s husband was on a fishing trip and shot these amazing photos of two sundogs.
Aren’t they just awe inspiring?
We are gradually warming up here. Which is a very good thing!
We got the house winterized….THANK HEAVENS!!!! Terry and I were really getting tired of that house and the pressure it was creating. YAY!!!!
Tomorrow we will begin to combine all over again. It will be nice to have the pressure of the house and the harvest overwith. Two more weeks….(I hope).
Well, off now to get something around here done…I think (I know it’s early) I will get my Christmas stuff out and start decorating…heck why not? I’m not having Thanksgiving Dinner (we will be going to our daughter and son-in-law in Grand Junction. 🙂 ) so I can start slowly decorating. Getting in the Sparkle of Christmas——– NICE!
Your friend,
Linda
Life on a Colorado Farm 