The last day we met Wayne and Carolyn in Ouray, Colorado
Terry & Linda Brown – Carolyn & Wayne Maxwell – Lunch at the Goldbelt Bar & Grill – Ouray, CO 6-30-2025
for lunch, then
We spent a couple of hours dipping in the Ouray Hot Springs Pool.
Then it was home again for us. They traveled on to Durango, Colorado, then to Cortez, Colorado, and gradually back to their home in Arizona.
Word of the day: Dendrophile: a person who loves trees and forests.
Your friend on a Western Colorado farm,
Linda
Our car club, the Delta Street Rodders took a fun cruise to Silverton, Colorado.
Jim and Dianna Muller lead the way 🙂
We had eight fancy collectible cars (and one truck)
Gary and Connie with their 1948 Willis Overland Jeepster
We took a wee road break just outside of Ouray, Colorado as we started up the Million Dollar highway
The Colors were OUTSTANDING!!!
Food at the Thee Pitts Again was YUMMY!
The train had come in when we got there
What a fun job for people living close to the station
in Durango!
We ate, shopped,
and did all the tourist stuff 🙂
Then it was time to head home.
(This is Christ of the Mines in Silverton, Colorado)
It was a perfectly wonderful day!
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
For our anniversary we gathered ourselves up, did all small chores we have this time of year
Then drove to Ouray, Colorado, whereby we spent the afternoon soaking in the hot springs
Then home again, home again to enjoy the heat of the woodstove, a log snapping as it fired, the flames dancing, the air drowsy with warm relaxation.
A perfect Celebratory day.
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
The back porch, which is really part of my kitchen is coming along nicely. The new floor is laid, the walls painted, the trim painted and I got the door washed down.
Since this turned out so well, I’m going to start on the bathroom soon. Maybe next week.
Maybe.
Because we finished and everything looked so nice, Terry said, “Let’s go for a ride!”
Heck, why not!
We went to Ouray, Colorado for a ‘spin’ stopping on the way back to get a photo of a huge herd of elk. There were around 30 head grazing in someone pasture, I only got a small portion of them in the photo.
Then another day this week, we got a phone call from some good friends, who were broke down on the Uncompahgre Plateau.
Off we went to help them. The day was exceptionally warm (well, some people would say BLAZING HOT, but I say exceptionally warm 🙂 ). Still stunningly beautiful.
The heady scent of sun-warmed rocks, the smell of tree needles, and the sounds of insects beating a perfect rhyme to the plateaus heartbeat—perfect. We got them down and the repair on the truck an easy fix.
It all turned out well.
Of course, I didn’t get enough paint so there was the quick run to the hardware store and back again.
Then in the evening, as the day starts winding down, so do I and so does Terry.
We sit outside watching the afternoon sun fade and enjoying the heady scent of flowers sliding deliciously over the farm.
I truly must say: Life is Good!
From my world to your heart,
Linda
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
One day last week we took a wee ride; after putting the top on the car 🙂
This was the most darling yard in Ouray, Colorado. I just had to take a photo to share it with you.
As everyone knows, not only is the west burning, we are also in the midst of a terrible drought. Water has been extremely short this year; areas in the up-country (Cedaredge and the North Fork truly suffering for water.)
Here on the farm, we have made due with 60% or less of our allotment (we have shares of Uncompaghre Valley Water).
The horror stories of the shrinking of our dams prompted us to drive up and see…Blue Mesa is extremely low…extremely
Ridgway Dam so low the boat unloading and loading dock is wayyyyy up there.
Everyone is saying if it doesn’t snow this winter…and snow LOTS! In feet of snow…there will be no farming next year.
Very scary!
Still, no matter what, I have hope!
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
In need of a wee break, Terry and I decided to head up to Ouray and relax for a couple of hours in that marvelous hot spring pool.
We changed the water in the dazzling rays of early morning
Then headed up to where the snow still veiled the mountains, and wind ruffled freezing fingers into your hair.
Once in the water all the cares and worries died to a murmur, while others in the pool laughed softly among themselves.
The snow laid heavily on the amazing peaks…sometime reflecting into millions of diamonds. Once in awhile we could see rock climbers braving the face on the rugged cliffs, warmed by the afternoon sun.
Back home we came, just in time for sunset and the last change of water.
Rested…
And ready to continue our daily lives on a western Colorado farm,
Your friend,
Linda
“Maybe the Universe fights for souls to be together. Somethings are too strange and strong to be coincidences.”–Emery Allen
On December 21st, the shortest day of the year, and the Equinox of Winter Terry and I 
Married!
For this momentous time our children all got together and gave us a Anniversary Trip to the Wiesbaden Hot Springs and Lodge in Ouray, Colorado—complete with 90 minutes massages and money for eating out.
They splurged on the Sun Room HoneyMoon Suite
And a special soak in the Lorelei Private Hot Spring Pool.
Shannon did all our animals and chores for us while we were gone.
Fifty Years and great kids…there really isn’t much more anyone else could ask for.
From our world to your heart,
Linda
Around ten o’clock yesterday, Terry exclaimed…”I’m tired of doing work! I’m tired. I want to do something different.”
“Okay,” I replied. “What do you have in mind?”
“Let’s take a little drive, nothing far, or hard to get too, nothing full of dirt and concern over hunters. Someplace we can see that is different from the farm.”
“Hummm”…..we pondered together.
“Let’s go to Ouray,[ Colorado]!” he announced. “We can get a bite to eat on the way up, stop and get my part for the pick-up on the way back, and be home by supper.”
So we did! 🙂
Your friend,
Linda
Yesterday we had a huge mine accident in Ouray, Colorado.
Once more my heart goes out to all the friends and family and loved ones!
Accidents are always hard at anytime –during the holidays they always seem worse!
With heartfelt sadness,
Your friend,
Linda
Life on a Colorado Farm 