Autumn Starting to Show —Thursday, August 20, 2020

Posted on August 20, 2020 by Dayphoto

Smoke still fills the sky, day and night, night and day…and the heat wears on and on and on…Wednesday we hit 104*f ( 40c)

But, in spite of all that

Fall is in the air. Yes, I know it’s still August, but the signs are still there

The Rabbit Brush is blooming…three weeks early

The trees are starting to lighten up, with bits of yellow poking through here and there

The pinto beans are turning yellow. Once all the plants are yellow the pinto bean harvest will begin.

The daylight is shrinking (sob)

The corn is starting to dent

Although we are still irrigating. Once the corn is totally dented the water for the corn will stop. There will not be a reason to keep the water on the corn; the plant stops taking in the water, the seeds are now made.

The only thing we will keep irrigating will be the three alfalfa fields. Those we keep irrigating until sometime in October.

For you never want alfalfa to go into the winter thirsty if you do…you won’t have a field next spring.

Yes, Fall is in the air, (although this reluctant to break heat, would have a person think differently),

even the light has changed.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

Fields of Yellow—Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Posted on September 10, 2019 by Dayphoto

The Pinto bean fields are starting to turn yellow

It’s getting close—Pinto Bean Harvest.

And to go along with Fall—-a big fat Cat-Head Spider. It seems we only really see them in the Autumn time.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

2018 Pinto Bean Harvest —-Sunday, September 9,2018

Posted on September 9, 2018 by Dayphoto

The pinto beans are finally dry enough we started the harvesting process.

Off we went (Boomer and me on the four-wheeler, Terry in the grain truck) until we arrived at the in-place combine.

The earth was warm, the air hot to scorching, and the dust flying out of the back of the combine as the dry plants were lifted up, shelled and loaded into the hopper….while the broken stems and pods were crushed and flung out the back.

Then later in the day…late afternoon, a surprise rainbow appeared.

We took a wee break as the daytime dissolved into the night. Setting the water for the still green and growing corn field.

Then we went back to the field continuing until full dark.

Glorious Harvest! No one could ask for more.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

Echoes of Thunder —-Monday, July 23, 2018

Posted on July 23, 2018 by Dayphoto

A big storm rolled in last evening…massive clouds dropping chutes of rain all around us

The thunder and lightning played along the Uncompahgre Plateau

Terry and I sat outside under the carport and letting raindrops fall all around us.

After the fast-moving storm headed beyond us it was time to change the irrigation water one last time before night.

The light tumbling and playing within and on the storm clouds was invigorating.

Coming back in through all the fields of corn, alfalfa and the pinto beans I thought to myself the air feels more like August than July. The heat sits on one (I AM NOT COMPLAINING — I do so love Summer!) the air hot and humid, and a certain stillness which bespeaks of growing and maturing plants.

Later, much later, Boomer and I went for a wee walk about–just to look at that glorious flourishing moon!

Drowning us in light. The clouds tumbling before a high-unseen wind; first covering the moon then not.

Closer to morning I saw the moon peaking light throughout the tops of the tasseled corn.

I think night is just so beautiful. I do.

From my world to your heart,

Linda

A Chill Autumn Day—Tuesday, September 22, 2017

Posted on October 3, 2017 by Dayphoto

It’s been raining again…all through the night Sunday and most of the day Monday. It’s cold enough we had to start up the wood stove; sure felt nice!

We still have one more field of pinto beans to get out…but it must dry first!

The weather people are saying the sunshine is due to come back today…warmer weather tomorrow, then by Thursday we will experience NICE fall weather.

Maybe by then we will be able to get the ‘rest of the beans’ out! 🙂

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

With a Great, Deep Breath—-Monday, September 11, 2017

Posted on September 11, 2017 by Dayphoto

It’s constant now…that checking of the crops… are they made? Is it time?

We can’t take the water off too soon or the little seeds will not be at premium fullness.

As for the pinto beans….

In the wee early pause, between shadow and sunlight. as the sky paled toward sunrise

While the dew filled the plants, making them pliable and soft Terry headed out to begin the harvest of the pinto beans.

Then, when the sun filled the air, and the western stars started to fade…I went out to take photos.

Terry will work until the dew starts to dry up…then he will stop and start again the next pre-dawn day.

I’t important to pull the plants up from the ground, while they are cold and damp, so the pods do NOT shatter and spill the beans all over the soil.

Then we wait. A week, maybe more. All the time continually checking. Making sure the timing is right…. soon. Very soon…we will be hauling pinto beans to market!

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

All in a Day’s Work —- Wednesday, August, 9, 2017

Posted on August 9, 2017 by Dayphoto

The pinto beans are setting on and starting to fill out —harvest will be sometime in September

Since we leave all our windows open day and night, the house smells like fresh mown hay. Third cutting… time is passing quickly now

While Terry mowed the hay I mowed my lawn…it was in dire need of my attention! 🙂

Yesterday we hauled in gravel and spread it on the long, long lane from the farmyard to the road….also putting down gravel in the farm yard itself

Then the thing I hate to do worse than anything….is getting Terry out of a tight spot.

He went over to make a ditch, got stuck…I had to come over and pull him out…

When he is in a ditch like this I’m always afraid I will pull him ‘wrong’ and cause the tractor to tip over.

When I was young our neighbor did tip over and it killed him. Then (when our kids were grown) Terry’s good friend was working on one of his ditches when his tractor tipped over and killed him.

Scary stuff…working on wet ditches!

Finally we made it to the end of the day…the water changed for the last time until first light.

It was time to watch a little TV, rest a spell before bed. to relax.

Boomer lay down beside my chair, while I worked on a needlepoint canvas.

The day finally …. finally coming to an end.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

Crop Report—-Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Posted on July 25, 2017 by Dayphoto

This year’s pinto bean field..almost weeded! Almost!

I don’t have much time left…the feelers are starting to grow shut!

That’s okay…I’m tired of weeding that huge field.

The ears are starting to form now…within each one is a tiny kernel of corn!

Summer…MY TIME!

Your friend on a western Colorado farm

Linda

The Jewels of Summer—Sunday, July 23, 2017

Posted on July 23, 2017 by Dayphoto

The corn is starting to tassel out…

And baby ears of corn starting to form

The pinto beans are shooting feelers (last year’s photo–I lost this years somehow—I’ve been weeding the 16 acres early morning and late evening. Once the rows grow shut anything nasty growing out there—corn, cockleburs, ragweed, Pigweed, yellow sticker weed, scotch thistle….gets to grow. Not a good thing, but how it is.

My yard is doing

Great! The new railroad ties beds are softening up and looking ever so much better

The air smells lush and rich– full of sweetness

Summer — I can’t ask for anything more!

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

High Summer—-Sunday, July 16, 2017

Posted on July 16, 2017 by Dayphoto

It is high summer the sky is a clear blue, the heat is elevated, afternoon thunder storms roll in cooling us down; the humidity causing us pant in desperation