Where We are With the Farming—Sunday, April 7, 2024

Posted on April 7, 2024 by Dayphoto

The plowing is all done!

All the plowed ground is now rolled—you have to smash all the plowed earth flat, the roller does that

The plowed and rolled ground is leveled—meaning fixing the ground so there are no humps, lumps or bumps in it so the water can go through from the top of the field all the way to the bottom of the field

All the grass fields and the alfalfa fields have been marked out ready for the water to start

Equines (not cows) are very hard on gated pipe—-we now have all the gated pipe repaired.

Getting closer to starting water on the farm. Soon now.

Very soon!
Your friend on a western Colorado farm

Linda

All Done for the Year—-Monday, April 1, 2024

Posted on April 1, 2024 by Dayphoto

Everything is plowed that is going to be plowed.

The plowing leaves the plow shears mirror bright and very sharp.

Earth teems with sights and textures, sounds and vibrations, smells and tastes, and electric and magnetic fields. But everything can only tap into a small fraction of reality’s fullness. – Ed Yong, and Immense World

I actually enjoy seeing them like this—-all bright and shiny and reflective!

Plowing—done for the year!

Moving onward—we go.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

The Last Full Week of Winter — Sunday, March 10, 2024

Posted on March 10, 2024 by Dayphoto

The ground is perfect right now (for plowing)

Rich, dark, with just the right amount of moisture in it to make soft crumbly soil, later on.

Spring is in the air —I saw two Robins Saturday, a wee Western Meadowlark singing on the fence post, and a tiny flock of 4 bluebirds flying along the ditch bank.

Spring is starting to SPRING FORTH! YAY! New Beginnings! A reason to go outside and experience JOY!

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

Pent-Up Energy, the Earth, the Sky, and Terry — Thursday, March 11, 2021

Posted on March 11, 2021 by Dayphoto

The wind is a tad messy right now. 🙂

But the earth is ready

And so is Terry.

Although, the wind is bringing in storm clouds

And it is rather cold.

Farming…no matter what. Once it starts, it continues on!

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

In the Growing Warmth of Late Winter and Early Spring—Monday, March 18, 2018

Posted on March 19, 2018 by Dayphoto

We still have spits and spurts of winter’s blasts. This Sunday was one of those days, it snowed, it rained and we had sleet. Today’s morning was very chill not really burning off —just as if we were still in February.

Still the works goes on…we didn’t receive enough moisture to muddy up the ground.

Since Lady can no longer have the total run of the farm, we also spent a couple of hours fixing her a spring pasture the other afternoon

Thankfully the day was warm, Red winged Blackbirds sang happily in the old trees as we worked

The hawks and ravens haunted the clouds way above us.

Lady followed us with picked up ears and her face full of interest in the glittering light on this lovely spring day.

Our oldest granddaughter played her last game of the year…

And always, always everything we do [now] revolves around the opening of the land.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

Something Larger Than Yourself—Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Posted on March 22, 2017 by Dayphoto

The work goes on…first light –until way past last light– arriving back in the yard in a flurry of falling stars in the velvet night.

Yesterday Terry worked in the alfalfa field and I finished up raking the whole yard, all the flower beds, around all the outbuildings, and

(This is an old photo, but it gives you an idea of what I did yesterday)

worked on getting the canal bank ready for the water to come. A huge job.

The fertilizer truck arrived around 7 this morning. So now Terry is

rolling the fertilizer on the corn fields.

Water is supposed to be in the canal any day now. We took a short drive around 5 yesterday afternoon, checking the canals above us to see where the water was…our lives revolve around water.

It’s a busy time of year, but a good time. It gives me a sense of reaching out to something ever so much larger than myself. Our farm, a small, vibrant island of life.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm

Linda

The Farm Waking to Spring—-Sunday, March 12, 2017

Posted on March 12, 2017 by Dayphoto

I finished cleaning and prepping my gardens by the the corrals, which led me to figure out I had better get the corrals back into order, fences and gates in repair, take down the metal fences and store them until next year (for when the cows come). Clean out the loafing shed and move some things around.

A little squirrel chattered at me, from one of the corral posts; the call of a Robin sitting high in the Willow tree made a sweet song as I worked.

Terry finished plowing one field and started rolling it. The soil is just right for plowing, but drying fast.

so the rolling had to occur as soon as he could hook up the roller or the earth would turn into clods.

In the fresh extra edge, of cool air and rising sunshine Saturday morning we finished the last load of the wood. A slight breeze moved restlessly caressing our work heated skin.

It was a lovely feeling.

Friday and Saturday we kept a steady pace.

Then as the day came to a close, cool mist of the evening rose up to wrap the world in drifting peace…the Red Winged Blackbirds came to feast; filling up their tummies for the long night of rest.

https://youtu.be/iX2yDd1gVk0

Their songs high and sweet— and full of joy!

From my world to your heart,

Linda

Plowing—It’s the Only Way to Go—Sunday, March 20, 2016

Posted on March 20, 2016 by Dayphoto

Terry started plowing the old corn fields

Burying the old stalks, leaves, left over cobs, and cow manure….oh yes! And the MILK DUDS…back into the ground to mellow out and decompose.

I must say I am Tickled to Death about the Milk Duds, Beef Jerky and other assorted ‘chews’ NOT readily available for Boomer.

Although, he still goes out and tries to find them, they are now in the rich soil doing wonders for the earth worms and not Boomer’s tummy!

YAY!

He gained three pounds during this February…now he is on a diet. One I’ve imposed and one the plowed earth took away. Three pounds is huge on a 35 pound Beagle!

I finished all but one big spot of work last night in the sunset. Which, by the way, was stunning.

Have a good one, my friends!

Linda

The Last of the Pinto Beans—Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Posted on February 17, 2016 by Dayphoto

I cooked the last of our pinto beans last night. The aroma of the beans earthy sweetness suffused the kitchen, welcoming us with a comforting embrace. (Eating beans and corn together supplies all the amino acids necessary for our bodies add in some ham; cook together until the beans are done. Serve with a hot chili pepper —- yum.)

Over supper Terry and I talked about farming this coming year. The big question: ‘Are you going to farm?’ Flashing loud and constant, like a neon sign. The second week of March is when the ground will need to be worked, the ditches made, the canal put in order, the seeds bought.

“I don’t know”, Terry shook his head. ” I really don’t know. But I need to be deciding I have to purchase the seeds (including the pinto beans—he plants Bill Zee pinto beans), the alfalfa field needs plowed up and moved….there are things I want to do to improve the place, a renter just can’t, nor should do.”“I just don’t know.” He shook his head again.

“Besides I don’t want to be like our friend…he sold the farm, moved to town, grew so depressed because he didn’t have the farm anymore he rushed his move of the rainbow bridge one night.”

“That was terribly sad, for him and his family. But we are NOT going to sell the farm.” I pointed out.

“No, but Bob, rented his out and said it was the worst thing he ever did. No one could farm the place properly.”

I just smiled.

Then all the old farmers who are my age, keep asking me what I plan on doing if I don’t farm….die?!

“I just don’t know.” He said as he pushed himself away from the table. “I just don’t know.”

So here it is the million dollar question….with the clock ticking.

Your friend on a Western Colorado Farm,

Linda

My Eighth Year of Blogging–Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Posted on March 24, 2015 by Dayphoto

This month I have been blogging for eight years! Over that time I’ve learned much about blogging…the first posts were so dismal…I just posted a photo with the word (for instance) Terry plowing and under the photo I wrote–plowing.

Over time I began to understand how to blog so it was at least a tad more interesting. 🙂

Although, this started out as a farming blog, in reality it really hasn’t changed much. It still is a farming blog, but it is also a tiny peak into our lives and the lives of the animals that live with us on the farm.

You get to see the struggles, and the successes. Yesterday we worked on ONE of the broken gated pipes (we still have two more to go).

DONE!

You’ve met our children, and our grand children and all the dog grandchildren.

You cried along with me over the loss of my Fuzzy.

And now you are reading a fictional serial with Boomer as the Star.

I have grown older in the eight years

and so has Terry. Every year he says he is going to stop farming…then comes Spring and he begins again. This year he said: “I guess I really can’t stop, I think my blood is really made of dirt”. We had a big laugh at that, but you know something, it just might be true. 🙂

Anyway, thank you, each and everyone of you, those who comment and those who just drop by and visit for a spell. I appreciate you…it makes blogging extra fun.