Working in Rainbows—-Thursday, October 8, 2015

Posted on October 8, 2015 by Dayphoto

I’m slow today. Well, not slow for the day, but slow getting up here to post my blog. We are still working on the ditches and had a few things to do before Terry could take out the tractor.

(Sometimes I’m early, very early, because…well, I just can’t sleep at night. The stay awake and toss and turn thing so I get up and write a post to you.)

Terry is doing the tractor work, so I came in to visit a spell with you.

Once more we finished all the dirt for the rest of the year. 🙂 (Where have I heard that before 🙂 ) Terry went over and dumped the last load, while I drove the tractor home, and put the tractor way.

Then we worked on digging out the orange dams in the mud ditches. Always, always a huge job. We have two more to go, but stopped for spell. Now that we are ‘elderly’ we have to pace ourselves. Ten years ago the story would have been much different.

After supper (yes, we eat early…by 5:00–that is so we still have daylight to work in) we worked on winterizing the ditches.

We worked in a sky full of color and rainbows!

It was wonderful! I counted two rainbows, then a faint third one!

The end was right over our house! How marvelous is that!!!!?

The sky was stunning! Because the sun was sitting it turned the air/the clouds, the sky, and us—Pink!

It sure made our work go easier!

As we worked I started thinking how the year is slowly drifting into winter, but before the winter chill and frigid temperatures, the stunning beauty of fall blooms before our very eyes, the last of summer bursting forth in random elegance and grace, blessing our lives, if we just care to see.

As always your friend, on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

The Adventures of Boomer on Friday—Out on the Ditch Bank

Posted on July 3, 2015 by Dayphoto

Mom had to go help Dad over at the other place. She went on the tractor so I didn’t get to go! 😦

Mom and Dad won’t let me run alongside either, they say I’m too old (I’m eleven now) and it would be way too long of a run so I get—“No, Boomer! NO! You stay here”! Then Mom gives me a hug and a very stern look and off she goes.

BUT! I always meet Mom when she comes home! ALWAYS! I meet Dad, also, but I don’t run down the road as far. 🙂

The fox are coming into the yard. One had Sammy cornered. Mom heard the racket and came running out of the house just in time to see the fox and Sammy in a standoff at the grain ben. I chased the fox all the way to the upper end. Whew! Boy was I ever hot and tired when I got back. Mom gave me a big bowl of cold water and a dog cookie. I gobbled up the water and the cookie and took a Loooong nap. I sure needed it. (I might be old(er), but I can still do my job!)

Last night we scared Momma Deer and her Princess out of the corn field when we went up to change the water. (Dad was a little disgusted, but at the same time we ALL liked seeing the little baby!) Mom told me that today we will just take up more of the shelled corn and put it closer to where the deer are bedding down.

Everyone had a big laugh when I chased a mouse out of one of the siphon tubes. It ran toward me and I sorta jumped. BUT!!! No one jumped as much as Mom did when she put a siphon tube into the water and a vole rushed out of the end of the tube and over her hand!

Mom didn’t scream but she sure did lose the siphon tube in the ditch and run backwards for a short spell!!! 🙂

Early this morning we were just stirring around when the fox came back INTO THE yard and ran right by the kitchen window. Monkey started growling low in her voice, Sam jumped up on the window sill, Mom and I hurried out the back door and Mom said “Get!” to the fox. Which it did.

I didn’t chase the fox this time, he/she was going so fast there was no reason to give chase.

Well, there is my week. Doesn’t seem like much, but it sure is fun!
Boomer

The Adventures of Boomer on Friday—Back Stop

Posted on January 23, 2015 by Dayphoto

Yesterday was a BLAST!!!

Sam-Sam, Monkey, Mom, Dad, and I all worked outside. The day was cold, but it felt nice to be outside ‘doing stuff’.

Dad was building another backstop for the hay. Since he expanded the acreage of alfalfa he also had to expand the hay yard. First he dug post holes then he started nailing up the backstop wood. Mom just held the wood, Dad does all the hard work, like digging the holes,

the tractor sets the poles, and Mom holds the wood in place.

Then Mom and I went for WALK!!! Actually I went for a jog/run/dash :). My-Sam

Sam-Sam came with us,

but Monkey hung out with Dad!

When we got back Dad and Mom loaded up an old cottonwood burr

to haul to the upper end.

Dad said it would make a nice home for some critter up there.

Then Mom and Dad cut up firewood and Mom hauled it to the house. All the time they were busy — I checked out everything I could…the pipes, the ditches, deer tracks…you name it.

Sam-Sam hung out with Mom and Dad and

Monkey climbed on EVERYTHING!

After that we had to go down to the other house and check on everything down there…that meant a FOUR-WHEELER RIDE!!!!

When all this was finished the day was cooling down and the sun was starting to set!

What a perfect day we had!

Boomer

A Small Set Back—Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Posted on December 3, 2014 by Dayphoto

The first thing we had a small set back…the starter failed. (Well, not the first thing, the first thing –just before light–Terry took the corn down to the elevator. Arriving back around 11 a.m. was the first time he could get back into the field!)

That is what happens when you use old equipment, although Terry does keep them in good working order you just never know when some part is going to break. The kids laugh because we have a ‘herd’ of combines. That ‘herd’ comes in handy every now and again! 🙂 🙂

Boomer and I went out to help him…(it’s one reason he keeps other combines around…for parts). My stead…just incase he needed me to pull start him. Usually I go out on the four-wheeler, but with something broken down you just never know. The loader is also a good place to carry parts and chains (if you have to pull, say—a combine.)

Then an hour later…every system was go! The second load of the day left at 1:30 for the elevator. Gradually, gradually this corn is GOING to turn into a paycheck!

Keep on smiling…two more weeks to go!

Your friend on a western Colorado farm in the middle of corn harvest,

Linda

Step 5 – Kick the Dirt

Posted on April 7, 2009 by Dayphoto

kick-the-dirt

After all the snow and rain, then wind and snow, and then rain, the sun came out and warmed up the earth.

To check the soil to see if it was ready for more tractor work, a good rule of thumb is to rub your foot into the soil to see what type of moisture comes up.

The soil is ready!