Sunday, May 22, 2011

Promises of Summer


It's finally here. Maybe. Summer that is. Just came in from a round of mowing. Got to get out and do it quick while the sun shines. And, despite the nice breeze, and it's only about 75 F, I actually got hot. At least in the sun. But its really a very nice day, and the Iris, Spirea, and the first of the poppies are enjoying the sun.

Time is sliding by so fast. I realized this week that the Iowa weekend is approaching, and I haven't taken very good pictures of the sheep yet. I need one for the photo contest. Might as well participate to the fullest while we're there. so I was looking through my collection, and found this one thats kind of cute. Titled "Pleeeease Ma-Maaaaa?" It might do.

Otherwise, I have been very busy, and its not looking like it will let up until after Iowa. Painting for Rhett and Renee. Another small job to take care of. Entries for The Black Sheep Gathering Show. Felting class. Company. Memorial day trip to Comstock. (It's my year.) Then the nursery painting and other items to finish. All the while felting and dyeing as fast as I can. And then the Quilt Center calls for more! But I'm not complaining. Its all good.

Meet the newest of the 'Ewes'. I had a call awhile back from someone I knew who was getting out of the sheep business. My gain. We got the new colored buck we really needed, plus some bonus ewes and lambs. This is one of the ewe lambs, and as soon as we get her changed into a larger suit, she will fit right into the flock.

Need to get out in the garden yet today. Have some New Zealand spinach seed soaking, and rows are ready for it. Have to plan ahead again this year. So far we have managed to get things in before the rain comes. Is wet again, after the 3 in or more, but at least its not flooding here. And the world didn't end either. So we're all still here, and happy for it.

Back to the mowing, and a glass of tea on the freshly cleaned porch for a reward. All welcome to stop by and join me sometime. Welcome summertime.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Its Mothers Day



Here it is Mothers Day. Already. I'm afraid that this is going to be one of those years when spring lasts about 4 days.

After so much cold rain, cloudy, gloomy days, the calendar said it was spring, but it didn't feel like it. It even frosted pretty hard on Easter Morning, and I was shivering with the apricot tree. But, there is good news. We have been working frantically in the yard and garden the last few days. The grass is growing. The ewes have been on pasture for a week or so. The yard has been mowed twice. (which is good news for the rams and yearling ewes, who get the clippings). All has been fertilized in hopes of even faster growth. (the bank account is hoping for a good grass season with the recent price of corn and hay).

The garden is showing signs of green in the form of onion tops, lettuce, spinach, potatoes, and peas (which something/body keeps nibbling off!). The first harvest of asparagus and rhubarb has been savored. The first plantings of corn, melons, and beans are in the ground, and will soon be joined by the lanky tomatoes, cucumbers and herbs that are crowded under the grow light in the sun room. And most promising are the fragile white blooms that have emerged on the pear and apple trees, and less obvious huddled under the strawberry leaves. And yes, despite the late frosts, there will be apricots.

The flocks outside the library window are pink and purple, (the creeping kind), and the peony buds are poking up from the leafy mounds. time to pause for another deep breath, and take in the moment before it passes.

Since it is Mothers Day, I could launch into an expose' about motherhood, but it has probably all been said before. And, some things told are never heard. They will experience it for themselves, and only then will they understand.

Ruby's lamb didn't make it. But others did. At last count, the live lamb count was somewhere around 75. With one last holdout yet to lamb. Yes, there is always one.

Last week, we sent the last 3 fat lambs to market. And while the truck was going, we sent 2 of the yearling black rams and grandpa Polypay with them. They didn't make us rich, but brought enough. And thats 6 less mouths to feed. And, I have the fleece.

I need to take pictures of the lambs and blooms, but I have been doing some spring house cleaning (literally), and just havent had the time. Plus, the wind has been blowing so hard some days the sheep won't even come out from behind the barn. But for this post, I have to include a Dolly update. I finally took a picture of her wound, closed up almost, but before the hair grew back to cover it. That was a couple weeks ago, and now she has been declared healed and covered enough that she can once again go naked! We were worried about the scar getting sun burned, but that seems to be solved. With luck, the memory for all of us will fade along with the wicked scar. Not likely to be forgotten though.

On to new and ongoing projects. Painting basement and nursery. Mowing and felting and sewing, and sowing. Here's hoping the fruit sets for all of you.