More sheep

I couldn't resist one more picture of this pretty momma from sheep shearing day.

Fifty-Six

The time came two weeks ago when Dorothy could gather most of her siblings, an uncle and a smattering of nieces and nephews to celebrate her fifty-sixth birthday. Dort's birthday is in February, but any day will do for another celebration!

Especially when it means cake...

...and much-loved family.

Shearing Day

Tuesday morning found Mom and me in a sheep barn, chilly from the blustery weather outdoors but sheltered from the wind. It had been many years since sheep occupied our pastures, and we felt it was high time to enjoy these beautiful creatures once again.

Judy, our friend and shepherdess to these sheep, was gracious enough to let us intrude on the morning of shearing her twenty-some sheep.

There were several of us there - the shearer, who had the hard work, and his assistant to manhandle the sheep from the pen.

Mom to watch and help keep things tidy.



Pastor Harald who got a surprise lesson in the art of shearing.



And me to sit next to this lovely lady and her two, tiny lambs. Clear pictures of these active ones eluded me.



Mom also carried the shorn fleece up the barn stairs...



...to the hole in the loft's floor. She dumped the fleece in the hole...



 ...to land safely in this giant bag.

Mom and I noticed that the pen that was packed from wall to wall when we arrived later looked as if half the sheep had disappeared. But it was only their bulky coats that were gone.

New Life in the Air



"There was a wonderful feeling of new life in the air despite the naked trees, the bare ploughed fields and the miry lane we walked."

Miss Read, Village Centenary, 1980

Unexpected Mail

Unexpected mail from a friend - two in this case - is like a most welcome visit.

My Bed Stand

A new home for cyclamen and fern.

Reginald and His Print

Beauty Enough

"But to my devoted eye, there was beauty enough and to spare..."

Miss Read, Village Centenary, 1980

My Garden

Grandma R. loves houseplants, and so do her daughters... and granddaughters. Thus, when Grandpa and Grandma moved from their home of thirty-five years to a home with more care, my Uncle Hans took over the plant watering job. That is until Mom and her sister began The Grand Sorting Project, and I inherited the fern. It's a Boston, I believe. And now it occupies five pots. (Thanks for the re-potting help, Mom!) It remains to be seen if I can keep them alive.



Soaking Up Sun

This is what we have been doing the last nine days - soaking up as much sun as possible. It was such a delightful and unexpected gift to have such warmth in March. Now we are back to grey skies and a bit cooler air. We miss the sun but welcome the moisture we hope this brings.

Dad's Garden



More on Changeable Weather

Blowy snow storm one week. Running water the next.

Sadly our running water season is short and little this year due to drought. I have never seen such a snowless winter before.

One Week's Time

It is amazing how the weather can turn in only a few short days!

Hard packed snow and bitter winds to sloppy mud and warm breezes.

Sometimes we go too long...

"Sometimes we go too long, do we not... for want of refreshment of our souls? I love music, but I had forgotten how I love words. And people can be rather enjoyable, as well, vous ne pensez pas?"

"Helene Pringle," Jan Karon, Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good, 2014