The colors of spring

I have been driving down our neighbor's driveway to see the sheep this spring and I have been getting a different view of our yard that is very pretty.  Love this yellow azalea that we don't see from our driveway. 

Happy Anniversary Honey

Today was our 23rd wedding anniversary.  Sometimes it seems like it has only been a few months, and sometimes, well, you know the old story...the one that talks about "for better and for worse", etc, etc.....

However, the good times and the bad times all add up - and as we so often have, our anniversary cards were in sync - this is my card from The Shepherd -  my card for him said the same thing - You & Me - (different picture though)    One year we actually got each other the very same card - that was a wild one - I opened my card from him, saw the picture and went "Oh, no, I've opened his card!"

We had planned to go down to Whidbey Island, but The Shepherd was feeling under the weather all week and when I suggested that we skip, he said "lets sleep in and then just go down to The Farmhouse (an old favorite restaurant that's on Highway 20, on the way to Whidbey) for lunch and then come home.  We had a great lunch (I had a Reuben - they make their own corned beef and its not that thin deli sliced stuff and he had a hot pot roast sandwich - so we were both happy, and full, and didn't have such a long drive to boot), and then we decided to go looking at the tulips  -


The Skagit (rhymes with "Badge-it"} County area is renowned for their tulip fields - so much so that they now have a month long Tulip Festival during the month of  April.  These were part of the display gardens at the restaurant.

It would have been better if the weather had been a little nicer, but it didn't seem to deter the tourists. 

The tulip fields are just about done blooming, but the farmers have conveniently planted some "late blooming" ones that are just color as far as you can see. 

I was taking these pictures out the car window, on the fly, as the sheriff's were everywhere, giving out tickets to anyone who blocked traffic. But I couldn't resist showing you these pretty pink tulips.  Imagine thousands of people tromping through your fields - I'm surprised they don't have electric fences around them. 

Even with the blustery weather, there were quite a surprisingly number of people out today.

You can see more tulip pictures on my Instagram page.

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Allison

All the lambs are out front now.  This is Allison.  She's very sweetly has a lovely fleece.  She's a keeper.

We're having an "open barn" today for friends and some of The Shepherds landscape customers. I have my spinning wheel out, hoping the rain holds off til after 3 when we're done. 

City of New Orleans

We're at the Mt. Baker Theater tonight listening to the great Arlo Guthrie.   It doesn't get any better.  If you have a chance to see him don't miss it. He is very funny as well as being a great musician.  We are so lucky to have this great venue.  Thanks, Mt. Baker Theater

Out and about

Here's Cal and A.J. on their first day out.  They are so cute!

A.J

A.J. is a carbon copy of her mom.  The Shepherd is very pleased.

Garnet and little ones

This handsome little guy is named Cal ,- he and his sister were born yesterday morning. 

Enjoying the sunshine

When I got home from town this afternoon I stopped out by the pasture to see all the babies.  They are still paired up with their sibs but soon they will be waiting for our neighbors to come home so they can race them down the way.  Two more lambs born this morning.  Pictures soon or you can find me on Instagram -  menolly44. We're off to dinner and groceries in a bit, I need to go  make lists

All tuckered out

The lambs had a big day today in the outside world.  They are so fun to watch at this age.

Ain't she sweet?

I guess I'd be giving up the stink eye if I was her mum too. This is Frosty , Angel and Big Al.  They are all doing well today.

The reality of farming hit hard last night.  Luckily Vikki was "easily fixable" (they just stuff everything back in and sew them shut for a day) The Shepherd had prepared himself that he might have to put her down.  The magic of antibiotics, she's doing okay tonight.

Stink eye, ha ha ha

I was getting a little too close to Angel and Big Al.  Mom was not amused. 

More lambs and trouble in the barn

This is Angel, one of the new lambs we have today on the farm.  Two moms, Frostiana and and Vikki.  Angel is Frosty's .  Sadly Vikki lost her ewe lamb (darn!) and we almost lost Vikki to a prolapsed uterus. 

Thanks to the great vet from Kulshan Vet Hospital in Linden, who put her back together.  We have to give her shots for the next three or four days .  Whoopee....

Wonderful woollies farm sale!

We're at the Wonderful Woollies Farm & Fleece sale today.  Well, The Shepherd isn't here yet because another one of the ewes went into labor just as we were leaving.  More later!

Allison

Allison has a very nice black fleece.  No white anywhere but on her head, and her tongue (often an indicator of the color she'll be, ie black tongue, dark fleece, pink tongue, light fleece,) is black on the top and pink on the bottom!  So who knows.  The shepherd did say she has a healthy set of lungs...

Proud papa

First lambs of the year born on Wednesday.  This is Jefferson's first "crop" of lambs.  So far, so good. 

A carpet of blue

It just seems that every day gets more colorful in our yard. The Glory of Spring has taken over the bed by our gate and provides a carpet of blue.  So pretty, and so welcome after our long winter.

More Signs of Spring

You may recognize these plants that are coming up in The Shepherd's garden.  Some people call it pie plant and it does make great pie - especially if you mix it with strawberries and put a crumb topping.. strawberry rhubarb pie...yum.  Land'o Lakes has s great recipe on their web site.  Check it out.

Spring is just around the corner

The "Glory of the snow" is coming on. By next week you won't see any brown ground ...it will be a sea of blue.

Blackbird sing

I really should have taken a video rather than a snapshot the other day.  These blackbirds were ALL singing at the top of their lungs...I'm not sure what they were trying to settle but we were reaping the benefits with their beautiful music. 

Crueller than I thought it was going to be...

Poor little tulips got totally covered in our snow storm this afternoon.  Did I mention that I am really ready for winter to be done??