wordless wednesday

~~~~~

tulip tuesday

Many weeks ago,

a friend and I arranged to visit

the Spring Bulb Show at Smith College.

Picked a day.

Put it on our calendars.

We rejoiced at the prospect:

stepping into warm glasshouses

being immersed in the glorious aroma of hyacinths

and filling our eyes with color.

After all these months of snow and ice...

color.

On the day: freezing rain, icy roads.

We peered at our respective morning skies,

phones in hands,

hemmed and hawed and dithered,

then reluctantly postponed.

Very reluctantly.

We rescheduled to Saturday, the 21st.

Which was also the final day of the Show.

Much crossing of fingers last week.

Saturday, there was snow.

Falling.

We went anyway.

(The eagle picture was taken en route.)

Color.

 

 Color, color, color!

Also, colour!

Ahhhh.

(I shall stop talking now.)

 

Ahhhhhh.

~~~~~

snowy saturday snapshot

~~~~~

sleety saturday

Every day for the past week, I've been combing goats for at least an hour and a half in the morning, and usually another hour or more in the afternoon. The weather has been ideal - the exact opposite of last year! - so I have to strike while the iron is hot. Or make hay while the sun shines. I'd do more every day if my back and hands could take it. As it is, I just have to be patient and do as much as I can, as often as I can. I break it up into a few sessions. It's slow, but it's coming along nicely.

Today was an unplanned day off from combing, due to a change in the weather. It was alternating freezing rain and sleet all day - even goats who chose to spend the whole day in the barn felt slightly damp. Just on their outer coats, that is; they are perfectly warm and cozy! But they can't be combed when they are damp. Just fed and watered and visited.

Piper helped with chores tonight, as usual.

She's a trouper!

We were both soaked to the skin when we came in.

Piper was toweled off right away and has since been napping,

but soon she'll be yawning and stretching

and wondering what happened to supper.

Must be my turn to cook?

Guess I'd better get to it.

Hope you're having a lovely weekend!

~~~~~

hey, kids! what time is it?

"Daylight Savings Time"?

Pffffft.

That's just a concept.

Guess what time it really is?

That's right...it's harvest time!

"Let the combing begin!"

Eleven goats, each to be combed

very gently and multiple times - 

though not two days in a row - 

over a period of a few weeks.

It's a process!

And we're off to a nice start.

~~~~~