thankful thursday

Daily Markmaking 2018 is still on - yesterday was #206! - and I've not yet been stumped for a subject. I enjoy the challenge of sketching plants, and I am conveniently surrounded by actual plants. I've been a photographer since 1989, so there are plenty of photographic subjects to revisit. And occasionally I work from a photograph posted by another blogger, or someone I've met on twitter. I do touch base with the photographer, and so far no one has minded.

Here's a visual shout-out to three bloggers

who didn't mind me fooling around with their photographs. 

Portrait of a ginger nut, with thanks to Jean at Delightful Repast (bonus: recipe at link!)

 July 12th

Thanks to Sue for sharing her graniteware on Granny Sue's News and Reviews:

February 4th

And thanks to Judy from Judy's Chickens, whose colorful Nashville garden photographs make me yearn for a longer growing season:

April 15th

On to #207!

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wordless wednesday

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shhhhhh

  

Azalea, who has always been a sweet and steady goat,

is taking motherhood very seriously.

When she decides it's time for a meal, she wakes the baby by talking to him,

and calls him out from his cozy cubby under the bench.

After he's had some milk and a bit of exercise - mostly short backward bounces at this point - she tucks him right back in under the bench for another little snooze.

So far, she has a very cooperative son.

I've known Azalea for a long time, and at this moment in time...

I wouldn't want to argue with her either, little fellow.

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one more saturday night

Staying up til 330AM on a Saturday night just isn't what it used to be, you know?

Instead of:

Don't worry 'bout tomorrow,

lord, you'll know it when it comes:

when the rockin-rollin music

meets the rising shining sun*

 I feel like I've been drug through a knothole backwards.

But the rewards can be pretty substantial:

Azalea's baby boy, 4.5 hours old...

and 7 hours old.

Azalea had a very uncomfortable day yesterday, and since there are no barncams, I was lucky she didn't mind me camping out in the barn to keep an eye on her - for what turned out to be 13 hours. But once the baby was on the ground it was clear she needed some quiet, private time. So apart from taking a quick peek every few hours and making sure she has plenty of fresh water and a buffet of tasty food items, I'll be staying out of the barn today.

I expect she'll be back to her very sweet and laid-back self once she gets used to her new mamagoat status.

Flashback to baby Azalea, with her own mama, Lily of the Valley:

And if you're in the mood for a little goat-drama, here's the story of her own birth day.

~~~

*from One More Saturday Night

words and music by Bobby Weir

Grateful Dead

(so many memories)

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barn check

Just stepping out to the barn for a moment, to see how everyone is doing.

Would you care to join me?

Here are the charming Azalea and her mum, Lily of the Valley. Azalea seems to have forgiven me for trimming her hooves this morning. I want to be sure they are flat and smooth well before the 26th. I try to make sure the does' hooves aren't sharp-edged or jagged when they are due to kid. A mamagoat will often paw at a newborn kid with a degree of enthusiasm that will put the heart across you.

In the other side of the barn, we find Vinca having a nice snooze.

That little dark shape off Vinca's starboard hoof is Iris. 

See?

And then we turn around to see this:

Rocket, in the old chair kept handy for visitors.

Goatherd hand for scale.

 Twelve days old.

Little Big Goat.

~~~~~