Sunday, February 26, 2012

Maybe today?

When I awoke to surprisingly cold temps Saturday morning and then it started to snow while I did chores, I thought, "Today is probably the day Marta is going to lamb." After all, don't animals love to wait until the worst weather to drop their babies?

When I turned the sheep out Sunday morning and everyone set to grazing together except Marta, who acted restless and reclusive, I thought, "Today is definitely the day Marta is going to lamb."

This morning before I turned the sheep out I caught Marta and felt around her tailhead, and for the first time I comprehended what people mean when they say a sheep's or goat's ligaments are "gone." There was nothing there. Do I dare say, "Today IS the day!"?

Meanwhile, Annabelle continues to act like a perfectly normal sheep, instead of the blimp she more closely resembles.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Before this blog becomes "Lamb Central," I have some assorted photos to share from the weekend. Saturday night Rick and I went to a concert by Robert Michaels; it was perfect for a "date night"! Fantastic acoustic guitar, with a few numbers adorned by the flamenco-style dancing of his beautiful daughter:


Yesterday as I was driving home from an errand, I noticed these unusual clouds to the east:
I don't think I've ever seen clouds like those before. Anyone know what they are called, or how they are formed?

Here and there, I steal moments with my Jenkins Lark:
That's the Kool-Aid-dyed Romney left over from my Textiles' students' spinning. I had noticed that it and the burgundy/purple I dyed complemented each other beautifully, and decided to spin up the leftovers to use together in a two-color project. I'm hoping to have enough yardage to make one of Romi's two-color shawlettes; she just released two new two-color patterns!

Speaking of my class, I've got almost all of the card looms warped with white homespun longwool so they can start weaving this Wednesday. If I've calculated correctly, each student has enough of their homespun for the weft. (Did I use those terms correctly, my weaver friends?)

Off to check on Marta again at . . .

10 comments:

Cloverleaf Art and Fibre said...

Fittingly, given the impending births, those are called 'mammatus' clouds; because of their heavy rounded shape like a mammary gland or breast. Often associated with storm clouds, and probably full of rain!

Tombstone Livestock said...

When you can get your fingers to almost meet under tail bone it will be soon.

farmlady said...

thanks to Cloverleaf, I now know what the clouds are. Very interesting and beautiful.
Hope the lambing goes well.
That yarn is gorgeous.

Laura said...

Yes, mammatus - and they're associated with very unstable weather...

Anonymous said...

Waiting to hear with baited breath. Hoping all goes well and quickly. We have a big storm forecast, so I figure our newly added ewe will deliver then. Pictures please!

Nancy K. said...

Those clouds are INCREDIBLE! I've never seen anything like them.

Mammatus...I'll have to remember that and keep my eyes open for some this summer.

Theresa said...

Yes, weft is exactly right. Good job Michelle, hope they have fun with it and you too!

thecrazysheeplady said...

Cool clouds! Good to know what they are - how interesting! Yarn is gorgeous - of course - and you got the terms right :-D.

Michelle said...

Ain't blogging grand? We get to learn from each other about so many fascinating things! Love you guys!

Sharon said...

I can't wait to see what your students do. If you can pull it off, it would be fun to see some of them with their projects.