Mothers Day 2026

Before my devices stopped cooperating, again, I managed to transfer my Mothers Day photos from my iPhone to my MacBook. Since it was a lovely day and it's what I have, here we go.

First, we (DH, DS, and me) met Rick's mom, step-father, and his oldest daughter at a restaurant in town for a delicious breakfast.

Lemon crepes, which I split with Brian

Veggie hash, with Brian shared with me

Then all but step-sister, who had to work, drove to Portland to take in the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Gardens, always a beautiful destination. And the enjoyment started before we even entered. We parked, I looked up, and there was a bald eagle over Portland! There were lovely flowers along our route to the entrance as well.

I'm sure I've shared photos from past years' visits to Crystal Springs. But since I don't think it is possible to take the same photos every time, perhaps you'll enjoy the following regardless.

For scale, my guys are both well over 6' tall

That's what I've got for now from . . .

Limping along

I have managed to transfer some photos, a few at a time, to my laptop so I can post "in the manner to which I am accustomed." However, I feel handicapped. Ah; First World problems.

I am also periodically limping thanks to the sheep. Not from shearing; that has gone more comfortably than I can remember, and I am grateful, both for my healed knees and my quieted sciatica. No, twice now I've been felled by my sheep. In order to take them out to sections of the neighbor's pasture every morning, I halter and lead five of them, letting the other three follow. Last week, my neighbor startled them from behind as I was doing that, and they bolted forward. Five ewes weigh considerably more than I do and are probably stronger, so I ended up on the ground; a secondary startle made me fear serious damage to my shoulder. Yes, I was still holding the ends of five leashes, a not-always good habit from a lifetime of handling horses; if I'd let go I wouldn't have been able to catch them again and the halters could have endangered them. This morning it happened again, this time in the driveway, wrenching my left knee. Don't judge them harshly; it is their nature as defenseless prey animals. The daily handling is making them easier to catch, halter, and lead, but doesn't change their instincts!

Speaking of the sheep, here are photos of all of them. I missed a few before and after photos until I got my act together. Let me know if you see a fleece you're interested in; Bench's and Bitta's are already reserved.

Bridget, after

Bridget's midside sample

Bench, before

Bench's midside sample

Bernice, after

Bernice's midside sample

Sanson, before

Sanson, after

Sanson's midside sample

Bethany, before

Bethany, after

Bethany's midsize sample

Broadway, before

Broadway, after

Broadway's midside sample

Bitsy, before

Bitsy, after

Bitsy's midside sample

Bette, before

Bette, after

Bette's midside sample

Bernadette, before

Bernadette, after

Bernadette's midside sample

Bitta, before

Bitta, after

Bitta's midside sample

Forty-six years ago while I graduated from a Nebraska high school, Mt. St. Helens erupted catastrophically. Most of my life's biggest moments have happened in the interim; strange to think about that!

That's it for now from . . .