Graduation days

It's that time of year when so much is happening. So many steps taken in the direction of becoming an independent being.....all grown up and on your own. Last week I attended the high school graduation of my oldest grand-daughter, Jordan, (who graduated with honors, I might add!). I remember when she was born, as if it were yesterday. After raising three sons, I was thrilled to finally have a girl in the family. Now, she is an accomplished young woman, who has earned a full scholarship to U of L, and has plans to become a pediatric nurse. And she is as sweet as she is intelligent. I'm very proud to be her "Nana" (can you tell?). That's her equally proud father, my middle son, Chris, standing next to her.

On the farm front, we had our own version of graduation early this week. The lambs and the ewes have gone out to pasture and are no longer being put into the barn every night. That's a big step because it means much less barn work for me. The lambs are now under the protection of our Great Pyrenees dogs during the night, so when I hear the coyotes, I also listen to hear the dogs barking in response. It's comforting to know they are on the job and up to the task.
A few days ago, I caught Lottie napping with a smile on her face. Doesn't she look happy? (You know she's a girl because of the ear tag in her right ear. Boys get tagged in the left ear.) I can really start to see the lamb's fleece characteristics about now and I'm pretty happy with what I'm seeing. Life on the farm is all about life cycles and looking ahead and I'm already anticipating getting to spin Lottie's fleece, even though it will be almost a year before she will be shorn.

Sorry about this post being such a mish-mash. It's an indication of my mental state, I think! The weekend is nearly here and right now I'm looking ahead to clearer thinking times.