I am in my motel room in Flagstaff, about to fly home tomorrow…joy of joys! And within the next week, all of our ewes will lamb! (the one true sign of of a shepherd’s spring).
But in Tuba City this morning (on the first official day) and my eyes and my nose met Spring full force…absolute heaven:
And the next time I come to AZ, I am driving instead of flying from Phoenix to Tuba City. The desert will be blooming then!
Winter is truly on its way out! On my last trip, only a month ago, it was really truly winter! There is NO WAY to ever catch up everything that I would like to share…but here is a brief photo reprise of that trip.
My flight from Phoenix to Flagstaff was cancelled because Flagstaff was buried in snow and I had to rent a car and drive in order to get to work on Monday morning. Coming toward Flagstaff, at Camp Verde, a lovely rainbow heralded the rain….that soon became snow (and disastrous road conditions nearer to Flagstaff):
Even Tuba City (where winter usually brings cold but little snow) was white that week!
That trip I was working in Tuba City for two weeks, and the in between weekend (when the weather had moderated), I headed down to Flagstaff and had a wonderful visit with Kathy and Ralph…and met all their wonderful cats (here is Kathy with Daisy Mae and her son Mooch…rescue cats that NEVER want to look back):
I was knitting a winter hat for myself (forgot to bring mine)…and Ziggy kept me company and guarded my knitting when I got up.
Not only did I get a cat-fix but a sheep-fix as well. Kathy took me to meet her sheep and we bundled up against the cold…as we were leaving, Ole (the official greeter) asked could he please come into the house too….he is desperately miserable out there with those sheep!!!
I did finish the winter hat; it kept me toasty warm and I liked the results…lots of increases above the rolled brim to make it tam-like, and at the top, an extra purl stitch and purl-2-tog to make the decreases stand up more.
Flagstaff winters are much like ours in Pine Valley, so I felt right at home, but coming back the next week to our own mountains was thrilling…I watching the Wallowas growing on the horizon as I traveled from Baker City to Halfway. So familiar…so beautiful to my eyes.
But now, even in all its beauty, I am ready to bid good-bye to winter….and welcome spring!
Well, shucks, Lois…flattery will get you everywhere! heeheehee
We have so enjoyed your visits and the dinner meetings. We feel almost selfish in that we look forward to seeing you, at Brook’s expense I’m sure.
We are back to a taste of winter again here – it snowed off and on yesterday and today sees us warmer but with more wind so lower wind chills. I can hardly wait to talk to you to see how lambing is going.
Hugs to you both…and Ole said to say hello.
Glad your home, and can’t wait to hear about your new lambs!
Flagstaff is one of the places I considered retiring to….and after visiting you in your part of the world I’ve definitely added that to my considerations…if nothing else, to dream about it! 
There are lamb photos to be shared, but I can’t seem to access my blog…server problems
We are bursting at the seams in the middle of lambing…14 lambs so far, and 6 ewes yet to lamb. Lots of beauties….some interesting patterns, and quite a few cheeky lambs!