In like a lamb

Gordon and Viola with lambs, Marty farm, ca. 1945.  

The Marty farm did not, as a rule, have sheep. But Gramma's family, the Hendricksons, did keep a flock on their farm on Rock Creek, about two miles east. While my dad was growing up, he raised a few sheep as 4-H projects, lambs born on the Hendricksons' place. Maybe this photo was taken the first year he brought a couple of lambs home. I suspect it was taken by Uncle Gaylon, his older brother, with my grandmother's camera, because it comes from her photo album.

I love this photo because the log barn, to the north, is so clearly visible in the background next to the silo. The picture can be dated partly because, right after the war, a three-car garage was built directly south of the log barn and would have blocked the view. The windmill still has its top, which eventually was wrecked in a storm and not replaced--electricity had taken its place by then, pumping water into the milk house. Chickens are pecking in the yard. The woods are visible on the horizon on the right side of the photo, so the month of the photo must have been June to September—not March.

The old March saying is "In like a lion, out like a lamb," a reference to constellations as well as weather. The wisdom I remember contained a twist that ignored the night sky..."If March comes in like a lion, it'll go out like a lamb...but if it comes in like a lamb, out like a lion!" We'll see. But this March 1, the forecast is mostly sunny, highs around 35, north winds 5 mph. In Minnesota, that is a lamb. 

Comments

[Corrine Casanova]

This photo is precious and certainly appropriate for the "in like a lion, out like a lamb" March saying. Now I'm yearning for the Minnesota State Fair in August and it's not even April. Love to pet the lambs, but don't have much opportunity for that here in the suburb of Blaine. Perhaps I need to schedule a trip over to the University of Minnesota St. Paul campus to pet a lamb. Anybody have any connections on the St. Paul campus to make my dream a reality?