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Friday, September 2, 2022
Do NOT buy just because they are cute ! While the title may seem harsh I am sure many other long time alpaca owners could chime in with story upon story.
Alpaca Ownership Responsibly - try to cover the basic bases
When communicating with potential alpaca owners, starting with simple basics can mean:
explaining there are 2 types of alpacas - huacaya or suri (they are not llamas or even emu's lol)
Correct zoning - are you allowed to have alpacas on your property (not in your house), if so how many?
Explaining why you need to have 2 ideally minimum of 3 alpacas - the herd explanation and truth to lone alpacas being highly susceptible to stress ulcers or complications. Reasons why we won't sell just ONE alpaca which doesn't mean BOGO
Also purchasing at least pairs of the same sex *if getting males, similar age and sized (pecking order establishment should never end in mutilation or worse)
Correct type of feed & set up - Orchard hay with proper nutrients and a feed area allowing enough space so there isn't crowding which likely means not in a corner where it looks neat and tidy but in a middle with access from both sides.
adequate space and shelter in area
potential toxins (access to chicken feed or poisonous plants)
Fencing (safe type to keep alpacas in and predators out)
ideally this discussion leads to livestock guardian dog for protection
Speak about not advisable to share same space with horses, donkeys, goats - only to get the call, they were fine together until - a hard headbutt or kick happened, parasites happened, goat horns impaled...
There are those that we are so grateful respect advise and build a barn to bring them in and/or decide to get a livestock guardian dog and not rely on llamas or other means of notification should a predator come calling. Unfortunately we have seen firsthand or received too many calls in distress of alpaca owners that herds were okay for years - until the mountain lion came, the bear came, most commonly loose dogs came.
We give out a care sheet that talks about trimming toenails, correct halter placement (someone has left an incorrect halter on and the animal starved to death)
A body score sheet that helps assess ideal weight which is a huge contributory factor to overall health
Shearing that comes once a year - EVERY year (not just given a list) informed to book early as good shearers are hard to come by & more than worth their weight in gold!
injections: tetanus - know your specific area work with vet, west nile, M worm, rabies
pest control - don't forget to spray ears for ear ticks.
have their teeth checked (can't assume all shearers do this)
*Veterinarian - with camelid experience - HUGE (not everyone has even one in nearby vicinity)
Mentors - you may find a bargain on craigslist but who do you call in the "off" hours in an emergency
Also, correct handling - not too much coddling when they are little or you may have that cute 200 pound alpaca jump or charge you or others.
I'm sure we missed some things and this draft will be under revision.
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Tuesday, April 7, 2020
Zendaya about 9 months old
Nearly every shearing season we feel the harvest is plentiful and there could probably not be such thing as too many laborers. Shearing season, which may be different times of the year depending on location & temperatures, etc., in Southern California we are some of the earliest to shear. Alpaca fleece is extremely warm - I've heard references to it being second in thermal properties to polar bears. I've also heard references that at 60 degrees in full fleece they are uncomfortable. Postponing shearing this year due to Covid 19 was not deemed a good option for the herd. With unknown status of Covid-19 restrictions to keep down the spread of the virus, shearers may not have been able to travel and/or accommodate us in their schedule to make a "later" trip to us. In a typical year our temperatures could heat up considerably any day. I can tell you those fleeces felt warm coming off each animal at a cool 60 degrees. With a stay home order for those not deemed essential, caring for livestock and animals is considered essential. Scripture says a Good shepherd will lay down his life for his sheep - this year felt a little bit like that. Risking social distancing to care for the herd to avoid the chance of over heating was deemed necessary care. We did limit the amount of harvest helpers, we had sanitizer, masks & gloves available and we got the job done the best we could.
These animals are so uniquely adorable that we often want to treat them like pets. If I could, I might "groom" quite a few animals & give way to some creative cuts or keep just the right look for their type. There have been years where I feel so sad that some beautiful, long eyelashes got buzzed off or facial hair was removed that I had hoped to keep. However when maintaining a larger herd and the amount of work it is, gathering them all, cleaning/grooming and record keeping - labeling their fleece bags and getting on your knees and scooping up the harvest off the shears, you have to keep the momentum going to get the job done. On a typical year even with a slew of helpers this is a daunting & exhausting task. Add Covid 19 precautions and then rain in the forecast and the need for "over drive" arrived. It felt like we utilized every ounce of energy and muscle in each body present. Farmers that do labor day in, and day out, have my utmost respect!
The shearers worked to keep the mats clean to keep the fiber from one animal seperate from the next. Thankfully, not only did we get it done, it was accomplished safely & effectively. We were blessed with the least amount of any nicks or sores. Some alpacas may have sebaceous cysts that accidentally get opened or a sudden jerk from an animal results in a slight wound. Most of shearing I was back and forth to both shearing stations and honestly didn't see one wound this year. Truly an astounding shearing performance that we are so grateful to our shearers for.
While my amateur videos and photos don't do justice to the fleeces being "harvested". To describe the billowing cloud of a beautiful huacaya fleece coming off, or the shine of a suri with twisty locks would be too difficult. To see the process in person is a sight to behold. (Mind you sometimes it comes with noise and other alpaca bodily odors lol). The photos are of the one and only I fussed with the shearers just a little over. It really did hold up the shearers to take additional time and effort to keep the fuller face on her. Year prior we kept too much facial fleece and not only did they get labeled cake pops, the judges pointed out it was hard to assess their conformation. While some fleece faces grow back, most often their fleece thins out over the next year or so and that looks even more odd having a fluffy ring around their neck.
Either way, we finished just before rain. Well actually it was raining but we had numbers down enough that we could halter them up under shelter to save those fleeces. Once again grateful to all those who labored in the harvest. Maybe even moreso this year than others. Meanwhile, we have quite a few fleeces to organize and get to their respectful owners. We plan at some point to get around to utlizing the harvest. Will they be designer scarves, blankets, rugs or just cozy warm wear, dryer balls or something new! We wish a happy, safe harvest to the rest of the alpaca owners. Stay healthy, we will likely never forget the virus shear year.
about 8 months growth
just sheared
crimpy, bright & fine fleece
blanket across the dining room table lol
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Friday, September 7, 2018
Yarn by Destiny
- When you see and touch that luxurious fleece - over and over again
- When you use the word scintillating to describe suri yarn your herd produced
- When you can't stop looking at and feeling your harvest
- When you can't wait to wear some of your alpaca wear
- When you can't wait to share some of your alpaca wear
- When you are utterly impressed by the creative items that can be produced
- When you are ecstatic over a confirmed pregnancy after many attempts
- When you rejoice over every newborn baby
- When you water in blazing heat or trudge through mud, snow, wind & rain for their care
- When you cancel concerts and special events to feed a struggling newborn
- When go to great lengths for good hay
- When you work extra to feed your fleece family
- When you will sell treasures to pay a vet bill
- When you spend countless time, energy and resources to serve and host special ranch events
- When you are up till the wee hours of the night "crafting"
- When you spread a fleece or project across the dining room table
- When your house is packed with all kinds of alpaca related things
- When you buy nearly any alpaca merchandise you see ie; table runners to toilet brush holders
- When you set your alarm for every one to two hours around the clock to bottle feed
- When you have a bad day and find comfort in their soft hum or silly antics
- When you mourn so painfully deep over their injury or loss that you can hardly breathe
- When you spend countless hours searching for that special alpaca
- When you spend your vacation days traveling the country to shows
- When you have to watch your conversation in public because you realize it sounds inappropriate
- When you exercise muscles you didn't know you had on shearing day & get up early to do more
- When you have a phone full of pictures & videos of your fleece faces, including alpaca porn
- When you speak alpaca and are happy when others speak alpaca
- When you are happy when someone else joins the herd whether people or alpaca
- When they are all your favorites
- When you have seller's remorse with nearly every sale
- When you get doused by bodily fluids, kicked, jumped, stomped and you carry on
- When you get a black eye, broken bones, abrasions, bumps and barely remember how
- When you have barn hair and you don't care
- When you use words to describe them as "soul soothers"
- When you claim to live at the happiest pasture on earth
- When you can hardly describe the feeling you get when you hug or better yet, get greeted by a
nose kiss
Pacas are your passion
barn hair don't care
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Wednesday, September 23, 2015
say hello to my little friend
I just recently read something about vitamin F – It caught my attention so I thought I’d write a quick little blog on the benefits of it. Vitamin F is probably the most awesome supplement out there! Realizing that there may be many people out there who are suffering from various ailments, life stressors, work, illness, finances, fragmented families, those who don’t have children, while others who have extremely challenging children. Benefits of Vitamin F may be very vital to your well being. That “F” supplement is “friends.”
You can read articles, even scientific studies or you may just be aware of the many benefits of friends. Some friends you make fast and some are slow to get to know. You may consider a good friend in human form and some may be four-legged, covered with feathers, fur or fleece. (gee I guess the human ones could be that too LOL) Really one of the most fascinating and fulfilling things on earth is what a true friend can do for your inner most being. Times that they offer comfort or support when times are tough. Those that help support either in action, word or just lending an ear. A lot of the times they just make you feel better by just being nearby. You may see some on a regular basis or might not see others for great lengths of time, but some how you can just pick up where you last left off. A friend you can trust, depend upon, a friend until the end. Let’s not forget about the friends that just have the gift of making us laugh. Being around them is true joy regardless of the activity. Yet even a good friend can deliver a kick in the butt if warranted. What are friends for? One who actually shared that embarrassing moment. Not to mention that ONE crazy friend... (My last picture choice could make me a contender)
Whether it be relationships formed through a common geographical location or interest. It is a gift to be treasured, not taken for granted but nurtured and sustained. I am increasingly aware and thankful for our growing number of friends in our alpaca community. Whether it be our connection through traveling to shows or ranch visits, the sale of an animal or connecting on social media. They all have an integral place. Especially those extra hands that come along when you are tired, struggling with an unruly animal or worse, the pain and suffering at the loss of one. Bearing one another’s burdens can make the stressors of life more bearable.
I encourage you to take a moment today to think about your friends. Maybe connect with one you haven’t talked to in a while, offer support to one that is struggling with life circumstances. Get to know a friend better or go out and make some new ones. Thank someone for being a friend.
National Alpaca Day is coming this weekend – we hope to recruit some friends as helpers, work isn’t really just work if you consider you are spending time with friends. Gather up a friend and attend. Hug a fleecy one!
Celebrate today and try adding more Vitamin F - it may even be okay with your doctor if you get an overdose of it!
p.s. It really isn't a sales tactic - Alpacas really need to be with other alpaca friends, their livelihood depends upon it.
friends you meet long the journey
close friends
friends bring you things you like to help make you happy
friends sharing a pen & pregnancy
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Tuesday, July 14, 2015
look a heart-shaped mud puddle
This is a dog's world. At least ours often seems to be dominated by dogs. Through the years we have suffered the loss of numerous pets and it never is easy, even though we are blessed to be surrounded by others. We have also been fortunate enough to witness the births of various breed types because our daughter actually runs a non-profit dog rescue. We attended dog shows in the past that also exposed us to a large variety of breeds but those were mostly in the non-sporting categories. The type and/or breed I am going to blog about is an invaluable, livestock guardian dog (LGD), the Anatolian Shepherd. Because we have not been involved with livestock for very long, this is a newer breed type for us. So, we are by no means an authority on the subject, but their importance as a livestock guardian on the ranch and our interaction with them deserves a noteworthy mention.
The cute little guy (pictured by the heart-shaped puddle) is under a year old, so he still has some growing to do. Because of his age, he rightfully so, is very puppy-like. Though I am told these dogs' of any age are known for playful antics, like running off with a whole pack of muffins, or shredding up a dog bed to the point it looked like it had snowed in summer time in California. The other day this pup happened to snag my cell phone that must have dropped off the fence post that I had placed it upon and he had begun "testing" my lifeproof cell phone case when he was intercepted. Hence, indirectly inspiring me to this blog. As a side note, if a company is going to advertise something as "life proof" how about testing them in the various walks of life such as on a ranch, where dropping them in a water bucket or getting exposed to excessive dirt, loose hay debris or worse yet even wet hay (aka alpaca projectile debris) Yes, there are many other dirty jobs out there. Back to the blog, despite their playful, sometimes destructive antics, these dogs really do work. If their booming bark doesn't stop you in your tracks, their stealth like speed in the darkest of night just might. They can run like the wind. Really open up the motor on a ranch vehicle some time and just watch how they can keep up. Meanwhile, the crias (baby alpacas) can race and freely pronk to their hearts delight and their mother's can stay calm and cushed in regards to coyotes, mostly due to these livestock guardian dogs' presence.
These LGDs truly are guardians, a treasure and prized asset that we have the privilege of enjoying companionship with. We salute all the LGDs for your courage and for all the nights you stay on high alert. We are so grateful for the protection and comfort you provide.
Good sit
Ain't misbehaving
smiling in the shade on a warm sunny day
this is my waggy semi-uncurled tail..
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Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Be a Santa
Happy New Year - Its a new dawn, it’s a new day, its a new year for me... and I'm feeling???
A new year can bring one a chance to reflect on events over the past year and while another digit in itself may not be overly significant, I think it is great to reflect and ponder some on past and plan some, always doing our best to look forward to the future.
In reflecting on 2014, I thought of quite a few of those in our alpaca community; There were those we got to know this past year that suffered the loss of their first born alpaca, a job loss, some with unexpected financial crisis, a divorce, a severe accident & another the loss of life of a beloved spouse. Reflecting on all of this when only knowing a small portion of each ones suffering, I often questioned some of the whys and what can I possibly do to help. In actuality I am not in much of a position to do anything that seems of much significance beyond prayers, words of encouragement offering grace or a helping hand here & there. Work and commuting over 12 hours a day, care for animals, life is busy, it’s a lot of work and in my own personal reflection, trying to recount the many blessings I also thought of how it just seems like a flurry of activity but, as “insignificant” as it sounds, last year I started crafting.
Yes, one of my most exciting memories of 2014 besides the wonderful birth of alpacas and our first "adorable" I might shamelessly add, grandson being born, came another kind of special delivery our
YARN. Yes I love Amazon and it's smiley face box on my porch. Go ahead poke fun at my segway because that in itself is where I am going with this bloggity blog. FUN – yes fun capitals and exclamations!!! I was just commenting watching some extreme snow skiing and the word recreation – broken down, re creation. I think it can be good for everyone. It doesn’t just happen, for some of us it is more work than others, sometimes we have to make a conscious effort and ask; Are we having fun yet?
While we can set goals, make plans, make resolutions, work harder, smarter, get more organized, choose healthier food & exercise, work on spiritual growth - All good , my message to you “insert, plan & put into action” that little tiny word, “FUN” with all the exclamation marks you possible can!!!!! I truly hope if you take the time to read through my rambling you get out and make 2015 more FUN! Be it crafting w yarn, play time with pets, people whatever you consider fun. I encourage you to do more of it. Invite someone along. Make more time for fun and heck make an effort to be more fun to be around. Eek when my obituary reads, there she lies, a wife, mother, grandmother, animal lover, co-worker, I hope it isn’t solemn and somber and all serious, I hope everyone knows I have been eternally released to have a whole lot of fun – yes Joy unspeakable joy!
The best things in life are free – sometimes the best things in life are fun. Doesn’t have to cost money, you can even make chores fun. A mindset - throw open the windows – turn on some music re-enact a favorite bit from a play or movie, stomp, dance, sing from a mountain top. Try to find a little fun in the work place – maybe it will become more contagious than the hum drum of the routine.
What do you do for fun ? Are you fun to be around? Is it more fun when you have others (who are fun to be around?
– starting this blog on my van pool at 6:00 am this morning – fun for me - may you find some fun in today
Sing, dance, golf, surf, ski, play a board game, ride a bike, camp, create a funny caption, watch a funny movie, and the list goes on... Dare to dream and by all means, Don't quit your day dream!
TOY
create something & add a little bling
Take a selfie
play in the snow
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Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Had a feeling it might be a long, hot summer in So Cal. Not only with on-going drought constantly in the news, it is becoming more evident everywhere you turn, no water in creek beds, dry looking brush and new wildfires breaking out. We are rolling into fall and have had temperatures of over 90 degrees for weeks straight – Ok, no humidity for those in other areas, but regardless too warm for too long.
Not 1 but 3, alpaca people lost their first born cria’s (alpaca babies) just last week and we were notified of two other separate people who lost alpacas week prior, very likely due to heat stress. As I contemplate this with a heavy heart, these people not only got these beautiful alpacas from us, but have become dear to us and it was truly heart breaking for them and I really feel at a loss for words. While the losses may not all have been directly heat-related, extra stress does not help a pregnant body full of fleece and may very well be a factor to an early delivery or complications. As a side note, newborn babies can’t regulate their body temperature, not off to a good start if they are born out in the direct sun. The poor females go through labor & physical stress, need extra fluids just to re coop, let alone produce milk. Suddenly, our big barn fan we bought and the summer pools for the alpacas hardly seem like enough, it has me seriously reconsidering timing of breeding, not only to try and plan for not delivery middle of hot summer but also not even for their 8 or 9 month mark where it is a common time to miscarry.
The two adult alpacas we were told passed away possibly would have been ok if they had been sheared last year but so no one is quick to cast stones, may I add, one owner has a terminal illness in and out of hospital and the other is still recovering from broken neck & back on top of job loss – they are doing what they can this stage in their lives, Unfortunately alpaca shearers aren't easy to come by. We actually still have an alpaca ourselves that did not get sheared - though I trimmed some underneath, me and scissors with a jumpy alpaca is probably more scary than 100 degree temps. Any how, with all this, I thought it worthy to write a blog on effects of heat on alpacas and us for that matter.
Fortunately farmer Don had heard me talking about other alpacas that died or almost died of intestinal obstruction recently, quite possibly heat-related, so he now fills our kiddie pools with cool water & installed additional auto waterers and takes time sweeping them out so they re-fill with cool water. I recalled hearing one of the vet talks at the Suri symposium emphasize to check their water, which includes temperature, if it is too warm they don’t really want to drink it, or too cold – so work on heating it. Eating a bulky hay diet and not drinking enough fluid, blockage or electrolyte imbalance is bound to have an effect. I have to say since he has been doing this in the afternoon, I am almost always greeted with wet, drippy alpaca smiles when I get home. Kind of like the food and the poop pile, it entices them to use it when they see you doing something with it.
How this all this leads into our weekend purchases which included buying a new oven range AND a spa, is a stretch, but for the record, they are “heat-related” matter of fact, too much heat! Our Viking stove that we had got from my mother-in-law had intermittently been having problems, burners not lighting or worse yet the flame was ridiculously high – long story short, we had been renewing our home warranty since we bought our house and the stove was covered – repairman fixed it numerous times. It was actually working great until about a month ago when it caught fire. I wasn't home but am told the flames were a few feet high, not going out with a wet towel. There was nothing cooking on the stove, food in oven was fine, but flames enough to crack glass in oven and fry up the electrical. After weeks of multiple inspections and a “heated” discussion between my husband & the warranty company and possibility of problem due to the fact that they didn’t send a Viking Certified repairman, they albeit begrudgingly, sent us a check for replacement of “equal” value stove.
Now we were faced with dilemma of either buying another Viking range at about four times the cost of your typical ranges or buying a GE that there is certainly nothing wrong with but if something went wrong with the new stove, the warranty company might not be too happy about it if we didn’t purchase the equivalent that Don had bartered for. I had basically summed up in my mind I would go for electrical instead of propane. our square footage of house with extremely high ceilings can totally break a bank - unless one likes spending over $1000 in propane in under 6 months time. Ghads, this is with no stove and certainly no heat running in the house – how much extra dryer time or water heater is used in the summer… We actually do sometimes get quite a few days in the 30s, possibly a hail storm or dusting of snow and I may like to turn on some heat or the oven for that matter.
Any way have you ever gone shopping and been thankful for small mercies in disguise? We headed over to a store that has basically every range under the sun on display – Sales guy, fully knowledgeable, helpful, not pressuring, very pleasant, gives us his opinion on how he hates cooking on electric – the hubby is weighing in because he remembered our last alpaca delivery people saying same thing. I’m stating propane cost is killing us, I really think at this house electric is cost-effective. Somewhere in conversation it is mentioned the repair/installation guy is currently on premises so we decide to get the cost of converting a gas range to propane and in speaking with him, first thing he says, you are on propane, you really need to go electric -propane cost will kill you. Then he says I don’t know the cost difference of Viking to the others but there is NO comparison, I am a certified Viking trainer and I personally would only make money off of you converting a GE or other model gas to propane, so this is an unbiased opinion of someone who has not only installed ranges but taught repair training classes for many years – hands down go Viking. So, farmer Don, the master negotiator, got the floor model, electric Viking cost down to almost half of what we received check from the warranty company for – Woot score number one on the weekend.
The next day, trying to decide with the family what to do to stay cool (other than stay in and eat) - our daughter says have you seen the inflatable Jacuzzi tubs? A quick google - a trip to Target, a few hundred dollars later, our son-in-law and their friend have it all filled and the bubbles are on. Despite the fact it only heats up 2 degrees per hour, it was 100 degrees out earlier in the day, so I am going in! Here we sat, myself, our daughter & a six year old (just about maximum capacity) who is subjecting us to a game of bubble gum, bubble gum in a dish – we are laughing over shear silliness, our daughter’s case of the giggles brings to my mind a memory of my own mother’s laughter – a distant memory faded with years gone by, life struggles and her passing from terminal illness that had suppressed my memory of her laugh – here it is 14 years later, in my own daughter, who is now enjoying her new motherhood – Needless to say that impulse purchase of inflatable hot tub has now become truly priceless – almost making me forget all about the heat. Now hoping to be continued just enough so little grand baby can test it out before it gets too cold. Then again, the inflatable tub comes with a handy carrying case – I wonder if the locking inflatable lid would keep the alpacas out when not occupied ? Rub a dub alpacas in a tub...
We will make them stick to their plastic pools and I will try to add photos of pacas in the pool if possible later. Though we sold all our pool hog alpacas and this herd of girls despite the heat don't seem to be interested in getting anything other than their feet wet. Maybe they don't want to mess the hair style - alpaca bathing caps?
An added note; recommend to hose only legs and under tummy for huacaya alpacas unless they are fresh shorn. OK to hose a suri alpaca
& a pool is not recommended for pregnant females until 60 days after breeding and before delivery to avoid possible uterine infection...
A video from over a year ago - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3S58z-pHcpU&feature=youtu.be
news article last summer
http://www.sgvtribune.com/general-news/20130628/heat-wave-continues-this-weekend-in-southern-california
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Tuesday, September 2, 2014
cat helping with scarf
Warning, you may have Alpaca ADD, a version of Attention Deficit Disorder if you love too many things about alpacas to count, have multiple projects going simultaneously, are equally enthused about each one and would prefer to let other tasks such as eating and sleeping go LOL.
I thought I could write a little bit about creative alpaca uses. Personally, I am not a crafter. My mother on the other-hand, she sewed, knitted, crocheted, took cake-decorating classes, painted ceramics... It all looked like torture to me. In fact stepping on a knitting needle is exactly that, I believe I may have a scar to prove it. While standing still for measurements and being pinned for home-made clothing articles was torture enough, actually reading a knitting pattern or worse yet, pulling out a pattern, cutting and sewing, NO way! Would rather trade for a speech class, drama, singing, dancing, soccer ball, basketball or run with a baton or walk the dog. I even said to her one time, teach my daughter to crochet or knit and when I get old and think it looks interesting she can teach me.
Now gaining quite a few pounds and approaching grandmother-hood may have had something to do with my shifting of the tides, but mostly it is the other talented alpaca owners that have inspired me to channel my inner creative side.
I was invited to go to a "fiber retreat" by mostly other alpaca owners and initially declined. In fact I declined more than once figuring I was doing a room full of women spinning wheels, knitting and felting a huge favor than to put up with a distraction of me trying to learn something useful over the weekend. I'm not one to sit quiet and the thought of being holed up in a room, at a convent no less, certainly was stretching --- my comfort zone. However, I eventually gave in and just before heading to wine country for fiber retreat googled a couple menial craft ideas and came up with felting soap -- at least that was clean fun right? Really we went to wine country for the weekend and literally did not have enough time to enjoy all of our crafting projects, let alone go around the corner to a winery. I barely snuck in a swim in the pool between delightful meals. That wasn't the main point of the retreat.
I could share on this blog pictures of some of the awesome things others made, but I should probably get permission first and people may be trying to sell their products so it could get complicated. I will try and describe these items to you in a nutshell. I saw a really amazing Nano felted scarf, a beautiful woven shawl, loads of yarn spun, felted vests trimmed with luminous suri locks to the making of felted sculptured arts in all kinds of unbelievable figurines, jewelry & practical dryer balls. Oh the woven things including the rugs were my favorite. You really do want to think about putting your feet on an alpaca woven rug. So there I was with my silly soap. I at least was smart enough to just get Dove soap in bulk and it least gave me something to do. I tried to watch a you-tube video on my tiny iphone on how to use the little loom someone had given me also. At least after multiple times rewind and pause, I got a start to a scarf. When I got home I thought you put that down and you will forget it and never get back to it.
So, 5 scarfs, a dozen alpaca dryer balls, dog & cat toys later. I have pictures and a blog LOL. I am sure my dearly departed mother would be so proud. I am now receiving texts from a talented friend who is sewing dog beds to stuff with our discard-type alpaca fleece and we are researching creative decals or patches to decorate with. I can hardly decide whether to finish a baby blanket or a scarf that I am doing on 2 of 2 looms and I also want to get back to dryer ball making, but darn it I had to clean the house on Labor day weekend instead - though my bunco buddies will appreciate that.
Meanwhile, enjoying the kudos & encouragement for my posted pictures of loom scarves that any amateur could do (take my word on that one). Not only seeing is believing. You really want to touch whatever is made of alpaca. Even if you aren't a tactile learner, you will very likely appreciate it. Who knows one day I may find old speech and drama skills could come in handy giving a demonstration somewhere. With me at least it is bound to be entertaining. Next thing on my bucket list is alpaca fleece/rug stomping (with or without wine) you decide how entertained or serious you would like to be.
Hence try something out and see if you have Alpaca ADD. Go Alpaca! I mean run alpacas, because next I'm coming out there to give you a hug. Guaranteed I will see something shiny when I get out there...
p.s. Note; Hobby Lobby carries an alpaca yarn 30% alpaca the rest synthetic. Michaels had 0 alpaca and a little specialty yarn shop that carried 100% alpaca from Peru does not feel very nice. We need to do something about that. All alpacas and yarns are not created equal. Uh oh, I feel another blog coming on.
finished product after tangle mess
attempt at baby blanket & scarf simutaneously lol
felted dog & cat toys
alpaca stuffed dog beds- in process
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Saturday, February 22, 2014
Here I go again (I am thinking if I re-read blog guidelines, I am at minimum doing a dis-service to alpaca blogging) writing not useful, alpaca information, but here I go, once again giving example of what not to do. Sharing our inept ways, in hopes you will find humor in the day to day, excuse pun, hum drums of our alpaca adventure.
Using the saying "keep calm & start an alpaca farm" to seguay into a funny story. Let's for sake of embarrassment say an undisclosed person in household was home sick from work this week & was cooking, & sets off fire alarm. Another person in household was busy at work so didn't answer cell phone call & the alarm company dispatched the fire dept. The fire chief that responds to call, chats and stays awhile & eventually says "my wife & I have been wanting to buy alpacas do you have a business card" lol
One wonders what would happen if we intentionally tried to come up with creative ways to promote alpaca.
Our daughter who has a dog rescue, because dozens of dogs always seem to find her, inspired me to buy a her license frame that says "mutt magnet." We may have to put some thought into a catchy phrase to promote alpaca. Especially considering one time in transport, in our vehicle and trailer with no advertisement whatsoever, people waved us down so we'd pull over on freeway & they ended up buying the trailer full of alpacas. Need some ideas, something short and to the point, a long the lines of alpaca aholics but one that may entice someone to join the fiber fun, not promote the addiction aspect. Hmm, Brings to mind the saying that herd is different than hoard..
Sent from my iPhone
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Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Although my pile of paper work and time spent in front of a computer sometimes seems to drone on and on -with some of the drone talk coupled with our capabilities of a science lab on Mars, I got thinking about what it would be like to have a drone or remote control activated devices with cameras. If/when they become affordable for use on a farm. Hence the title, Dream a Little Drone for Me...
A drone/robot type device with camera could zoom in check feed & waterers - see if an alpaca is in labor, see if milk is being produced, follow up on an eye or other type of injury.
Then science part could, take water & soil samples and analyze, gather samples; a fecal, a fleece, a blood sample & then analyze it. Maybe even take an alpaca temperature (little stretch here) Send all the info on to us, or even the pharmacy, the feed store... Any how, I have only begun to imagine the possiblities. Raking & disposing, shearing & sorting all my unmatched socks LOL. Just some random thoughts - At some point when things become more feasible, maybe others could provide feedback with ideas you would like or find the most useful.
For the creative design people - what would yours look like? Mine may be a miniature alpaca covered with real fleece maybe a rare appaloosa - female of course - oh and powered by cell phone...
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