Lazy Sundays.....

Those have to be the best kind! We had a break today in the weather and the alpacas all got their appetites back and are generally in much better moods. So are the humans! The high temps last week about did us all in. It seems as though the thunder storms actually did some good last night... The humidity is under 50% - Huzzah!

Well, the water hydrants are finally all operational and it is so much easier to take care of chores! I highly recommend putting underground pipes and using the hydrants. Now the hose down sessions are much shorter since we don't have to wait for the water to cool. Again- everyone is happy.

We got our certification this week for the VAOBA Alpaca Expo! FINALLY. That is a tremendous load off my mind. Things are coming along wonderfully with the show plans. We have some great seminars lined up too. One of our vendors is Georgia Mtn. Fiber and he is putting on two seminars! And we have Quality Llama Products coming out from OR no less! I hope everyone in the area gets stocked up at their booth! Now we just need a Photographer and some key volunteer positions filled and we will be in really great shape.

This coming weekend is our second annual Membership Meeting for VAOBA. It is hard to believe that we are into our second year. It's been a lot of work but a great experience none the less.

I guess that is it until the next time!

Laughing in Virginia

Yup, sure am. I am trying to learn how to spin on my electric spinner tonight. The good news is I managed to get the wool twisted and on the bobbin. The bad news? There is no way anything can be made from this! Well, maybe the cats will be able to play with the ball! This is going to take a lot of practice! At least I can concentrate on what my hands are doing!

A friend came over and tried to help me last weekend. She is a traditional spinner, you know the kind - the ones who are coordinated enough to use spinners that have wheels? I think my machine must not have made sense because she had a hard time. Good thing there are mills out there that can process my fiber! It's going to be some time before I am adept enough at this I think.

On another note- we had a fantastic health day today with the alpacas. It's the hottest health day so far this year and I expected very cranky animals. Not so. We only had one gal cush instead of following our lead into the chute. We have the scale set up in there so they really need to go in. After a couple of false starts she finally followed us in. That's what we get for doing Miss Wise last! She probably wanted to be first...

I had changed food this month and was really worried because they are all eating less. The girls by two full cups a day! I was quite surprised to find that the young ones are gaining fine and the older ones are all maintaining. Maybe the new feed is more fattening? I switched in the hopes of the fiber staying nice longer.

This next week will be a true test of stamina. Ours as well as the alpacas, and cats, and dogs- oh- must not forget the llama! Temps are due to be in the low hundreds five days in a row! In VA this is not good. The humidity will be right up there making things near critical. We are freezing ice blocks now to keep in front of the fans. Sure hope that it helps. Short of air conditioning the barn I am not quite sure what else to do. They probably won't even want to leave the fans for their hose downs. Thanks goodness everyone drinks plenty of water and we have electrolytes if we need them.

Well, enough of a break. Back to the spinner I go. I will conquer this! :-D

July 3rd, 2006

Hello all....

We finally have sun again in Virginia. Of course with it we have temperatures in the high 80's and 90's. Once summer hits I guess that is the best we can expect. The alpacas aren't too keen on it but they all enjoy those hose downs every couple of hours during the heat of the day.

We had some very sad news this weekend. On Saturday night a very wonderful man was lost to us. His name is David Baker- aka - "Bagel". Bagel was the Entertainment Director for the Virginia Renaissance Faire. He was killed in an accident when on his way home on Saturday night following a very full day with friends.

On Saturday there was a general clean up day at the faire site. While there plans we being made for the coming years. He was very excited that plans and specs has been found for a wonderful stage. Our friend Cornelia spoke of the excitement he displayed and how she could see in his eyes what he envisioned our small faire becoming over the next few years.

We weren't able to be there Saturday which is something I will regret always now. At some point that 'event' finished up and everyone went on their way. He was working with the girl jugglers at American U and it was when he left them to go home that this happened.

He was only 35 years old and left behind a much loved son, girlfriend and family. The only consolation we may be able to pull from this is that his last day was spent with friends that he loved and as Cornelia said, he was loving LIFE. His last day was a good one for him.

Now- the reason that we couldn't go on Saturday was that we were working here on the farm trenching for our water pipes so that we can ditch the hoses and will have water at yard hydrants scattered through out the pastures. It is a long time coming, that was for sure. We will have to finish up on Tuesday- another reason why I am not too keen on days in the 90's! It really is hard on the bodies to be out in that heat. And the pacas didn't want to share their fans so we didn't get much relief! :-)

Until the next time....

Sue