End of an Era

The last couple of weeks have been full and interesting. There's been a spring blizzard where the snow struck the valley ground and melted, almost immediately upon impact, but hung around on upper levels.

There have been lashings of rain where I couldn't see much in front of me and the roads were three inches deep in water. There's been sunshine, grass growing, the earth looks greener and flowers are both blooming and spent. In other words, it looks like spring! However, just in case I've grown accustomed to the warmer temps, spring is teasing with frost bitten nights that are precluded by dragging in of plants, small and large. 

The hummingbird feeder was put out 1 April and on Easter Sunday the first bird arrived. Since then, there have been three and more are expected. "Experts" say, "Put out feeders 1 May" but they are wrong and here's proof positive. I also keep feeders up until end of September because the humming birds like to stay later than first of September.

Lots of turkeys have been spotted; one day a rafter of more than two dozen and today, seven. Ben Franklin wanted to make the wild turkey our national bird but the vote went to a carrion bird, the American bald eagle. 

I managed to get a, blurry, photo of turkeys flying across the road...always an amazing sight!

M R Dks! 

This spring has been the most poignant, bittersweet of any since I've lived here, or, any I can remember. Last spring, the first second after Dave's death, surely was the same but I can't remember; that entire first (and second) years is are such a blur and, unlike the ducks, I barely kept my head above water. No one died so I must have done my job as a steward but, in order to gather any inkling of anything that happened, I have to refer to this blog. It's the only memory I have of that first those years. 

Regular readers know what an extremely bitter and difficult winter I had; February and March were brutal in the extreme with low temps, blizzards, high winds and it took all the physical strength I had to plow through. This winter made a bitter pill easier to swallow; the sheep and alpacas have been given sold to someone who will care for them as I or any other good steward should. 

One alpaca was gathered in with the sheep while the other three were put into the back of the truck. They only had a couple of hours journey and the new owners report everyone is fine and have recovered nicely from their ordeal. I was strong and didn't keep even one ewe, not even Carly's sister because I felt she'd be better off with her flock. They've been together close to twenty years and it would be upsetting to separate them. Carly was separated only because it was her choice. She wandered up the driveway, into the yard and one day announced, "Mom, I'm home!" She lived in the yard for the last few years of her life and loved the extra attention, food and arthritis meds twice a day.

It's the end of an era at Thistle Cove Farm. Yes, I did cry when they left but I know the new owners are good stewards and gave me permission to visit.  It's strange, to look over the pasture and not see sheep or alpacas; counting noses doesn't take as much time these days. 

Many thanks to you who have prayed for my Beloved Sistah, Stephanie. She goes for tests and we're hopeful a determination will be made that will provide direction for new meds. She's holding up, praying and, within her new limitations, trying to live a normal life. We're all still praying for a full and complete recovery; please, won't you join us in prayer?

God willing, there are more changes coming, In His time and will; this I accept. Bless you for reading, and if you pray or comment, bless you for that as well. If you want to send a PM, it will be gratefully accepted and responded to; if not, that's fine as well. As time permits, I will be around to visit, keep the kettle on and brownies made, you are loved.

Blessings ~ good home for sheep and alpacas ~ sunshine ~ turkeys ~ mallards ~ hummingbirds ~ gentle rain ~ spring blizzard ~ change ~

Don't Waste Today

Why do we waste today by worrying about tomorrow? 

Tomorrow never comes; 

it's always and forever...simply today.

"Use your eyes as if tomorrow you would be stricken blind. ... Hear the music of voices, the song of the bird, the mighty strains of an orchestra, as if you would be stricken deaf tomorrow. Touch each object as if tomorrow your tactile sense would fail. Smell the perfume of the flowers, taste with relish each morsel, as if tomorrow you could never smell and taste again. Make the most of every sense; glory in all the facets of pleasure and beauty which the world reveals to you." ~ Helen Keller ~

~ Sam P. Spade, Secret Agent ~

"Finish every day and be done with it.

You have done what you could.

Some blunders and absurdities 

no doubt have crept in;

forget them as soon as you can.

Tomorrow is a new day;

begin it well and serenely

and with too high a spirit

to be cumbered with 

your old nonsense.

This day is all that is

good and fair.

It is too dear,

with its hopes and invitations,

to waste a moment on yesterdays.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

"We should live each day with a gentleness, a vigor, and a keeness of appreciation which are often lost when time stretches before us in the constant panorama of more days and months and years to
come." ~ Helen Keller ~

Spend it wisely,

time is money.

"If everything is under control, you're going too slow." ~ Mario Andretti ~

"No pressure,

no diamonds."

~ Mary Case ~

~ my paca nation ~

"Be not the slave of your own past. Plunge into the sublime seas, dive deep and swim far, so you shall come back with self-respect, with new power, with an advanced experience that shall explain and overlook the old." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

"The largest living land mammal is the absent mind." 

~ Capt Beefheart ~

~ Abigail, my heartbeat ~

"How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and the strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of those." ~ George Washington Carver ~

"The beginning is always today." 

~ Mary Shelley ~

~ play like you mean it ~

"A very small percentage of the people in this world will actually experience and live today. So many people will be stuck on another day, another time that traumatized them and caused them to spiritually stutter so they miss out on this day." ~ Steve Maraboli ~

Once the question of why we're here has been settled, we can focus on while we're here. Today, each of us is one step closer to death. Make today count, live like you meant it knowing God's blessings surround you.

If you're looking for the Visa card give away, please click here.

Blessings ~ the gift of today ~ promise ~ hope ~ family ~ companions ~

Chat Number 120

~ Carly Shetland ~

OHMYGOODNESS...can you believe it? Patrice is hosting Chat Number 120...although Wendell is a bit under the weather (is it possible too many carrots made him sick?) Her questions and my answers:

1. Have you baked any Christmas cookies yet?  No, but baking short bread is on my calendar for tomorrow. I want to give short bread to the folks at the auto repair shop, library and feed stores; they are so nice to me and I want to say "thank you" in a tangible way. 

2. Have you finished your shopping yet? Oh gosh, I finished most of my Christmas shopping months ago. Although, this year, I'm dong things differently. Family and I celebrated Christmas last weekend and I gave them baskets of home canned goodies, a few store bought goodies and a note that said a donation was made to The Gideons International in their name. Let's face it, all of us have everything we need (food, shelter, clothing) and most of what we want. I've reached the age when I want to share in a more tangible way, so I'm giving the gift of eternity. Most of my friends and I have decided not to exchange gifts as well; when we get together (whenever that is), we'll go out to supper or I'll cook for us. The gift of their presence is what I want; I can never get enough of good friends.

3. If you had reindeer like the story of Santa, what would you name them? Love, Joy, Peace, Kindness, Gentleness, Faith, Hope, Charity and Wisdom.

4. What was the most memorable Christmas gift you ever gave or received? In 1971, my parents sent me to Emmanuel Junior College in Franklin Springs, GA. Just before Christmas break, I was packing to go home and noticed Joni, a classmate from Hawaii, wasn't packing. It turned out, her family didn't have money to bring her home for Christmas so Mom and Daddy said, "bring her with you." On Christmas morning, there were gifts under the tree for Joni...a gift from Mom and Daddy. That's not only my favorite Christmas memory, it's also the most memorable Christmas gift I've ever given and received.

5. Please tell me something new, interesting, or funny. Also, Wendell could use some encouraging words to feel better, just saying. I was in my flannel nightgown, fuzzy socks and fleece mocs at 4:30 tonight. The oil man delivered oil (OUCH!) and as soon as he left, I locked the gate, gave a flake of hay to Carly, came inside and got comfy. Have I mentioned how much warmer the house is since plugging the foundation holes and sealing between the sun room and house?   BTW, Wendell, whenever I'm a little down in the dumps, I count my blessings and that always helps. Then again, so does a good cry every now and again. 

There are three water troughs on the farm and they all freeze; a de-icer is kept in one and that prevents ice but on the other two, ice forms. This ice isn't so bad, it's just a piece whereas sometimes it's a sheet, two inches thick, covering the entire trough. 

Once I drag the ice out of the trough, you can see how crystal clear the water is and, if you could taste it, you'd taste the sweetest limestone water in the world.  

Do you see this stealth 'paca?

Little sneaky thief! But...can't blame him because he didn't leave the gate open...it was someone with two legs 













and I don't mean these critters:

Have I mentioned how nice it is to have dust to dawn lights on the garage? 

THANKS, DONALD!

It's so cold and, this year, my old bones are feeling the cold so it's taking me a while to visit your blogs. Just be glad you're not here, the smell of muscle rub is quite intoxicating invigorating stinky.
Merry Christmas everyone; remember the reason we celebrate.




Blessings ~ Patrice ~ pure drinking water ~ egg nog ~ so much food to eat, I even have snacks! ~ warm flannel nightgown ~ guineas ~ a warm house ~

A Week and More, Second Part

~ PacaRose , left~

Woman plans, God laughs and I'm more than a week late with the second part update. Good news, PacaRose is fine and dandy and I've come to the conclusion he's F.A.T. and has a problem getting to his feet when he lays down with his head uphill. 

~ Carly Shetland, right ~

But, I should start with events leading up to the first paragraph. Every so often, Carly Shetland will become 'cast', meaning she gets turned over and can't right herself. I go to her, speaking softly and in a low voice so she knows I'm coming. Once she hears my voice, she begins bleating, as if telling me she's in a pickle and needs help. 

Fortunately, I don't have to lift her, but can roll her so her feet are on the 'down' side, then she can stand. Carly gets arthritis pain meds in the morning and in the evening which helps her greatly with her mobility, but, even so, there are times when she needs help. 

After getting Carly to her feet, I went to the barn where PacaRose was down and I had to get him up. That meant, I lifted his head and l.o.n.g. neck upright, scooched my feet underneath him and then heaved lifted pushed him to  his feet. Once he got started, he was fine and dandy and begins eating and drinking normally. Fortunately, that was the last day he was down; it's been all good, for him at least, ever since.

~ four paca boys , right~

Next, the farrier came to trim horse feet which was a two and a half hour job. Not all the horses needed trimming but they all needed de-worming and all were de-wormed except HayJ. By the time we dealt with seven horses, I was exhausted and just wanted the farrier to leave so I could crash and get warm but that was not to be. 

The dratted horses escaped into the yard which, as you all well know, wasn't their fault the gate was left open. Totally my fault but that did not ease the forty minutes of pain of getting them back into the barn lot.

On Monday, Donald, Mary's husband, came to fix the barn lights; he figured out the black wire wasn't connected properly and the lights were blown. At any rate, he fixed the wires, replaced the bulbs and it's lovely having dusk to dawn lights in the driveway!

Andy also came on Monday to drag the pastures; he used the harrows to distribute the manure so, over winter, it'll decompose and return to the soil. You can see the lines in the pasture showing where he used the tractor and harrows. He also helped de-worm Hay-J so all the horses are finished being de-wormed; now only the sheep remain.


So far, so good but the story is about to take a downward turn...you are warned.

The dogs, as usual, were with me, every step throughout the day. In the afternoon, Sophie began trembling, shaking and acting like she was freezing so I put her in the Ranger, out of the wind and cold. We came inside at 4:00 so I could feed the dogs their supper and, if anything, she got a little worse. When I put her food in front of her, Gypsy Cat stuck her head in Sophie's dish which was highly unusual. In a hurry, I ran to use the bathroom and Sophie followed me; when she walked into the wall, that's when I knew, for certain, she was blind. I called the vet, told them I was bringing in Sophie, grabbed her up and ran for the car.

Long story short, she might have had a stroke which cause her blindness but we don't really know. I brought her home and, on Tuesday morning, let Sam and Sadie say good-bye. 

Dave and I have always let the remaining dogs say good-bye; it's far gentler to let them know than to let them wonder. 

In years past, Shadow, Zoe, Abbie and Grace were cremated so their ashes were put into the grave first, then Sophie's casket followed. I want to write another post on Sophie but not tonight; tonight is for saying good-bye.








Andy and Donald filled in the grave,  

and I used the tractor's front end loader to pack the earth and finish the job.

This post is being written on Sunday evening, after a day weekend of rain, cold, wind and more troubles. I've been keeping an eye on another old sheep, a weather, who is ancient, probably as old as Carly, and he's in poor condition. I brought him to the barn, where he's been given chicken scratch (easy to eat and digest) and sweet feed with pain meds. He's blind, creaky and confused so, tomorrow, I'm going to ask the vet how best to put him down. He's had a good great life; better than about seventy percent of the humans on this earth and putting him down will be my last gift.

Now you understand why I'm late with the update; it's not just the physical exertion but the emotional toll. Sophie's human Pa had cancer and killed himself and Sophie came to live with me the Sunday after I buried Dave on Wednesday. It's been an emotional roller coaster for all of us...Sadie, Sam and me and between the weather, the work, the tears and all the rest, I am in tatters. 

Dear God. And it's not even winter.

Blessings ~ Abigail ~ Shadow ~ Zoe ~ Grace ~ Sophie ~ Donald ~ Andy ~ Sam ~ Sadie ~ 

A Week in Two Parts

~ two of my alpacas ~

Some have said they really enjoy my farm posts and, in that interest, I'm going to encapsulate the last week for you. This is Part 1 and Part 2 will be on Monday, after tomorrow's Sabbath Keeping.

A week ago Thursday, or maybe Friday, I noticed an alpaca wasn't acting "right". Anyone who works, or lives, with animals notices when something is "off" and my general attitude is, it's always easier and less expensive to stay well than to get well.  'Paca Rose seemed a bit off and I started keeping a close eye on him. It didn't take long because he went down, rolled on his side,stayed there and he couldn't get up without help. I de-wormed him with Panacure, helped him to his feet and he went on his merry way. The next morning, he was down again so I de-wormed him with Ivermectrin, helped him to his feet and kept an eye on him. 

This goes on for days...him down, me getting him up...but he's in good spirits, is alert, is eating and drinking, but when he lays on his side, he cannot get up. (Maybe he's too fat???) He gets up just fine when he sits down upright; it's a puzzle for sure.

Dr. Anne, Daddy John's sister and one of the best vet's around, and I ran into each other at Big Lots. She and Henry, her husband, and I, sat on the furniture for sale and caught up, during which, I told her about the 'paca and said, "Is it time to call you?" She grinned and said, "Naw, you're doing what I'd do except I'd give him a shot or two." 

{As an aside, don't you love a vet who teaches and trains you to look after your own animals? Her attitude is, "call me for the emergencies" and I love her for it. When she first came back to Tazewell, I told her Mother, "Anne is a good vet and I think she has the makings of a great one." I sincerely thought so then and time has only strengthened my opinion.}

Anyway, Thanksgiving morning, we had six inches of snow on the ground with drifts of two feet and more. At dawn, as is my habit, I start going from window to window, counting animals...26 sheep, 8 horses, 4 alpacas, 3 guinea's...and found only three alpacas. 'Paca Rose was missing. I waited until the sun was well and truly up, 7:00, before donning four layers, Muck boots, Dave's old ski coat and hat, put sweaters on the dogs, then headed outside. I decided to use the Ranger as it provides not only transportation but shelter. The dogs ride with me and, should I be injured (unless I was unconscious), I could always crawl back to the Ranger, start it, be warm and possibly even get to an outside fence where I could flag down a passing farmer.

Yes, with God's help, I'm pretty sure I could do all that because the first September Dave and I lived here, while carrying a basket of laundry, I stepped off the back porch, a distance of six inches, and heard, then felt, my right ankle snap like a twig. I'll have to admit a curse word ran through my mind; it was my intention to put up the laundry, collect the truck keys then head to Princeton to pick up my cat at the vet's office. Zoe had been there for three days with some mysterious illness and I'd called every praying, animal person I knew to pray for her recovery. That morning, the vet called to say, "Zoe's going to make it, you can pick her up this morning." I was going.

The pain wasn't that bad extreme but I started limping immediately. Dave asked, "What's wrong? What did you do to yourself?" I explained I'd twisted my ankle (mostly true) and it hurt (totally true). He said, "Why not wait until Monday to get Zoe?" 

I just kept walking toward the truck. The neighbor he called said, yes, she'd ride with me and soon enough, we were headed to Princeton, and I was driving. When we'd navigated the fifty-mile one way trip, the vet explained he had no clue what was wrong with Zoe. He knew she was jaundiced but didn't know why and had pumped her full of liquid antibiotics and she'd recovered. I explained about the many folks who'd been praying for her and he said, "That works too." 

I handed the truck keys to my neighbor and said, "I broke my ankle, will you drive home?" She blanched and said, "When did you break your ankle?" I explained and she said, "I cannot believe you drove up here; you could have come on Monday!" 

Yeah, yeah, already heard that this morning. The vet offered to x-ray my ankle but I said, "Why bother? I know it's broken, I heard it break. Right now I just need to get home and get off it" so we got back on the road, Zoe in my arms and me crooning to her like a loon.

When we got home, Dave made me get back in the truck and he drove me to the emergency room where they said (big surprise!), It's broken." They wrapped it, gave me the number of an ortho specialist and for six weeks, I limped around on crutches. 

~ my helpers, Sophie, Sam, Sadie - front to back ~

That's why I'm pretty sure if I get hurt and I'm not unconscious, I can crawl back to the Ranger and go for help. Or, at least have shelter until, hopefully, someone notices the Ranger sitting in the same spot and comes to investigate. I suppose I could carry a mobile phone but...there isn't any cell phone reception around here. 

Anyway, back to the original story...the Ranger needs a battery and wouldn't start. I had to get the jump starter (thank God I bought one last year), start the battery and begin my search. I searched for two and a half hours before I gave up. During that two and a half hour period, I got the Ranger stuck in a huge snow drift, had to dig out three times, using only my hands, and to lend more humor to the story, had to re-stack the hay in the back of the Ranger because Sam stepped on the UP button, raised the hydraulic bed and emptied it.

Hey, you might as well laugh because it's all funny and the statistics are gruesome...one out of one will, eventually, die. At my end, I want to be singing "Jesus Loves Me" or, at the very least, laughing my way into heaven.

By this time I was anxious, coldish, tired and still no dang alpaca! I decided to ride down the road and ask Daddy John if he'd help me (remember, this is Thanksgiving morning). He was filling the whatever it's called with silage so he could feed his cattle and, bless him!, he said, "Let's look now", turned off his tractor and got in the Ranger. I asked him to drive so I could, hopefully, keep the three dogs off him; they were thrilled to have someone new to love on and, promptly, tried to climb in his lap. I pulled the dogs into my lap and, as we're pulling into the road, my door swings open and I begin falling...out. I think I yelped, grabbed the steering wheel while John made a swipe at me, and pulled the door shut behind me. No one fell out so it's all good.

We headed back to the farm, went through the lower pasture and, in the center pasture, found the 'paca stretched out on the ground, dead, we thought. He was only four feet from one of my passes but, in my defense, he was on my upper, blind side, and at that particular point, I was busy trying to figure out how to not turn the Ranger over and go downhill. Daddy John has way more experience than I and he knows, better than I, how the machine will handle on a steep hill. (I knew he'd love driving it and figured he should get some fun for his trouble in helping me -grin-.)

John got the animal to his feet and moved him a short distance, into another lot, where he could be kept captive. We bedded him on hay, then piled hay around him so he could sleep warm and eat without moving. Frankly, I was amazed, shocked and surprised we got him this far. When we first found him, he wasn't moving and we both thought he'd frozen to death. As we approached him, his ear twitched and John said, "He might just make it, let's give him a chance."  I only had Gatorade on hand, so cut open all the packages, mixed powder with warm water and then drenched the alpaca meaning I poured it down his throat. The Gatorade gave his system much needed energy in the form of sugar and electrolytes...fast!  

Throughout the day I watched him and would visit him to talk, lay hands on him and pray (yes, I am one of those Christians) and breath into his nostrils. I wanted to try and warm him up and breathing into him was the only thing left. I would match my breaths to his...when he breathed in, I would breath out...into my cupped hand surrounding his nostrils. When he breathed out, I would ready myself to breath warmth into him again. At dusk, I left him for the last time and walked back to the house; it was always up to God but now, more than ever.

Friday morning, it was 9 degrees F and when I looked out the window, I didn't see movement. I thought the worst and prepared myself, emotionally and physically, for the work before me. Andy, the young man who did some farm work this summer, came at 9:00 and I brought him up to speed. He headed to the stable to get the tractor while I headed to the alpaca. When I'm approaching animals, I always talk to them, especially if they can't see me. I don't want to frighten them...no need in wasting precious energy in fear...so I speak in low, comforting tones..."hey boy, easy boy, how ya doing boy, feeling better?, it's only me"...and so on. It does seem to help. Anyway, he was still alive (!!!!) so I helped him to his feet and stood with him, giving support and crooning in a low voice. Andy came 'round the corner of the barn and looked surprised, "He's alive? Did you get him to his feet?" Yes to both so Andy took over my job while I went to the house for vehicle keys so I could drive to Dr. Anne's, to buy electrolytes, a Vitamin B-12 shot and a (I think) potassium sodium shot which I promptly brought home and gave to 'Paca Rose.  I mixed the electrolytes with warm water , gave it to him to drink, and he did.

~ Merry Christmas ~

{In the interest of full disclosure, I must admit I looked longingly at that Vitamin B-12 shot. Very longingly.}

All day Friday, he wandered around his small lot, a little unsteady due to being weak but on his feet. This morning, Saturday, he was down again but when I helped him to his feet, he immediately stood and has been up all day. 

Getting a roughly 200 pound animal to his feet is no small task. Fortunately, he has a long neck and once I get his neck headed the right way, I can heave/roll him to his knees and he lumbers UP. He's eating, drinking, defecating, urinating, eyes are clear, and, while up, seems to be fine but, should he lay down on his side, he cannot get up without help. I'm flummoxed, exhausted and am going to pour a big glass of something alcoholic to drink. Do you think it would hurt to take two Ibuprofen?

Part 2 on Monday.

Blessings ~ Daddy John ~ alpaca ~ Vitamin B-12 ~ electrolytes ~ 800 mg Ibuprofen (for me) ~ Dr. Anne ~ my helpers, the dogs ~ 

TGIF and Random 5 Friday

~ American Curly horses ~

Today, a gentleman from Virginia Currents e-mailed me and asked for  farm photos to use in a television news magazine segment featuring Virginia farms. He asked for four photos and I sent eight; yes, I can count, but having no understanding of what he needed, I sent him twice as many photos so he can cull fifty percent. Whenever possible, I like to make other folks' jobs' easier. 

~ chestnuts, ready for roasting ~

Another gent, from across the mountain, likes to hunt ground hogs in our valley and I like for him to hunt ground hogs on this farm.  They are pesky rodents who dig huge holes that are a safety hazard for my horses, sheep and alpacas. Me too, remembering now the huge hole I stepped into in mid-summer. Anyway, the hunter brought me a coffee can of chestnuts and I plan on X'ing them and roasting them tonight and all weekend. I've never found a nut I didn't like and chestnuts are a favorite. 

~ London travel journal, right ~

Dave and I began traveling overseas in 2008 when I was asked to teach Agri-tourism in Russia. the program was through the U. S. State Department and run by a West Virginia Bluefield State professor. That was the beginning of a entirely new set of adventures for Dave and I. In January 2010, Dave sent me to London because, "I want you to learn to travel by yourself. I'll be here, at home, for a safety net, but you'll be on your own." I planned that trip...airline, hotel, sights, etc....and, yes, it was frightening but also exhilarating! When my plane landed, my transportation to town wasn't there and never arrived. I finally took the Tube into London and my Earls Court stop where I wandered for an hour looking for my hotel. All this at midnight, in the cold, snow and worst winter London had in twenty-five years...exhilarating!  The memory of the red fox and I, crossing on opposite street corners, remains a favorite memory. 

~ July - August 2011 travel journal ~

I'm getting to my point, please forgive a tired, slow woman...in the summer of 2011, Dave sent me to Eastern Europe, amazing because, at that time, Dave was recovering from cancer treatment and, needless to say, I didn't want to leave him. He insisted and gave me the same reason he'd given when he sent me to London the year before. So, that fabulous trip was to Hungary, were I met Timi and her family and Jane and Lance, then went to Serbia, Romania, Ukraine, Czech Republic and Austria. 

I'm going to submit, for possible publication, my journals to Stampington Public. I haven't a clue they'll accept them but I'm pretty sure the answer is no if I don't ask. This is a huge step for me; when I was in elementary school, my "art" teacher (using the term most loosely!) told me, "You have absolutely no talent whatsoever; I have no idea why you even try." 

My answer after all these decades is, "Life is risky and the answer is always "no" when the question isn't asked."

Through no work of their own, the dogs are ready for cold weather. Their sweaters were washed and line dried this week and bought a smile to my face. 

We had a jail break today; the alpacas found a gate I'd left open and made their way into the yard. They were so funny, looking like they were tiptoeing around the yard. The dogs don't even bark anymore when the animals go where they aren't really supposed to go. Eventually, I got them all back in the same pasture and all is well on the farmstead.

This post is linked up with Nancy's Random 5 Friday at A Rural Journal. Please visit her and see the other participants.

Blessings ~ clean sweaters ~ animals in their correct places ~ chestnuts ~ American Curly horses ~ travel journals ~  alpacas ~

Alpaca Shearing Day

Today was alpaca shearing day Mary Martin's. As you may recall, Mary helped at Thistle Cove Farm on sheep shearing day back in early April and, when I found out she was shearing alpacas, she graciously allowed me to visit and take photos.

In the photo above, Mike, carefully, shears while his daughter...whose name I neglected to write down and apologize to her for my error... at the head and Alice, on his body, help steady the alpaca while Joyce stands ready to capture the fleece. In the left background, two other alpacas watch the proceedings and wonder how they can manage to escape such a dreadful, embarrassing ordeal.

It was a great day but, then, any day spent in the company of like-minded people, with animals...and fiber animals at that!...is a great day. At times the skies spit a little rain but the alpacas were perfect gentlemen and the worst behavior we saw all day was a whole lot of crying, moaning and groaning going on. You see, the gents were SO unhappy at the undignified manor in which they were sheared...feet tied at either end and then stretched, somewhat reminiscent of long ago days and the medieval practice of putting folks on the rack. Truly, it wasn't as bad as it looked but the way the boys were carrying on, one would have thought they were being tortured.

Miss Innie, at 97 the oldest person watching, said, "just like a man, can't stand much of anything!" We all laughed, partly because it was funny and partly because it's a bit true. Miss Innie still drives, does yard work, cooks and all those other things that keep one going strong. She fully expects to make 100 and there's no doubt she will and be as much an inspiration then as she is now!

Mike, stretched full the length of the alpaca, steadies the animal while Mary prepares to release the leg ties.

There are two types of alpacas, Huacaya and Suri. and both are members of the camilid family and Mary has both types. More than eighty percent of alpacas are huacaya with full, beautiful fleeces. Suri alpacas have the lustrous, pencil type fiber hanging in dreadlocks, making them similar to each other yet still different. Both are incredibly beautiful with lovely fleeces that hand spinners adore.

This photo shows how well Mike is shearing the "blanket", the most desirable portion of the fleece. It also shows how delicate, yet well muscled and tiny, is the alpaca.
Mike, shearing, while Mary watches as Alice steadies the animal and daughter gently holds the head and neck.
Mike, Mary and daughter turning the animal so it can be sheared on the other side.
Oh dear. One alpaca has been sheared, another is on the shearing floor and these three fellows watch in trepiditation. They must be commended, however, as no spitting was seen, at all, during the day. No humming was heard either but plenty of moaning, groaning and general wringing of hands, so to speak, as mentioned earlier.

Mary, and one of her beloved boys. If you want to know the character of a person, watch them around animals. If the animals are calm, gentle, serene you know it's, generally, due to the calm, gentle, serene treatment given by their human. Although the gents were distressed at such "terrible treatment", they bore it well and, throughout the day, were steadfastly calm, gentle and serene.
This little beauty reminds me of a 1950's sci-fi movie made somewhere in New Mexico. Like sheep, alpacas do better, much better, when they are kept in excellent health. Keeping them in excellent health includes shearing, appropriate meds and vaccinations and pedicures. It's much easier and less costly to keep them healthy as opposed to getting them well. It's also much easier on the human as the wear, tear and stress can be overwhelming, on both, during an illness.

It was a beautiful day, filled with laughter, fun, teachers and students, in the company of like-minded people who enjoyed themselves and each other. It was one of those days we'll talk about for a long, long time.

Blessings ~ friends ~ alpacas ~ a great shearer ~ good helpers ~ laughter ~ a meal shared ~