Welcome! The alpacas and farm life have become my constant teachers, and I have begun shifting my blog focus to reflect the lessons I am learning. I plan to share more thoughts and stories related to farm life in Grays Harbor County and carve out a space in the ethernet where one can stop, breathe, and think.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Shearing Time II

Local alpacas are losing their coats all over the place! This time several of us from the Schafer Meadows Fiber Guild helped out at New Moon Alpacas, owned by one of our newest guild members. This is the first time New Moon has organized a shearing at their own ranch, but you never would have guessed they were newbies. The photos may give the impression of a lot of standing around, but once everyone knew their job, the alpacas were lined up to be weighed, fleece was being shorn, sorted and bagged, toes were being clipped, and some very wonderful people were making lunch in the kitchen. At least half the heard was sheared in one day. Good job everyone!















 






















Ciao for now,
Lynn


Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Shearing Time

It's warming up in the coastal northwest, which means it's time for Annette's boys to get their first haircut! All of the young boys did very well for their first barber shop experience - not too much kicking and carrying on. And now there are several pounds of baby alpaca fiber waiting to be made into yarn...it's a fiber addict's dream come true!

After days of rain, the weather could not have been more perfect! Sunny, but not too hot. A beautiful day for getting together with family and friends to corral and clip alpacas. The process went smoothly with lots of volunteers to help hold and calm the alpacas, an expert pair of shearing hands, and an electric shearing tool. Check out the 'before' and 'after' photos below...

Ciao for now,
Lynn