tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61881940385370993132024-03-06T02:03:00.204-06:00 Victory AlpacasBev Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04172649421847654830noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188194038537099313.post-52583642402439514892016-01-16T12:36:00.000-06:002016-01-16T12:36:14.037-06:00Gate CompleteWe are so excited! The gate was completed yesterday and the boys came right over to check it out! Bill did such a great job and it adds so much to the look of our yard. It's like yard jewelry! lol We can see it from in the house and it's a great view when we're relaxing on our back porch. This is the best Christmas present ever!<br />
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So here are the pictures:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC7Z5csyFyvdyokosTr-YdTnw0Huyn-tZSetWxTYiqXQAJ0xb9LVkX62PJpa_wUyZkg1dboFEjJNIAzWT7fWfx10z6FsS8a91V4Q04zsfnpyzcx0XUK_xryTQtpBH1JyjNdRQRpFCURRo/s1600/IMG_2816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC7Z5csyFyvdyokosTr-YdTnw0Huyn-tZSetWxTYiqXQAJ0xb9LVkX62PJpa_wUyZkg1dboFEjJNIAzWT7fWfx10z6FsS8a91V4Q04zsfnpyzcx0XUK_xryTQtpBH1JyjNdRQRpFCURRo/s400/IMG_2816.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sign is installed!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQiTUGf6D8PXt-xiAppAtwHra2eFgQdb6wdJ9rCTDQF2z8j_RUyMmjQcRZKc6g1O5wVkgKSTkXD701rp8KX6JyVD75b5gjC2z1JJKKB14k6hxuT3LS9v8hzUyydHVKwNxjwsT7s1tATFg/s1600/IMG_2819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQiTUGf6D8PXt-xiAppAtwHra2eFgQdb6wdJ9rCTDQF2z8j_RUyMmjQcRZKc6g1O5wVkgKSTkXD701rp8KX6JyVD75b5gjC2z1JJKKB14k6hxuT3LS9v8hzUyydHVKwNxjwsT7s1tATFg/s400/IMG_2819.jpg" width="308" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas present complete!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5XdUCMGsAvc3669YGirAHtNh1Rdc26BvGMJrETtO3fp_qTOv8ZwUq0v6oMnsQr5s_4yhUceZdwjCI7N1ibtPif9Ns586rcnDFdECMk6R-sMM6Hz16XM4678vtYq2xffUDkJrmXFsVpU/s1600/IMG_2823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5XdUCMGsAvc3669YGirAHtNh1Rdc26BvGMJrETtO3fp_qTOv8ZwUq0v6oMnsQr5s_4yhUceZdwjCI7N1ibtPif9Ns586rcnDFdECMk6R-sMM6Hz16XM4678vtYq2xffUDkJrmXFsVpU/s400/IMG_2823.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jack and Pancho checking each other out under the door!<br />Sam looking through the window. (Glass is removed)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizye4Yxj-yK6gnEbwjspnaNDDFXmQkqjQ5sL2IO7IZvxTV7T-zJoUGIh23I2plQNCQLj-SdkiyrX2UjNbOHSYzGS1b2taz6njPt5eR-0f5RFQGicZOWONZED_8flf4NkD7sxEFP-OUHIg/s1600/IMG_2821.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizye4Yxj-yK6gnEbwjspnaNDDFXmQkqjQ5sL2IO7IZvxTV7T-zJoUGIh23I2plQNCQLj-SdkiyrX2UjNbOHSYzGS1b2taz6njPt5eR-0f5RFQGicZOWONZED_8flf4NkD7sxEFP-OUHIg/s400/IMG_2821.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now it's Lefty looking through one of the windows.<br /></td></tr>
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We thank our local Nelson's water lily nursery for the idea!<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/286/3100674823AA1E900DEFB8AADAF1F26C.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D6188194038537099313%23editor&media=https%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-V9MxdMsl8aY%2FVpqME79gthI%2FAAAAAAAAJxk%2FqQWM8AD56LU%2Fs400%2FIMG_2816.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=rwF6cdiqYn_h&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 203px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 150px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D6188194038537099313%23editor&media=https%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-V9MxdMsl8aY%2FVpqME79gthI%2FAAAAAAAAJxk%2FqQWM8AD56LU%2Fs400%2FIMG_2816.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=rwF6cdiqYn_h&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 203px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 150px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Bev Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04172649421847654830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188194038537099313.post-85281145032464395352016-01-11T15:17:00.000-06:002016-01-11T15:17:45.356-06:00Gate is Coming AlongWhen we saw a door being used as a gate at our local lily garden shop, we knew we needed one from our back yard to the boys field.<br />
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Bill surprised me with this fabulous sign for Christmas.<br />
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We just had to see it with the boys so a temporary hanging took place. I love how they made the three alpacas on the sign look so much like our boys.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKkvSV8e3YjLlcnnCSp38cz5eITrjYW_Z6gEtdzNqylGp3pS9Re0uE5MEtIY_O8pN3O1zKMeMrt9KHClal5XXadUmpIugFMYCGKRcqFS3PJjqoJ1hAtybLZk6-ZysybGZfmn2dfh659A/s1600/IMG_2134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKkvSV8e3YjLlcnnCSp38cz5eITrjYW_Z6gEtdzNqylGp3pS9Re0uE5MEtIY_O8pN3O1zKMeMrt9KHClal5XXadUmpIugFMYCGKRcqFS3PJjqoJ1hAtybLZk6-ZysybGZfmn2dfh659A/s640/IMG_2134.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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And so the next day we headed out to the Architectural Antiques shop in downtown Houston to find a door. We love the one we found - sort of reminds me of the door for Mr. Ed. Ours isn't a split door, but the look is similar. Bill removed the glass and I've sanded it down making it much more rustic. I have painted some brown over the bare spot and then added some white on top of it. The next step will be to sand that part down and put a sealer over the entire door.<br />
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And Bill has got the door frame ready to go.<br />
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That temporary piece of picket fence will move out and the door will move in! Our plan is to complete the installation this coming weekend. They promise some sunshine - hope we get it. If all goes well, next post will show it all complete.<br />
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Looking forward to this addition to our back yard!Bev Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04172649421847654830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188194038537099313.post-24321743609586534772016-01-04T06:09:00.000-06:002016-01-04T06:09:19.819-06:00Winterizing!Finally winter appears to be coming to our part of Texas!<br />
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We spent most of December in the 60's and 70's and even broke some records around Christmas with 80 degree days! But finally, we're around normal and we'll hit around 60 during the day this week, but around 30 for a few nights! I have friends in Colorado and Canada that are laughing right now!<br />
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We do live on a prairie and the wind is amazing from the north. And while that is awesome in the summer it's not so much fun in the winter and so I've winterized the boys pen. They love the cold, but the wind, not so much!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbqsqyBU69-rwUqrmMJ7TLs5wu8ULrmXe-DNyK1E0vI5DAHVaakJSf29kkYqSxAlHMde8UARCq_EEGFqGsnpJPwUPIUETZ-vtECOeqSuUAaS6Ph_Hjt6dN9gPjHpJr7QlqYTCu3aIwDQw/s1600/IMG_2468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbqsqyBU69-rwUqrmMJ7TLs5wu8ULrmXe-DNyK1E0vI5DAHVaakJSf29kkYqSxAlHMde8UARCq_EEGFqGsnpJPwUPIUETZ-vtECOeqSuUAaS6Ph_Hjt6dN9gPjHpJr7QlqYTCu3aIwDQw/s320/IMG_2468.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFULfxVA0LY-3060mOe41eP96KcAkH8Sh20oTZbUpcUuT8WOcFTHR20sj1LXSiUX6NqQiWn32XNSRJYGNcyEO9FXyGyhIoecruvba5_jKZt0Xj0FOtHeUCHpVEExP80Qxfbglp-OcPdZI/s1600/IMG_2466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFULfxVA0LY-3060mOe41eP96KcAkH8Sh20oTZbUpcUuT8WOcFTHR20sj1LXSiUX6NqQiWn32XNSRJYGNcyEO9FXyGyhIoecruvba5_jKZt0Xj0FOtHeUCHpVEExP80Qxfbglp-OcPdZI/s320/IMG_2466.JPG" width="240" /></a>I'm excited because I finally seem to have this under control. The first year we used plastic tarps tied to the fencing and gates, but when it flaps it makes noise and it's bright blue. (that's my complaint, not theirs) Last year I bought these canvas drop cloths and sewed velcro on thinking that would work - well, I spent a lot of time re-hooking the tabs.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GZ7RehOtJgjVwH-0JoDs1cTz8lbyPb7TDr_BV-8z0YBUAs00ASDqWL5Zhmml2QF3qpwg5AGDu2k9pzSiGpOuFPJ4azjvzmFK2tWN830udnfbKgXG43XoS2JIKKTJKu_lf9i2FvBom8A/s1600/IMG_2471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GZ7RehOtJgjVwH-0JoDs1cTz8lbyPb7TDr_BV-8z0YBUAs00ASDqWL5Zhmml2QF3qpwg5AGDu2k9pzSiGpOuFPJ4azjvzmFK2tWN830udnfbKgXG43XoS2JIKKTJKu_lf9i2FvBom8A/s320/IMG_2471.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
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<span style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;">And so this year, I got a kit to place grommets along the edges. Wow, this was so much easier than that velcro sewing last year. and should last a few years. Anyway, within a couple of hours I had grommets in three pieces and had the pen almost ready for the upcoming cold weather! Surely, we'll have some!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJen1k7dywEfdag80KFeneKk5IBW-99jnbqNC1YqPXlOREocJuggZsbDSYCuc4kw_isigLWcCnTafuNrZxKGm_bAWi0Cd2ViqmyVMhMUomIRgddRdff6KUWlN7BEprYPMhNjGoaKozpc/s1600/IMG_2476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJen1k7dywEfdag80KFeneKk5IBW-99jnbqNC1YqPXlOREocJuggZsbDSYCuc4kw_isigLWcCnTafuNrZxKGm_bAWi0Cd2ViqmyVMhMUomIRgddRdff6KUWlN7BEprYPMhNjGoaKozpc/s320/IMG_2476.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
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And, Bill got the frame up for the new "door gate" and I got the touch up painting done to the door. So next weekend we should have it all in working order!<br />
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And everything is paca approved!<br />
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<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D6188194038537099313%23editor&media=https%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-i9SfPVX2oBA%2FVopdznXXlAI%2FAAAAAAAAJsE%2FwyFoTgLie90%2Fs320%2FIMG_2471.JPG&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=rwF6cdiqYn_h&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 439px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 540px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D6188194038537099313%23editor&media=https%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-i9SfPVX2oBA%2FVopdznXXlAI%2FAAAAAAAAJsE%2FwyFoTgLie90%2Fs320%2FIMG_2471.JPG&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=rwF6cdiqYn_h&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 439px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 540px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Bev Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04172649421847654830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188194038537099313.post-34693991677545463882015-12-31T21:24:00.000-06:002016-01-02T21:28:30.507-06:00The Last 2015 Highlights <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="text-align: center;">Closing out 2015 with the of the boys highlights!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJmFN4tvJ4rjG17ihngOhMreilEBAK-YDc40RIdEAmOPFo-zSV8DTSIn6V1MCQr0d1R2CJaYqx4-mJxd0OXqcPx2lCgFJftWxD7FQSOl-0EME26lWdiijdfnbOc_atTr6vbw3W-Paj1bA/s1600/DSC_0024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJmFN4tvJ4rjG17ihngOhMreilEBAK-YDc40RIdEAmOPFo-zSV8DTSIn6V1MCQr0d1R2CJaYqx4-mJxd0OXqcPx2lCgFJftWxD7FQSOl-0EME26lWdiijdfnbOc_atTr6vbw3W-Paj1bA/s400/DSC_0024.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pancho got a cowbird as a friend!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJY0c2eVMuRqRrewWZZMaVseWbIRXHZQxpcQHjla7lxHtSjSWv1bdMoM-MP49iH-yFUnrMqXAcfBA27fyjMpsp6Rso4dKOLj0bDC6Nt7SeaN15JtTqbDsgxGsoaQTcIypkRY85vTPVOe4/s1600/IMG_4015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJY0c2eVMuRqRrewWZZMaVseWbIRXHZQxpcQHjla7lxHtSjSWv1bdMoM-MP49iH-yFUnrMqXAcfBA27fyjMpsp6Rso4dKOLj0bDC6Nt7SeaN15JtTqbDsgxGsoaQTcIypkRY85vTPVOe4/s400/IMG_4015.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow crowned Night Heron came to fish their soggy field!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuCH3QSgIxK1RcZPgQbyzvlqqMHBTEJ4VsBM4SCOJKS0OK68Mr45cng_VhP4juL6nbsFxVq9WwtKKqBOp4gpJ1tPBv_ZVwqZcZbmU3EN9zDGsmHogfutb6-avX5dabCv45jzWot3Bt7U/s1600/IMG_4023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuCH3QSgIxK1RcZPgQbyzvlqqMHBTEJ4VsBM4SCOJKS0OK68Mr45cng_VhP4juL6nbsFxVq9WwtKKqBOp4gpJ1tPBv_ZVwqZcZbmU3EN9zDGsmHogfutb6-avX5dabCv45jzWot3Bt7U/s400/IMG_4023.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sketch of said night heron!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys got neighbors! Three horses - they love visiting through the fence!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil2GBCLMQNXKv0nS-omrigSFYTn2ean3_wvzqu0jPTap_EIQ4Cr_rLzOHXjaKsUV8mv4RXZTZ3XLpW9rujdWytvm0Mp8wsFuLJmWb_15LIARLYVxu0wlMvcg5GMNeyxP5Epp7IPzaFM-U/s1600/IMG_2740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil2GBCLMQNXKv0nS-omrigSFYTn2ean3_wvzqu0jPTap_EIQ4Cr_rLzOHXjaKsUV8mv4RXZTZ3XLpW9rujdWytvm0Mp8wsFuLJmWb_15LIARLYVxu0wlMvcg5GMNeyxP5Epp7IPzaFM-U/s400/IMG_2740.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They had a visitor from Indiana and </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGiaaqdsr-ZhpaKLtBCTG1CGpjsmnF6nPFotkgxwDpm9soWEc4OoywrlyHR1JyeawSuhWXcmf48syX5qgT4_a7SPAJqwO404ImQsCjbtevphJ2oJhvrXfdpsrR_zdc1M1NP-JqB_VbjDk/s1600/IMG_2741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGiaaqdsr-ZhpaKLtBCTG1CGpjsmnF6nPFotkgxwDpm9soWEc4OoywrlyHR1JyeawSuhWXcmf48syX5qgT4_a7SPAJqwO404ImQsCjbtevphJ2oJhvrXfdpsrR_zdc1M1NP-JqB_VbjDk/s400/IMG_2741.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And she loved to feed them - they loved her!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Polly came in from Indiana, too. They remembered her<br />
and loved having her let them out in the mornings!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMzizcMBqVUVgR_vMjQ7GfucMcG9iDCEvj_AeO80xurq_V8oWMF3iqwMh5aIg7X2yvgCrwqyCoyIQSOxjZbZbCJwD00gtU_dw5F9vZG7ueQVKyYPCDsYh2ipuc8HK3mGCfGZgAejI6h8/s1600/IMG_2128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMzizcMBqVUVgR_vMjQ7GfucMcG9iDCEvj_AeO80xurq_V8oWMF3iqwMh5aIg7X2yvgCrwqyCoyIQSOxjZbZbCJwD00gtU_dw5F9vZG7ueQVKyYPCDsYh2ipuc8HK3mGCfGZgAejI6h8/s640/IMG_2128.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Closing out the year the boys got a sign for Christmas and they will have a very special gate from our back yard into their big field. This was a surprise for me and them and I got to open it Christmas morning. Bill did an amazing job getting the three painted to look like our three and we hung it on this fence so we could see it with the boys!<br />
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For some time we have talked about using a door and having a sign above it. We headed out the next day and found the perfect door to use as the gate. (See below) </div>
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It has been lousy weather since Christmas, but we have gotten the frame work up and will have the gate operational within a week or so! Watch for a post to proudly show off our new gate!</div>
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Couldn't close out the year with out showing them munching on their Colorado hay! It has been a big hit and they got special serving on Christmas and New Years!<br />
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Lefty got a pencil drawing and I think I did pretty good, not sure he would agree. But at least I didn't give him that flat rain do!<br />
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The other two got watercolors done during the year;<br />
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And so with this I'm closing out 2015! I've been practicing with purchased fiber to perfect my spinning before I use their fiber. And speaking of their fiber, it will be heading to a new local mill for processing and prepping it for me to spin. Next year our goal is to have some of the boys yarn and or fiber for sale! Love these guys and it's been a wild ride for the last three years! Can't wait to see what's ahead!</div>
<br />Bev Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04172649421847654830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188194038537099313.post-5808680593216595342015-11-16T12:27:00.001-06:002015-11-16T12:29:27.345-06:002015 Spring Means ShearingSpring began with shearing and it was done at our place this year. We had the greatest group of young men from ShearingAlpaca.com. Our team of was headed up by Ben and they did a wonderful job. It was so nice this year to have it done at our farm and not load them up and visit another farm. They were so much calmer and so relieved to have that heavy thick fiber off.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for the shearers to arrive.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Checking Lefty's fiber before shearing.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Going to be a lot cooler with all of that off!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF77TG2n8UdxkZcGKmeySSAVi6u_lzboMr6MjczMDxtkBzExkV6h8nkLpJ3144IGd4yZ7PcOxZh-W0STQZc-njTllfJ7sqLqfyBB005bqKwRVQ3Vht4aKRhg6yh7cqZEiQZOvUiEusYD8/s1600/IMG_2123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF77TG2n8UdxkZcGKmeySSAVi6u_lzboMr6MjczMDxtkBzExkV6h8nkLpJ3144IGd4yZ7PcOxZh-W0STQZc-njTllfJ7sqLqfyBB005bqKwRVQ3Vht4aKRhg6yh7cqZEiQZOvUiEusYD8/s320/IMG_2123.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm skinny!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-n733uF_C2fGTvXrJUQ60SgVR72jrWyiX38v-VuE0KvmR-DWCfwQ0f7CCnUJ8qlQA7in6IovCqkvZHLP01RzNaNjNqhYeOdOCy9x8SwDwPC8MDq7VFmWFbL96LnsN_fVcgYMviAs4llw/s1600/IMG_2139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-n733uF_C2fGTvXrJUQ60SgVR72jrWyiX38v-VuE0KvmR-DWCfwQ0f7CCnUJ8qlQA7in6IovCqkvZHLP01RzNaNjNqhYeOdOCy9x8SwDwPC8MDq7VFmWFbL96LnsN_fVcgYMviAs4llw/s320/IMG_2139.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eek, we're really little!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_YseNIW2HkCARmEePl8tOPN6mCuhtMSWkAXhTNMrwUd8Fa_804KwDcSOHqP6GhD9yR1fVpUi26fleg57O0m4tbIsqCzGWY3iGxjdri1VVnrN_dJ7-xgL4JXn3VN7Wc9K2hfyu7VQPqvo/s1600/IMG_2159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_YseNIW2HkCARmEePl8tOPN6mCuhtMSWkAXhTNMrwUd8Fa_804KwDcSOHqP6GhD9yR1fVpUi26fleg57O0m4tbIsqCzGWY3iGxjdri1VVnrN_dJ7-xgL4JXn3VN7Wc9K2hfyu7VQPqvo/s320/IMG_2159.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chilling in the sun!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEideiAlQ_pmP4Co_qtPXWGIKpXEVR74KVzCTJhYadUndWUpcoJdhN36y58cHPq7mQsZXARTwtmz77XIeB0rIepP8iRd5F9mHUvOLgYrKGybjiq2BOxZmDfvTFMI3-uWAiAEUbf7LOKIh8I/s1600/IMG_2163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEideiAlQ_pmP4Co_qtPXWGIKpXEVR74KVzCTJhYadUndWUpcoJdhN36y58cHPq7mQsZXARTwtmz77XIeB0rIepP8iRd5F9mHUvOLgYrKGybjiq2BOxZmDfvTFMI3-uWAiAEUbf7LOKIh8I/s320/IMG_2163.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catching up on some zzzs!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbHFr2UC2uBt9TK8tyuW5ZFJ52jXbwuKRxjfpFxP8DbS4zmfMfvCcnHjZEcGbmbUw4ilKddXRRnqQ2hLRZ1qmXnl8825Z4Lev-sIwMgt4uVyJKzip4kgt_iDJlmKMm0IY-6tUcIMJercw/s1600/IMG_2135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbHFr2UC2uBt9TK8tyuW5ZFJ52jXbwuKRxjfpFxP8DbS4zmfMfvCcnHjZEcGbmbUw4ilKddXRRnqQ2hLRZ1qmXnl8825Z4Lev-sIwMgt4uVyJKzip4kgt_iDJlmKMm0IY-6tUcIMJercw/s320/IMG_2135.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jack checking out the boys fiber.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0nOPuvS3FLUpPpPi7jJml3E6WGpVo198EKqBkAO0N8aBJhVzmew56MLA2RZBj-Lkk7GUQPTurrAAzk2RhzAqDHSWx7muHiy_fNiz-ttqfx-MKBpbwKz3c7oDVIgLTF21D49SRjr5r_4/s1600/IMG_2875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0nOPuvS3FLUpPpPi7jJml3E6WGpVo198EKqBkAO0N8aBJhVzmew56MLA2RZBj-Lkk7GUQPTurrAAzk2RhzAqDHSWx7muHiy_fNiz-ttqfx-MKBpbwKz3c7oDVIgLTF21D49SRjr5r_4/s320/IMG_2875.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starting the carding process of some of Lefty's fiber.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj45QjyyqCEKNmsEwisQcK94GA2bFkbzKNe4OnRH_SH28u5soq38gkE3Cjh1DVK0YTTvIncHKl_buAnK1HkY4_wKQOJy7vdzKKspTQVvUM6J0GIUMBe0ow_Di8QzXOhlTxQXukjVYj3RZo/s1600/IMG_2876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj45QjyyqCEKNmsEwisQcK94GA2bFkbzKNe4OnRH_SH28u5soq38gkE3Cjh1DVK0YTTvIncHKl_buAnK1HkY4_wKQOJy7vdzKKspTQVvUM6J0GIUMBe0ow_Di8QzXOhlTxQXukjVYj3RZo/s320/IMG_2876.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After a couple of passes through the carder.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKnRv-SGqQHtFgQSxO4rwt_k7QJ5uHdy05b3MX9_KlNnDdHmJN6Yv5453F2-BCs4ff0AtO8mRGgkW6ka5yTwxjb13dfhQBTWCHCCm6AMhq0wj8-nMrgx-_SoHlvST9kpEwcS8T9CBPuoI/s1600/IMG_2458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKnRv-SGqQHtFgQSxO4rwt_k7QJ5uHdy05b3MX9_KlNnDdHmJN6Yv5453F2-BCs4ff0AtO8mRGgkW6ka5yTwxjb13dfhQBTWCHCCm6AMhq0wj8-nMrgx-_SoHlvST9kpEwcS8T9CBPuoI/s320/IMG_2458.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to spin.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKDokd17eItvqJSFdtdxycgUlxn7M1k7si7EEvF_MzQCp0KYuYyfSGrKjF-I6VrDRmuGInNvuhKoS1a8TpENyZtAkWCzf6FMMEv7JndCFiYzCxZ8kYgFKF0mVVvXPVRJ0YGnNzSCScmsE/s1600/IMG_2443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKDokd17eItvqJSFdtdxycgUlxn7M1k7si7EEvF_MzQCp0KYuYyfSGrKjF-I6VrDRmuGInNvuhKoS1a8TpENyZtAkWCzf6FMMEv7JndCFiYzCxZ8kYgFKF0mVVvXPVRJ0YGnNzSCScmsE/s320/IMG_2443.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the wheel.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Bec8wjP_dnInmI0TzBnqqIypiONAm0QxNNPNW_Az-6FFPuAXDZ-xhWPs5NiInpdf4LbG1tZOmftOUoAXB7NXyihY8AgUZ5f-glxadVDWjFew_Dibc2dSkY-05Ud68mWXxpz2Uc5Vgmg/s1600/IMG_2412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Bec8wjP_dnInmI0TzBnqqIypiONAm0QxNNPNW_Az-6FFPuAXDZ-xhWPs5NiInpdf4LbG1tZOmftOUoAXB7NXyihY8AgUZ5f-glxadVDWjFew_Dibc2dSkY-05Ud68mWXxpz2Uc5Vgmg/s320/IMG_2412.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to dye, knit or weave.</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/286/3100674823AA1E900DEFB8AADAF1F26C.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Bev Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04172649421847654830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188194038537099313.post-27164493392735998422015-08-08T12:35:00.000-05:002015-11-16T12:39:16.730-06:00Love at LastLove is in bloom with me and my boys! It has not been an easy road to this point. They have tolerated me and I've dreamed of the time that they might look at me as something other than the one that feeds us so we must tolerate her, but we don't need to be friendly or nice.<br />
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It's really not been that bad but it's finally becoming a respectful relationship and I'm a happy paca momma!<br />
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It all started as the weather began to slightly warm up and I decided I would sit in their small pasture before I let them out into the field. I would sit and talk to them whether they paid attention or not, but I soon found they came right over and hung out close - not so close I could touch them, but close.<br />
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If I had a few pieces of food they would come closer and eat from my hand and after 30 minutes or so I would open up the gates and let them out. Then I began to leave them in the smaller area while I did my chores - cleaned up poo, scrubbed water buckets and refreshed hay etc. and they hung pretty close watching me work.<br />
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And then one day I reached out to try and scratch a back and they let me! I just did it for a few minutes and stopped. At one point or another each of the three have let me scratch backs and necks, but Sam is the one that seems to love it. Last night he leaned into my legs and I leaned back and scratched him for probably 10 minutes - WOW!<br />
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Of course, at this time of the year with the heat hosing their bellies and legs becomes not just a fun gesture of my love, but a necessity and I think that has finally become a sign of my care and they have grown in their trust of me. They run to the hose and greedily get as much as they can ahead of the others.<br />
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I am spending much more time with them and they are gifting me with trust and even occasionally<br />
a paca kiss! Of course, Lefty will also try to steal my cap if it's on or maybe taste my hair, but it's done in playful way and makes our time even more fun.<br />
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We always fought to get them in their trailer and after we moved it and left the doors open, they have turned it into their "vacation" home! They go in and out of it like it's the greatest of fun and even take naps in it. Who knew they would adjust to it on their own and now I can walk up when they're in it, open and close the doors and they don't seem to mind.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwwQ_zhUMfXkYFbUgRYfWDFuS98f3KCtyEKceOR1TAmoYgPkmrBWAfxRlDtFDW6_bB17UeA5eZWkuBDEFThSxihpZ5lrwGB5Ts3FZ3WvF0C72UIaAWDy5Ox1kH8AyYyh9c0Y1Ww2IY-4/s1600/IMG_0642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwwQ_zhUMfXkYFbUgRYfWDFuS98f3KCtyEKceOR1TAmoYgPkmrBWAfxRlDtFDW6_bB17UeA5eZWkuBDEFThSxihpZ5lrwGB5Ts3FZ3WvF0C72UIaAWDy5Ox1kH8AyYyh9c0Y1Ww2IY-4/s320/IMG_0642.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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We will take it!<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/286/3100674823AA1E900DEFB8AADAF1F26C.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Bev Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04172649421847654830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188194038537099313.post-80766870131985112362015-01-13T13:25:00.000-06:002016-01-11T15:24:07.295-06:00Starting off 2015 with a Seminar!I am determined that I will post more this year and stay up with what's going on in our alpaca life. They arrived in February 2013 and so a major anniversary is coming up soon. I keep telling them we will celebrate, but they just look at me like I'm crazy! Really? Well, maybe I am!<br />
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I post on Bev Ann's Mixed Bag, my other blog, what I'm doing in the crafty world and that includes my spinning and weaving. But I'm going to share ore of that here to this year, because I wouldn't even be doing it if it wasn't for the boys! When you shear once a year you get fiber and you can either store it, which I'm finding out is what many alpaca owners do, or you can use it! You have a choice to send it off to a mill to be processed or you can do it yourself. If I had 15 or more alpacas there would be no doubt it would be sent off, but I have three so I'm going to attempt to process it myself. <br />
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That brings me to the point of this post! I just spent all day Saturday (January 10) at a seminar sponsored by <a href="http://www.ranchoincaalpacas.com/">Rancho Inca Alpacas</a>, <span id="goog_1514302027"></span><a href="http://txtalpacas.com/">Texas Trails Alpaca</a>s<span id="goog_1514302028"></span>, Rancho do Santo Domingo and <a href="http://www.tejas-alpacas.com/">Tejas Alpacas</a> featuring Lynn Snell from<span id="goog_1440126445"></span> <a href="http://www.spinderellas.com/">Spinderella's</a> <span id="goog_1440126446"></span>Fiber Mill. What a mind blowing day! So much information but presented in a most useable way! Much of what I heard I had heard before, but there's so much to learn about fleece that you really must hear it more than once. The first time it sounds like you're hearing a foreign language. The next time it's like you begin to recognize words, but still don't speak it clearly, just understand it a little more. I have had instructions on skirting fleece, washing it and processing it. Finally, I think i understand it after this seminar. We, also, painted yarn (that means dying it in multiple colors), carding it (this is one thing I'm comfortable with) and wet felting. I'm a needle felted and haven't done much wet felting, but finally it mostly made sense. <br />
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I came home Saturday night with a batt I started at the seminar. I completed the batt and wet felted it into a piece of felt fabric the very next day! I still have some questions, so signed up for Diana's class for a wet felted scarf <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/feistyfennfibers">(check out Feisty Fenn)</a> at <a href="http://www.wcmercantile.com/">WC Mercantile</a> this next Saturday and then I hope I'm ready to roll on my own. It's all so much to take in and even with notes and handouts and You Tube there's still so much to learn and there's nothing like hands on!<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/286/3100674823AA1E900DEFB8AADAF1F26C.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Bev Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04172649421847654830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188194038537099313.post-39200401088474219912015-01-12T14:41:00.000-06:002015-01-12T14:41:02.995-06:00Recap - 2014 With the Boys!2014 has flown by and now it's already January 12, 2015! WHAT?????? I can't believe how fast time is flying! I hope it's because I have so many things going on and not because time has really sped up!<br />
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Since this blog is Jack and the Alpacas and it's mostly about the pacas, I want to start with a cute, cute picture of the boys and Jack! Love that they touch noses through the fence. Jack got into the pasture once and they didn't even run! They looked at him, he looked at them and I grabbed him up and took him out of pasture! Most of the time they are fascinated with him and he just ignores them!<br />
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2014 was really uneventful for the boys. Now that's me speaking, I'm not sure what they would say. They went for a ride in April and received their annual "haircut" shearing. And I guess uneventful wasn't really even correct for me - as I took them by myself! I drove the truck and trailer to the farm where the shearing took place and the boys that are supposed to cush down - that's lay down for us decided to stand and look out the trailer most of the way there. I pulled off the road twice to make sure they were ok! Yes, I can be a nervous Nellie! And, of course, it took me and Bill to get them in the trailer in the first place - I didn't want to make it sound like I just walked them in and drove off! Nope!!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWL9qxeq_6Rr7XJm1Wuecdy7TmlOg-I0arkr1bysVsaIqpfOavykDFd80WdLbj0j0vJuRUr65PPuYmCwl87gdLqx3hLqeRnSPw_UYnye59eZUCdL2fDbtBXMvm5UkdGosQf-_YWLVIwbI/s1600/IMG_2916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWL9qxeq_6Rr7XJm1Wuecdy7TmlOg-I0arkr1bysVsaIqpfOavykDFd80WdLbj0j0vJuRUr65PPuYmCwl87gdLqx3hLqeRnSPw_UYnye59eZUCdL2fDbtBXMvm5UkdGosQf-_YWLVIwbI/s1600/IMG_2916.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fresh haircuts!</td></tr>
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The second major event for them was their visit from the vet for their annual shots, pedicure and teeth filing! That's really filing not filling! No cavities, just teeth that continue to grow! They actually were pretty well behaved and so they got a second visit later in the year for another pedicure and this time serious teeth trimming as some of them had their "fighting" teeth coming in. And did you notice we had house calls! No getting them in the trailer for these appointments - thank you <a href="http://www.lampvetclinic.com/">Dr. Lamp</a>. If you are in the Sealy, Bellville, Hempstead area check them out - great with Alpacas.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiStbbb3ntkkrDjKUCuCXhvdM-238VjwhqeCnNCxiA_JtvtAUWN6L71AyixebZ0LM-cOrmRFIVweNXHlbXlqkPD0-N2MdC2mwj3IZKc3wSDDtkn0wGHmx82_DlOfnYfb3GhY03KIMVDyNU/s1600/IMG_6313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiStbbb3ntkkrDjKUCuCXhvdM-238VjwhqeCnNCxiA_JtvtAUWN6L71AyixebZ0LM-cOrmRFIVweNXHlbXlqkPD0-N2MdC2mwj3IZKc3wSDDtkn0wGHmx82_DlOfnYfb3GhY03KIMVDyNU/s1600/IMG_6313.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watching all directions for the vet to appear!</td></tr>
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We had a number of people come visit this year and the boys really seem to enjoy checking them out. One friend in particular was a little shy around the boys, but they were so sweet with her. It's almost like they knew she wouldn't try to touch them and so they came right up and sniffed her and ate from a bowl she was holding! Smart boys!<br />
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<br />We got chickens! The boys loved watching the chickens over the fence at our neighbors and then the neighbors moved! But, not such a bad deal for the boys as we got the chickens! Now they watch over the fence at their own chickens. They do seem to be so fascinated with these fluffy little Silkie chickens and we're loving the eggs.<br />
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And so the summer passed safely with our crazy heat and you see that they still love the water hose in the summer months. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdisy2dTGQIISPZkaossQFgArCGsFPIEyZqRieVsanXGuNC9TkgaFZ4b97psqYjKYFx4kv8WfrVaq-PQY7YltXLiMd5rtaqOCbAVcZfuXX1iSTZMY1q2hOaFdpCuPRIvQlfKui2W-f0g/s1600/IMG_2566.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdisy2dTGQIISPZkaossQFgArCGsFPIEyZqRieVsanXGuNC9TkgaFZ4b97psqYjKYFx4kv8WfrVaq-PQY7YltXLiMd5rtaqOCbAVcZfuXX1iSTZMY1q2hOaFdpCuPRIvQlfKui2W-f0g/s1600/IMG_2566.PNG" height="241" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pancho loves to lay on the hose or sprinkler!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8DOv1Vatdu6tYdDUlbhQPH6GcfjoR8Tt5XAbZBMvhoCnaVwMnV5XG48090BSaHGI0Y50Pm9_8lxuOvON0zBErA2yGgqn3-I_5yb1pK6O9AlQMypCOlTH4c2sP8CBLIyF7mLkz89u2HtE/s1600/IMG_2569.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8DOv1Vatdu6tYdDUlbhQPH6GcfjoR8Tt5XAbZBMvhoCnaVwMnV5XG48090BSaHGI0Y50Pm9_8lxuOvON0zBErA2yGgqn3-I_5yb1pK6O9AlQMypCOlTH4c2sP8CBLIyF7mLkz89u2HtE/s1600/IMG_2569.PNG" height="246" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lefty still prefers to just drink from the end of the hose and no picture of Sam because I'm too close to him - he loves it on his stomach!</td></tr>
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We are quickly approaching the end of our second year of alpaca ownership - crazy how time flies when you're having fun! I have been learning to do many things with their fiber and most of those posts are on my other blog. I'm now spinning and weaving! Still a newbie in all things fiber and alpaca, but I'm learning! You can check out the creative aspect <a href="http://www.bevvictory.com/">here</a>!<br />
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Hope you enjoyed my recap of 2014!<br />
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Bev Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04172649421847654830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188194038537099313.post-91753887043005493312014-10-12T19:09:00.000-05:002014-10-12T19:11:27.801-05:00Finishing 2013 In PicturesIt really has been few nights of playing 2013 catch up! Not easy when it's already October of 2014! But I'm pulling some of the best pictures from 2013 and will finish out the year with a few of my favorites from the alpaca world we've found ourselves in, along with some of my first art yarn pictures and my wonderful spinning wheel - so here we go!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_SOJd_Sb2kXiITcMYo2R56OhZczx6WW68jR6gBrQ1yKBgu_PHCuP3iS0FigUWG7isSoYdHe7Hcpg2PXYENSBOQCqSTKaBsKBgprWTBD0jHFrX8Ht489rcZaVQBKaykTlU80dLfA2nBLQ/s1600/DSC_1782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_SOJd_Sb2kXiITcMYo2R56OhZczx6WW68jR6gBrQ1yKBgu_PHCuP3iS0FigUWG7isSoYdHe7Hcpg2PXYENSBOQCqSTKaBsKBgprWTBD0jHFrX8Ht489rcZaVQBKaykTlU80dLfA2nBLQ/s1600/DSC_1782.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love this curious face - always has to check out the camera!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYSFx8izajDSQorNmEnl_Uft-15ubUf1CMKiNnyeD1gQ46t6VZAmBRXeiroVx8WoKUzDebPfiWCG_LQ1PFgKliAwmuqQfGbfbER-owHETFBhw75lC4J0tLN7M_fOhE6Wh9vY6iNQl-AA/s1600/IMG_0114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYSFx8izajDSQorNmEnl_Uft-15ubUf1CMKiNnyeD1gQ46t6VZAmBRXeiroVx8WoKUzDebPfiWCG_LQ1PFgKliAwmuqQfGbfbER-owHETFBhw75lC4J0tLN7M_fOhE6Wh9vY6iNQl-AA/s1600/IMG_0114.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My new spinning wheel - Country Spinner 2.<br />
Not your mother's spinning wheel!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglczKZ3E5JERU0zJc2CViopdz0A8ZYmD5dERXnqrAN6uiiogTozDBr5fZB2Nh3rpcxwVhX185R2Hwflp4REXhdzTle7uCMjCdDrGHgtDHAFROsh9xj22HlZUqijLaMMw_K0B3k7JkZ_yw/s1600/IMG_0137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglczKZ3E5JERU0zJc2CViopdz0A8ZYmD5dERXnqrAN6uiiogTozDBr5fZB2Nh3rpcxwVhX185R2Hwflp4REXhdzTle7uCMjCdDrGHgtDHAFROsh9xj22HlZUqijLaMMw_K0B3k7JkZ_yw/s1600/IMG_0137.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Painted three alpacas and two sheep - just to make it my own!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUQM-EBpCB51tUQwL8UgbTOXraeXe6qUZ9rbXneHhb657JbfArquFzM8vfyJLjpFx5GWLW8Pw31FzdXWkNP4FbMGUkOPGi5KvacEi5ZySD3r51AdYT-J57OMhR0Pp3gIR61mhaJFGmrs/s1600/IMG_0159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUQM-EBpCB51tUQwL8UgbTOXraeXe6qUZ9rbXneHhb657JbfArquFzM8vfyJLjpFx5GWLW8Pw31FzdXWkNP4FbMGUkOPGi5KvacEi5ZySD3r51AdYT-J57OMhR0Pp3gIR61mhaJFGmrs/s1600/IMG_0159.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of my first yarn - not the boys fiber, but something<br />
easier to learn with - a longer staple length - easier to spin.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRnlq3W3Urh57aXKEBx3jnSn7w5wvq6drRmA07i-raVma3IB6ZBGQTn_xgAi4I2hizvR_taVkx2MOotlr-nL0dje7vXb4gftSeNewSH6Vx9TKa5VRRxk4uPqG5K3KaB-O9AnhzkFIuF7k/s1600/IMG_0161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRnlq3W3Urh57aXKEBx3jnSn7w5wvq6drRmA07i-raVma3IB6ZBGQTn_xgAi4I2hizvR_taVkx2MOotlr-nL0dje7vXb4gftSeNewSH6Vx9TKa5VRRxk4uPqG5K3KaB-O9AnhzkFIuF7k/s1600/IMG_0161.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The turkish drop spindle!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEo65OmGWUnVaoLPMR7qT3JgIp5ZRph7PJwWOZhhxXCf5fK0OE_Y-8c8vD6rGXR2WdUYI2dj-CG14nGSEUpIubIuTy7lKTFJ7vxsnNnBl53QZQx7NJlJXF6epcYWrLIKYKHOgDLibk9qQ/s1600/IMG_0166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEo65OmGWUnVaoLPMR7qT3JgIp5ZRph7PJwWOZhhxXCf5fK0OE_Y-8c8vD6rGXR2WdUYI2dj-CG14nGSEUpIubIuTy7lKTFJ7vxsnNnBl53QZQx7NJlJXF6epcYWrLIKYKHOgDLibk9qQ/s1600/IMG_0166.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spinning complete and a finished ball does off the spindle!<br />
With this type of spindle I would never have had enough yarn to knit!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPMhpFilZH34ZCWA7SWZWKOwfCs_GnBGwrJZzRGuNNIqtPlywpxdiE1yqnstoy_zzIUVcGMlJZqg6LQn-0MChnSEJTsfR3JmBXyuUCf5NK3XVEZZOeniy9YZ16i5-mwEPXHLs-cFt-_w/s1600/IMG_0169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPMhpFilZH34ZCWA7SWZWKOwfCs_GnBGwrJZzRGuNNIqtPlywpxdiE1yqnstoy_zzIUVcGMlJZqg6LQn-0MChnSEJTsfR3JmBXyuUCf5NK3XVEZZOeniy9YZ16i5-mwEPXHLs-cFt-_w/s1600/IMG_0169.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some practice yarns.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLsBzanRuAC2B-e82eszb9Bt4zdXNHlm_megr-S8Nu7T-dvdJVh2Nwgu8uTL6QgkiUTrYKdQE5bsRykKGRp-XAKhHnBfXYr4kFbuvD_qvPIzGl9gvrsikJDwwJZRSXc9r4DC6ryZtB-Y/s1600/IMG_0229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLsBzanRuAC2B-e82eszb9Bt4zdXNHlm_megr-S8Nu7T-dvdJVh2Nwgu8uTL6QgkiUTrYKdQE5bsRykKGRp-XAKhHnBfXYr4kFbuvD_qvPIzGl9gvrsikJDwwJZRSXc9r4DC6ryZtB-Y/s1600/IMG_0229.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some batts, ready for spinning. One on left is Lefty!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinodxfyszGSrj3HSYoLlnwnWOL70cg8CG9YfepyYUMdjFjgVHeEF819-RDxJGsUX-myq2WuwbuNuSxuP74GSYix_YbJANOC4N3UuOvFTTZov4HNEwAD6K_F4HnrnbBbiBhc4DMalNvEY8/s1600/IMG_0252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinodxfyszGSrj3HSYoLlnwnWOL70cg8CG9YfepyYUMdjFjgVHeEF819-RDxJGsUX-myq2WuwbuNuSxuP74GSYix_YbJANOC4N3UuOvFTTZov4HNEwAD6K_F4HnrnbBbiBhc4DMalNvEY8/s1600/IMG_0252.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Studio redo! Up came the carpet and down went the paint!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSxjznWfiWAXfRDyFmOuaybCH0sUZ4_ayUD2V6zKJP9r9w4GzJxJh4TqJNk6dpQ46Ci_RnV_H-Hz4bsuy-HGyZLRKullO7tIr36KSpkB7U161miu8DYQ5xSx5w6WHw71pwrC1DopfQ1o/s1600/IMG_0513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSxjznWfiWAXfRDyFmOuaybCH0sUZ4_ayUD2V6zKJP9r9w4GzJxJh4TqJNk6dpQ46Ci_RnV_H-Hz4bsuy-HGyZLRKullO7tIr36KSpkB7U161miu8DYQ5xSx5w6WHw71pwrC1DopfQ1o/s1600/IMG_0513.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sam, also a very curious paca!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3xA6SN91DqDzvjVzLtSs_HfQTPuuPycx3mMFK_0136doyjyI8gVSvQaAIxfzza8g01RSDTiOV6fyoV7GmJm1f25CRpaOvF1XFSd_wOMBN6Ko2dkglaWHABzXqnDrYv_cwuNnvG0JhpaI/s1600/IMG_0416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3xA6SN91DqDzvjVzLtSs_HfQTPuuPycx3mMFK_0136doyjyI8gVSvQaAIxfzza8g01RSDTiOV6fyoV7GmJm1f25CRpaOvF1XFSd_wOMBN6Ko2dkglaWHABzXqnDrYv_cwuNnvG0JhpaI/s1600/IMG_0416.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue Faced Leiscter - BFL spun and off the noddy noddy.<br />
Ready to wash and dry!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxMr5sCM9ztLrhqw_oPxUn0Axyy5CYHTFuIbzZIMvK10Misc0G8EUXocwtA_8wFx0fHbsNrBxAjSi04eS4qM-i0c3zQl5dF1nmUJEG8JeKLAoABlrH4_GvwF4vj-_74j6GBS8zyCI0UA8/s1600/IMG_0422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxMr5sCM9ztLrhqw_oPxUn0Axyy5CYHTFuIbzZIMvK10Misc0G8EUXocwtA_8wFx0fHbsNrBxAjSi04eS4qM-i0c3zQl5dF1nmUJEG8JeKLAoABlrH4_GvwF4vj-_74j6GBS8zyCI0UA8/s1600/IMG_0422.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A beautiful skein drying!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx1q7Xn0SMSciTtWuzwJu8DHwQyHXsjkaUNWUBl_QWub1EIJRrk2IUDkdr-URt8daBhglxjqaRD5VzL1MfPOfj0xQyMAg-G9_cQcxS9BZ7WgfNckQUAPHYSknywsPfirtJWaacJ-BvfpQ/s1600/IMG_0515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx1q7Xn0SMSciTtWuzwJu8DHwQyHXsjkaUNWUBl_QWub1EIJRrk2IUDkdr-URt8daBhglxjqaRD5VzL1MfPOfj0xQyMAg-G9_cQcxS9BZ7WgfNckQUAPHYSknywsPfirtJWaacJ-BvfpQ/s1600/IMG_0515.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yarn spun from Lefty fiber that I dyed at home.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzk2XZP2TWJNylAk1_Y8jzd88ANPwf4NjgVpKg9gb51Smj9nQWVEpDqVx1KPd4dWsBEbs2oA12lTIqbwG5Ev5943w78qPwpEDPHtDOnhIMNF3qmAUl_FhZKseNQ8TUKbsMZgfpM82wS20/s1600/IMG_0520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzk2XZP2TWJNylAk1_Y8jzd88ANPwf4NjgVpKg9gb51Smj9nQWVEpDqVx1KPd4dWsBEbs2oA12lTIqbwG5Ev5943w78qPwpEDPHtDOnhIMNF3qmAUl_FhZKseNQ8TUKbsMZgfpM82wS20/s1600/IMG_0520.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The BFL skein we dyed at WC Mercantile</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLOSGmwm1-eEApmRJgco_Y6oofKXMzbKkz8V8ln1Xl5CclWCfOSIU4TANabWOdyujdhJN_oabdlrIRCaG_aE9xbEoREjk1z-yAfX8SkgMKFeTENy4fvzspPyxtvESEzbPZExwbY_88gg/s1600/IMG_0529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLOSGmwm1-eEApmRJgco_Y6oofKXMzbKkz8V8ln1Xl5CclWCfOSIU4TANabWOdyujdhJN_oabdlrIRCaG_aE9xbEoREjk1z-yAfX8SkgMKFeTENy4fvzspPyxtvESEzbPZExwbY_88gg/s1600/IMG_0529.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All knitted up - A combo of the BFL and the Lefty yarn!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1VyOL_SRQcxfDOLKNCIhJNp2YG6qlkAdvj1lBBAC7M6hgTSJCob99gh-h7vaC9FsuDQEsAd1W6IH1X_weFjevxTUFyZPoiKav4SaN1Wf3FdqKI-WP2B6wTMZ6VyiB8R7iehRNxTlLkw/s1600/IMG_0377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1VyOL_SRQcxfDOLKNCIhJNp2YG6qlkAdvj1lBBAC7M6hgTSJCob99gh-h7vaC9FsuDQEsAd1W6IH1X_weFjevxTUFyZPoiKav4SaN1Wf3FdqKI-WP2B6wTMZ6VyiB8R7iehRNxTlLkw/s1600/IMG_0377.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And a finished cowl - made from a pattern from Dona Binder.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6dlzqaD0Qd3B5BkGBkVBCL5PKBFgYVfhW741XQ7ZrWOzhqb02b3Pvb0TdhClBWGTRkutyrG7pNtkNRMIouLb4k-CMOyksjNLivsLzCM8sF34eTSjaWwKv8uJ4VHr2fJVlc4dOpRVjOQ/s1600/IMG_8813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6dlzqaD0Qd3B5BkGBkVBCL5PKBFgYVfhW741XQ7ZrWOzhqb02b3Pvb0TdhClBWGTRkutyrG7pNtkNRMIouLb4k-CMOyksjNLivsLzCM8sF34eTSjaWwKv8uJ4VHr2fJVlc4dOpRVjOQ/s1600/IMG_8813.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The year couldn't be complete without showing that they do spit! <br />
Yes, this was it! Just a little grass compliments of Lefty!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8OA5Uf9wVKJY05dQ0vi5iJONaR812wf4ZFOXi5-nCuJLLB4dDqBXk1QuZn71YNQhyphenhyphen_roF6MNLDSGHCZR3xSNHWoHPoSOJogCYy5-JPkn84erNxRXt4G96V3k0wFzt_KoKLQqcgdr0cQ/s1600/IMG_9291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8OA5Uf9wVKJY05dQ0vi5iJONaR812wf4ZFOXi5-nCuJLLB4dDqBXk1QuZn71YNQhyphenhyphen_roF6MNLDSGHCZR3xSNHWoHPoSOJogCYy5-JPkn84erNxRXt4G96V3k0wFzt_KoKLQqcgdr0cQ/s1600/IMG_9291.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a way to end the year with a little nap! Yes it looks like they've passed out;<br />
completely relaxed and usually out in the hot sun!<br />
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So this wraps up the year! There were so may other pictures, but I can't post then all. So when I next post, I will begin to catch up on 2014. I can only say they are an adventure! So happy we made the decision and look forward to many good years with the boys!<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/286/3100674823AA1E900DEFB8AADAF1F26C.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Bev Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04172649421847654830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188194038537099313.post-62263433528671722742014-10-11T21:21:00.003-05:002014-10-11T21:22:31.322-05:00December 2013 Project<br />
I just posted the December 2013 post I found in draft! Now I would like to post about finally using some of their fiber. Bill announced that he would like to have a scarf made from fiber from all three boys for Christmas! Yes he told me this in the month of December! EEK!<br />
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I just learned to knit starting in August or September, started spinning in late July and he wanted a scarf! Well, if it wasn't for my sweet Bill I wouldn't have three alpacas! I wouldn't have a spinning wheel and I wouldn't have started knitting without these, so it decided I would try to make it happen!<br />
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Making a scarf from fiber is quite different than going to the store, buying yarn and knitting it! Starting from scratch means digging into the bags of fiber, cleaning it and carding it, spinning and plying it, washing it and then knitting!<br />
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So here are pictures to explain what I just said!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_9BFZK9221W4qtzH3SwF7xBf5uipn_feBGi3LqQXmFNjHE1_UuQwRiQqv1Vb-5utwJvCLFtG7rwZ6t0xV-nqoGSXD80QFHjNGArgjp9lmas7PKE2k3T11dDm4CupyDDmRc6eJ3dTuq0/s1600/IMG_0432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_9BFZK9221W4qtzH3SwF7xBf5uipn_feBGi3LqQXmFNjHE1_UuQwRiQqv1Vb-5utwJvCLFtG7rwZ6t0xV-nqoGSXD80QFHjNGArgjp9lmas7PKE2k3T11dDm4CupyDDmRc6eJ3dTuq0/s1600/IMG_0432.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raw fiber from Pancho</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFqBKvhbpKEHcrqtwVKGNWTgEyXYyBqAUjzlBerku3N-0C0FGj8WYLrAH3O38cWrUCd43lmykhOFQ9DkvSnqa2q_9e13ia0DDUZsO_ak3YUs51d0AEz_4Y67HcyQpZTzwZXZOvXuJqT0I/s1600/IMG_0433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFqBKvhbpKEHcrqtwVKGNWTgEyXYyBqAUjzlBerku3N-0C0FGj8WYLrAH3O38cWrUCd43lmykhOFQ9DkvSnqa2q_9e13ia0DDUZsO_ak3YUs51d0AEz_4Y67HcyQpZTzwZXZOvXuJqT0I/s1600/IMG_0433.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starting the carding process - cleans and puts fiber in place!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTUujDol7kxakUWgtaabzFRpUzYiZgtHIf-AvDgjGfe_ImEqoNIhFXGZ0SlE-HGpLa5gr0eKXYtdKXw2j9tsqP6Kld9ol541gL_h9EoMhYJAFcSRwkAiNPj6h2O9x8rODPNdEHXxXBt98/s1600/IMG_1279.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTUujDol7kxakUWgtaabzFRpUzYiZgtHIf-AvDgjGfe_ImEqoNIhFXGZ0SlE-HGpLa5gr0eKXYtdKXw2j9tsqP6Kld9ol541gL_h9EoMhYJAFcSRwkAiNPj6h2O9x8rODPNdEHXxXBt98/s1600/IMG_1279.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Off the carder - now called a batt</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigfw44l4SQZcH4M-Cxa228L01MD9PfoiyV0XqOETgPhDz5radcbnJT4bBmHav7A-Al6tHYq3vcYQp5CxkEdcNEkhQ2e9WWSD6PjfWliPf7fn92LvLDmjIUJ610D8nOBmTmGdfCm3D6Ik4/s1600/IMG_1305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigfw44l4SQZcH4M-Cxa228L01MD9PfoiyV0XqOETgPhDz5radcbnJT4bBmHav7A-Al6tHYq3vcYQp5CxkEdcNEkhQ2e9WWSD6PjfWliPf7fn92LvLDmjIUJ610D8nOBmTmGdfCm3D6Ik4/s1600/IMG_1305.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Batt separated into sections and ready to spin.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDQmC2ZQ2aey5AmluaR17QtsULRI1-Uyn0NHycDohaLOo9naOhO4TN0GCpRbA1vxHTftzcVk6m9H6zQ5haBonTvuSB-LHtCao4-s6KOLgwKC508KeNcSduoiDvPm1WMtgDY5kHf8UJgbs/s1600/IMG_1306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDQmC2ZQ2aey5AmluaR17QtsULRI1-Uyn0NHycDohaLOo9naOhO4TN0GCpRbA1vxHTftzcVk6m9H6zQ5haBonTvuSB-LHtCao4-s6KOLgwKC508KeNcSduoiDvPm1WMtgDY5kHf8UJgbs/s1600/IMG_1306.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yarn still on the spool! One single yarn spun and one to go, <br />
so they can be plied and knitted. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdveej_oK0du3-_Orx8CL6rUnV4ScA3RebZKi62MnrYWAT_MTQ8f8tdjzy_kaTYzNfaPsS0Rn-zGd7RX2WU_SQZaV1GqqmFLT-uipM_jjfLEH-6ep0z1zy72FBG7_lQLMpPT89aATdYD8/s1600/IMG_1315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdveej_oK0du3-_Orx8CL6rUnV4ScA3RebZKi62MnrYWAT_MTQ8f8tdjzy_kaTYzNfaPsS0Rn-zGd7RX2WU_SQZaV1GqqmFLT-uipM_jjfLEH-6ep0z1zy72FBG7_lQLMpPT89aATdYD8/s1600/IMG_1315.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plied, washed and drying! It's yarn and it will soon be a scarf!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_T_0GGtI3uMAM8JYWb0qXavZBmAK7tzujumEuY-z0Dv_JMf3sewDb0YmH-IG7sJqWQqgNBDyyP5UEffl-BnabEFUvamAwKDhaWlBlyOFny3cxMOrB26DZHxt-y4JoKB4Zp4hZ2bwGZfE/s1600/IMG_1329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_T_0GGtI3uMAM8JYWb0qXavZBmAK7tzujumEuY-z0Dv_JMf3sewDb0YmH-IG7sJqWQqgNBDyyP5UEffl-BnabEFUvamAwKDhaWlBlyOFny3cxMOrB26DZHxt-y4JoKB4Zp4hZ2bwGZfE/s1600/IMG_1329.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Knitting the scarf! It's Christmas Eve!!!!!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvsAR3Kc56yQIFYlqNxHCREDmHYbMuuF9xpPTf0d5IL5j_8akC4-v_USLZrCstj30RSkWyDx0G7NbkJhf89Nj_FsDBKeBfZMiaJyUZ-bRi0_4NQaQ4ozDuLseT_e-5x5vR8RslXDonU8/s1600/IMG_1188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvsAR3Kc56yQIFYlqNxHCREDmHYbMuuF9xpPTf0d5IL5j_8akC4-v_USLZrCstj30RSkWyDx0G7NbkJhf89Nj_FsDBKeBfZMiaJyUZ-bRi0_4NQaQ4ozDuLseT_e-5x5vR8RslXDonU8/s1600/IMG_1188.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> I spun enough of Lefty (white) and Sam (med brown)<br />
so I could use some of all three for the fringe and Bill got his scarf made from all three boys!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5SbfxycjEgHtLL_H809tS8gLtZPK4BKf2ijCmrEpTsFVr4j3oxad2-TcJmTZPKr2MI_s-r1zuQ5uV0XN5klt2x2PWMgSwK09gDCpkK28H1yiq6wNTFHNZLmMDg79zdl3qyHG7MzoT5RA/s1600/IMG_1346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5SbfxycjEgHtLL_H809tS8gLtZPK4BKf2ijCmrEpTsFVr4j3oxad2-TcJmTZPKr2MI_s-r1zuQ5uV0XN5klt2x2PWMgSwK09gDCpkK28H1yiq6wNTFHNZLmMDg79zdl3qyHG7MzoT5RA/s1600/IMG_1346.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
Finished and ready for Christmas</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuarH5_vHLRPXRLsBPTh6U72V_PNeAlzj1mL2a9kfogaYUVoDW7zZCK8q14X4M8aIaEnkFJ7p2ZCDYeV0D5o1ECRB27H33whvIeRmV4ck0BgwwsryTOfodBS-_h5ys-6WWr9btnCB_Xa8/s1600/IMG_1376.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuarH5_vHLRPXRLsBPTh6U72V_PNeAlzj1mL2a9kfogaYUVoDW7zZCK8q14X4M8aIaEnkFJ7p2ZCDYeV0D5o1ECRB27H33whvIeRmV4ck0BgwwsryTOfodBS-_h5ys-6WWr9btnCB_Xa8/s1600/IMG_1376.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Modeling his scarf Christmas morning! I think it was only worn once<br />
here in Texas, but it got good use on his trips to Canada. </td></tr>
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Mission complete! To finish out 2013 I'm going to do one more post with various pictures from the year! It will follow soon - I promise!<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/286/3100674823AA1E900DEFB8AADAF1F26C.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Bev Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04172649421847654830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188194038537099313.post-1027855372827862272014-10-11T20:39:00.000-05:002014-10-11T21:22:31.319-05:00Fiber Show & Shearing Prep ( Another draft found that just needs to be posted)Ok - this is crazy, I just found this draft and it was from April 2013! It had such fun stuff in it about my first fiber show experience that I just have to go ahead and post it now.<br />
Oh, my goodness, tell me it's not true that my last post was February 16th! Well, that's on this blog - you know I couldn't be quiet for that long. If you want to catch up on my life, check out <b><i><a href="http://victoryalpacas.blogspot.com/">Jack and the Alpacas</a></i></b>, you'll find the link on the side of this blog. Anyway, I'm here because I've actually taken a weekend to think of creating and not just caring for animals!<br />
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To say the boys have been time consuming is an understatement. It hasn't just been hands on, in fact, there's been very little hands on! The boys have not yet learned to like my touching them. They have grown accustomed to their new home and us and will come up to us, but we better watch our hands and not reach out - off they go running to the far corner!<br />
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So for the last two months I have made a couple of cards and a simple little scrapbook for a friend to celebrate her new grand baby. Other than that, my creative process has been used on fencing and flooring and how to help an alpaca learn to trust me so I can put a halter on. Put it on them, not me! Sometimes I think that would be easier - let them lead me around! lol<br />
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Anyway, shearing is coming soon and I know these boys will be glad to drop their three - five pounds of fiber and be cooler for the summer. It's better for us to wait until middle of May, but circumstances this year set the date to April 30. And believe it or not they had frost on their backs Saturday morning. Surely that will be the last time this year, but glad they still had their fiber. I certainly do wander, this is supposed to be about their fiber I'm soon to have in my house instead on the hoof!<br />
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This weekend I went to the <a href="http://www.yellowrosefiberproducers.com/">Yellow Rose Fiber Producers Fiesta</a> in Seguin, TX. The <a href="http://www.bbhalpacas.com/">Bluebonnet Hills Alpaca Ranch</a> where I bought my boys had a booth with their gorgeous fiber for sale and were set up with the wool store <a href="http://www.wcmercantile.com/">W. C Mercantile</a> right beside them. I bought my first hand carders and got a quick lesson from Katie a remarkable 21 year old "fiber genius". She's been knitting since 8 and now spins, dyes and teaches how to begin the process. All this and college too! She is a wonder. Of course, I was especially drawn to her as that's my "perfect" granddaughter's name and the same kind of joy!<br />
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I was blown away by the array of fiber! It was like walking into a rainbow and the friendliest people I've ever met at a show of any sort. Everyone wanted to help me learn, no question went unanswered and I learned so much. After much walking around and my carding lesson, I went to my class on drop spindle spinning! It was a small class of about six of us, all of which knitted, except me! The first thing we were told to do once we had seen the beautiful fiber she brought for us to use and were introduced to the spindle, was to make a slip knot. For most of you that probably sounds like a simple instruction, but I just sat there with a blank look on my face as five other ladies quickly made their knot and slipped it over the top of the spindle. I just had to take a deep breath and say, "I'm sorry, but what is a slip knot?" Heads spun and the woman next for me showed me how. Not that I remembered later, but she helped the class move along with her help. No one ask why I wouldn't know how to do that if I was a knitter and if I wasn't a knitter why was I taking this class.<br />
<br />
From that point on we were all beginners and I loved the process of spinning with this old and simple method. I actually made decent single ply yarn. Our teacher showed us another type of spindle called a Turkish spindle (no idea why it's called that) and it was interesting, but then she said, "You start it with a half hitch! Well, in my mind that was out of the question - another knot! No way!<br />
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Class ended and I headed over to show my progress to my friends and I saw the "Jeri Brock Woodworks" booth and had just been given a 10% discount on spindles so I stopped. What beautiful spindles! All hand made by Jeri of beautiful woods and I knew I had to have one. So I was preparing to ask about them when my spinning instructor appeared. She said, "hello and ask if I liked the spindle?" I said, "They were beautiful" and ask Jeri to help me find what I needed. Now this is the fun part! Jeri said, "What type of yarn do you want as that determines the type of spindle?" I looked at her with those same blank look I had over the slip knot! She looked at me and said, "What do you knit?" I loudly exclaimed, "Oh my, I don't knit!" I wish you could have seen the look on her face! Her eyes were wide open with surprise and wonderment and the heads in every booth around us had spun around! My instructor simply said, "She just got alpacas and is starting the process from the opposite direction than most of us!" I loved this comment and we had a big laugh and Jeri proceeded to introduce me to the many types of spindles and when she showed me the simple process of making a ball of yarn as you spin with the Turkish spindle I was sold! She showed me the half hitch knot ( this will be a separate post) and I got my first Turkish spindle. Jeri hand carves all of her spindles and they are beautiful. I got one with cutouts of Texas, but it won't be my last and so I will be collecting many of her designs. She encouraged me to spin for at least 10 minutes every day for seven days and I would be shocked at how much better I would be!<br />
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We will see!<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/286/3100674823AA1E900DEFB8AADAF1F26C.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a><br />
Foot Note October 2014 - Just took two art yarn classes and by the middle of the second one realized that one of the women was my drop spindle teacher at the Seguin Show! Amazing how things come full circle! I have not added any drop spindles, but by that August I had added a spinning wheel! Never really got the hang of the drop spindle, but you will see that I learned to love to spin with my "Country Spinner" wheel. Art yarn here we come!!!!Bev Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04172649421847654830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188194038537099313.post-61186890656518455052014-10-11T19:53:00.001-05:002014-10-11T20:00:08.637-05:00Year End Catch Up (Started December 2013)I just started to do a huge catch up post, when I discovered I had written this one in December 2013, saved it as a draft and never hit publish. I decided it should be posted - after all, late is better than never and I can continue the update from here! So here is last December's post!<br />
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Oh my goodness, I just looked at my blog and saw I hadn't posted since July! This is crazy as I've probably taken a hundred pictures or more since then and soooo much has happened. Well, that's an exaggeration, but there is some catching up to do.<br />
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I think the most important thing is as I said in the last post - the boys are officially ours. It was this time last year that we picked them out of the herd and chose their names. We voted on what to name them - would it be Willie and Waylon or Pancho and Lefty as they hadn't been registered. Pancho and Lefty won. Sam was was already registered and so no name change could be made. It is amazing to me that we're quickly creeping up on a year since they moved to our property. There have been ups and downs, but mostly ups and I'm comfortable now with them being livestock and not house pets!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9FtNcJ7tqO-E-T1rERUX0o9BUt5jsAAVZ0TzutU-u0HTDlxeS7r9lDGq23gdR52gxOYkRHGrFbLL9esWaxoa2rg4CR40yZJqW6g3xWugwS4yUjmPrpv6Ot1Ow7B4Qr6YqHwJQVBs8E88/s1600/IMG_9703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9FtNcJ7tqO-E-T1rERUX0o9BUt5jsAAVZ0TzutU-u0HTDlxeS7r9lDGq23gdR52gxOYkRHGrFbLL9esWaxoa2rg4CR40yZJqW6g3xWugwS4yUjmPrpv6Ot1Ow7B4Qr6YqHwJQVBs8E88/s1600/IMG_9703.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>They still don't want me to touch them, but will put up with it occasionally. They do come up close to Jack with a fence between them, but would run like crazy if he got on their side! They love to get a bite or two of food from my hand, but it's only done as a rare treat. I don't have to call them in any more - they see me heading to the barn and they head there too. I don't have to rush to close the gates, they have never headed back out, but rather watch what ever I'm doing and patiently wait for their dinner.<br />
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In the summer to help with the Texas heat we hose them. It's lots of fun for them and for me. That's the one time that they don't care how close I get as long as I spray their legs and tummies with water. Pancho loves to lay down and have me place the hose under his tummy ! They all have very different personalities, but, that doesn't keep them from being the best of buds! The two younger ones love to run and chase each other and play alpaca games. Sam is a year older and he runs with them some, but mostly watches them with wonderment! I realized one night when I was with them that the two of us (Sam and I) were like we were at a tennis match watching them run by following them with our heads back and forth! I got a big laugh out of it and I almost think Sam did too.<br />
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And so we approach the first anniversary much happier on all sides. We're growing used to each other and our ways. I put up with them and they put up with me and secretly we love each other!<br />
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So to catch up I'm just going to post some pictures taken since July and wish everyone a Happy New Year - I will try to be more faithful with posting next year!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPChLIdlgY54t-OIKNlrl81M9j0VbWSd5d5zFujgytH8bsFOIyE6UEWKy6swmqb66QYJ588I-isLLmh701bkAA3A3nbC8WyH6nyEJFQ2oIpupwNIUxa_TsU42PCB-5h_uG_oy6WkKMUU/s1600/DSC_2275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPChLIdlgY54t-OIKNlrl81M9j0VbWSd5d5zFujgytH8bsFOIyE6UEWKy6swmqb66QYJ588I-isLLmh701bkAA3A3nbC8WyH6nyEJFQ2oIpupwNIUxa_TsU42PCB-5h_uG_oy6WkKMUU/s320/DSC_2275.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coming in for dinner - love that full moon!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg28FblTEwGnDOuSlbWlNfJOa89xS-rer1Lit8vffGvIbPhZCG4ns9ANfC4OEHAfkZR3g8XL-klUlYOS1G5KCJFcJFDes1MeRcR-chDN20gi_sJ7jq3GzByJuMXdVEGx1mhV7QcLgbEnNk/s1600/DSC_2291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg28FblTEwGnDOuSlbWlNfJOa89xS-rer1Lit8vffGvIbPhZCG4ns9ANfC4OEHAfkZR3g8XL-klUlYOS1G5KCJFcJFDes1MeRcR-chDN20gi_sJ7jq3GzByJuMXdVEGx1mhV7QcLgbEnNk/s320/DSC_2291.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looks like snow - it's just frost and they love it!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyKGEDUP4b5irOSxQL7N1EAoNo0m4zFt0AJdFqsKdN_dnEvbVsKL_8kUxWJxj780D9cW8PAecGTTrxiQbu1AiJJoEvajgKb3xWgGP__QSKvXbvICxbOowPW2yZYN3AZS7nYLtQ-1aeVDU/s1600/IMG_8356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyKGEDUP4b5irOSxQL7N1EAoNo0m4zFt0AJdFqsKdN_dnEvbVsKL_8kUxWJxj780D9cW8PAecGTTrxiQbu1AiJJoEvajgKb3xWgGP__QSKvXbvICxbOowPW2yZYN3AZS7nYLtQ-1aeVDU/s320/IMG_8356.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet face - oh my - makes my heart melt!</td></tr>
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Well, we all know how that promise to post more worked out! LOL There will be another post, maybe even tonight that will pick up where this one left off and catch you up with my life with the pacas!<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/286/3100674823AA1E900DEFB8AADAF1F26C.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Bev Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04172649421847654830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188194038537099313.post-61033334908539325292013-07-14T20:29:00.001-05:002013-07-14T20:29:38.361-05:00Officially Our BoysWell, as many of you know we've been praying hard about the boys and whether it was the right decision to add them to our family and Thursday for no apparent reason I knew they were here to stay! Maybe it was a look, maybe it was the way they come running when they see me outside (well, some of the time) or maybe God just gave me the peace I needed, but I knew deep in my heart that they are our boys!<br />
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And so that made me think - what about those "three bags full" sitting in the house. I can't ignore them any longer or before I know it there will be six bags full and that is not good. I've been looking at drum carders to process the fiber myself and so I headed to WC Mercantile, my favorite little wool shop, and spent Friday afternoon with Stephanie owner and a great knowledge source. We looked at carders and the type of yarn and batts I want to make and I am excited. I drove back to Navasoto Saturday and took a drop spindle class so I can brush up on drafting fiber in prep of an all day class next Saturday on Intro to a Wheel. Found one I like, felt good to peddle and it's very modern looking and spins the big fat art yarn, but won't buy one until I've taken the class. The store will let me borrow the wheel for the class! Can't wait, I am so excited.<br />
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The following week I'll take a class with Diana North that makes the most beautiful batts and art yarn. That class covers dying to spinning, so hopefully in a few weeks I will know what on earth I'm going to do with my three bags full and anxiously be waiting for next May and the next batch.<br />
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So I must say it's a good feeling to be settled in our decision and looking forward. The boys arrived 5 months ago, well, on the 16th. They seem to like living here now and Bill and I both seem to enjoy them more every day. Even Jack and the boys are become through the fence friends. They love to sniff noses.<br />
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And so I close tonight relaxed and crazy about our boys! It has rained for the first time in weeks and their area is under water, but I've fed them and know they have the raised deck and the concrete to get on to stay drive if they want and if they want to lay out in the puddles - well that's ok too. Guess I'm finally relaxed with livestock! Now that's definitely a God thing!!!! <br />
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And might I say the rain in an answered prayer! So I close with thank you God for the boys and thank you for the rain and all of the other many, many other blessings.<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/286/3100674823AA1E900DEFB8AADAF1F26C.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Bev Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04172649421847654830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188194038537099313.post-75272259911146992002013-06-22T22:14:00.000-05:002013-06-22T22:14:10.467-05:00Near Catastrophe!Last Friday night I was in California and Bill was at home alone with Jack and the Alpacas! This week I was at home with him and we are thankful that the near catastrophe happened when we were both here. <br />
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Jack and I had been out in the back yard visiting with the pacas at the picket fence while dinner finished cooking. The boys all came over and sniffed him through the fence and he had a blast. We went in and the boys went back to grazing. Dinner was ready and Bill went to the kitchen sink to wash his hands and suddenly said, "Bev, I think Lefty has his head caught in the fence!" I ran out the back door through two gates and got to the back of him. Bill ran to the fence and tried to quiet him. He had apparently tried to sniff a sunflower and had stretched his neck up and over the fence and when he came down his neck slid between the pickets! He was trying to pull his head out by moving straight back and he was stuck! Sammy and Pancho were watching him carefully and Lefty was beginning to panic! As was I. I ran up behind him pushed him toward the fence and lifted him up all at one time and his head popped up and out! He was fine and I took them to the back and locked the gates. Gave them some food and sat with them for awhile to be sure he was ok. My heart was pounding! I may not understand why I have them, but I can tell you this showed me how much I love them!<br />
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It was a miracle that Bill saw him so soon after it happened and we thanked God all night and still are today! We also got chicken wire today 12" wide and folded it over the top of the pickets so we don't have to think about this again, but it shows that things can happen so quickly! And, we really need to look at all parts of the yard and fencing! So scary, but so thankful that all is well.<br />
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I had expected to start writing about my incredible four days in Oregon at the Camelidynamics Clinic, but before I had a chance to think it all out - we had our scare - so next week I hope to start sharing the goodies I learned and some amazing pictures. For tonight - I just share a picture of my boys and their current "tenant!" <br />
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Sleep well, more soon!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see how that long neck could slip into a picket space! EEK!!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cottontail been traveling all over the pasture - boys totally ignore!</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/286/3100674823AA1E900DEFB8AADAF1F26C.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Bev Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04172649421847654830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188194038537099313.post-80259749473504724692013-06-13T07:47:00.001-05:002013-06-13T07:47:51.340-05:00Fiber - Finally Digging in to the Three Bags Full!If you read or follow both of my blogs you will be seeing double! This post fits the creative blog and the boys blog so I'm using it on both. I've never done that, but as they say there's always a first time!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRvS36FlP-RnvoId6H9e5BPOV6gmfyZTBdrGmYbTICh2OZi9wPka692ZceF5XKuf5Zvb7g2DHtmeD_21miE4DGRvzELeiogL5yQ_X_YEGFT7tTOYD2FvjFPuyvSYIj8r2mE31yOBafjA/s1600/IMG_9454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRvS36FlP-RnvoId6H9e5BPOV6gmfyZTBdrGmYbTICh2OZi9wPka692ZceF5XKuf5Zvb7g2DHtmeD_21miE4DGRvzELeiogL5yQ_X_YEGFT7tTOYD2FvjFPuyvSYIj8r2mE31yOBafjA/s320/IMG_9454.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starting fiber</td></tr>
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The boys were sheared in April and I have three bags full of their blanket fiber, plus two smaller bags from their legs and neck. I just love saying three bags full - makes me think of that sweet nursery rhyme, Baa Baa Black Sheep have you any wool, but I digress. On the third day of classes in Bend we will learn to assist our shearer, to sort, clean,to card, and even needle felt some of the fiber. I don't want to get there and say I have three bags full but I've never touched it except to sort and put in bags, so today was the day to put my hands on it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj60OMyGxpI75PSiGYpdy2fJ5rzulxbbHbRkW2burKgDhaj1eBmaGjeFhK0TUZeW-zCyNIOV7d2O3e5JiSxlqZgnSUHEbUzbDpzwHqeRewqAWydr9KUBZmUIA2ZmEXFMxITRWc0mFocppk/s1600/IMG_9452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj60OMyGxpI75PSiGYpdy2fJ5rzulxbbHbRkW2burKgDhaj1eBmaGjeFhK0TUZeW-zCyNIOV7d2O3e5JiSxlqZgnSUHEbUzbDpzwHqeRewqAWydr9KUBZmUIA2ZmEXFMxITRWc0mFocppk/s320/IMG_9452.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hand Carders</td></tr>
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I pulled out some of the blanket fiber from Lefty's bag. Pretty and white, but with lots of vegetative matter aka vm. So I started by just pulling it a part with my hands, making it light and fluffy and pulling out little pieces of dried grass and twigs.<br />
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Next, I used my hand carders. They also make hand crank ones and electric ones (very, very expensive), but, for once, I decided to see if I liked doing the fiber myself or would I choose to send it to a mill for processing before I jump up in cost. I had so much fun today and saw how slow this process would be - fine for a little, but I see a hand crank carder in my future!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBdjFomsxc-GBWESOGjcbcq4RE1vTDaFNugtIISfV6QRvtHQ3w2Zyno6XITyEdpiGgIHY5rbSupGNkh51LguYKvJOXG2pZVnE_Rhj5L-Z63BCjSgFrnqeD3rj4TgqKO9Q9h-0n1U03sA/s1600/IMG_9456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBdjFomsxc-GBWESOGjcbcq4RE1vTDaFNugtIISfV6QRvtHQ3w2Zyno6XITyEdpiGgIHY5rbSupGNkh51LguYKvJOXG2pZVnE_Rhj5L-Z63BCjSgFrnqeD3rj4TgqKO9Q9h-0n1U03sA/s320/IMG_9456.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blanket left to card does not<br />include the legs or neck!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYmonrfnLYWefaSreo7yFaDptHwb79qiNhSBO_xJ4uWwPrtPqzHvGaDeZw_NP4oGFjHFb8nL8OJFz18Qiw2eu_utuGPM3oF8Kj08ER9LJFl1YueMRop8BdCpUFBJo6HUhJZEbdk_InmhE/s1600/IMG_9453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYmonrfnLYWefaSreo7yFaDptHwb79qiNhSBO_xJ4uWwPrtPqzHvGaDeZw_NP4oGFjHFb8nL8OJFz18Qiw2eu_utuGPM3oF8Kj08ER9LJFl1YueMRop8BdCpUFBJo6HUhJZEbdk_InmhE/s320/IMG_9453.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roving - ready to spin or felt</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSz-HkN2QdTn2e_VYB7xazf6m7J50KBQ2s8Vnmj5D6l1JCtPStffT5nTyvpSF6XCdwQ3HMp1onOnz5lOyHOHAF_rtPiqmg7SEGo0zUDs6m-zRqyAORCQ25-OYUMpoH1FY8H_oHgfrnTY/s1600/IMG_9449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSz-HkN2QdTn2e_VYB7xazf6m7J50KBQ2s8Vnmj5D6l1JCtPStffT5nTyvpSF6XCdwQ3HMp1onOnz5lOyHOHAF_rtPiqmg7SEGo0zUDs6m-zRqyAORCQ25-OYUMpoH1FY8H_oHgfrnTY/s320/IMG_9449.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trash after carding</td></tr>
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It took about 10-20 passes with the carders to get out vm I wanted out and even with that there are a<br />
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few specks, but for the most part it's clean. When I was finished I had two small pieces of roving. This can now be used to spin directly from the roving or use for needle felting or other crafty things. Pictures show how much I started with, how much vm came out of it, the carders and the finished product. And it took about an hour or maybe more! And then there's what I have left of Lefty's blanket and remember I have two more bags from the other boys, plus all of the legs and neck bags and so you see why there is a hand crank carder in my future!<br />
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The boys had lots of visitors this week and so more about that coming soon, with some fun pictures. And I leave for Bend tomorrow! Exciting time for me - haven't been away from home for 6 days in a long, long time! I'll miss all of my boys and Bill will be doing alpaca duty while I'm gone! The hottest week of the year! Keep him in your prayers!<br />
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Bev Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04172649421847654830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188194038537099313.post-67078030674208186812013-06-10T09:48:00.000-05:002013-06-10T09:48:00.684-05:00The Weekend and Preparing for CameldynamicsGreat weekend with the boys! They have come a long ways since February 16th and, of course, so have I. First and foremost, I no longer expect them to be a dog. haha Actually, that's kind of true - not that I wanted a big dog, but I did want them to come running and be so excited that I had given them a nice home. And I must admit, they seem much happier now that I let them just be alpacas.<br />
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I have a rubber stamp that says "Be Yourself - You are Most Qualified for the Job!" Point is that's not just for us, it's for our pets too! It seems to be human nature to want to try and change those around us, including our dogs and cats and even alpacas!<br />
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The boys are even getting friendlier with first time visitors and a little food in a hand goes along way in making friends with an alpaca. Seems like only yesterday that they finally ate out of my hand and then I had to stop because they got so impatient with each other that some spitting began! Not at me, but at each other and well, it's easy to get in the way! LOL So, yes, a little chewed up green grass sometimes landed on me too! Not my favorite thing, so I stopped the hand feeding. Now I can do it again and they take turns for a small amount each and then go to their bowls for the rest. <br />
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Yesterday we had friends out with their little girl. She's about six and cute as a button. She met the boys for the first time and like always the boys were very curious about her. They seem to be fascinated with children and they came right over to investigate her. After she had spent some time around them and I told her all about them I put some food in her little hand and Sam came right over and ate it. He's the most gentle with eating and it actually sort of tickles and she loved it! I did not have my camera with me and so no picture until next time! :(<br />
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And now on to the subject at hand! I leave this Friday for Bend, Oregon! I'm going out for alpaca handling classes! I got an email from Marty, my soon to be instructor, on Saturday and she said, "Summer is here!" And then what caught my attention was that it's now in the 40's at night rather than the 30's! What?????? Well, glad I didn't just read the summer part and pack like summer here! I would have been buying some winter (for me) clothes for sure. So I pulled up the weather for Friday - Wednesday and found that the warmest day 74 and coolest night 36. Needless to say jeans rather than shorts and jackets and sweaters are in order. I am excited - from 90 something to 70 something with a 30-40 thrown in at night and no humidity - will I come back? I just don't know - maybe in October!<br />
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The goal of the classes is to learn how to handle alpacas with respect for who/what they are and earn their trust. We will see! They already are much improved and follow me all around the pasture, and even have begun to let me touch them occasionally, but usually when my hand goes out they move away and I want/need to be able to halter and lead them without stress to them or me. Actually as I write this I'm thinking - maybe this is all about a trip to Oregon for me!! No really I want the boys to be used for homeschooler visits and maybe even be able to take them out to schools and at the least the vet and shearing without traumatizing them and me. And so, off I go! It will be fun and I will come back smarter and hopefully after some time they will let me and others give them a pet on the head and not be quite so afraid.<br />
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And, Bill, will be an experienced caretaker by the time I return! He will be feeding, hosing and cleaning up after them for the duration - bet he will want me back before October. Of course, he'll have Jack too - oh yeah, he'll come get me if I'm not on that plane Wednesday!!!! He actually already helps with them all a lot and two of the days are weekend, so he'll be just fine and maybe even in the habit of cleaning up the pacapoo! No that won't happen, but a girl can dream.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAzCi-sCZsDstwxoxFvofSeqPSgw0mSpE7FNK-OKzYS0moObhVsu2sCivc1811KFI37HTbzGKvBTwZCzYgmUUN4T-t784cv47FMHzmlOsLZKiYXvqg63_eay_Q7lMb87jWfsuG7MhhM6E/s1600/IMG_9421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAzCi-sCZsDstwxoxFvofSeqPSgw0mSpE7FNK-OKzYS0moObhVsu2sCivc1811KFI37HTbzGKvBTwZCzYgmUUN4T-t784cv47FMHzmlOsLZKiYXvqg63_eay_Q7lMb87jWfsuG7MhhM6E/s320/IMG_9421.jpg" width="240" /></a>Speaking of Jack I used him as a measuring stick for the weeping willow we planted two weeks ago. Yes, it's that little twig right behind his head and yes it has leaves - just dont show well against the grass! Planted three weeping willows this size and 20 hybrid willows down the side of the pasture that holds water! Supposed to grow really fast - many feet in one year - so we will see! <br />
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Squatter Update - only two hatched - I thought there were three, but no - just two and momma and papa aren't as happy when I'm in the area as they were - a little dive bombing took place the other day when I wanted a newer picture. So I'm steering clear and letting them raise their family without my further interference. They don't seem to mind the pacas walking back and forth - another case of animals/birds etc. knowing what's a predator and what's not. Example: the boys don't care if a rabbit runs all around them, but don't let a cat come within 200 feet or an alarm is given!<br />
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Lots to do and I must get started doing it! Later!<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/286/3100674823AA1E900DEFB8AADAF1F26C.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Bev Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04172649421847654830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188194038537099313.post-7211253087782091152013-06-07T12:03:00.001-05:002013-06-07T12:03:14.703-05:00Squatters!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiubeHIwCIdAxliIwa_AyND4ZWq00CuCv1scpojWhKswVs4mpC9m4wjMrMAyUHJ4pKvPxI0CqqbhB9abgJfvY16vV4Vbhg46DFefG4p_OIS0dYVudiJXVo2b1G9hDE7jQKQCeCEX55gZqI/s1600/DSC_1319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiubeHIwCIdAxliIwa_AyND4ZWq00CuCv1scpojWhKswVs4mpC9m4wjMrMAyUHJ4pKvPxI0CqqbhB9abgJfvY16vV4Vbhg46DFefG4p_OIS0dYVudiJXVo2b1G9hDE7jQKQCeCEX55gZqI/s320/DSC_1319.JPG" width="320" /></a>I started to title this renters, but they're not paying, so I changed it to squatters! What ever you call then, the boys have guests in their stable! A most unlikely place for mockingbirds to build a nest, but a next they have built.<br />
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Several weeks ago when we needed to keep the boys dry and it decided to rain each day, we changed their living quarters. We stretched a roll of wire fencing across the concrete that makes the covered area at the back of the barn. Their stall is a step down from this area and has a dirt floor and raised area for a dry spot and can be closed off from the pasture. We closed the gate and gave them the concrete and their stall the couple of nights before shearing.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvi_chuFaWOtsZkmY1YZCJDkMsdF-DvxDyGN3KNPpZ8v07LX4YYaG8LHyeEtd_DbwVkatNer6Fxiy1wB79dlOaj8n4I48RR7yK53fRWXAgNjI9k-9Hn37_HaHsOy7nVTzVlt9WTIqNmuo/s1600/DSC_1323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvi_chuFaWOtsZkmY1YZCJDkMsdF-DvxDyGN3KNPpZ8v07LX4YYaG8LHyeEtd_DbwVkatNer6Fxiy1wB79dlOaj8n4I48RR7yK53fRWXAgNjI9k-9Hn37_HaHsOy7nVTzVlt9WTIqNmuo/s320/DSC_1323.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbL347HT2hLYZzbsbGKExhLtp8Wxfc3SajysReXwtSPIbiK9FJiCoV2DAP1wjF35oSyb63YGvXvDGx1NGdfRIJ2i82psq5Va5qwkkeM7-McNAKcTighrwJMJCe8l6-DvzDfh8SGGPGs1w/s1600/IMG_9373.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbL347HT2hLYZzbsbGKExhLtp8Wxfc3SajysReXwtSPIbiK9FJiCoV2DAP1wjF35oSyb63YGvXvDGx1NGdfRIJ2i82psq5Va5qwkkeM7-McNAKcTighrwJMJCe8l6-DvzDfh8SGGPGs1w/s320/IMG_9373.jpg" width="320" /></a>We stretched the fence across as a temporary measure (or so we thought, but more about that later) and so we didn't cut the wire from the roll when we reached the end. We just fastened it to a post and let it stand.<br />
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A week or so ago I saw twigs around the top of the fencing and pulled them off. Then I looked down inside and saw a nest had been built. It was empty!<br />
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Then I found it with four eggs!<br />
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And as of this picture we had two eggs and two babies! Last night I looked and there were three chicks and one egg. I haven't looked today and am trying to be careful so mom and dad take care of these babies. Mockingbirds are known for being mean (protective) but they aren't bothering the boys who walk by and stand by the nest off and on all day and I'm out there quite a bit and they just sit on the fence down a few feet and watch me.<br />
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Last year they built a next in a basket on my back porch right under our kitchen window! Not the smartest birds - but after flying off the next every time I walked up to the sink - they finally had four little guys hatch - so I'm hoping this year they have the same success.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMS-W3Ct2kswZdzzzf2vk-VG5CXxEqZYofAh8HJzDBmLWVDSQMVWseN2rsA8drWYgr8QTrxDXdqNlcZPWADc4P-yBM5ZZmAwk0yr9GTGlB-otxvfCRlQTdYGM_6Q1nTw6-A5YeZmMu1y4/s1600/DSC_1325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMS-W3Ct2kswZdzzzf2vk-VG5CXxEqZYofAh8HJzDBmLWVDSQMVWseN2rsA8drWYgr8QTrxDXdqNlcZPWADc4P-yBM5ZZmAwk0yr9GTGlB-otxvfCRlQTdYGM_6Q1nTw6-A5YeZmMu1y4/s320/DSC_1325.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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My friend Becky saw the nest last Friday and was thrilled when I sent her a picture of chicks. She suggested I might want to change the name of my blog, but I'm hoping they don't hang around that long. We've become quite a wildlife yard though as we now have many small rabbits and one very big momma! Thankfully I don't have a garden this year or my lettuce would be gone! I don't have pictures of the rabbits - they're way too quick, but I'll keep trying because these babies are sooo cute!<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/286/3100674823AA1E900DEFB8AADAF1F26C.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Bev Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04172649421847654830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188194038537099313.post-65821799557800512982013-06-07T07:50:00.000-05:002013-06-07T07:50:24.078-05:00Hosed Down!It's getting hot in Texas! I am happy to say that it stayed cooler this year than it has for the past few years, but those cool days are gone and the boys are thankful that they are sheared. It is already growing out and I can only imagine how they will feel in September, but for now we will do all we can to keep them comfortable.<br />
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We have two primary ways of treating them to a cooler day and and night - one is a fan blowing all of the time and the other is hosing their legs and tummies!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7e711QlrSuITSW48DBcmZeTlNCf5Y_5oeoDCl-iVrZ977KmpHFTpXr9EoJvOGTkkJwbgiv0C98gAY5T-gV0tsyGPbCHhp2ImGC5TYjTd9xv6TnFN9r6lujdQmzwYRxxyiA5tv4qY1iU/s1600/IMG_9375.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7e711QlrSuITSW48DBcmZeTlNCf5Y_5oeoDCl-iVrZ977KmpHFTpXr9EoJvOGTkkJwbgiv0C98gAY5T-gV0tsyGPbCHhp2ImGC5TYjTd9xv6TnFN9r6lujdQmzwYRxxyiA5tv4qY1iU/s320/IMG_9375.jpg" width="240" /></a>We turned the fans on a couple of weeks ago during the day, but it's now on full time. They go out to the pasture and graze and come back to the cool concrete to rest in front of the fan. Sam is definitely the fan hog and so we will probably be adding still another one soon.<br />
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The spraying of their tummies and legs had me concerned, remember they don't always like what I do to them and so I emailed Laurence with my concerns. His reply - just turn on the hose and aim at their legs - they may even remember it from last year! <br />
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A few days later we had 20 new trees (twigs) put in the ground. We put along side of them to protect them from the pacas and I decided I should water them in really well. I stretched three water hoses across the pasture and turned them on. Suddenly I knew there was someone (thing) behind me and there they stood! I turned around and turned the hose on Sammy's legs - he reared up and then came down turning each side to side to be sure all legs got the water. The other two were a little more shy, but came toward the hose. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ7mgGZFb3At5k2zUW6MxgBuulZnfwzcTkXCaltAaWgulBZLDKSAxCbOSEdkvaklISQX3S34Z8aNzL-qtOA1Xv34one_W20zYc8vufWj5W5CuCtUuQfn6PWH5xBt6lv7sCe0CHakCqAdM/s1600/IMG_9380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ7mgGZFb3At5k2zUW6MxgBuulZnfwzcTkXCaltAaWgulBZLDKSAxCbOSEdkvaklISQX3S34Z8aNzL-qtOA1Xv34one_W20zYc8vufWj5W5CuCtUuQfn6PWH5xBt6lv7sCe0CHakCqAdM/s320/IMG_9380.JPG" width="320" /></a>Pancho cushes down the minute the water hits his legs and wants the water right under his stomach creating a cool puddle. He's the one that loves puddles when it rains and Lefty goes back and forth from standing and cushing. Funny boys.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5c-u1KIHrIri2Z00kMt49QQyRw3tC-Zs5mYi49oZWhijj0FAcd3zl3SzPyxy7SHU4gGYajeA9Of07Sh2IybAMdlBxrrRUqiCiqpXLIBUFj6W42pGgvEvcejx3K6l4U1l64FsQgsy00tE/s1600/IMG_9377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5c-u1KIHrIri2Z00kMt49QQyRw3tC-Zs5mYi49oZWhijj0FAcd3zl3SzPyxy7SHU4gGYajeA9Of07Sh2IybAMdlBxrrRUqiCiqpXLIBUFj6W42pGgvEvcejx3K6l4U1l64FsQgsy00tE/s320/IMG_9377.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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As I stood there with the water hose Sammy put his mouth to the stream of water and began to drink. We have been doing this now for about a week and the other two are now drinking from the hose, too. Pancho just learned yesterday. He's been watching the other two and finally gave it a try. He stuck his nose in and shook the water off! He did that several times, but finally got the hang of it and looked so proud of himself.<br />
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The funniest part is watching them discover that the water has been turned on. They put their heads down and get in their fastest running position and run as fast as they can to be first in line.<br />
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Now the fun part will come soon as Bill is the one to take care of them for five days! I leave a week from today for Bend, Oregon for alpaca handling training and "cool" weather. Bill will open the gates to the big pasture each morning and give them their treats and "bath" each evening. He will be glad when I get back home!<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/286/3100674823AA1E900DEFB8AADAF1F26C.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Bev Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04172649421847654830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188194038537099313.post-21044172533508563112013-05-13T10:27:00.000-05:002013-05-14T13:10:05.755-05:00Skinny Boys<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Cad09hG55nfIJAZ7mlfkTlUMwjCwyjhvvP5n4LF-gZZraD-d01XvtdOCjL05IkYXrVTM0J6Vl6Zic1fMh9bmnTpp3vDpjZx1CJ7DE_uoTaOHMQvVTMWuOdXiANPZzKylug4IKZFQDis/s1600/IMG_8982.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Cad09hG55nfIJAZ7mlfkTlUMwjCwyjhvvP5n4LF-gZZraD-d01XvtdOCjL05IkYXrVTM0J6Vl6Zic1fMh9bmnTpp3vDpjZx1CJ7DE_uoTaOHMQvVTMWuOdXiANPZzKylug4IKZFQDis/s200/IMG_8982.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Get rid of us?????? What???</td></tr>
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It's been so busy around alpaca land that I've not had a moment to post! So much has happened and I'm going to try and cover most of it, but, of course, the "shearing" is the star! <br />
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When I left off last month I was working on taxes and just about ready to be rid of the boys! They certainly haven't been what I expected, but they are my boys and I have learned to love them. For those of you who follow my Bev Ann's Mixed Bag Blog you know that I have had some tough times with them in the last month. More and more God shows me through these three guys what it's like to have trust and then have it gone in a flash and tried my patience more than I could ever have imagined, but in the grand scheme of life, it's been one big laugh! What I've learned is that I<br />
take way too many things way too seriously. They are alpacas and they are going to stay alpacas and I'm finally OK with that.LOL One day it's love and the next maybe not so much, but we're working on it!<br />
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If Bill heard me say that he would laugh, because he knows that too can change in a flash! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2Fc1tuAzojm-jooK1snq0fepz786HjzYdcwBn_MIiKe4IT2Os62Lh0IfHy7AVEHnFdPkWpHj0MQ-FS3BfGHyZHoiqN0vmoSyCnMd-zgNbC3pRKA_i_dAQ-fRgETtKVECmoqRcBsvkY4/s1600/IMG_8463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2Fc1tuAzojm-jooK1snq0fepz786HjzYdcwBn_MIiKe4IT2Os62Lh0IfHy7AVEHnFdPkWpHj0MQ-FS3BfGHyZHoiqN0vmoSyCnMd-zgNbC3pRKA_i_dAQ-fRgETtKVECmoqRcBsvkY4/s200/IMG_8463.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNAdJIVjLcLBVPqjur7GHUJR4itWLq1v4gicOWNvLZw5V_1LmizvuFJdOZIr_ejGWUsOMwiKoazd6o1SqTA6du_NNWvi5kTyNr0FloBx2pWGYTP1GSCvGAplxgFm_oyDicFRWUEKyWtE4/s1600/IMG_8425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNAdJIVjLcLBVPqjur7GHUJR4itWLq1v4gicOWNvLZw5V_1LmizvuFJdOZIr_ejGWUsOMwiKoazd6o1SqTA6du_NNWvi5kTyNr0FloBx2pWGYTP1GSCvGAplxgFm_oyDicFRWUEKyWtE4/s200/IMG_8425.jpg" width="150" /></a>The week before shearing I was working with the boys twice a day - they would come into the catch pen, I would put on their halter and lead and we would walk in circles. Lefty and Sammy actually let me pet them a little! Pancho simply thought of ways he could dig in his heels and not walk. He would finally walk as long as I held the food bowl out, but not because he wanted to. He is a stubborn little guy. As shearing day grew closer the goal was to keep them as dry and clean as possible. That's when Pancho discovered the berry brambles along the back fence. He rubbed himself in them and drug long sticks all over the field! Yes, that makes for a great fleece! I cleaned off the fence and he still found limbs who knows where, but he found them. And then on the Saturday before shearing on Tuesday the rains came. They have a nice area to stay dry and where was Pancho? He was lying in the yard in a huge puddle with water rolling past him. All three got wet, but nothing like Pancho! So on Sunday Bill and I came up with a temporary fence across the concrete part of the back overhang! We can now let them go up there and stay dry and clean limiting them to their stall and the new area! It worked as the storms on Sunday afternoon came and went and the boys were dry! So on Tuesday morning they were dry, they were somewhat clean except Sammy who had eaten something that just didn't agree with his stomach! Yes, Bill held him and, well, let's back up to Monday night!<br />
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Pancho in puddle!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5zQEuCgTQ-tbUSU3kTrBTOOyCHtHiq1zIwkaRMKM5Y_dvU2lMv3UGXzFZZ4749CE6dwJiBF9iZWXK3-R_GyVqfhrFHo70Hhw4poEslyuPFupB9F7W9qUCxz-h6LWtBHTp47lpSlN52U/s1600/DSC_1125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5zQEuCgTQ-tbUSU3kTrBTOOyCHtHiq1zIwkaRMKM5Y_dvU2lMv3UGXzFZZ4749CE6dwJiBF9iZWXK3-R_GyVqfhrFHo70Hhw4poEslyuPFupB9F7W9qUCxz-h6LWtBHTp47lpSlN52U/s200/DSC_1125.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pancho all wet with brambles!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq9u-Ohx8mAXbsKR13wz3gW9B09yIzmiKHHbGNJJapgFIl7Qb_BWpqUbZU_5z8mJ_4qEZedE0Bxl_TgX8zJ2sTeY96JZFE-tRqHg63VDyCe7lkjRVbs3f9cHEtSmfv7s5vXJcjwZtdDrM/s1600/DSC_1127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq9u-Ohx8mAXbsKR13wz3gW9B09yIzmiKHHbGNJJapgFIl7Qb_BWpqUbZU_5z8mJ_4qEZedE0Bxl_TgX8zJ2sTeY96JZFE-tRqHg63VDyCe7lkjRVbs3f9cHEtSmfv7s5vXJcjwZtdDrM/s200/DSC_1127.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lefty with his wet head!</td></tr>
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Bill ask me what time I wanted to try and load them up. What time should we get up? We wanted to be at the ranch by a little before ten and so I said if we start around 8:30 that should be plenty of time. Oh what was I thinking? I was thinking I had those perfect alpacas, you know the ones who are so thankful to be mine that they will do anything I ask them to do and do it smiling! Well, now let's move back to Tuesday morning. I've got my clean jeans on and thankfully my rubber boots when we discover the mess called Sammy! I call Laurence and find that I need to hose him off! Oh and don't forget to try and keep the blanket dry! The blanket is the main part of the fleece, the best part! And so I get their halters on and that didn't just happen, but I will spare you the details. I lock two of them in their stall and Bill holds Sammy while I hose him off! And what does every dog do when they are wet? Well, so do Alpacas!!!!! But he's as clean as I can get him (and I'm not) and we begin the walk to the trailer. It has rained so much we couldn't pull the trailer to the back, so we begin the long walk down the side of the building. Now, we're really only talking100 feet or so, bur we needed a lot of patience. Lefty and Sammy walked with Bill and I had Pancho and a food bowl. Why is there never a video camera around when we're doing something new with these boys! We would have been a You Tube hit when we finally made it to the trailer and they came to a stop. They don't want to step inside the trailer. Finally I lifted Lefty in with Bill pushing him from behind. But before we could celebrate he was back out! Finally, after we literally stopped and prayed over the boys and what we needed done they were all in and we were on our way. God is so faithful and oh by the way, it was ten o'clock! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoucqtIhzQQg9R8RUXAvPjStObyniIoMELVPXLLTebvfhGnN4_WgpzqRE3Dvg5vSsdAeFlqjM1pA_ehN9bRgMzh223qdSnypfHnMbCo7yrfs-rhBocGfAgMmB9lx2dc0eHFWYG6-h3VT8/s1600/IMG_8912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoucqtIhzQQg9R8RUXAvPjStObyniIoMELVPXLLTebvfhGnN4_WgpzqRE3Dvg5vSsdAeFlqjM1pA_ehN9bRgMzh223qdSnypfHnMbCo7yrfs-rhBocGfAgMmB9lx2dc0eHFWYG6-h3VT8/s200/IMG_8912.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cushed down in trailer</td></tr>
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We drove the hour there and arrived with the boys cushed down in the back, rested and ready to visit their old home! From here on it was a piece of cake. Amazingly Pancho's fleece was the cleanest and the nicest. We met some great new alpaca owners and they boys actually enjoyed being at their old home. And now they are skinny! The process wasn't near what I expected (is it ever?) and the boys didn't seem to mind the shearing at all and seemed to enjoy being around some of their old herd mates.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtP8VadBb_NIAexCsPjLvDyaBVDBm05NKQ8iESB7T9jk89w2vdbNuole3PN60dUSOQV2bw2xzCCBx9eM2f3IpPUF8OsklrfqwX_A0hwZOo00qwpDePMBt5k7glmuRrxnTIsJuh38khbJM/s1600/IMG_8909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtP8VadBb_NIAexCsPjLvDyaBVDBm05NKQ8iESB7T9jk89w2vdbNuole3PN60dUSOQV2bw2xzCCBx9eM2f3IpPUF8OsklrfqwX_A0hwZOo00qwpDePMBt5k7glmuRrxnTIsJuh38khbJM/s200/IMG_8909.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiHU2zcZGpetGcqAAwwICZflg-MAfYKhvad0EtpCQzNlH2DLnFm57EUpIqQSLUq3lDnotVgDc0rkkVGTMbsOUFfyddRmCW2blsc0PXEANnFcJTvJN-E8FgregTmsBy3AWc-zzZ-DaR9_A/s1600/IMG_8035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiHU2zcZGpetGcqAAwwICZflg-MAfYKhvad0EtpCQzNlH2DLnFm57EUpIqQSLUq3lDnotVgDc0rkkVGTMbsOUFfyddRmCW2blsc0PXEANnFcJTvJN-E8FgregTmsBy3AWc-zzZ-DaR9_A/s200/IMG_8035.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before</td></tr>
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I was very proud of my boys after I heard some of the others "screech' through the entire process. No pain is involved, but you would have thought they were being killed! As soon as it's over they jump up and go about life as though nothing has happened. And, there was one that spit the entire time! My boys were perfect! Well, until we started to leave. Once again Pancho dug in those heels and refused to move. Laurence took the lead, told me Pancho had my number, and started walking toward the trailer and you guessed it, so did Pancho. He walked with him like it was his favorite thing to do including jumping into the trailer, so yes, Pancho has my number!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4psF-3i8I7S8UIP7vqpEa5hSZrn5HG7KMr8vYMCd63fMqqnczTAXoG0X1xAGMlrm-5ZrDc_BlwXeFFiXltT-QS1lEHLcbUEtLgHCjDk0Bapo05EVFFKmWupgRZR7XACvkPY2RESQizTg/s1600/IMG_8919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4psF-3i8I7S8UIP7vqpEa5hSZrn5HG7KMr8vYMCd63fMqqnczTAXoG0X1xAGMlrm-5ZrDc_BlwXeFFiXltT-QS1lEHLcbUEtLgHCjDk0Bapo05EVFFKmWupgRZR7XACvkPY2RESQizTg/s200/IMG_8919.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3I5GP4mo3zhWC_4hXNk8fKQ9A8Km9eJ0pMpEE0kkk2PS3Yp4IW7xohW4yY7NF0-ww3hlkZL-jmL6frubQ3a4-mP6K1yvAMBEoKI5t6qEle3AmktmM6aluGuOlaWcaQwfDhmYD-4TM03A/s1600/IMG_8917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3I5GP4mo3zhWC_4hXNk8fKQ9A8Km9eJ0pMpEE0kkk2PS3Yp4IW7xohW4yY7NF0-ww3hlkZL-jmL6frubQ3a4-mP6K1yvAMBEoKI5t6qEle3AmktmM6aluGuOlaWcaQwfDhmYD-4TM03A/s200/IMG_8917.jpg" width="200" /></a>Once, home they headed out into the pasture and we sighed a breath of relief. "Our" first shearing was over! Notice the "our", this was much harder on me and Bill than the boys! hahaha We put away the halters and leads and looked out in the pasture to see Pancho lying on his side! Out flat! We had never seen this and panic set in. I ran out and he jumped up and began to graze. I relaxed and looked over to see him flat on his side! More panic and a call to Laurence, but before we heard back Pancho was up and grazing. We learned they like to sun themselves following shearing! Oh, I will be so glad when we've had them long enough to not panic when we see them simply lie down, or some other silly thing they might do that sends us into a tizzy!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH455Zerq_gl5auhk24XKCH3wB_186UrIx-myg8trxQV0eYZtg7OPJ6Axy3do0tcl-IILonIAdYqE8ci_cVumjuDM5wOD87ADmXYxaZ3SmPR2P9-WzGa3pFXQYba4LulKMEThmwP_VPQQ/s1600/IMG_9066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH455Zerq_gl5auhk24XKCH3wB_186UrIx-myg8trxQV0eYZtg7OPJ6Axy3do0tcl-IILonIAdYqE8ci_cVumjuDM5wOD87ADmXYxaZ3SmPR2P9-WzGa3pFXQYba4LulKMEThmwP_VPQQ/s200/IMG_9066.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The body/blanket fiber!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSIUZZXNUJpwG-lGgNU5pq5B6g0veh6qp6-THMkZjZJTM9mr4OOFHzUYHgQaFJ1eMNhYE6W-NzohlmnpcyH3k8Fpa_kPAmTe8S36x6wXfGMr-rKbFIw0H_YOL2YrOheTvDfEhGCCxFfug/s1600/IMG_9067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSIUZZXNUJpwG-lGgNU5pq5B6g0veh6qp6-THMkZjZJTM9mr4OOFHzUYHgQaFJ1eMNhYE6W-NzohlmnpcyH3k8Fpa_kPAmTe8S36x6wXfGMr-rKbFIw0H_YOL2YrOheTvDfEhGCCxFfug/s200/IMG_9067.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top small bags are the legs and neck fiber</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So the end result is that the boys are cool and I have three bagsfull of fleece. Still haven't decided exactly what I'm going to do with it. Will I send it off to a mill, clean and card it myself into roving? I just don't know.<br />
<br />
The next big adventure will be my trip to Oregon for training! Just a month from now, so if we all can survive that long maybe our lives will improve! Fingers crossed!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/286/3100674823AA1E900DEFB8AADAF1F26C.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Bev Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04172649421847654830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188194038537099313.post-15836678301824228412013-04-12T14:56:00.000-05:002013-04-12T14:56:45.919-05:00Seven Weeks and Counting!I can't believe how long it's been since I posted! Time is flying by and yet sometimes it feels like it stands still. They boys are creeping up on two months and I believe they finally believe this is home.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-To-x8x7Aka26Nf7UnrK6q53JQTY1ZTUoO79UY4vDQwsiPq97-E7Wo9KQKy4GkktEz-kg5ZuhxrSnl6499ZBUXTVr4_G78Spcwydn0ZFpLRoyHaoaf-9VXllEy6PUUIt6gmd8uvyYvVo/s1600/IMG_8423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-To-x8x7Aka26Nf7UnrK6q53JQTY1ZTUoO79UY4vDQwsiPq97-E7Wo9KQKy4GkktEz-kg5ZuhxrSnl6499ZBUXTVr4_G78Spcwydn0ZFpLRoyHaoaf-9VXllEy6PUUIt6gmd8uvyYvVo/s200/IMG_8423.jpg" width="150" /></a>I hardly know where to start to catch up with all that has taken place in the alpaca world. When I last left off I had just begun trying to get them where I could think about haltering them. I had just received all of my tools and we were working in the catch pen. Amazingly in just a week or so of working with them individually in the pen I was able to put their halters on them and began leading them a little bit. I started with placing the halter in their feed bowl. They would stick their nose through to get to the food. At one point Sammy pulled his head out of bowl and halter was just hanging on nose (see two pictures) and it took a minute for him to shake it off. I'm sure when I go to my classes in Oregon in June I will learn that I wasn't doing it correctly, but at least we seem to be accepting each other's role and tolerating each other. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl5LHcyMAgWPs87ELutcacxFPBh8qXG0wh4vlqI5d1EBcZ9jzkZp0nBBsT9AybxBBQ7kyjqOZEdWXSGX4Ye8ZI8L45k9slJ6zAfpbCFfzdDGtY-oL23hewDm_uOnGRZYCFroNqYkREakE/s1600/IMG_8427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl5LHcyMAgWPs87ELutcacxFPBh8qXG0wh4vlqI5d1EBcZ9jzkZp0nBBsT9AybxBBQ7kyjqOZEdWXSGX4Ye8ZI8L45k9slJ6zAfpbCFfzdDGtY-oL23hewDm_uOnGRZYCFroNqYkREakE/s200/IMG_8427.jpg" width="150" /></a><br />
The more I was with them, the more they seemed willing to let me touch their heads, we haven't headed to any other part of the body yet, but them we had to make some changes.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiemFmNPeyxYJla8TPfl8AuONvHByknghLZzdDlL19MNE0Q4xXYNl1YRmd2BkeP7DD9t7blT7Hst0toMWIycUQy3enDVBk_LXIxLnmvxUAmZJy8oCmnp5up34QV5payjhQtyRC8LryH3mY/s1600/IMG_8458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiemFmNPeyxYJla8TPfl8AuONvHByknghLZzdDlL19MNE0Q4xXYNl1YRmd2BkeP7DD9t7blT7Hst0toMWIycUQy3enDVBk_LXIxLnmvxUAmZJy8oCmnp5up34QV5payjhQtyRC8LryH3mY/s200/IMG_8458.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sammy out for a bite of grass.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But let's back track just slightly. Their small fenced pasture had lost it's green! They had it down to nubs, so in order to encourage them to be led with halter and lead I took them out into the large pasture where the grass was very green and lots of it! Sammy was the first to go out and he ate to his hearts content and then we would walk back in to the catch pen. I would remove the halter and let him out and then work with one of the others.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3pxFDIBs9Q6_yxSq52aflwDHx-A2D58bBIK9Z8De7-7Fn9K3FsEaSotPnWTePFj2uSbzY7-piHlDQfAKFUVwZar8bw6ALbJI9M3pmysA4CJ7Macd7sNUjJk5uJA08HjTyZH2dA-dGeHk/s1600/IMG_8460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3pxFDIBs9Q6_yxSq52aflwDHx-A2D58bBIK9Z8De7-7Fn9K3FsEaSotPnWTePFj2uSbzY7-piHlDQfAKFUVwZar8bw6ALbJI9M3pmysA4CJ7Macd7sNUjJk5uJA08HjTyZH2dA-dGeHk/s200/IMG_8460.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pancho out for his turn!</td></tr>
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Now remember, they watch each other carefully. So the entire time we were out and Sammy was eating, the other two were watching and trying to get to that grass. Now I put their halter on add the lead and start out and they didn't want tot walk. Finally Pancho figured it out and went out and ate, but Lefty wanted to part of it.<br />
<br />
Then came the rain that flooded everything and changes in their stall and my catch pen and so we decided that we needed to let them out to eat, lead or not! So on a Sunday afternoon, we released them to the big pasture and prayed they would come back in for pellets. They did! The next day I let them out again with just me at home and really prayed they would come back in for pellets and they did! Now I go out open the gates, they go out and they come in on their own for water, shade and their dung pile! They wander in and out like it's the natural thing to do, until evening and then they come in and I close and lock the gates, so they're in their smaller pasture and that seems to be just fine with them! I honestly never imagined this could be so easy.<br />
<br />
On the negative side, I haven't been working with them and their halters and must get back to that soon as we will be heading out on April 30 for shearing. I don't know what to expect with shearing and don't really look forward to it, but we must do it or Texas heat would kill them and, of course, I am excited to see what their fiber is like. Hope it's great, but time will tell.<br />
<br />
I must say that this hasn't been an easy last three weeks. Early after my last post I was ready to put them up for sale. Their lack of trust of me and the frustration of working with them almost took it's toll. Accepting that they are livestock and not domesticated animals has not been easy for me. I've never had anything but dogs and cats. They are more like cats, but really not like either one. It rains and they stand out in it or lie down in the mud and roll. My mind says protect them! Bring them in, keep them dry. They say let me be an alpaca! My thoughts are not your thoughts, my ways are not your ways! See any similarity there with us and God?<br />
<br />
I have found many God lessons with these boys and they have assisted me in writing a recent devotion regarding trust in God (my part) and their trust in me! I'm learning to say I trust you Lord and letting them go! They are learning to trust me a little and draw a little closer! But not unlike my walk with the Lord, they pull away and I wonder why, I'm sure just as He looks down at me and wonders why. Makes no sense for either of us!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSOkkAuwIjvJ10cJdaF1BIIp2KdCvFalEP4vAkfsXFHDQB-0wA9VGVPZAjSNV9wQ9jYRU6_opJBSUjauqZcKW3qGJe81mO4AneLgW-WuD8nrU0Xosrm4drI7XczfRWjbr0g2bjWykpNw0/s1600/IMG_8674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSOkkAuwIjvJ10cJdaF1BIIp2KdCvFalEP4vAkfsXFHDQB-0wA9VGVPZAjSNV9wQ9jYRU6_opJBSUjauqZcKW3qGJe81mO4AneLgW-WuD8nrU0Xosrm4drI7XczfRWjbr0g2bjWykpNw0/s200/IMG_8674.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
And so today, I sit here and watch them run in the pasture and it is a joyful run. I watch them graze and thank God I have them, trusting that I will learn how to handle them and they will learn to trust me and we will live in harmony! Believe me, no one wants that more than my sweet hubby who has been living with me on this roller coaster ride! <br />
<br />
He surprised me with a new (old) trailer for them this week. But more on trailers and fences later. Got to get back to reality and get those pesky taxes done!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/286/3100674823AA1E900DEFB8AADAF1F26C.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Bev Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04172649421847654830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188194038537099313.post-51442499251395850792013-03-14T20:11:00.000-05:002013-03-14T20:11:16.464-05:00Racing Ahead With the Boys - One Step at a Time!<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitF_YuCwGNimB3lTyZBV2u_XcrcyuxzZWMfnjZkZ_IJwKaOnN59lyjt6bxD69faaAPga1uO-zVLfZ9WidBBSpiT_9Cb0CEicvjA5S6ISgXPjmGlswBge22okrnuf1rSgE2Gn_MplXJZ54/s1600/IMG_8350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitF_YuCwGNimB3lTyZBV2u_XcrcyuxzZWMfnjZkZ_IJwKaOnN59lyjt6bxD69faaAPga1uO-zVLfZ9WidBBSpiT_9Cb0CEicvjA5S6ISgXPjmGlswBge22okrnuf1rSgE2Gn_MplXJZ54/s320/IMG_8350.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I will even stick my head through this hole for pellets!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I can't believe it's been almost two weeks since I last posted about the boys! So much has happened since then both with me and the boys. <br />
<br />
As I waited for the tools to arrive, I spent time reading and studying the new new ways to work with the boys. The most important thing I think I've learned is that it's me that has to be trained and then they are simply handled properly. It's a new concept to me, that all I want from them is to accept me as their handler and learn to do nothing. I don't mean that they won't learn to do things, they will, but first they just need to stand still and do nothing! And I have to breathe!<br />
<br />
I continued to go out to the pasture and stall and give them their treats (alpaca pellets) when they come to me. And now when they see me coming they almost run, well, actually Sammy does run to me. He's the two year old and he has his own way of doing everything and is proving to be the most difficult to work with, but he's had two years of no handling, so I think that's to be expected. I am seeing progress with him.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5hpMQ9dJuORP2mlmvfT3AxJwAXJR8erW-KsKrI-xdK-k_RD7c5MCN4JcjY5iFAS1KhHr-_9s_LWkPk-sEd1HBPqQZKcz5jd-vHVLxOLSLO2yn6MWPm0KNLDgrsZ_FgqG-mlO7nDvr9u0/s1600/IMG_8349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5hpMQ9dJuORP2mlmvfT3AxJwAXJR8erW-KsKrI-xdK-k_RD7c5MCN4JcjY5iFAS1KhHr-_9s_LWkPk-sEd1HBPqQZKcz5jd-vHVLxOLSLO2yn6MWPm0KNLDgrsZ_FgqG-mlO7nDvr9u0/s320/IMG_8349.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lefty with his head between my arm and body to eat treats!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So all of my tools arrived on Friday, so I practiced using the catch rope on the bar stool and then on our carousel horse in the back yard. I tried it on Bill too, but decided the horse is the best! He probably likes that idea too; however, we will be using the rope on each other to learn how to "not" hold and to help learn balance without force. (He doesn't know this yet, but he will help)<br />
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Monday I headed out to see what I could do. I would love to say I headed out with confidence that I would accomplish great things, but I was actually not expecting much, if anything. They still pulled away if they even thought I was reaching out to them. But, Marty said in her book that you can't build trust just hanging out with them. You must work with them, they must learn to trust you as you do things with them and expect them to respond, so there I was ready to get one in the catch pen.<br />
<br />
Well, I got three in the catch pen. It was the first time they had seen that the pen could be cut in half and it didn't seem to bother them, but now I had to get two out. Amazingly, using my wand I was able to herd two out and was left with just Lefty. I began running the wand down the back of his neck and across his body as he stood and looked out the gate at the other two. Sammy and Pancho were right outside looking in and I'm sure wondering when I was going to throw my arms around Lefty's neck and hold him in a death grip, but that never happened. I moved around with him in a non-threatening way and as I offered him so food I began to touch the top of his head. When he pulled away, I stopped! He would walk away and then come right back and I increased the touching. There are some massage techniques and I began to use them on his head. So there it was - he came up, I touched, he walked away and when about 15 minutes were up, I released him.<br />
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My first thought was and now I need to get another one in, but guess what? It appears that they had watched closely and saw that Lefty was getting food inside the pen and they were not! And so Pancho came rushing in! I worked with him and he wasn't quite as agreeable as Lefty, but it was a good session and then there was Sammy! When it was his turn he burst into the pen! He wanted his share of the goodies, but he really didn't want to do anything to get them! He paced, he didn't want the wand near him, he wanted treats, but he didn't want me to touch him in any way. Now remember he's our two year old, so he's gone twice as long without human touch, so I'm really not surprised by his attitude and worked with as much as I could and ended the day.<br />
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I was pleased and excited because I had hope!<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPtCFQAJ99CBAM-kcyWjOCvagoHKD9DNrRioJ62P1pLwm6iGi80D0i8H-xVf5Gb3Obqg1SJcF325V2jufa_wX8wOMCUwjCgyBm9nN26_G7NsQS9k8LiiJ8_Q3zDsjcQwDf8NEqfg-JtLk/s1600/IMG_8348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPtCFQAJ99CBAM-kcyWjOCvagoHKD9DNrRioJ62P1pLwm6iGi80D0i8H-xVf5Gb3Obqg1SJcF325V2jufa_wX8wOMCUwjCgyBm9nN26_G7NsQS9k8LiiJ8_Q3zDsjcQwDf8NEqfg-JtLk/s320/IMG_8348.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lefty letting me rub his head for a snack!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Tuesday I worked with them once in the morning and again in the afternoon. Both Lefty and Pancho let me touch them more and more and Lefty actually seemed to enjoy the massaging on his head and neck. Sammy really didn't want it at all! I remembered reading somewhere that you could take the bowl of food, hold it to your back with your arm forming a circle and see if they will place their head through the circle! And he did!!!!! First he looked at the bowl and my arm and then slowly moved forward and stuck his head through. Think about this, now his neck was surrounded by body and arm. He didn't stay long, but he came right back and so this is how I've worked with him on Tuesday.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXfkhk_9uqTBlS_ZZ1f4B4U0FCr7rW7x4dU9HTIlmcXsB4gTmb_ETUdem3k1431kOdQ1mb59ROwfxNwrXU0DLliphi38fMSF5jvXufUG6ipAyFgxrNKJbAkvuhbC-KCZWO-pFwKHjDGwA/s1600/IMG_8351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXfkhk_9uqTBlS_ZZ1f4B4U0FCr7rW7x4dU9HTIlmcXsB4gTmb_ETUdem3k1431kOdQ1mb59ROwfxNwrXU0DLliphi38fMSF5jvXufUG6ipAyFgxrNKJbAkvuhbC-KCZWO-pFwKHjDGwA/s320/IMG_8351.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sammy being this close to me is just amazing! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Yesterday there were two more sessions and everyone is doing better. Well, almost! In the morning I had a hard time getting them out of the pen and leaving just one and so I worked with Lefty with everyone in the pen and then finally was down to one Sammy. Again we worked with the circle and he began to let me touch the top of his head for a few seconds before he moved away. Each time I tried it was a little longer. And then I let him out and tried to get Pancho in. All three wanted to come in and I finally took the bowl out and did the circle with Pancho outside of the pen and guess what he stuck his head right through the circle! Then I just led him into the pen and we had our time together. He was much better. The second session was after Bill got home and he was able to snap a couple of pictures. He was amazed as I worked with them! Pancho was first and didn't get his picture taken, but here are the other two! What I need to take is a picture of Pancho looking through the gate watching the Lefty get food! I really believe they're learning from each other!<br />
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I am so excited! When I let them back out they don't take off they just hang around me . I really do see hope, but I'm taking it slow. We are taking this one step at a time! Next week I will try the catch rope, but if they're not ready, I will slow back down.<br />
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<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/286/3100674823AA1E900DEFB8AADAF1F26C.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a><br />
<br />Bev Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04172649421847654830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188194038537099313.post-11102175435185571482013-03-03T11:51:00.001-06:002013-03-03T11:54:43.482-06:00Week 2 - Really, Only Week TWO!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Un_plPIRi0djwpBFEF5ZBrbuQSs2wqb4P_mbVoMuvQqysSq5kmoLeYsZ-Ka2XRij46MEoAfWQi0dDaKAcqHUHPlTH1oAdvjGRRRg9pzcD3Ao2Gg0tC-O8xq2bspkxw_rBeqgmv7zYt8/s1600/IMG_8170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Un_plPIRi0djwpBFEF5ZBrbuQSs2wqb4P_mbVoMuvQqysSq5kmoLeYsZ-Ka2XRij46MEoAfWQi0dDaKAcqHUHPlTH1oAdvjGRRRg9pzcD3Ao2Gg0tC-O8xq2bspkxw_rBeqgmv7zYt8/s320/IMG_8170.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am in pen - trying not scare them as I leave!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Week two began with some serious changes! We let them back out into the pasture and left the big gate to the stall open. We opened it - they wandered out and right back in and then out for grazing. It was good to see that they didn't rush out like they were getting out of jail. <br />
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Later that afternoon I went out shook their food can and they came right to me. I let them eat out of my hand a few bites and stopped. They wandered back out to the pasture. In my last post I shared that I had made up my mind there had to be a better way and waited for my two books on handling to arrive from <a href="http://www.camelidynamics.com/">Camelidynamics,</a> well I actually ordered them from Amazon, but they were written by Marty Bennett who founded Camelidynamics.<br />
<br />
While I waited I continued to visit them during the day and evening and give them a little food each time they came into the stall/pen. They came in readily, sometimes running! The first couple of nights I felt better to close them in for the night, but by Tuesday I just let them stay out all night and that's what they continued doing for the rest of the week. There's a motion light and a couple of nights they have triggered it as they did some running around in the pen, but other than that it stays dark and they seem to be happy and safe. And I continue to try and breathe! Letting them be alpacas and not trying to treat them like a household pet!<br />
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The books arrived on Thursday and I began to read! By Thursday night I was almost blind and very confused. I saw that Camelidynamics had a Guild and so I joined on Friday and was able to express my concerns about learning how to handle them on the forum. Marty Bennett responded not only on the forum but sent me a wonderful, encouraging email and suggested I might want to attend one of the training clinics. And so, I leave Texas for Oregon on June 14 and spend five glorious days there, four of which will be hands on training for me! You see their theory is you don't train the alpaca, you train the handler! And in the meantime I ordered some tools that I think will help me learn from the books how to be a loving, trustworthy handler and the clinic will be the refinement.<br />
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So, now there's hope! With Donna and Laurence and now Marty and the Guild members, I will have the help and encouragement I need to learn how to handle them in a way that will allow them to be alpacas, but, alpacas that can be used in social situations. <br />
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Those of you who know me well, know that God is present in every thing in my life and this is no exception. In my concern and frustration, I prayed so hard over these three guys. I prayed for wisdom to learn how to handle them and for them to find peace and trust in their new home and God has answered with new skills to learn and old and new friends to help me and them along the way. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrDgGTglVDbkNKFJMxGLSjWNjhNECZ0C9mh62ShloFMnhdirqSPdIUuGEprrMTGqsTjmFsPnKM2MaEIG87tRZgqcoskD-jiYVJZQHK5NlGFbfepotamv77WrcqVcuUmAhSB5qvcBXmrlc/s1600/IMG_8157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrDgGTglVDbkNKFJMxGLSjWNjhNECZ0C9mh62ShloFMnhdirqSPdIUuGEprrMTGqsTjmFsPnKM2MaEIG87tRZgqcoskD-jiYVJZQHK5NlGFbfepotamv77WrcqVcuUmAhSB5qvcBXmrlc/s320/IMG_8157.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> My friend Lawsona with a big horse!</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5uuL2-Vv5QipAfZ1tyy6WCg-wp6-MqB3sImJhuiHV4_0Z8n_Wx8EPm9gfOjJZ5i26lImKp9QEHgzInsAsMZOfQbNP_cFVadusI65SlP_D1lLsEIO8K4yH7NJK_lv451-tq8K6WoBe6aY/s1600/IMG_8155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5uuL2-Vv5QipAfZ1tyy6WCg-wp6-MqB3sImJhuiHV4_0Z8n_Wx8EPm9gfOjJZ5i26lImKp9QEHgzInsAsMZOfQbNP_cFVadusI65SlP_D1lLsEIO8K4yH7NJK_lv451-tq8K6WoBe6aY/s200/IMG_8155.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Praising God my alpacas are small!</td></tr>
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Wednesday I stopped by a friends house that has draft horses. This is my friend with the zebras and longhorns that I post pictures of so often on Facebook, but I had never been to her house. I drive by, I take tons of pictures of her animals, we see each other at events and she always tells me to stop in, but I don't. But Wednesday I knew the Lord said turn in to her driveway, she will give you wisdom and she did! These horses make my alpacas look like puppies, but I knew Lawsona would have encouraging words and her advice was to just relax and spend time with them. Grab a book and a small chair and sit in the pasture with them. Study them and stay relaxed. Just be! <br />
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That's how she trained an "untrainable" horse! She got to know him and he got to know her and trust was the result. And so I went home and began to just hang with them and I know they appreciate that I just want to be with them, to get to know them and as my new friend Marty says to let them know that I just may speak alpaca! Not with words, but with the understanding of what they need, the fears that they have and the desire to not force myself into their space.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghw_74Vfugi2HNab8AiyxZYDIDOK0mdVBlmin5-L7y3OWlJmGdTVGKFfdorLuJbgWY-KYzLz43n0FhH-odsmZSkgkuv13h70WoUYJkmOMaFh3GuabxKUcPveiZQybPnpzn7DvRBQJ_WEQ/s1600/IMG_8088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghw_74Vfugi2HNab8AiyxZYDIDOK0mdVBlmin5-L7y3OWlJmGdTVGKFfdorLuJbgWY-KYzLz43n0FhH-odsmZSkgkuv13h70WoUYJkmOMaFh3GuabxKUcPveiZQybPnpzn7DvRBQJ_WEQ/s200/IMG_8088.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCTeMzB8bL48yWn_T8qg5497_g-AFYQE9yDBIAI83bXXCkBKKkuhDfRHL1MIq3fNNrhU8dPZZ0fc6Y1_vAAP2oz0rRIj954GM_Hu0vhK9Z1gysiEzt_BI0z3AyNuTi9AgeseTbGH7kwS4/s1600/IMG_8089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCTeMzB8bL48yWn_T8qg5497_g-AFYQE9yDBIAI83bXXCkBKKkuhDfRHL1MIq3fNNrhU8dPZZ0fc6Y1_vAAP2oz0rRIj954GM_Hu0vhK9Z1gysiEzt_BI0z3AyNuTi9AgeseTbGH7kwS4/s200/IMG_8089.jpg" width="150" /></a>Already not grabbing at them this week has paid off. They come right up to me, sniff me and when I move they don't run. They may back a step away, but not running away. They follow me all over the pasture as I do work, staying close enough to watch my every action and seem to be interested in every duty I have. In the barn with much less room, I try to move away and not at them and they no longer seem to mind my being so close. I'm trying to stay out of their personal space and I'm surprised to see how often they move up close to me, even if for just a moment. The hardest part is not reaching out to touch them, but I'm learning and they seem to notice the change!<br />
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So week two ended on a high note! One filled with encouragement, peace and hope! What more can we ask for that! God is good, ALL the time!<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/286/3100674823AA1E900DEFB8AADAF1F26C.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Bev Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04172649421847654830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188194038537099313.post-70910987773108671312013-02-22T10:04:00.000-06:002013-02-22T10:04:57.037-06:00Week One Recap!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQaNrM5TK5xm8c0r222zSmEUQb27WEVtGibGU2ndVzR3Uve4BAitGxaVzMsaI_NzgsdEHf0rKbExG94zVpS_7Utr6Na-xe7FAqlMoqRDA_R7kUEt6Q6nws9JC0K6KWlvcfhNNvtNvApT0/s1600/IMG_8017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQaNrM5TK5xm8c0r222zSmEUQb27WEVtGibGU2ndVzR3Uve4BAitGxaVzMsaI_NzgsdEHf0rKbExG94zVpS_7Utr6Na-xe7FAqlMoqRDA_R7kUEt6Q6nws9JC0K6KWlvcfhNNvtNvApT0/s320/IMG_8017.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First time eating from my hand - having to reach out!</td></tr>
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It's been a quiet week on the blog, but an active one in the barn! We don't have a real barn, but you know what I mean. We are all trying to get to know each other and I'm learning that trust is not built over night or over a week. <br />
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I am learning that they are gentle and I must be gentle with them. No more tugging at their necks, no more trying to force them to walk with me, but rather learning about them and their personality and gently showing them what I expect from them and what<b> they can expec</b>t from me. This is key!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5nt-SBaClFRmsjy49cgmKqHVNxwSeyGLKI-4ZqudrCE4VJyctjnpU5qFbi6SXq7EKD-liJ8qN62w7e1wjdIIgYXob9JOhJoLdvNYpZt9TgQkpi07aRros5cFDbaJTeO3_l5cq_l_mtY/s1600/IMG_8018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5nt-SBaClFRmsjy49cgmKqHVNxwSeyGLKI-4ZqudrCE4VJyctjnpU5qFbi6SXq7EKD-liJ8qN62w7e1wjdIIgYXob9JOhJoLdvNYpZt9TgQkpi07aRros5cFDbaJTeO3_l5cq_l_mtY/s320/IMG_8018.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coming closer for food!</td></tr>
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They are eating out of my hand, but they are still very frightened of me. The slightest move and they're at the other end of the pen. We have kept them in the pen except for walks this week, but I'm going to let them out into their pasture today and hope that they will come back in to the pen when I offer them their special pellets. The hay is also located in the pen, so with the gates open, I'm hoping that they will now just come and go and we'll only close them in when necessary. We have redone gates, changed configuration of the pen and spent hours on the internet - thank God for all who have shared information and videos on working with alpacas.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidWeJf5dm8grftRnm3k4ogv8e0nOMfs9EBiJsdKr47u7JdcETJbshb9oolph6Ox07wQjDDLkzXZKHEwMmUMRu7lWAxRwTnXFZUT68CWvXNNkpsowajnoTJMSzUT1bo2NmAy_2shfsrS-I/s1600/IMG_8060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidWeJf5dm8grftRnm3k4ogv8e0nOMfs9EBiJsdKr47u7JdcETJbshb9oolph6Ox07wQjDDLkzXZKHEwMmUMRu7lWAxRwTnXFZUT68CWvXNNkpsowajnoTJMSzUT1bo2NmAy_2shfsrS-I/s320/IMG_8060.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking Sammy's picture and he just moved right up to the lens!</td></tr>
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I've ordered two books to help me learn how to build trust, halter without threatening them and so we're going to relax for a few days and then begin again with a new concept in training. I need to learn as much as they do and so, we will learn together. Mostly they need to know that I will never hurt them and that will come, it just isn't going to happen as soon as, or like I thought it would.<br />
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Time will make all the difference and so time it will be! They are so beautiful and really sweet guys, they're just not dogs or even cats when it comes to loving their master! They are domesticated livestock and are unable to protect themselves except by running, and so it doesn't come natural to trust even those who feed them. I have to earn their trust and I will! Just as you see in the picture of Sammy, they are very inquisitive! They check out everything and have now started coming up to me to sniff my jacket even when I don't have food. I just have to stand still and allow them to approach me! Not easy for me, but essential for them!<br />
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Stay tuned for more pictures to come and updates on our training successes - mine and theirs! :)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/286/3100674823AA1E900DEFB8AADAF1F26C.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Bev Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04172649421847654830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188194038537099313.post-26569895524934520952013-02-18T07:03:00.001-06:002013-02-18T07:03:32.018-06:00Learning Curve!Well, day two was not day one! They love their new home and pasture, but not so sure about we humans or their stall! Lots of changes for them and for us and so it was a comedy of sorts.<br />
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Let me begin with the first night! I went out and checked on them around 10 before I went to bed and all was fine. There is a motion light out there and they turned it on a few times, but for the most part they seemed to settle in for the night. I say in, but they were avoiding their stall and staying out in the pasture. Sammy lived in a pasture without a barn, so nothing new about this for him.The night started out well! I raised a window in our bedroom so we could hear them if there were any distress calls and, of course, there were none. However, the dogs next door began to bark and howl and I decided it must be coyotes and so out the door I flew. No their motion light wasn't on and they were cushed down and looked at me like I was crazy and of course even the dogs were silent! I went back to bed.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkf12j-69lX3gLpThQj4FZmb537Yf5suEvqhoAbjI4yVckIqfgPs3BnQtbgNd5MDjY5ZB0JEU5ClLwdpS5ZlSXQ902-rR4BqOQ1My0D6FnQk4jDeuO7pBKYoAbAeyPq77n0FMgnQQmt6s/s1600/IMG_7974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkf12j-69lX3gLpThQj4FZmb537Yf5suEvqhoAbjI4yVckIqfgPs3BnQtbgNd5MDjY5ZB0JEU5ClLwdpS5ZlSXQ902-rR4BqOQ1My0D6FnQk4jDeuO7pBKYoAbAeyPq77n0FMgnQQmt6s/s200/IMG_7974.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Really excited about that food!</td></tr>
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Day two started off great! They were grazing in the pasture and we went to church! They were still grazing when we got home and we started doing some things around our yard and theirs. They watched us with their typical curiosity, but walked away from us any time we headed their way. We were doing some work on their gates and they even came over, laid down and watched with great interest. We had been told they would come running to us and the stall when we feed them their grain and that's exactly what they did at the ranch. HOWEVER, that was not their reaction here! This was their reaction to me when I came out with food! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDVR1J250IFOutvK34ahViUdmYCHPydae6LVAkSW8yQeToZ1-qPI-YitJE71ZsTD6TXT-TY2lJDd19XoCSbwnfcsHz-RtMyoCDLENiqCmSAYx6Zm15Ua7Sbx41n8XijvZhZLTqF0dWwiw/s1600/IMG_7983.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDVR1J250IFOutvK34ahViUdmYCHPydae6LVAkSW8yQeToZ1-qPI-YitJE71ZsTD6TXT-TY2lJDd19XoCSbwnfcsHz-RtMyoCDLENiqCmSAYx6Zm15Ua7Sbx41n8XijvZhZLTqF0dWwiw/s320/IMG_7983.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not the happiest face!</td></tr>
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We wanted to put their halters on and walk them, but they wanted none of that! We finally put up a temporary fence and making the area smaller and smaller finally got them in their stall. I wish we had a video of us chasing them, them running and the ultimate herding in! I laughed and said the neighbors probably do - I should check You Tube, we're probably going viral right now! Haha I'm sure at the very least they got some good laughs - we certainly did!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwP5jodCdutUoRUuSqOUw-Y4YyuV7Ff1c1MgnJiW6oaYyhVLAy5iAuYe3d38oecMriNme02vR9Rw0zh-fX337llikz_OXmLkC2dRlirwlMI-Q6XD3QVCmF7eUup0CSPM6tlVDVQ10usI/s1600/IMG_7980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwP5jodCdutUoRUuSqOUw-Y4YyuV7Ff1c1MgnJiW6oaYyhVLAy5iAuYe3d38oecMriNme02vR9Rw0zh-fX337llikz_OXmLkC2dRlirwlMI-Q6XD3QVCmF7eUup0CSPM6tlVDVQ10usI/s200/IMG_7980.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Always ready to pose!</td></tr>
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Once in I did have success getting their halters on and the breeder suggested we leave them in the stall, except for a couple of walks a day for several days to get them used to the stall and learn that we're the bosses. We're not even the boss of our little dog, so I'm praying we can learn to be in control of these three boys! I'm going to go get some apples and carrots and see if I can bribe them with treats! <br />
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They, of course, were not happy to be contained, but you see they will still get in a line and pose for a picture! We went out to eat and when we came back they had eaten their food and were down for the evening. There is a lot of humming going on, but that can mean happy or unhappy, content or discontent, or nothing at all, so not the greatest clue about their real attitude! I'm voting yesterday it was not the sound of happiness! They have their hay rack and water in the stall and room to move around, so they will be fine. AND, I slept all night! No trips out side, just a quick look outside, but nothing to see and so right back to sleep! Oh, by the way we (Bill & I) both took several Advil before bed. This morning I have sore arms and back, partly from them and partly from weed eating for hours - today will be good!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh52AT8gptA922Q7q7nwFXJGKxz7fvivBJ9F0KQ-0YTA0WsrzeBGepaFsoGQZ3o25kKTCi16B6vG-oRjxG-jA4dN45bpE5hZaQeOcGZUcMTcxZvFAEG47ltIUqJty3pnp750f17Ss1HeHw/s1600/IMG_7987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh52AT8gptA922Q7q7nwFXJGKxz7fvivBJ9F0KQ-0YTA0WsrzeBGepaFsoGQZ3o25kKTCi16B6vG-oRjxG-jA4dN45bpE5hZaQeOcGZUcMTcxZvFAEG47ltIUqJty3pnp750f17Ss1HeHw/s320/IMG_7987.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In jail! Wish we had just come for food!</td></tr>
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Day three is going to be cleaning out the stall, attaching the leads (halters already on) and taking them for a walk and back in to the stall! This will all be included in the next update tonight or tomorrow and I'm sure will include some more about our learning curve - theirs and mine! I know I'm on my own as Bill happily returned to work this morning and leaves for Mobile in the morning! Advil will probably be my friend all week and thank God for Laurence and Donna! They are the best ever! Emails flew fast and furious yesterday and I'm sure will continue for awhile!<br />
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Jack just barked that this blog is about him, too and he wants it known that he's not happy about these three intruders! He wants to be out there with them, but he chases them and they could kick him, so he's in his yard and he barks, and barks and barks - so most of his day was spent in the house! Don't feel to bad for him, we played ball with him and he did get to sleep in the house!<br />
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Later, it's almost daylight - got to get to work!<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/286/3100674823AA1E900DEFB8AADAF1F26C.png" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px !important;" /></a></div>
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Bev Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04172649421847654830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188194038537099313.post-10212244193448922632013-02-16T21:28:00.000-06:002013-02-16T21:28:23.420-06:00They're Here! Home Sweet Home<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOTBQX5px27RKFiBYOKCJZ56RycaA4l19Qo889HoJTh6jo5Lxw_JDJl8smBeqvoaoolLVVRpuWd-rDkPIUFQ6nkVVeLTcmoR9QbUFh8vGfIDN-JtKi8xQk68vDcCL2jdAmdOz4z2-TWK8/s1600/IMG_7918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOTBQX5px27RKFiBYOKCJZ56RycaA4l19Qo889HoJTh6jo5Lxw_JDJl8smBeqvoaoolLVVRpuWd-rDkPIUFQ6nkVVeLTcmoR9QbUFh8vGfIDN-JtKi8xQk68vDcCL2jdAmdOz4z2-TWK8/s200/IMG_7918.JPG" width="200" /></a>It's official - they're here - February 16, 2013! It was so exciting to see Laurence and Donna Binder,<a href="http://www.bbhalpacas.com/"> Bluebonnet Hills Alpaca Ranch</a>, pulling in with the trailer in back! All three boys were cushing (lying down with all four legs under them) when I first peeked in and looked quite comfortable. Pancho and Lefty stood up as soon as I poked the camera in, but as you can see Sammy was content to stay down.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Zs0Wg12fscP_YuE3v92EUR_sHd0ybALdJeexdoB1N1SmBSzXSwa48W9c_p35H_ueTaiIgbDInKmW27R8vhX2765FqyOkji9ivU8XiMRz71hxhcyRbyYfsxvJq8kbnWetsub3unu2Z0E/s1600/IMG_7920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Zs0Wg12fscP_YuE3v92EUR_sHd0ybALdJeexdoB1N1SmBSzXSwa48W9c_p35H_ueTaiIgbDInKmW27R8vhX2765FqyOkji9ivU8XiMRz71hxhcyRbyYfsxvJq8kbnWetsub3unu2Z0E/s200/IMG_7920.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPHkyURHahVwezNXXGOu1BDI7FudUA7FhvGp5mu1Ucin5syUHUuega4kQxUuusc8YsbsLGmFSfUbpsQxhpvKdct-eNF2xzJR14ll47DYTi5JjAR4SZ3oZCg0aXNQGkbKzJGHs1WoateL0/s1600/IMG_7921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPHkyURHahVwezNXXGOu1BDI7FudUA7FhvGp5mu1Ucin5syUHUuega4kQxUuusc8YsbsLGmFSfUbpsQxhpvKdct-eNF2xzJR14ll47DYTi5JjAR4SZ3oZCg0aXNQGkbKzJGHs1WoateL0/s200/IMG_7921.jpg" width="150" /></a>Fortunately we had put the new locks on the gates ( easy open ) and filled the hay rack, so we were ready for them. They got out of the trailer with their halters on and so we added a lead and off they walked into their new home. Laurence showed us how to trim their nails and we petted and hugged on them. Fortunately that doesn't have to be done often and I plan on walking them down the driveway, so that will help keep them filed down. They have soft pads, not hooves, so they're very easy on the land. I practiced putting the halter on and then we took them off and let them take off to explore their space on their own.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqAK-CXqMnmYJu2rA1JP8OJopAej7RLlKINsFjzJext615v2iw9r8eTzInsJ_kWz8QCp_0Y9CIo4F8UctY_YjZ3oq-piuuAp3IS9XrFee_Dhp7pxyhm1qMitjsxoTGpdZtFWdJbGJPazU/s1600/DSC_1076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqAK-CXqMnmYJu2rA1JP8OJopAej7RLlKINsFjzJext615v2iw9r8eTzInsJ_kWz8QCp_0Y9CIo4F8UctY_YjZ3oq-piuuAp3IS9XrFee_Dhp7pxyhm1qMitjsxoTGpdZtFWdJbGJPazU/s200/DSC_1076.JPG" width="200" /></a>Last weekend when I was on the couch, Bill got the lights put up around the stall and in the feed/storage room. We put a soft floor in their stall, it could have been the floor of many colors, but decided on the grey side. I don't think they would care one way or the other, but grey it is. The rack is in and when the side gate is open, they will have access from inside and out. The auto-water bowl is the covered area as is the hay rack. Bill has worked very hard to have everything ready for them, including picking up hay this morning. We have the stall gated so when we give them their food in the mornings they will come in and we can catch them to put their halters on. The more I work with them the more they will grow used to me and hopefully will not always run the other way. As long as they're on their leads, they are sweet and nuzzle us, but once they're free they want to stay that way! You walk toward them and they walk away! They are not dogs!!!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-I57cCfoGrzm8LRE8NRV5XKUVsvyjcjO6xRbl7uddsCZ4F4J677JIZKMdLSohHlI1PCloFvlNEo53WA3X3YLXY48kVVdZRxoP2rg9kG9OPd4g8cWm1HiadR9LpPkC2qlWJpBnne5ns0/s1600/IMG_7944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-I57cCfoGrzm8LRE8NRV5XKUVsvyjcjO6xRbl7uddsCZ4F4J677JIZKMdLSohHlI1PCloFvlNEo53WA3X3YLXY48kVVdZRxoP2rg9kG9OPd4g8cWm1HiadR9LpPkC2qlWJpBnne5ns0/s200/IMG_7944.JPG" width="200" /></a>Laurence looked at some patches of grass that I was questioning and so I dug some up once they left and it was just Bill and I and the boys. Oh, that reminds me we do have another boy, Jack, and he was in his yard when the boys arrived. He can see them and he barked and barked, so I let him come back to their area. The plan was for him to stop at the gate, like he did last week, but the boys weren't there last week, so he jumped right through and headed right for them. They got scared and began to walk away at a pretty fast pace and of course he loves to run and chase, so this looked like a game to him and before we knew it there was a chase on in the yard around us. We caught Jack and the other three just went back to eating as though nothing had happened. Needless to say we have some work to do on their relationship!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqAK-CXqMnmYJu2rA1JP8OJopAej7RLlKINsFjzJext615v2iw9r8eTzInsJ_kWz8QCp_0Y9CIo4F8UctY_YjZ3oq-piuuAp3IS9XrFee_Dhp7pxyhm1qMitjsxoTGpdZtFWdJbGJPazU/s1600/DSC_1076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqAK-CXqMnmYJu2rA1JP8OJopAej7RLlKINsFjzJext615v2iw9r8eTzInsJ_kWz8QCp_0Y9CIo4F8UctY_YjZ3oq-piuuAp3IS9XrFee_Dhp7pxyhm1qMitjsxoTGpdZtFWdJbGJPazU/s200/DSC_1076.JPG" width="200" /></a>Back to the grass issue, I needed to weed eat and I did and they just wandered around as though I wasn't doing anything. They would stop and look at me and go back to their business. They really seemed to enjoy looking around and oh my goodness they seemed to really enjoy our grass! Honestly this is even more exciting than I thought it would be, but at the same time it was comfortable! Like they were supposed to be here - we are happy - hope they are!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZDtmIRZ49CbycCTyJdA28TxbYKv9ehISj7DBJDW6t0Z1qs7BQRKGuOuSIQvPv4atgT7pT604_71RNF2HfgDpLsi8VKbRvFKH7UHZy9v32HFLXqtvBuZcCO-2-rKCtdEiiE4LnwR-tOI/s1600/IMG_7955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZDtmIRZ49CbycCTyJdA28TxbYKv9ehISj7DBJDW6t0Z1qs7BQRKGuOuSIQvPv4atgT7pT604_71RNF2HfgDpLsi8VKbRvFKH7UHZy9v32HFLXqtvBuZcCO-2-rKCtdEiiE4LnwR-tOI/s200/IMG_7955.JPG" width="200" /></a>The hard part for me is leaving them alone tonight, and that's where we are now, night time. There's a small light on and there's a motion light which has gone on a couple of times, but then it got dark and I just had to go check on them. They were cushing and I guess trying to sleep after a long and very exciting day. Lefty stood up and looked at me, like what the heck? Are you going to bother us all night? So I said my good nights, reminded them where their water is and came in! It has been dark out there ever since, so I guess they're down for the night. I have never even had an outside dog, so this is really hard for me, but I will get used to it and they will be fine and tomorrow is another day!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2XjXXMgovnhT7IxedkMCghjFbptIOQTHc2NTjhj426czASj8uISHYOHoBYdajBGvCv2QZpotNTFsj2l8WW9vssmfaNgnIrOvab8KgVBBxHo7bSI45z0iGqh2OfJiKITrQ5h9JDGS0CwY/s1600/IMG_7930+-+Version+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2XjXXMgovnhT7IxedkMCghjFbptIOQTHc2NTjhj426czASj8uISHYOHoBYdajBGvCv2QZpotNTFsj2l8WW9vssmfaNgnIrOvab8KgVBBxHo7bSI45z0iGqh2OfJiKITrQ5h9JDGS0CwY/s320/IMG_7930+-+Version+2.JPG" width="317" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pancho, Lefty, Sammy - Official Arrival Day Photo!</td></tr>
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I hope Bill can get some pictures tomorrow as I catch and halter them for the first time all by myself! He might have to be helping me rather than being the photographer, but we'll see. I've quit looking out the window every few minutes and actually plan on heading off to bed as soon as I hit publish - so good night from Jack and the alpacas! <br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/286/3100674823AA1E900DEFB8AADAF1F26C.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Bev Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04172649421847654830noreply@blogger.com