Alpacamundo Monday: Mud Season

I've shared most of these photos on Facebook recently, but I think it's important to document the joy that Miss Wilma has while playing in the mud.  :-)

Wilma is currently about 15 mos old and seems to love the mud more than any dog that's come to us before her.  We shall see how good I am at predicting the future, but I suspect Wilma will be a life-long lover of mud season.

Shearing Day, 2019

The first Saturday in May, is the Kentucky Derby.... but it's also our typical shearing day.

Shearing Day is by far the most important in our alpaca-raising year.

It's time for their annual haircut so they're not too hot when summer arrives, but it is also our major herd-maintenance day.

On shearing day, each alpaca gets a thorough check out.  Their teeth and nails are trimmed, if required, and anything needing a follow-up on a less-busy day is noted.

This is the day that we truly know how well we're doing.  Have we bred quality alpaca and have we cared for everyone well-enough?

Several friends are kind enough to spend the day with us, getting dirty, telling stories, tending to the animals, and eating good food.

Shearing Day is one of my absolute favorites!

Next Step?  Skirting!

Spring

No winter lasts forever; no spring skips it's turn. - Hal Borland

The trees have been visibly working on their buds for the last several weeks, the migratory birds are starting to come back and the dogs are starting to shed.  Spring is on it's way.

I'm Still Here

The last few months have been crazy-busy with the Day Job.

So busy, that I had a drafted post for Fiber Arts Friday last week and did not get it posted.  I have hardly even read most of my favorite blogs for months, let alone written anything.

Aside from working, sleeping and doing the minimum of farm chores, there hasn't been much else going on.  I wish I could say I'm working on something amazing or ground breaking, but I can't.  All I can say is that it's consuming most of my time and energy.

It's January, though.  The days are getting longer.  The weather was remarkably lovely last weekend.  I saw a Robin several days ago and the Geese seem to be on the move.

Hubba and I took a day to visit with a friend and his new Tibetan Mastiff Puppies over the weekend.  Of course, our dogs were very interested in what we had been up to.  ;-)

My seed catalogs have arrived.  I'm realizing that in about 2 months it will be time to start planting early-season seeds, so I guess I should get busy on my plan.

Next month, I'll start booking shearing clients too.

Spring is coming.  I hope I'm ready for it.

Spring in the Rockies

I've been feeling frustrated that I haven't gotten my seeds in the ground yet. I guess I should give myself some slack. ;-)