Shearing and Updates

Spring has officially arrived, but is feels more like summer. We grew an amazing crop of veggies - zucchini, Kaleidoscope carrot, beans, cucumber, tomato, tomatillo and cilantro. We had some fun heirloom items that took us by surprise - Lemon Cucumber. It looks like a lemon, but it's a cucumber. First time, we managed to grow onions!

Gotta watch those squirrels

 This shot was taken from the studio. Susan and Debra stopped in for some studio time. George dropped off the latest from the garden.

Thanks to everyone who supported our produce venture by purchasing and consuming our bounty!

Just wait to avocado and lime season....

Ready to shear!

George giving Gil and Debby a quick lesson

Sporting New Spring Look

The weekend of April 13th, we were joined by some of our usual volunteers for shearing. Thanks go to my "brother" Gil and our friend Eddie and his daughter Taylor. We had some new recruits - big thanks to Debby, Debra and Susan! Somehow, I stopped taking pictures, so not everyone is included! Sorry!

We had one accident which required some stitching. La Crema healed beautifully thanks to "Dr." George. I am always amazed by George! We both have learned so much about alpacas and life in the past five years. He continuously surprises me with his gentleness and eagerness. So easy to see why I love him!

Nurses Debby and Eddie preparing to stich La Crema

 All in all, we had a great weekend and our harvest was successful. Now, to process all the fiber. And, I might have to recruit my friend Gerri to come help me. She does an amazing job spinning. I love when she visits with me. She is so full of enthusiasm and creativity. This is a hint if you are reading!

This spring our farm and yard has been an amazing place of discovery. We had a bunny birth 3 bunnies. Unfortunately, we discovered these by watering the flowers and the critters. One snuck under the flowers, so I nudged the other two to join. The sun would soon be upon them. I need to go sneak a peak to see if they are still around.

Mamma Duck incubating her eggs.

We were joined by a Mallard family and she laid 12 eggs in our Staghorn fern. Seven ducklings were swimming in the pool this morning. Three eggs still in the nest and one stolen by another animal (carcass located). One is unaccounted for. 

Mamma actually pulled her feathers and made a down cover to place over her eggs while she left for a swim.

Surprisingly, the Black Crowned Night Heron's make more of a mess around the ledge of the pool. However, this will be the fourth year that I am aware they have been coming to nest in our back yard. So, here is to our backyard being a bird sanctuary! I'm hoping the ducklings remain as courteous as their parents.

School is out at the end of this week and I am so looking forward to the unstructured schedule that comes with summer. My volunteering schedule lightens incredibly. Haley has bridged in Girl Scouts to a Junior - wow, soon to have two kids in 7th grade and one in 4th! 

Cheers to all! 

Oh, the past three weeks...

 Well, we took off for spring break to North Carolina. We expected to do quite a bit of hiking and even maybe some water rafting. The weather decided for us. We had some amazing cold temperatures and the kids thoroughly enjoyed the snow. I will have to admit, this will be the third consecutive visit (Oct., Oct., and now March and each time has snowed). As we do, we always look for future land for our herd (family and animals). We thought we had found the coolest 26 acres with a house (off the grid...no  power or water company). There were solar panels and a wind mill, but we would have to see if they were operable. The owners apparently vacated back in 2000 and left everything as is...and Fannie Mae thinks she is sitting on a gold mine. I don't know too many people who want to tackle this. However, for George and me....this is a dream. Bonus....this was the kids favorite property. Will wait and see what happens. If it's meant to be....I hope. Beautiful springs and a lot of woods...and it backs up to the Pisgah Natural Forest.

Well, kids attempting to do snow angels. This was a beautiful hike onto Whiteside Mountain.

Home and back into the swing of things. Washing fiber and preparing for various different  projects. I have some fabulous spinning wheels that are looking forward to being set up (are you listening George?). Some fiber will be carded for felting and others for spinning. We have a few requests for yarn. I'm feeling confident with my spinning.

Fiber drying...this row is being prepared to go to Texas to be weaved into rugs!

Monday's are my days to return to the farm. I think I managed to wash about 50 pounds of fiber. I am so looking forward to processing. I did manage to sneak in a stash to card so I can spin. The rest will be processed and sent to Texas to be woven into rugs.

In life, there are things that enrich us in many ways. Whether it be the experience, the knowledge or just a humbling moment. Friday, March 5th, I was taking the girls to dance. George asked me to get to the farm to assist with a birth. Alpaca's tend to birth in the late morning/early afternoon. Razz did the same thing last year. Here we were again, same situation. We needed to assist - one nose, two huffs and the rear one being a door stopper. We adjusted the rear leg and birthed. Small (8 pounds) strong heart beat, but not breathing. George holds him and drains the fluid. This cria tried for 45 minutes to get up, but not enough to milk. We milked Razz for the colustrum, fed the cria. Unfortunately, just before 9pm, we lost our little boy. Honestly, I have never seen a mom affected by a loss. Razz is probably one of my favorites (I'm not allowed that, so keep this amongst ourselves), and to this day, she always holds a special spot. She is doing fine and I caught her napping yesterday under the oaks. If I could have snuck in and laid next to her, I would have been overjoyed. She always welcomes me and so loves to eat the leaves off the broccoli or carrots from our veggie garden. She once stole my banana right outa my hands. She thought she was so mischievious!

 Oh, the girls snuck into the shelter and I did not realize George had opened the door....I left the other open...not good. They ran straight into the vegetable garden....steam was so being expelled from George's ears! Ooops...

Well, we prepare to shear this weekend. My brother Gil joins us from Phoenix (I think this is his 4th year??). I'm not sure what I would do without him. Mostly, because I am not sure how he puts up with me.

Our chicks born January 27th are growing and should be laying eggs starting in a couple of weeks. Slow process, but worth every second. They feed on their feed and all of our vegetable garden scraps!

I will post pictures, but keep checking my blog and website. Our classes expand and change. I am excited to offer a summer girls craft week (one week). I will post more details, but my daughters are really excited and are amazed of the different and fun new projects!!!

Oh, another day awakens tomorrow with many wonderful surprises! I like getting up each morning...some days you know are going to be great and others will just be fine. I do know one thing....my kids rock!!!!!

Nuno Felting and Mini Tour of the Farm

On Saturday, March 16th, we had four adventurous gals attend a Nuno Felting class! We hosted this one at the farm as everyone seemed keen on the idea.   We had the fireplace going,  Cran-Rasperry White Chocolate Scones, Florida orange juice and coffee (apparently I make some strong stuff!). We were shortly Nuno felting away and I thought the end product was gorgeous. You gals did amazing. Thank you!

Our annual visitor has apparently arrived. I noticed some nesting material hanging out of the doorway. And some "poop" that was not there. For the past 3 years, we have a beautiful Screech Owl that blesses us with her presence. Only once have I had the opportunity to see any of the babies fly away. I hope to be so lucky this year.

For some of you who have asked, yes these are "kegs". They hold the mash that we collect from one of our local craft beer brewers - Barley Mow on West Bay Drive. It is our (and their) attempt to leave less of a foot print. The chickens absolutely love it - specially the chicks that are almost 2 months old. Only some of the alpacas enjoy it. However, Coco (our chocolate lab) absolutely loves it.No worries - there is no alcohol in it! That is unfortunate!

And here are the crias finally of age to be weened from Mom. We have Semilla, Santana and Victoria hanging just on the other side from their Mom's.  We usually wait until they are 6 months and weigh at least 60 pounds.

And some of the latest from the produce side. The bananas will tease us as they continue to grow. We have to be careful because our alpacas love bananas - leaves mostly! The carrots below are Kaleidoscope. Cool colors as you cut through them. I wonder if I could use them for dyeing some yarn?

Our morning on Fox 13's Charley Belcher Show

What an amazing morning! We had the wonderful opportunity of having Charley Belcher from Tampa Bay Fox 13 air his morning show from the farm. Not only was it fun, but he and his crew were so nice!

We played with the animals (and they only threatened to spit once), we sheared and we spun. Best of all, we introduced many people to the fact that we have a thriving agriculture community in the most densely populated county in Florida. Welcome to Pinellas county and I hope that one day too you can come visit.

George and Charley having a serious conversation (not)....

And best of all, watching the crias charge....they pronk (when they appear to jump as someone has startled the living daylights out of them!).

"Tag....Valentino, your it!!!", says What's His Name.

And that was an amazing day! Thank you all for watching, your comments and compliments!

Alicia and George

What I consider a day off

Don't get me wrong, I love the store and it does afford me to get cleaned up and wear my nice clothes. I also get to socialize with creatures that answer back - sometimes intelligently, others not. But this is what enriches our lives. Our store is closed on Monday, so this is the day I get mundane things done around the farm. Herd management, breeding choices, ordering supplies and feed. Sorting and cleaning fiber. Honestly, sometimes this is the only time George and I get to talk farm without three little mouths interrupting us. As some of you know, we have three kids still at home - Gabriel (12), Zoe (11) and Haley (9). What they want to do at the farm and what we want them to do does not always go hand in hand. Where I was going with the quiet discussion moment, several years ago we got for George's birthday 4 different varieties of banana trees. As we were sat on our deck (which we built together) having lunch, I noticed one of his banana plants is preparing to bloom. Simple things like this entertain me!

This same day, I was sorting fiber and had opened one of the shelter doors to allow for more light. I did not realize my co-workers would find my fiber sorting of interest. Or simply was what was on the other side "greener". 

And for those of you who remember "Valentino", this is him the day after he was born playing around with a twig.

And, below, my partner and best friend, roughing it with "Valentino". This picture was taken February 25 - that would make "Valentino" 11 days old! He is quite strong and does not enjoy the trips to the scale. He plays continuously with "What's His Name" (born Dec. 27, 2012) and is actually giving him a run for his money!

This coming Monday will be a very different day for me on the farm. Charley Belcher with Fox 13 will be airing his morning show from our farm. This should make for an exciting day off!

Pool Party

Not the big party some of you have gotten invited to in the past, but mark your calendars. As we are a working farm, we are not open to tours. So, if you have ever wanted the opportunity to get up close and personal with an alpaca (if you dare - they do spit you know!!!) this would be your chance. The farm will be open to visitors Sunday, April 7th from 11am - 3pm. The following weekend they will be sheared and they will look really silly.

Fox 13 News Morning Show

This is a very exciting opportunity for us. We were scheduled to be on the Charley Belcher morning show this coming Tuesday. However, due to the good chance that we will have rain, Charley decided to change the date to Monday, March 4th. He will be televising his entire morning show from the farm. This should be a fun interview - one, it's live and two, he seems pretty witty. So, mark your calendars, tape or watch....this should be fun. Besides, it should give you all some good material to use on me (or George) at a later date!