Spinning

It was a nice day, not great during the morning barn chores but a very nice afternoon.  I have put some of the shrink plastic over the Fiber Cottage windows and it actually worked!   It was nice enough in the Fiber Cottage that I could teach my two new students out there!  It was great spinning in the cottage.   I do love to work among the fiber and the looms.  I got the temps up to 68 degrees and that is nice working temperature.  Maybe, just maybe we will have  many Fiber Cottage days this winter.


Changing the subject . . .


Alexi is becoming the little performer.  When we look out our back windows we can often see him romping all over the pastures.  He is so bold, chest butting the dams getting them to chase and play with him.  What fun!

Please give me Warmth!

It is looking pretty out, but the thermometer just is not reaching for the warmer temps.  This wet, cool weather is really hard on people with Fibromyalgia.  I hate it when I whine.  I really am screaming for a nice, beautiful spring day when I have the time to be out working in it.  I have the Fiber Cottage looking good and ready for me to use, a major feat.  I just need a warm day to work in the gardens.  
Mother's Day is this weekend and I think about the woman I have become because of my incredible Mother. If she hadn't taken to me to the woods and taught me about nature, hadn't taken in those orphan rabbits, allowed the numerous gerbils and hamster, I am sure I would never have been the alpaca breeder I have become.  If Mom had not taught me to knit, sew, embroidery and so many other hand crafts I know I would not be a textile artist.  Most of all, Mom taught me to to mess and be alright with it.  Thank you Mom.
But, I am still looking for sunshine and warmth.

Spring, Spring, Where are you?

Where is spring?  After the hardest winter in my history, I impatiently awaited spring.  Now I am so disappointed that it has not really surfaced.  When we do get a rare warm day my "To Do" list is so long I have little time to really enjoy the day.  My husband had back surgery this winter and though he is back doing many things, his stamina is just not back fully.  That just adds to the list, I am so proud of his progress and both of us look forward to him being back 100% percent.
The vet students were out to the farm yesterday.  I love the students working out here, as it gives me teaching time.  They worked with several of the alpacas.  Today,  I am headed out to  the Fiber Cottage.  A 4-H knitting group is out tomorrow . . .ah what fun to introduce them to the beauty of alpaca fiber.
Winter was so hard, I really didn't have much energy after coming in from the barn.  One would think I would have really been productive, but I was tired after caring for the animals and I had little energy to put into creative projects.
If SPRING ever happens . . . I am so ready to start being creative.


PS - We are on cria watch! 

Out of the winter Funk

The sun is shining and the temps are rising.  Nothing can raise my spirits more!  We have  just returned from the MOPACA show in Kansas City, where we had 12 inches of snow while we were there, but that was last weekend and this is a new day.
The show was slow with the huge snowfall, but it was a great time to get back in touch with a lot of great breeders.  Our Delilah got a Fourth place ribbon, we would have liked better, but are happy she ribboned.  Freja, unfortunately did not place.  Freja was in a very tough  class and I am not disappointed in her.  She was a good girl in her first show ring.  We did have iquieries about her after she left the ring.
I was the Fiber Arts Judge.  It was my first judging experience and I really loved the experience.  I knew I was more than qualified, so I felt like I did a nice job.  There were some very beautiful items.  I was so impressed by the skill exhibited.  Mopaca is such a nice show, well run, nice venue, and resonable fees.