Alpacas & Paco-Vicunas

Elk in Estes Park

2012-02-25T15:34:00.002-08:00

When we were up in Estes Park in June there was this whole herd of elk, and I just couldn't resist taking a picture of these guys. You don't get to see so many elk calves at one time. I wanted to share this with all my friends.

Woven Scarves by Delmar

2012-02-23T18:28:00.003-08:00

Delmar has started weaving and all of these scarves he did on a ridgid heddle loom. They are either 100% alpaca or 75% alpaca/25% merino. The very colorful ones - all except the purple - were handpainted by a friend of mine. I think Delmar has found a new calling. These are only half of what he has done recently. We are heading down to the Monte Vista Crane Festival - March 9, 10, and 11.
They should sell well. We are hoping to get a baby wolf loom soon!!!!!!

Keeping warm.

2012-02-23T05:19:00.000-08:00

Now she knows how to keep warm during this weather. Wish it was big enough for me to join her on the floor, but the bench will do. The wind has been blowing for three days now and I truly am ready for it to stop. We have had to keep all the animals in the barn area because of these strong winds. The one good thing is it gives us a reason to have to stay inside and do our fiber duties. Watch the blog because I will soon be posting pictures of Delmar's scarves he has been weaving. He is good!!!

Salida Fiber Festival

2012-02-20T10:29:00.000-08:00

Okay everyone I am now on the Salida Fiber Festival Committee. The Festival is September 8-9, 2012.

http://salidafiberfestival.orgVisit our website. I would like to invite all of you to come down and spend some time in Salida. As you can see from the website it is a fabulous place to visit.

1st Annual Salida Fiber Festival September 8-9, 2012

2012-02-20T10:18:00.000-08:00

Wow, we have done some extensive fencing. We are cutting out the hay fields and turning everything into pastures. Here are my herdsires coming down from the barn to their new pasture. They now get lots of exercise. This place is fabulous, and after the end of this year we will have it operating like clock work. The work is well worth the time. We have about 1/3 of our fencing project done. Hopefully we will get the rest done this year, but the grant is good for three years so we don't have to kill ourselves off to accomplish this project.

2011-11-21T14:01:00.001-08:00

Wow, I finally got this cable stitch hat and scarf finished. It is made out of 100% baby alpaca. This is the first time I have done a short scarf and put a button on it. I really think it looks very dressy. Am going to put it up for sale in our farm store in December when we will again have a two day open house. So now on to my next project -- a baby blanket which is already started, and I need to just get it finished. Watch for it in the near future - like two months probably.

Fall Leaves

2011-09-30T08:33:00.000-07:00

I couldn't resist taking these beautiful pictures near Fairplay to post. On our way back from Golden, and the Alpacas on the Rocks Open House, I saw these and wanted to post them for your viewing pleasure. The colors are just breathtaking.

After a year

2011-09-22T06:50:00.000-07:00

Every day something wonderful and exciting happens here at the farm. We are always experiencing new things.

The farm truly is the "pot-of-gold" under the rainbow. Yes a year ago today we arrived with the last of the females. We have never regretted a moment of being here. Thanks Jane for this wonderful adventure.

Bucks & More Bucks

2011-09-08T10:23:00.001-07:00

On my way back from the vets these guys were just hanging out in a freshly mowed field. There were 11 bucks and 4 does in this group.

Open House

2011-09-08T10:16:00.001-07:00

Our September 3rd & 4th open house was a lot of fun. We had many products for sale, and some just for people to touch and experience. Lots of people took the farm tour and had many questions.

Our next stop will be September 24th & 25th at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds for the 15th Annual Alpacas on the Rocks Open House. If you can make it, please come and visit with us.

Hay

2011-09-08T08:25:00.001-07:00

After spending several days working on the swather, Delmar was finally able to get out and cut and windrow the hay. What a beautiful sight it is to have the last field cut. Delmar is in seventh heaven when he is working with his equipment.

Hay Time

2011-09-08T08:20:00.001-07:00

Here is Delmar & a neighbor baling the hay.

Bucks in hay field.

2011-08-27T15:04:00.000-07:00

We see these bucks every day, this morning we saw eight of them, and me with no camera. I should know better than that. Behind our wetland we have a doe with three fawns-not one, not two, but three. But she won't let me get a picture of them. Two bashful I guess.

Kiana's PV baby - Sireno is beautiful.

2011-08-27T14:45:00.000-07:00

This guy is Kiana's cria. He is such a little ham, and what a wonderful fleece he has. The paco-vicuña babies are always seeing what kind of trouble they can get into. We had seven babies this year - 5 alpacas & 2 paco-vicuñas/four females and three males. It was a good year.

Moved and now settled in Salida, Colorado

2011-08-27T13:34:00.000-07:00

We wondered about moving to Salida, and as you can see it is such a beautiful place to raise our alpacas & paco-vicuñas. We love managing the place for Jefferson Farms, and we now have a total of 212 animals on the farm with more to come. We absolutely love it here, it is like a slice of heaven-on-earth.

New Addition to the Herd

2010-08-09T10:45:00.001-07:00

This guy was born on the 20th of July, and what a knock-out he is going to be. We are still working on relocating to Salida. Hopefully, we will get that done before winter arrives here in the mountains at 9,000 feet.

The other picture is of the back yard. We have been having so much rain that it is just a lush green. Good to see after the years of drought that we have been having. Got to just love the view.

Nursery

2010-08-01T16:03:00.001-07:00

Here are the four youngest crias with their assigned babysitter. They are enjoying the wonderful warm sunshine.

It is raining here again this afternoon, and we surely do need the moisture. Gives me a reason not to finish staining the deck since it can't rain on it for 24 hours. Hurrah!!

A beautiful day.

2010-07-25T21:01:00.000-07:00

Went out today to just enjoy the beauty around us. The birds were singing, everything is so green, and the alpacas were peacefully humming. Life is good.

Life is beautiful.

2010-07-25T20:55:00.000-07:00

I went out today, and just had to marvel at how beautiful it is here on the ranch. Everything is so green, the birds are singing and the alpacas are humming.

A break from criating to breeding.

2010-07-24T20:35:00.000-07:00

We have seven 2010 crias so far, and we are extremely happy with the outcome of our breeding decisions. We have three more due. This is what this life is all about - seeing the results of your breeding decisions. And, seeing an improvement every year. I am glad to be on a break right now, none due until August 11th - wahoo!!!! But, now for the creative part - choosing the breeding mates.

Shearing

2010-06-02T06:24:00.000-07:00

Shearing went fantastic on Saturday, May 29th. We had lots of help, and of course our wonderful shearers, Paul and Tom. The weather was very cooperative, and I learned how to determine if your Paco-Vicuña needs to be fully shorn or just trimmed.

Monday, May 24,2010

2010-05-24T13:59:00.000-07:00

Wow what a day. Trying to get all of the web sites updated, running around the pasture trying to get appropriate pictures. Now there is a real challenge!!