Creatures on the Farm

Yes, it's an alpaca farm! But alpacas aren't the only creatures (read "living" creatures) around! This morning, in fact, I was working on the computer, looking out the window, and I saw a rather unwelcome sight! Yes, right out in the driveway--a coyote, looking like he belongs here. I'm glad that all my crias are not so small any more . . . and that there were no chicken feathers hanging out of the coyote's mouth! Maybe he was just a sign of the wierd spring we are having.

And it has been wierd--high winds, show, sleet, hail, rain, wind, and more rain. Planning for this year's shearing, I thought we weren't going to have trouble with mud on the feet/legs, but over the past two weeks, all that was dry lot is now "mud lot." But the grass is growing taller [too wet to mow :( ], the trees are in bud, the daffodils and narcissus are in full bloom and the tulips getting ready!

But plans for the garden are also on postponement! Hopefully, the potatoes and onions put in two weeks ago aren't rotting underground.

I had a new greenhouse erected over the winter and we haven't quite learned how to use it yet. Although I have had lettuce, spinach and radishes to enjoy for over a month.

Oh, yes, I was talking creatures. Last month, well in April, I had an interesting sighting: a pair of bluebirds. This really was exciting because I had never seen a western bluebird before. The day

was wet and windy--I was in the garage skirting fleeces and looked out at my Dodge Ram that was parked in front of the garage. This male bluebird was flirting with himself around the side mirror. He hopped all around it, hanging on the door, sitting on the mirror. I learned from a good birder friend of mine that bluebirds (and robins, he said!) have this habit--they are acting aggressively toward another bird in their territory! At one point during the afternoon (because this went on and off quite a few hours), I saw the female sitting on the Dodge roof--"What a silly male," she seemed to be saying!

On another day when I was down at the pen of weaned crias, down at the edge of the woods, I saw another pair (or the same pair?) I had recently purchased some beautiful handcrafted bluebird houses from a friend of mine, and I got them up as soon as possible. I haven't seen any action around the birdhouses yet, but it's been so miserable, when I go out to feed the alpacas, I get it done as soon as possible and get back inside!

The hummingbirds are back, too! Saw some flitting around the back porch and so put out the feeders, but the feeders are emptying in the high winds. The kingfisher is back, checking out the spawning goldfish in the pond. The dreaded flickers have been back and we've already had to seal up some holes they made. I've had someone knocking on my front door and ignored it, thinking it was the flickers back at the grouting between the logs! They are attractive, but cause too much damage for me to enjoy them.

Looking out the window--it's snowing again! But the Ren Fair is over and Mother's Day is coming--maybe we'll get some sunshine again!

Back in the (Alpaca?) Saddle Again

Over a year since I last blogged--grieving is a process. I still grieve the loss of Brad, but my life is back on track. So much has happened this past year:

• I learned how to drive standard drive, one-ton Dodge Ram pulling a trailer!
• I retired from my 10+ years at the University of Idaho at the end of July (although, as my friends know, I kept working, working, working part-time)
• I become a full-time alpaca farmer!
• Managed to direct the shearing of over 55 alpacas in two days, the crew cleaning the animals, bagging the fiber, taking pictures, trimming toenails, taking care of teeth, giving vaccinations and worming shots.
• We had 20 successful crias born between May 30 and October 2! (more boys than girls this year :( but they're all beautiful! This is a headshot of Miguel, one of the last ones born.
• Drove to and from WSU veterinary school how many times??? taking in crias and moms for exams and a few difficult births.
• Went to the PNAA Alpaca Show with some great friends I couldn't have done without--took third place in "Breeders' Best of Three."
• Worked very hard on the Obama campaign--hoorah! It kept my mind off my own troubles last fall.
• Sold knitted items, yarn and alpaca roving at a booth at the UI's Women's Works in December.
• Gave a sermon at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Palouse on grieving that was well-received
• Worked with the Purple Paisley Quilters to hold a successful service auction at UUCP.
• Harvested tomatoes, beans, zinnias, squash, corn and strawberries.
• Accepted a position on the UUCP Board of Directors.
• Purchased a greenhouse, which is still being erected--hope to sell produce down in Troy next summer.
• Purchased a spinning wheel--of course, I still have to learn how to use it!
• Became a part of the Troy Creative Co-op and began giving some knitting lessons.
• Took 16 alpacas to an auction in Nebraska, getting stuck in Chugwater, Wyoming, waiting for the blizzard to stop and the roads to open, but leaving Nebraska in 70 degree weather!
• And got back to knitting again!!!

Still much to do--I want to reduce the number of alpacas on the farm and have a reasonable number so I can still play with fiber and watch these wonderful gentle, lovable, curious and intelligent animals. My favorite thing, I always say, is sitting on the back porch with a glass of wine and watching the crias play!!

It snowed for the first time yesterday and everything was lovely, white, and peaceful today. And besides the fact that I locked myself out of my bedroom until I figured out how to unscrew the doorknow, I'm feeling pretty good these day!!

Remembering. . . .

I'm sitting at the computer, beside me scrambled eggs from my own chickens, ripe tomatoes and small zucchini from the garden; and I just came in from a walk around my property where I

• Took pictures of my two crias just born within the past two days
  
• Pet my Anatolian Shepherd Tzadi
  
• Collected eggs from my chickens
• Watched fish swim in the pond
• Tested the mini kiwis for ripeness(almost)
• Looked at the kumquats and thought how I'd need to learn how to use them
• Picked a few sunflowers
• Gazed at the blue sky, the trees swaying gently in the breeze, the green and brown fields

And I'm unbelievably sad. The reason I can do this on "my property" is because tomorrow will mark the one month "anniversary" of my brother's death.

My brother was my best friend and he died suddenly on August 8, 2008. Brad had an alpaca farm in Troy, Idaho, that is now mine. As one of my friends said, the farm is a double-edged sword. It's a blessing and a joy; it stands for loss and emptiness.

In Analyze That (a terribly funny movie with the line that runs constantly through my mind), Billy Crystal aptly and repeatedly says of grieving, "It's a process."

So I look out of the window, I know that one day I'll be able to do the same things with a little less ache in my heart, fewer tears in my eyes, and a sense of Brad's presence that will bring joy and comfort.

You can visit BigMeadowCreekAlpacas.com
and click "In Memorium" to read more about Brad.

Clematis, On and Off the Vine

Been spending my knitting time working on lace projects--participating in the Seasons of Lace and using the great wine collection of lace yarn I bought from KnitPicks. First finished project was what I call the Clematis scarf, since it reminds me of the clematis I planted in my back yard that winds up and around and through the tree (sometime of ornamental spring blooming tree) in my back yard. The yarn is my favorite alpaca--well, 80 % baby alpaca and 20% silk. It's soft to die for!

I completed two more lace scarves and I have one Monkey Sock completed. I still intend to get back to my Candle Flame Shawl, a pattern and yarn I bought two summers ago and never got past the first five or six rows!

It's a wonderful time of year--long days, bright skies. I enjoy working in my yard. Two years ago, I had all the grass dug up and I've been working at filling it with flowers. A mixture of perennials and annuals, lots of Butterfly Bush and other butterfly/hummingbird-attracting flowers, a Smoke Bush, and of course, to add smiles, some sunflowers.

The smaller side front yard is filled with miniature roses. All summer long, I take small vases of these roses in to work to share with my coworkers and friends. My favorite miniature, for both its color and fragrance, is called Vista. It's a shade of lilac. (Can you tell I like purple in all its varieties??)

I buy the roses on-line from Nor-east Roses, which is now in California. But my brother worked with the original owner (now dead) outside of Boston and has wonderful stories about how he developed roses and insisted on perfection.

Besides working full-time, gardening and knitting, I keep myself off the streets! Not that the streets in Moscow, Idaho, are that dangerous anyway!! It's hard to believe that August is just a few steps away!l I better get away from the computer and spend more time outside!!

Transportation and Knitting Lace

I work in a University Transportation Center, and that's what brought me to San Jose, California, this week. During the annual meeting of the Council of University Transportation Centers, the administrators of the UTCs meet to discuss best practices, issues they confront; there is an opportunity to meet with our US DOT Research and Innovative Technology (RITA) coordinators and have them clarify regulations, etc.

During the meeting this year, we admins were surprised and pleased to have Paul Brubaker, the Administrator of RITA, join us. Mr. Brubaker made a great impression on us--he was quite down to earth and seemed to understand the work we do. He's fourth from the left in the picture--according to the CUTC director, Paul looks like a linebacker.

So, my personal "connection" with Mr. Brubaker--he makes no small notice of being an alum of Youngstown State University. That puts him in the same class as my son, Michael (although Paul was an earlier graduate). I shared that with him and we talked about the area. He was familiar with Reyers Shoe Store (by reputation, the World's Largest Shoe Store) and Quaker Steak and Lube (a converted railroad car with the best hot wings and beer in town)--both across the border in Pennsylvania where I lived.

On the plane to San Jose, I worked on my newest lace project, the Misty Garden Scarf. Lessons learned or relearned:

• Plane lighting is not conducive to lace knitting (at least, at my age)
• Don't use a lifeline that is the same color or close to the color you are knitting
• Horizon/Alaska Airlines serve free wine made in the Northwest (I knew this, but always appreciate relearning it!)
• Don't get too involved in your knitting to pay attention to announcements (No, this is one time, at least, that I did not miss my plane fight)
• Flight attendants enjoy seeing your knitting
  

Cast on Lace! Cast off for San Jose!

So, it will be a summer/season of lace! Just had to buy the Wine Tasting Lace Sampler from KnitPicks--what's not to love--wine-colored lace yarn, lots of alpaca and merino! And I cast on Misty Garden from Scarf Style to carry with me on the plane to San Jose.

Sad to say, it's a working trip and not a vacation. But thanks to the wonderful people on Ravelry, I know where the best and closest LYS (local yarn store) will be to San Jose State, where I'll be meeting with folks from all over the country involved in transportation research and education. Since I'm a facilitator at a couple of sessions, I won't have my yarn and needles in my hand except on the plane.

I also discovered Ravelry on that at the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles, there's an exhibit called Beyond Knitting: Uncharted Stitches! Since I'm a quilter, too, that will be a must stop during my few free hours!

Had to spend this weekend cleaning--I'm obsessive about trying to take care of messes that should have heen taken care of weeks ago when I'm going to go on a trip. The only thing that made this weekend fun was the chance to visit a new cria (baby alpaca) only hours old, at my brother's farm Big Meadow Creek Alpacas. Alpaca mothers are very protective of their young, and Derica was no exception. As I was carrying the new baby to get weighed (a nice, healthy 17-pounds), Derica walked along beside, talking the entire time to the cria--and to me--not sure of what was going on. After the cria was weighed, I just put him down and the two of them went back up to the pasture. It's so much fun watching the new babies walk--every step or two they sort of stumble a little as they

But, I better go pack clothes to go along with my knitting for the trip!

WWKIP and snow in same week!

Did I say spring? Well, on Tuesday, June 10, I was up early enough to see it start snowing! We have had snow in Moscow every month so far in 2008! This is not normal! Usually, after the first week of May, we head into lovely weather, and by June, there is hardly a day without bright, blue skies! This is a closeup of my allium in the snow!

The snow didn't last long--the advantage of spring snow--but it did snow enough for someone to take some great pictures of the University of Idaho campus and post them on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3Y0RoMykk8

But yesterday--Saturday, World Wide Knit in Public Day, it was beautiful and sunny and lots of folks showed up at the Moscow Farmer's Market to knit in public. I had learned about it on Ravelry and suggested to our Woolgatherer's group that we participate. Cathy, a real go-getter, got permission from the Farmer's Market folks, made some signs; I posted the information on the WWKIP main website and on our Palousefibers.org. But it was still surprising to find a variety of folks show up. Some came and went; some stayed almost all four hours. Folks showed up from the Woolgatherers. from Stitch-n-Bitch groups in Moscow and Pullman, WA, a few men showed up, and we even had a grandmother from Spokane! It was great fun!