tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24657547108564450642024-03-05T02:05:52.671-06:00Llamas of Wier WorldJulie Wierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107890693682089614noreply@blogger.comBlogger171125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465754710856445064.post-47221378596877915962013-01-18T20:05:00.000-06:002013-01-18T20:05:13.412-06:00Riding into the sunset - not yetWell, well, people. It has been a month of Sundays since I blogged at all. Just a few things have happened since May 2012:
In 1983 I had cancer. Hodgkins Disease to be more specific. Back in the day when I was treated -- there were two choices: radiation and chemotherapy. I was lucky enough to get the worst of both worlds. Our kids were 10, 8, 7, 5, 3 and one.
It was time when the rule was "kill the cancer at all costs." So they aimed a bazooka filled with radiation at my chest -- and fired. If only we had known the consequences then.
During my treatment I didn't let it slow me down. I even dressed as "Baldy Smurf" for a kids show at our elementary school. I had the "scenic route to Chicago" in India Ink on my chest and back -- as I laid under the radiation machine -- holding my breath and praying for the best.
I went into remission in February of 1984 -- and lived each day "like I was dying" for over 30 years. People thought that "surely the cancer will return." It didn't dare. Or they thought that I would have other issues -- which I did. Everything from "lack of venal capacity in my feet" to low thyroid -- to being thrown into menopause at 34. All bad things.
I graduated from college with a degree in communication. I became a professional clown and started the OLA Rainbow Clowns -- comprised of kids ages 3 to 15. I danced with Susan from Sesame Street when she came to St. Louis. I was the editor of a children's monthly newspaper. I became a reporter. I did speaking engagements for folks with cancer -- even got to meet Patch Adams.
I raised our family, with Jack's help, and began acquiring llamas -- then alpacas. In other words -- I had a life.
I learned to spin fiber into yarn. I took my animals into parades -- to nursing homes -- to schools. Loved every minute.
So now we're at July 2012. In the beginning of the month I was unloading and stacking hay bales 100 at a time. I was picking up 50-pound bags of grain and stacking 1500 lbs at a time. Due to the awful St. Louis heat wave -- 107 real temp for days -- I went into congestive heart failure (do ya think the radiation aimed at my chest had anything to do with that?) and went to the ER in the middle of the night. A couple of days later I had a pacemaker. I went home from the hospital STILL gasping for air. Felt like I was drowning.
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Julie Wierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107890693682089614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465754710856445064.post-17460176423709353902012-05-07T08:54:00.001-05:002012-05-07T08:54:39.186-05:00Goodbye Betty Ford 8nShe came into my life about 12 years ago. That scruffy little gal named Betty Ford -- the 1950 Ford 8n tractor. Nevermind that she was an "old gal." She could still cut that pasture with the best of them. <br />
Once the cutting deck was installed I spent many happy hours driving lazily back and forth across the pasture. The birds would swoop down in front of me -- in anticipation of the bugs, including grasshoppers, that would be hearing the ground shake and moving out of the way.<br />
The llamas and alpacas would look up -- and sometimes not even move away -- because they didn't see Betty as any kind of threat. She was just another farm helper -- making their grazing more delicious.<br />
I readily admit that I baby-ed that tractor. If she got too hot -- I shut her down. If she had some labored breathing while climbing the rolling hills in the pasture -- I let her "set a bit" until she could catch her breath. Sort of like me.<br />
On Saturday, May 5, 2012, she took her last breath.<br />
I started her up in the covered garage -- and she blew a piston. Her guts literally blew out of the trtactor. I spent Saturday -- and most of Sunday -- crying. My life will never be the same.<br />
Some people would say that it is silly to cry over a tractor. I'm not one of those people. <br />
Goodbye Betty Ford.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE05A2t3_h-Xdn4cga51oO007z6_jQQWNy30wDka0mrl30e7JH68yuIaqSTqmR5RAnfrDUnC5P5Fd0a3yEXNZl2Xcm26RPzGwX0f9zE2qOLJofoe88TC28oUjAtPs0EashVIyYtFGxfE9Y/s1600/IMG_2609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239px" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE05A2t3_h-Xdn4cga51oO007z6_jQQWNy30wDka0mrl30e7JH68yuIaqSTqmR5RAnfrDUnC5P5Fd0a3yEXNZl2Xcm26RPzGwX0f9zE2qOLJofoe88TC28oUjAtPs0EashVIyYtFGxfE9Y/s320/IMG_2609.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div>Julie Wierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107890693682089614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465754710856445064.post-15448312583826582492012-01-24T12:43:00.002-06:002012-01-24T12:52:54.062-06:00Day 71 of the "hat a day" challenge<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2jJYQO-SBORzRy0dTNZH1OTNjGpEeGyRGBh0ZHVW0oJsgN1g5kaUKB2Do-6kp_NxFyjB7ksG4Rlnyt1hOO4R8Z_RmJOgLdTIhvP3eZ_TANo822I7J309Gi1WgH-cDgfFr5kUD0M-AiU6X/s1600/IMG_1135.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701272020032128674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2jJYQO-SBORzRy0dTNZH1OTNjGpEeGyRGBh0ZHVW0oJsgN1g5kaUKB2Do-6kp_NxFyjB7ksG4Rlnyt1hOO4R8Z_RmJOgLdTIhvP3eZ_TANo822I7J309Gi1WgH-cDgfFr5kUD0M-AiU6X/s200/IMG_1135.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLyLbRwhz0IvCxAaQXa9uQ4lUowWk5O8LOxLJfA32bIziAlHB51SjoLcrdvb4_EsC-JdjApiSeFMX9EvQTSjw_G9eXLaWHTcgrKe_lDjaRAH5UK6QCWGYfp4TYcIuI5sU-bTu_SyG9ABI4/s1600/IMG_1124.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701272018456126130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLyLbRwhz0IvCxAaQXa9uQ4lUowWk5O8LOxLJfA32bIziAlHB51SjoLcrdvb4_EsC-JdjApiSeFMX9EvQTSjw_G9eXLaWHTcgrKe_lDjaRAH5UK6QCWGYfp4TYcIuI5sU-bTu_SyG9ABI4/s200/IMG_1124.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_JFLF5dW9ZBRZPqmkUvoWBY7LGOy2eQViHt2JvJLZ7ApzQ8Mta35VPXLtYyiSJ66mt3IhNSYZBdOlIx0ULCVHz8aJgZQnI99qW790-gGAnyXxUpvhc0AIyd1OMOB1SsyhiAhPIG6XHW9Z/s1600/IMG_1094.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701272003733649730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_JFLF5dW9ZBRZPqmkUvoWBY7LGOy2eQViHt2JvJLZ7ApzQ8Mta35VPXLtYyiSJ66mt3IhNSYZBdOlIx0ULCVHz8aJgZQnI99qW790-gGAnyXxUpvhc0AIyd1OMOB1SsyhiAhPIG6XHW9Z/s200/IMG_1094.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKT8_3qq4-VGtt2AUUzCIXDXiuSiXlanpA7_F7YJ2a-gtxaRAkfH0PIKppvGV5uNlHNqhMBtdGAJrqsZWmpRBgUNf0umkxUGRKs7Debp09DacKDYGh7LKQU1vzL-4f3ARyujNk9R6GlpR/s1600/IMG_1079.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701272001456971986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKT8_3qq4-VGtt2AUUzCIXDXiuSiXlanpA7_F7YJ2a-gtxaRAkfH0PIKppvGV5uNlHNqhMBtdGAJrqsZWmpRBgUNf0umkxUGRKs7Debp09DacKDYGh7LKQU1vzL-4f3ARyujNk9R6GlpR/s200/IMG_1079.jpg" /></a><br />So after not blogging for ages -- here I am with two blogs in the same day!</div><br /><div>This is about day 71 of the "hat a day" challenge. So far so good -- I'd like to report. I have managed to make a hat or headwarmer every day since Nov. 14, 2011. The variety of my hats amazes even me.</div><br /><div>Some are ski style; some have flowers; some are two or three colors; some are made from alpaca; some are made from llama; some are acrylic or wool.</div><br /><div>Sizes have included infant to children's to adult size hats. It's been an adventure so far. I've even added a couple of scarves to the mix -- with both crocheted scarves and tube-knitted scarves (on the loom). </div><br /><div>My grandkids remain delighted to come over and pick out hats when they need something new. It's great.</div><br /><div>My youngest grandson, Lincoln, is now wearing the hat I made for his older brother -- a soft, black and white alpaca cap. It is adorable on him. My granddaughter, Isabella, is wearing a blue hat -- that brings out the color of her eyes (if they were open). </div><br /><div>So I'm excited, still, about this adventure into hat making. Let's see how I feel about it on Nov. 14, 2012!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3YcqEHSrz2yt-0GkJY-tZgNnIu7AZIA8wCH5UX-mvXziKCvAd3YnPNHdMG8jCVcRYaLPLRuth5pOMObuDRYu6nAlBq2tfxyzj33rTlJaJaOn1emxeA75fBSVrhI3llKtF61i7G6LMjG_b/s1600/img_0462_0134.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701271998016934002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3YcqEHSrz2yt-0GkJY-tZgNnIu7AZIA8wCH5UX-mvXziKCvAd3YnPNHdMG8jCVcRYaLPLRuth5pOMObuDRYu6nAlBq2tfxyzj33rTlJaJaOn1emxeA75fBSVrhI3llKtF61i7G6LMjG_b/s200/img_0462_0134.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Julie Wierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107890693682089614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465754710856445064.post-9019872549680420622012-01-24T12:32:00.002-06:002012-01-24T12:41:54.540-06:00New animals<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL25f2Q4b7hl7M72szGpxc32rw0g6Wc7Cb_NWl4rszw09OI9Pop0th_107OmgwH9nyYhTqucJwGu4YgdMyljHIKNlHLAfarEEOV6itHv5S-KtQ_DSUp_Py8Zj8d7gh77YbKOGzsthOuOgL/s1600/img_0450_0122.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701269490433684930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL25f2Q4b7hl7M72szGpxc32rw0g6Wc7Cb_NWl4rszw09OI9Pop0th_107OmgwH9nyYhTqucJwGu4YgdMyljHIKNlHLAfarEEOV6itHv5S-KtQ_DSUp_Py8Zj8d7gh77YbKOGzsthOuOgL/s200/img_0450_0122.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUEustoydg7aMZVpQhyphenhyphenHb5gNdje-BzQYwLvVG0Vdn3C6vdE8oECqb2ye_gYetRESSlAcwJxGaE4FgvUcQiKocX_N6KSRHeemZaT9NZETSta4jOOTv45DK0T68sjNS4DGHd2r19QQdzD9K/s1600/img_0403_0076.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701269489140100082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUEustoydg7aMZVpQhyphenhyphenHb5gNdje-BzQYwLvVG0Vdn3C6vdE8oECqb2ye_gYetRESSlAcwJxGaE4FgvUcQiKocX_N6KSRHeemZaT9NZETSta4jOOTv45DK0T68sjNS4DGHd2r19QQdzD9K/s200/img_0403_0076.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4vMRaREG5BdhCixo4ocRx3pLUU6SF7SeG6A69wN6t4TFnPou4bdOyUFfSN2JipITuwpqU1_zJ8UoNOTg1M6Ip-maFtcLDNou6Gb4ybYUs2Jk_TZ9GdgW9rDJdaMdaQt6MbwTVL_G0IM0/s1600/img_0396_0069.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701269481149762834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4vMRaREG5BdhCixo4ocRx3pLUU6SF7SeG6A69wN6t4TFnPou4bdOyUFfSN2JipITuwpqU1_zJ8UoNOTg1M6Ip-maFtcLDNou6Gb4ybYUs2Jk_TZ9GdgW9rDJdaMdaQt6MbwTVL_G0IM0/s200/img_0396_0069.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiyfXSz4IdbhgNxz_wrAror7KagiZpgOgI7r2E7Eh38tWrbZtlDqFrjrif3Qru3fZUaNKF0H9j8I-WjY22pqGeFJ9yXPI0cKk7BjDW7OAYZA_kPicvx3V9iVAG8hCdLJaK_3iNJzMY4q2d/s1600/img_0392_0065.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701269470591404162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiyfXSz4IdbhgNxz_wrAror7KagiZpgOgI7r2E7Eh38tWrbZtlDqFrjrif3Qru3fZUaNKF0H9j8I-WjY22pqGeFJ9yXPI0cKk7BjDW7OAYZA_kPicvx3V9iVAG8hCdLJaK_3iNJzMY4q2d/s200/img_0392_0065.jpg" /></a><br />I recently traded 314 pounds of fleece for some animals. The "trader" was generous with the animals that no longer fit into her breeding program, so I was delighted with two gorgeous suri female llamas -- Sumertime Santana and Silvia Rose. They are straight, correct llamas and look like show girls at the IL State Fair to me. I can't wait.</div><br /><div>I also came across some wonderful alpacas -- both suri and huacaya. There's Amber, Bess and her boy Indie, Lucy (a part llama/part alpaca crossbred), and several others. It is really nice to add new bloodlines to my herd through trading. No money is involved -- and that is good for both of us.</div><br /><div>The new animals are settling in nicely -- and they will soon be officially welcomed into the girl herd. They now can roam on 33 acres of pasture and are pretty happy about that. I saw them bouncing around a couple of evenings ago and the joy in their leaps was evident.</div><br /><div>I'm a sucker for these wonderful camelids. I can't help myself.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8faak73ab-LpxK2mxNkjf5OttQ04lucTz5JgpyLOneq7Yb3EFHS5kQDP34v11tp07cndyzjD63iC1grRry3vg-Tc1j6wG6Gdf_VU_nXNXTWVY3dh6yemf8JcUZYgc-WLI0wmYow3FMxTp/s1600/img_0422_0094.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701269464584882178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8faak73ab-LpxK2mxNkjf5OttQ04lucTz5JgpyLOneq7Yb3EFHS5kQDP34v11tp07cndyzjD63iC1grRry3vg-Tc1j6wG6Gdf_VU_nXNXTWVY3dh6yemf8JcUZYgc-WLI0wmYow3FMxTp/s200/img_0422_0094.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Julie Wierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107890693682089614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465754710856445064.post-23124014883392263742011-12-14T12:08:00.005-06:002011-12-14T12:33:09.558-06:00The Mad Hatter<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKT_F3w974_5rGjfDJjOUuOHc0gVncBf9shx5lHRsrT3FamLHr0DHHPN1a5aRQ7jL2QETRQcMFDKmqVQw1fz8pMaYbaClCbwel-8XpQje7gQnHin8rbMVxvYvAc-CNV9MVLHK9esXNo6kI/s1600/IMG_0126.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686053838389541010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKT_F3w974_5rGjfDJjOUuOHc0gVncBf9shx5lHRsrT3FamLHr0DHHPN1a5aRQ7jL2QETRQcMFDKmqVQw1fz8pMaYbaClCbwel-8XpQje7gQnHin8rbMVxvYvAc-CNV9MVLHK9esXNo6kI/s200/IMG_0126.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-SgqSM8ZmywVQKpYE-tqBSP9ePq4uZAeYMCjhkgxFBT5bh-2MTlolfQcKBjML7dG0SjRd1oundCL-YW0wfLIZ9tyJ-WfEKnM90N_WKP9dm0TrwqmrzHAPaCFMw_ZXrIKZRLFvnMoWss2J/s1600/IMG_0119.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686053829939366754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-SgqSM8ZmywVQKpYE-tqBSP9ePq4uZAeYMCjhkgxFBT5bh-2MTlolfQcKBjML7dG0SjRd1oundCL-YW0wfLIZ9tyJ-WfEKnM90N_WKP9dm0TrwqmrzHAPaCFMw_ZXrIKZRLFvnMoWss2J/s200/IMG_0119.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLjbSOXCIHnln6X8gwPpUhUA1Bn1o3Ru5iQmi1yFpWbt_A3Gf7G0gutCzytMFpLbtJzesRMDiF1U2aJsLR62wh_SPlKVx9odh-F90IPfBP0ipPyTm1lV5cfgk5h6RL_po6EDHOWp2ts_Eb/s1600/IMG_0805.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686053820886173618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLjbSOXCIHnln6X8gwPpUhUA1Bn1o3Ru5iQmi1yFpWbt_A3Gf7G0gutCzytMFpLbtJzesRMDiF1U2aJsLR62wh_SPlKVx9odh-F90IPfBP0ipPyTm1lV5cfgk5h6RL_po6EDHOWp2ts_Eb/s200/IMG_0805.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Du7QyoIvdJGtbi3Ra0JYUo5tMQiNs_SR-lIWfHKHXiNnPNLKN-4lRWwJLjdEVPg1qReLbpUkEqexNjrQW0mqn5CuG4P9td96thMrw_jh5-sUj3d6YHsBy5IhkcKDLMYY-2yIZuAAp9Ec/s1600/IMG_0785.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686053813263542002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Du7QyoIvdJGtbi3Ra0JYUo5tMQiNs_SR-lIWfHKHXiNnPNLKN-4lRWwJLjdEVPg1qReLbpUkEqexNjrQW0mqn5CuG4P9td96thMrw_jh5-sUj3d6YHsBy5IhkcKDLMYY-2yIZuAAp9Ec/s200/IMG_0785.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Just call me The Mad Hatter.<br /><br /><br />I have crazily decided to challenge myself to make a "hat-a-day" for 365 days. I'm on Day 31 of the challenge.<br /><br /><br />I am addicted to knitting on the Knifty Knitter Hat Looms. I can whip out a hat in a short period of time -- and the feeling of having "gotten something DONE" is extremely rewarding.<br /><br /><br />So -- you ask -- what am I going to DO with all these hats?<br /><br /><br />1. I tend toward having a generous soul. I want to gift people with hats that have been lovingly made from my own animals.<br /><br /><br />2. I have 8 grandchildren -- ALL of whom have one of Grammy's hats. Several of my daughters and daughters-in-law also have my hats. Two of my sons have hats. I have a big family.<br /><br /><br />3. I will sell some of the hats to support my herd. Buying winter hay this year is no joke. Grain, dewormers, halters, leads, blankets for the old girls -- all of these things cost money. Selling some of the hats will support my wonderful herd of llamas and alpacas that gift me with their fleeces each May for the purpose of making my hats.<br /><br /><br />4. And then there's the other reason: 11 years ago our granddaughter, Ashley, was born -- and she was a twin. Her sister, Jessica, didn’t survive -- and actually stopped growing 2 months before birth. I will never forget the beautiful hat/sweater that Jessie was dressed in when we held her for the first -- and last time. It was the kindness of strangers to gift the hospital with those beautiful little hats and sweaters. Time to pass it on, "pay it forward" -- if you will.</div></div></div></div>Julie Wierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107890693682089614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465754710856445064.post-45838209256632066572011-11-19T22:48:00.002-06:002011-11-19T23:04:34.892-06:00Challenge: A Hat a Day<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaz1jrsaB5LSmH7BWYFTgT8s9w0CHpwRmioPw6px2K0-T2-DZ7tTEFxvePUjSP2m0rCSew9HAD30lebo08vrfDEBHR6k6-SM_2rE7Oro6DyfIRklLAbxiFNdHh1J-PyJ64HhOuLqnJmju-/s1600/IMG_0322.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676936848878233154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaz1jrsaB5LSmH7BWYFTgT8s9w0CHpwRmioPw6px2K0-T2-DZ7tTEFxvePUjSP2m0rCSew9HAD30lebo08vrfDEBHR6k6-SM_2rE7Oro6DyfIRklLAbxiFNdHh1J-PyJ64HhOuLqnJmju-/s200/IMG_0322.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLfwsJxpkzdPV8qjl6UTx0xtta7M9Ndn_iuV71tvV744HNWsGejrR2G-rgXy7EhSVmrcVuWKYNO2eN9RyBntiyX9JGKME9y80lfRSkq-Eax_6Xa3EDwLTuYqDF3DF_artg_H5NY2sPR42/s1600/IMG_0502.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676936841071594146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLfwsJxpkzdPV8qjl6UTx0xtta7M9Ndn_iuV71tvV744HNWsGejrR2G-rgXy7EhSVmrcVuWKYNO2eN9RyBntiyX9JGKME9y80lfRSkq-Eax_6Xa3EDwLTuYqDF3DF_artg_H5NY2sPR42/s200/IMG_0502.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzGD9FAEB2NNniL5x20ggfgsi8ux6Xw_UmSWP7Hw9huLHWiwsZWidzwR-P53EZbG4H-tpSENlvBCsv9DPNZWka75qcLlZVXMRO_EcC1hQKcHKtCYHlhz_rxYTy85VZkYuB7L1uMZf6f6KD/s1600/IMG_0495.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676936835516834850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzGD9FAEB2NNniL5x20ggfgsi8ux6Xw_UmSWP7Hw9huLHWiwsZWidzwR-P53EZbG4H-tpSENlvBCsv9DPNZWka75qcLlZVXMRO_EcC1hQKcHKtCYHlhz_rxYTy85VZkYuB7L1uMZf6f6KD/s200/IMG_0495.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5n0KchvL2TR63T5ZHrfDsCFYzORrju9Mwnwr3BFGOOKyiqe5O9_OBPuZC-4EoHUzP5a5-o4liyM5zRDpYw5IW3zvIhL3ONCsbfalhOtvRuaGV4Dw_WkRmF4KebaWcl1yheZy7k92ek0t/s1600/IMG_0494.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676936827336645698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5n0KchvL2TR63T5ZHrfDsCFYzORrju9Mwnwr3BFGOOKyiqe5O9_OBPuZC-4EoHUzP5a5-o4liyM5zRDpYw5IW3zvIhL3ONCsbfalhOtvRuaGV4Dw_WkRmF4KebaWcl1yheZy7k92ek0t/s200/IMG_0494.jpg" /></a><br />Hmmm. Maybe I've bitten off more than I can chew. I decided to challenge myself to this deal: I will make a hat every day for the next year. Yep. That's the plan.</div><br /><div>I started on Monday of this week. I made the bigger white and multi-colored ski hat first. Next came Tuesday - and the smaller ski hat. Then it was my daughter-in-law's birthday and I made the white hat with mustard-colored trim (I made the scarf last week). Then it was the blue swirly hat on Thursday. And I ended with the natural brown alpaca hat. Plus I made a white/black little girl's hat for today.</div><br /><div>I like to stretch myself. I like to reach a goal. This may get really old -- but as long as I "switch it up" a bit with different sizes/types of hats I think I can hang in there. </div><br /><div>And yes, some of the hats will be for sale on my Etsy site - <a href="http://www.grandmotherscomfort.etsy.com/">www.grandmotherscomfort.etsy.com</a></div><br /><div>I'll try to give you all an update from month-to-month. It'll be easy in the winter -- it's the summer that might deter me.</div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5HoKsS00WzoYr7c8_035498-W57Dq2Fmt-k6Ll24m4W1_Is7bs2tPijVzKYKRx2UvbLwFv8qd50tg21K801p7-KXQl1qmQ0H7aTBzEFw1YdrvOL8eNvsEcPx4cldpJfdQnd9YXxJnfkD3/s1600/IMG_0483.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676936823985538434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5HoKsS00WzoYr7c8_035498-W57Dq2Fmt-k6Ll24m4W1_Is7bs2tPijVzKYKRx2UvbLwFv8qd50tg21K801p7-KXQl1qmQ0H7aTBzEFw1YdrvOL8eNvsEcPx4cldpJfdQnd9YXxJnfkD3/s200/IMG_0483.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Julie Wierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107890693682089614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465754710856445064.post-54731098634464489092011-10-31T11:23:00.003-05:002011-10-31T11:36:04.184-05:00NAMI Walk 2011<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWYu1espfUAV7olDOb8ug7rLM2mjnP5BlfdrRDG2o3uF-Qx9z7kL6TFwKNkq-ZxE88Bmy_VxhVExblHA9VfZ2nmdgSSNie4whZg2bUsMaYqb6ZqE8Iqvkt74BZjiOAisn9TunWmRhhijIP/s1600/NAMI+walk.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669693167342635874" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWYu1espfUAV7olDOb8ug7rLM2mjnP5BlfdrRDG2o3uF-Qx9z7kL6TFwKNkq-ZxE88Bmy_VxhVExblHA9VfZ2nmdgSSNie4whZg2bUsMaYqb6ZqE8Iqvkt74BZjiOAisn9TunWmRhhijIP/s200/NAMI+walk.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhftm-jitLvmM7iyPPvhBjwpg8DJeuRinjkMM5m6-C7g8iNdQNE5Ffvyz0-d4fMEnG5OZnrL2uthPIfopcDrolbwwACld7KG1pyC-srUUBjEw5mfIzGoUcHC66DzPyCWnM9AXd15PYRgNyy/s1600/NAMI+walk+2011.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669693166728767858" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhftm-jitLvmM7iyPPvhBjwpg8DJeuRinjkMM5m6-C7g8iNdQNE5Ffvyz0-d4fMEnG5OZnrL2uthPIfopcDrolbwwACld7KG1pyC-srUUBjEw5mfIzGoUcHC66DzPyCWnM9AXd15PYRgNyy/s200/NAMI+walk+2011.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtB3AztSlXHM8Q_NR91IBk_cd6lVEp9Hx5eeMQgnsY4Vo-z0w6_DmZ9NxLgyz3wquhJG_RCwquNxJzF68dEJ__4xlZ6oclJakGAgozcsNGQyWq7HeMH5Le831Cmcx1172akULEuwpBv9mT/s1600/nami+llama.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669693161523553618" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtB3AztSlXHM8Q_NR91IBk_cd6lVEp9Hx5eeMQgnsY4Vo-z0w6_DmZ9NxLgyz3wquhJG_RCwquNxJzF68dEJ__4xlZ6oclJakGAgozcsNGQyWq7HeMH5Le831Cmcx1172akULEuwpBv9mT/s200/nami+llama.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrmFouncL-MkDYzJ9GQMdX2MLTchaJSuEuyI2HA2WdNwQWk367WLDmU_4yF_yhmp-uvnL9uXU6t-evUeSmcEkY_6cK3Mab2PQZY4c6IpJD0axGUzy5eR-f8N7BeP623VKFQNuqxRCIki56/s1600/krista+NAMI+walk.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669693160394824018" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrmFouncL-MkDYzJ9GQMdX2MLTchaJSuEuyI2HA2WdNwQWk367WLDmU_4yF_yhmp-uvnL9uXU6t-evUeSmcEkY_6cK3Mab2PQZY4c6IpJD0axGUzy5eR-f8N7BeP623VKFQNuqxRCIki56/s200/krista+NAMI+walk.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Saturday was the 8th Annual Walk for Recovery held in Russell Commons Park in Alton. NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Illness) was the organization that sponsored the walk. This year they added a 5K run for Recovery to the event.</div><br /><div>It was beautiful weather and the breeze off of the Mississippi River was just the right touch of fall.</div><br /><div>I was proud to provide the llamas and alpacas for the event -- 4 llamas: Autumn, Punxsutawney, Pebbles and Valentina -- and 4 alpacas: Eileeen and Polka-Dot Patty, Punchau and Brook.</div><br /><div>Random participants were able to walk the animals along the path in the park. There was a huge bridge that spanned some water, but the animals only hesitated for seconds before trekking over the bridge. The quiet, gentle souls of the animals brought a calming effect to all who participated in the walk.</div><br /><div>I have been associated with NAMI for 8 years now. The young man who drew the "NAMI llama" shared the history of "how this came to be" with me and it was interesting listening to his own personal story -- and that of the "character" that would become his creation.</div><br /><div>Llamas historically carry burdens -- and that is what families can do to help those struggling with mental illness. When you visit their website: <a href="http://www.namiswi.org/">www.namiswi.org</a> you can read about the "connection" that has developed over the years.</div><br /><div>The photos tell the tale of the walk -- groups of individuals forming teams to fight for recovery. My son, Ben, is shown with Valentina -- and one youngster even dressed as a llama -- the Dolly Llama -- to be exact. She was adorable.</div><br /><div>Llamas posed for photos for a donation to NAMI of $5. It was a great way to raise more funds.</div><br /><div>Suicide is a leading cause of death among young people -- especially when they are struggling with depression. NAMI can help -- and we are proud to be associated with such a "stand up" organization. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqkY8hPL_RXXFqoA5chytCtktSWjS2tODPKBeg_UqwVnskLZ5JbicCvFnYSTwJL3dFBYWqWJsavcELP4ejz16kZy9a4V9r6eLVzX5_AdMIPJYzpY_AhKcGbJizbmAPksyAmMgdSWZehlL/s1600/Ben+NAMI+walk.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669693154186628274" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqkY8hPL_RXXFqoA5chytCtktSWjS2tODPKBeg_UqwVnskLZ5JbicCvFnYSTwJL3dFBYWqWJsavcELP4ejz16kZy9a4V9r6eLVzX5_AdMIPJYzpY_AhKcGbJizbmAPksyAmMgdSWZehlL/s200/Ben+NAMI+walk.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Julie Wierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107890693682089614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465754710856445064.post-90615116773394234032011-10-23T23:26:00.006-05:002011-10-23T23:51:20.109-05:00Pit Firing<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheeBYyFIFXwyNM_TufAnysjVLqkA1WgGJnYOZ6Z9YrBkdJbTO_KSueV_1reod25huAu0HSry_eH304lM67lrP0jzXIAIrjQ20coV0CvP82EqbwLvNayNeUkv63aTQLwRCmQ5yLvZXNvsDA/s1600/annika%2527s+baby+2.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 120px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666911054156245346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheeBYyFIFXwyNM_TufAnysjVLqkA1WgGJnYOZ6Z9YrBkdJbTO_KSueV_1reod25huAu0HSry_eH304lM67lrP0jzXIAIrjQ20coV0CvP82EqbwLvNayNeUkv63aTQLwRCmQ5yLvZXNvsDA/s200/annika%2527s+baby+2.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUoLRXGp4cjkIUwhA2MLDzeBSm1-KkKEsm-p5HY1xA8DMr9qMv6669GUZp7CO59aAcxgEbBO-b4k5usSVPaBLozZsVuR0dibuL8LTv_ZHnyrUbFIORb7QyXdoMFAtm4CsOcwAdpAZAJv5/s1600/IMG_0049.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666911057205238386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUoLRXGp4cjkIUwhA2MLDzeBSm1-KkKEsm-p5HY1xA8DMr9qMv6669GUZp7CO59aAcxgEbBO-b4k5usSVPaBLozZsVuR0dibuL8LTv_ZHnyrUbFIORb7QyXdoMFAtm4CsOcwAdpAZAJv5/s200/IMG_0049.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg58zSKZrNt_Cq-qwmbHkaSdBN2k0Xylyq6PaVaJWLOR5aa0250Hl_MwNX-fyjg975LCh3GoKVMNlJ-SfgmcqvCgwubIjSRCZxrz0xrenL7a8z7AnQ6OJAJKLAeOcfhhervvvhIbcRFC7xS/s1600/IMG_0040.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666911052198711682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg58zSKZrNt_Cq-qwmbHkaSdBN2k0Xylyq6PaVaJWLOR5aa0250Hl_MwNX-fyjg975LCh3GoKVMNlJ-SfgmcqvCgwubIjSRCZxrz0xrenL7a8z7AnQ6OJAJKLAeOcfhhervvvhIbcRFC7xS/s200/IMG_0040.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmdvTVa_aGLEsOlCGY1KUzK89px8h8qTXEmCSnQRoj5X8-MwVncZ0Lg99GTyVL2uKx4VoHG-N7DwxT9fWpL9S7edAi15Y3cwl0rK7yv8KIbUko2doNm44Vu_pYmJSMGTEQXu4-c8mxPMnl/s1600/IMG_0016.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666911038727277922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmdvTVa_aGLEsOlCGY1KUzK89px8h8qTXEmCSnQRoj5X8-MwVncZ0Lg99GTyVL2uKx4VoHG-N7DwxT9fWpL9S7edAi15Y3cwl0rK7yv8KIbUko2doNm44Vu_pYmJSMGTEQXu4-c8mxPMnl/s200/IMG_0016.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge2BRTKfBe8qTsuhQFwNNH_mMSAeXCeuzTfqRNuOhfQa1mlzVQPocUWjh8306vXfsG6q3UJ2Mlt9EAn3lxIBUMq9M7FIh6oiYg-A28h11Fuf47nltmhpFlWkGKQS7CfYaxofMGYcu7Ud6h/s1600/IMG_0003.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666911035217635282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge2BRTKfBe8qTsuhQFwNNH_mMSAeXCeuzTfqRNuOhfQa1mlzVQPocUWjh8306vXfsG6q3UJ2Mlt9EAn3lxIBUMq9M7FIh6oiYg-A28h11Fuf47nltmhpFlWkGKQS7CfYaxofMGYcu7Ud6h/s200/IMG_0003.JPG" /></a><br />Another Native American Pit Firing under our belts, here at Wier World. My sister is a potter, and she coordinated the placing of the pots into the pit and helped members of the Artisan Guild of Southern IL to produce wonderful pottery in the ancient style of pit firing.</div><br /><div>I was especially honored to have one of the elders of my family here for the event, my Aunt Eleanora. She came dressed in the Native American style, complete with a feather and headband.</div><br /><div>We were once again honored to have Ramiro Pacheco, of Navajo heritage, here for the blessing of the pit and the pots prior to the event. He called upon the Navajo language to share his thoughts and it was beautiful, as usual.</div><br /><div>On Saturday, my llama Annika had a baby -- a boy cria that I have named Na Shad' Doe -- Navajo for beautiful. He's a handsome guy with four white socks.</div><br /><div>Then on Sunday my alpaca Eloquent Lady delivered an adorable little alpaca boy -- Ko' is his name -- the Navajo word for "fire."</div><br /><div>It was a lovely weekend -- with hard work, good friends, good soup and laughter.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Julie Wierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107890693682089614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465754710856445064.post-50594107586687941472011-10-12T22:46:00.004-05:002011-10-12T23:31:31.603-05:00Spin a Bag -- return on investment<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimbXmQODbEAn5vNMfJthcDpN3ENTQzCRbDCav1qlD2hJ_8oXsbyNYjxD_D7bJnBxfQW8z_MmC1dhjVTFD7qF3DLMkcenNiY-3WxZAn1yb_qS5qmQxIbtjrUAVZulO50jStZeQGakITnmDn/s1600/IMG_0167.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662828533804053218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimbXmQODbEAn5vNMfJthcDpN3ENTQzCRbDCav1qlD2hJ_8oXsbyNYjxD_D7bJnBxfQW8z_MmC1dhjVTFD7qF3DLMkcenNiY-3WxZAn1yb_qS5qmQxIbtjrUAVZulO50jStZeQGakITnmDn/s200/IMG_0167.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkoQlq6FJxxUiIWSwR6nvl-B0L0nCK6XA6a5v0Ly5Kuaz_B29odnc4zIp4gyQvrPWGF_qSoggSGCCFj_jBoxISkjBhOMQmwB5_SnDEO5r-lA2FOPXXzckiKJAfEvUd90BWSUFlgyYtqC_/s1600/IMG_0155.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662828525345476946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkoQlq6FJxxUiIWSwR6nvl-B0L0nCK6XA6a5v0Ly5Kuaz_B29odnc4zIp4gyQvrPWGF_qSoggSGCCFj_jBoxISkjBhOMQmwB5_SnDEO5r-lA2FOPXXzckiKJAfEvUd90BWSUFlgyYtqC_/s200/IMG_0155.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj6rsxZkZxJPt8lcQeVNDjUuKRQtrOZcM6w_0ckR8fzgrvceNBJYwdolbId_JTJOYkC03AyIVDwCT0wtwzqvl25wxK1tjohQBDqU1hSPkDuqqYZO18oesQOazVeLiNVc7Ogl78w9b5FbZv/s1600/IMG_7397.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662828513819631922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj6rsxZkZxJPt8lcQeVNDjUuKRQtrOZcM6w_0ckR8fzgrvceNBJYwdolbId_JTJOYkC03AyIVDwCT0wtwzqvl25wxK1tjohQBDqU1hSPkDuqqYZO18oesQOazVeLiNVc7Ogl78w9b5FbZv/s200/IMG_7397.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpjPxT6yuL6vioSzTjuOxZ-R3r9CRx9YLMDgzxoWsPswdy5_LT6LxWUitC9j-CjIN7Ai7ltJF-FU-c8WtmKKBO8PHnfICecuvVdXExM-3JQRK-bNh5OR0rkOeQJHi3v4Jy3yddHFhr0Ak/s1600/IMG_7394.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662828501932673682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpjPxT6yuL6vioSzTjuOxZ-R3r9CRx9YLMDgzxoWsPswdy5_LT6LxWUitC9j-CjIN7Ai7ltJF-FU-c8WtmKKBO8PHnfICecuvVdXExM-3JQRK-bNh5OR0rkOeQJHi3v4Jy3yddHFhr0Ak/s200/IMG_7394.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Since December 2010 I've sent out 71 boxes of fiber to spinners.</div><br /><br /><div>The plan goes like this: I mail out two fleeces. One is to be spun into double ply yarn for me, and the other is theirs to keep. I ask for the yarns to be returned within one year.</div><br /><br /><div>Not that complicated, is it?</div><br /><br /><div>One problem. I've only received about 10% of the yarns mailed back to me.</div><br /><br /><div>The fleeces have cost me an average of 10 bucks to mail. The weights have varied from 6 to 9 pounds of fiber.</div><br /><br /><div>The fleeces have gone to CA, NE, UT, MD, WA, FL, KY, TX, ME, MA, IL, MO, CO, TN, PA, VA, MN, OH, SC, KS, IA, MI, WI, NY, ND, GA, NC, ID, CT, OR, AL, AR, IN, and New Brunswick, Canada. That's 33 states and our northern neighbor.</div><br /><br /><div>I sent these fleeces, from the backs of my own animals, in good faith. I sent them to people who requested the opportunity to work with alpaca fiber. People that I trusted with the beautiful, luxurious "fiber of the gods" from the ancient Mayan and Incan empires.</div><br /><br /><div>I simply ask for these fleeces to be returned as double ply yarn. I ask that they, who theoretically stood and did this handshake deal with me, honor their promise. Nothing more. Nothing less.</div><br /><div>I would hate to lose my faith in my fellow man -- or woman. </div></div></div></div>Julie Wierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107890693682089614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465754710856445064.post-33677182273623854122011-10-10T07:50:00.003-05:002011-10-10T08:02:48.629-05:00Fall crias<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhacBoGXkAAM3oDact6JxT8Ha_jMzdhqU__1P9F4RREoRvC5gAJFLpfP6k63K7jlqy-OpWMZiGpqWCNQEcGpYFpagTAOW-LtQmzQi4sK9EM0ZL5WT-h_pf8p5Gd9GKRDIdc0_L-o6mMj4pa/s1600/IMG_0621.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661847407880695778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhacBoGXkAAM3oDact6JxT8Ha_jMzdhqU__1P9F4RREoRvC5gAJFLpfP6k63K7jlqy-OpWMZiGpqWCNQEcGpYFpagTAOW-LtQmzQi4sK9EM0ZL5WT-h_pf8p5Gd9GKRDIdc0_L-o6mMj4pa/s200/IMG_0621.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGzte31I-oZNEdIAZYsZnkODc0wrGbZ2xSJchl9-vsQ9WGdG7-xg0IG9orNQM9TXMEQAFkEtv09SI4UPKNT-6uyrMLTAiVwK1K6avDL86-yluD4hyphenhyphenaZ_OnM7MLuYd4hDsCiceelQcozFF6/s1600/IMG_0673.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661847398724438274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGzte31I-oZNEdIAZYsZnkODc0wrGbZ2xSJchl9-vsQ9WGdG7-xg0IG9orNQM9TXMEQAFkEtv09SI4UPKNT-6uyrMLTAiVwK1K6avDL86-yluD4hyphenhyphenaZ_OnM7MLuYd4hDsCiceelQcozFF6/s200/IMG_0673.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbdBeWa1v4qNt_cE2Fe1d9X7uTkop4JC9-_lNPIyGFNFgGhVJ8y-aFQiLTpI2Kp8i16urLnzs6UjPlIlMQdtR6kijfKVOi5ml4NGkBY_LyqP0MoJ94djfu8auTZ8G8TmFUaTW6c62deq_/s1600/IMG_0707.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661847387956772530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbdBeWa1v4qNt_cE2Fe1d9X7uTkop4JC9-_lNPIyGFNFgGhVJ8y-aFQiLTpI2Kp8i16urLnzs6UjPlIlMQdtR6kijfKVOi5ml4NGkBY_LyqP0MoJ94djfu8auTZ8G8TmFUaTW6c62deq_/s200/IMG_0707.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48jruoqmg2W4I1YWZnSnoAiWhUD0BvUb_V2yHZnY2Fjzdi9GdUI3USwgctGWKwRrY9WjEPJnqSYeAQ-tKMikDnSi4bNTukczYvyGt88TT2m3TybC_mupA-_RtRG0dJ1KZ8lI7HlcTx639/s1600/IMG_0718.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661847382028507986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48jruoqmg2W4I1YWZnSnoAiWhUD0BvUb_V2yHZnY2Fjzdi9GdUI3USwgctGWKwRrY9WjEPJnqSYeAQ-tKMikDnSi4bNTukczYvyGt88TT2m3TybC_mupA-_RtRG0dJ1KZ8lI7HlcTx639/s200/IMG_0718.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg96laZVtsPxRBsOqw-JveevoD-XKcXlXRvDK-k0tl1HqnQ3lBufyO-0zpWWCVbkaUnwYbVDyIC5VYCgRE1PBRAiDbV6bo_cLmQCrHCzOsWrj9UAsEdT8-MjGlTeG5SPXEGoZ9HAYd3FanL/s1600/IMG_0699.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661847372156447842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg96laZVtsPxRBsOqw-JveevoD-XKcXlXRvDK-k0tl1HqnQ3lBufyO-0zpWWCVbkaUnwYbVDyIC5VYCgRE1PBRAiDbV6bo_cLmQCrHCzOsWrj9UAsEdT8-MjGlTeG5SPXEGoZ9HAYd3FanL/s200/IMG_0699.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>It's been a new cria ever few days or so. What fun. </div><br /><div>Just so Perfect (llama) birthed Pocahontas. She's a lovely little gal with suri-type fiber.</div><br /><div>Elody (all white), birthed Rudolph, the white-nosed alpaca boy. He's all black -- with one white spot.</div><br /><div>Eileen had Polka Dot Patty. Patty is amazing. She runs, leaps, twirls, and is already, at one month old, a moose.</div><br /><div>Yzma (brown) had a handsome, light fawn boy that I named Kreitner. I went to Kreitner School in Collinsville on the day he was born. He is adorable.</div><br /><div>And then there's my Pink Pinafore. Her leg is healing and she is still confined to the "baby pen" with her mama. She uses the leg sparingly -- but I know she will eventually use it. It's been a long, long haul for her.</div><br /><div>I know y'all want to see some photos of the crias, right? It's like a grandma opening up her wallet with the pictures of grandkids spilling out. Forgive my bragging.</div></div></div></div></div>Julie Wierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107890693682089614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465754710856445064.post-8291356773069241582011-08-17T21:31:00.007-05:002011-08-17T22:00:11.616-05:00Why "3 Sisters' Workshops?"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4nj5GNh-V3P4PU4XphEBciA9xzOXyVAANKCv2rffQKjXNpQkr8gnk_DHhDQPM5It2XZdJX3_iwd6guf7Hz93sZZvNFhZxoWwo_sA5NAypRz5cTxubZgtrG0RbDk89DKPkWCu11KU162rt/s1600/Lincoln+Benjamin.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 149px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642022321012796514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4nj5GNh-V3P4PU4XphEBciA9xzOXyVAANKCv2rffQKjXNpQkr8gnk_DHhDQPM5It2XZdJX3_iwd6guf7Hz93sZZvNFhZxoWwo_sA5NAypRz5cTxubZgtrG0RbDk89DKPkWCu11KU162rt/s200/Lincoln+Benjamin.jpg" /></a>
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<br />When I was 61 years old I learned how to spin fiber into yarn, thanks to Tammy D. </div>
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<br /><div>I learned how to make hats on the "knifty knitter" loom shortly after that, thanks to Amanda. </div>
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<br /><div>I took a class at Hillcreek Fiber Studio and learned how to weave on a tri-loom, thanks to Carol Leigh.</div>
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<br /><div>I can't believe it myself. If anyone would have told me about the road I would travel to learn these things -- I would have laughed. And laughed. And laughed.</div>
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<br /><div>"Me?" I would have said, "making hats? Weaving shawls? No way." </div>
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<br /><div>I make hats every week now. I love it. I made a lovely little blue hat for our newest grandbaby -- Lincoln Benjamin. My son and daughter-in-law used the picture of him in the hat for their birth announcements. You can't make a grammy much happier than that!</div>
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<br /><div>I get so much enjoyment from spinning, too. I have gone from an Ashford Traditional wheel, Ashford Travellor, Hitchhiker, and now my love affair with the Louet wheel brings me full circle.</div>
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<br /><div>Before I left for work this morning I did some Navajo plying on my wheel. What? Me? Yes, me.</div>
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<br /><div>I am so excited about these new abilities. It's all part of what I call "life long learning." </div>
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<br /><div>It's what we're trying to do, Tammy, Amanda and I -- with "3 Sisters' Workshops." We want to share the knowledge of how to spin, weave, process fleece, cart with llamas, pack with llamas, dye yarn, felt -- all of it. We are (as our logo boasts) "Doin' what we love and lovin' what we do!"</div>
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<br /><div>Check out the opportunities at <a href="http://www.3sistersworkshop.com/">www.3sistersworkshop.com</a></div>
<br /><div>Come join us at my house. Bring a dish to share for lunch. Learn something new. And then take that skill into your life. Who knows where it will lead!
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<br />Julie Wierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107890693682089614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465754710856445064.post-40214297311786628132011-08-06T12:41:00.004-05:002011-08-06T13:13:19.249-05:00The trouble with Pink Pinafore<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5tH4Y4tt1tS56BAXFJpFcp103fbMZmb-Y08mz3N9b3UiAD-t0gHI6l7hcPRBYWsZjyEPPE5_kFYAwTor1IthygO9MDC7pEpjNVCaX5POgl8PNMwxJOO6aWDQoqgBJmql57ftV3fHPZIWr/s1600/IMG_1058.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637801411558205522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5tH4Y4tt1tS56BAXFJpFcp103fbMZmb-Y08mz3N9b3UiAD-t0gHI6l7hcPRBYWsZjyEPPE5_kFYAwTor1IthygO9MDC7pEpjNVCaX5POgl8PNMwxJOO6aWDQoqgBJmql57ftV3fHPZIWr/s200/IMG_1058.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLhSMt70XfMGJisAYpDDU1QpQMqkwbuy8cEIurXMKTClMsgnM3ao9_7GbqRC_4MwdPk06HVPMlpEXBUeto7ZiBUz3nZ2COEujFLxUjtXB2qr3DILKTIdc_77rBpJ4yAVMLyA1-loMbuMpw/s1600/IMG_1051.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637801404745733378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLhSMt70XfMGJisAYpDDU1QpQMqkwbuy8cEIurXMKTClMsgnM3ao9_7GbqRC_4MwdPk06HVPMlpEXBUeto7ZiBUz3nZ2COEujFLxUjtXB2qr3DILKTIdc_77rBpJ4yAVMLyA1-loMbuMpw/s200/IMG_1051.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnishmWE8u55CmLgBlUNipzydzS8B0XCl0MsevcPQoc6Zu-kAhih9m0UDiQUdxKMNeLW9qrEef4C-8qoMLm21bdW8SZq8w-U7IVNtAFWAbEVUDCcbSSUZNkrfxl9rWjnWGHwwB9K1gIi4b/s1600/IMG_0040.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637801391378853826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnishmWE8u55CmLgBlUNipzydzS8B0XCl0MsevcPQoc6Zu-kAhih9m0UDiQUdxKMNeLW9qrEef4C-8qoMLm21bdW8SZq8w-U7IVNtAFWAbEVUDCcbSSUZNkrfxl9rWjnWGHwwB9K1gIi4b/s200/IMG_0040.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip78A7grREDiorDisLgmS95VluSxgWbyg-kJUGQTel7bLKJ9jRRqLKYBuw2ew7dqQvyT-rmRknO0o0pXopwQZzUwbA0dlzLeSYpLOtbb3AociAaTPOlITvYxqBBKz_Gf09hYTkuQlDXwDo/s1600/IMG_0661.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637801380005832994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip78A7grREDiorDisLgmS95VluSxgWbyg-kJUGQTel7bLKJ9jRRqLKYBuw2ew7dqQvyT-rmRknO0o0pXopwQZzUwbA0dlzLeSYpLOtbb3AociAaTPOlITvYxqBBKz_Gf09hYTkuQlDXwDo/s200/IMG_0661.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ3k1_AQG0jMSqjBI535MMyaMdyUoyPDV0RsQXRyWySn3Uk_qq7v-kPM2mZktRpKob80x5R5rh_YVAEtD9XlJbdzn7e4AmOEHG7O3P52SVPOQ_W3FNjECexASEtQwYAHLIVKhelc2sm5p2/s1600/IMG_0483.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637801374648116210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ3k1_AQG0jMSqjBI535MMyaMdyUoyPDV0RsQXRyWySn3Uk_qq7v-kPM2mZktRpKob80x5R5rh_YVAEtD9XlJbdzn7e4AmOEHG7O3P52SVPOQ_W3FNjECexASEtQwYAHLIVKhelc2sm5p2/s200/IMG_0483.JPG" /></a><br />This little doll of an alpaca cria has been trouble from the beginning. </div><br /><br /><br /><div>She was born on March 20, 2011, a bright Sunday afternoon. She was born out in the back pasture -- with her mama, Sanya as an attentive, doting mama. This was Sanya's first birth and by all accounts, things went well.</div><br /><br /><br /><div>When Pink Pinafore (so named because of the "glow" that emanates from her fleece) was about 3 weeks old she began racing through the pasture -- at around 30 mph. She would leap and twirl, almost giggling as she left the other crias "in the dust" in her escapades. Gosh, could that gal run.</div><br /><br /><br /><div>At around 4 weeks of age I noticed that she was limping. I took a deep breath and thought -- probably a sprain -- as she got busy running. A few days later -- not better. My heart sank. A broken leg alpaca? Could it be? Please God, no.</div><br /><br /><br /><div>I took her to my vet -- only to discover that she had broken a bone in the "growth plate" of her leg. Bummer. No way to cast it. And by then it was infected. Dr. Liz put a drain in the joint -- and I put Pinafore and her mama in a separate pen so I could clean the gunk out each day and get it healed.</div><br /><br /><br /><div>Then shearing happened. I knew that Pinafore couldn't be stretched out on the table with ropes -- so we chose to hold her down instead. Oh my, that didn't work. She jerked and pulled and it might have made things worse as she struggled not to be shorn. Lesson learned.</div><br /><br /><br /><div>After shearing she was back to limping again. Bummer.</div><br /><br /><br /><div>Two weeks ago I noticed that she was beginning to use the leg, but there was still pus coming from the joint -- so I took her back to the vet to "take a look."</div><br /><br /><br /><div>This is where it gets ugly. I took her (and several others) on the hottest day imaginable (over 115 heat index). The vet was at the Monroe County Fairgrounds, so she called and suggested I bring the alpacas from the trailer inside the office into the AC. </div><br /><br /><br /><div>When I handed Pinafore to the office staff to set down outside the trailer -- I wasn't fast enough grabbing Sanya's rope and Pinafore's mama leaped out of the trailer and LANDED on Pinafore's broken leg. Well, if it wasn't broken before -- it surely was broken then -- as it spun around like a pinwheel (ooooooouuuuuuuucccchhhh!).</div><br /><br /><br /><div>I cried like a baby. Bawled. Sat in the grassy area by the trailer and just wailed. Sobbed. You get the picture. This was to be my pink showgirl. My alpaca that I would take to shows and WIN with. That was her future. Ahh -- but the best laid plans of mice and women . . . </div><br /><br /><br /><div>Dr. Liz found the new break (from the long top bone by her hip to the first joint) and now we are sporting a cast people. The other break has healed. Of course. Bummer. </div><br /><br /><br /><div>Pink Pinafore is doing amazingly well. We go back in three weeks. I asked Dr. Liz if I should go ahead and register this girl. "Let's see what she does next," was her reply. Spoken like a wise veterinarian.</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div><em>In photos: Pinafore the day she was born; during her first broken bone; holding up the bad leg in the pasture; getting her cast; and with my grandson, Andrew, right after she was casted.</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Julie Wierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107890693682089614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465754710856445064.post-89913101344501039832011-07-22T12:57:00.006-05:002011-07-22T13:46:54.218-05:00American Veterinary Medical Conference in STL<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsEAauD7MOcHj9B-GQKwUrTIVEdNtLdXT4y_PYLZAgxlvndaaRQF_7Vlx2WRtaKHHg6NpB5P57Sdi9oWOEKQ6UVwn1OqkyHOgnUDP7rT333JMovYgrThAtt0Nxm-Bnbm3NP-Khm9zQIu8x/s1600/IMG_1007.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632250051126480722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsEAauD7MOcHj9B-GQKwUrTIVEdNtLdXT4y_PYLZAgxlvndaaRQF_7Vlx2WRtaKHHg6NpB5P57Sdi9oWOEKQ6UVwn1OqkyHOgnUDP7rT333JMovYgrThAtt0Nxm-Bnbm3NP-Khm9zQIu8x/s200/IMG_1007.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY7z5JyrESMB4xtC3wrk57yIPItZ7IsUnNP-TSND48lcwAt8of_XnxbqdD8X6UE7BCz5iZDZkc1FP8Q5H40H54ZYsFYkS6fI8jwEFUyyBQG3HAcjP7Zj1ome6txalagY0RdU-3bhfFcuo5/s1600/AMVA+vets.bmp"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632241237628762210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY7z5JyrESMB4xtC3wrk57yIPItZ7IsUnNP-TSND48lcwAt8of_XnxbqdD8X6UE7BCz5iZDZkc1FP8Q5H40H54ZYsFYkS6fI8jwEFUyyBQG3HAcjP7Zj1ome6txalagY0RdU-3bhfFcuo5/s200/AMVA+vets.bmp" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgyhh2nybI7KFsi2D02RPoKXI8IT3ogig-DGx9qZvv-XIPzLSuROpwt9ZcxITd4TG3ZmdYawniODcc38h7wymDP0bYTAwscbZUr8C-T0c9Hqo62WjV9hRKFfJ36lvGR5GtOZDsMwfUz6JM/s1600/brook+at+Purina+Farms.bmp"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632241233148780034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgyhh2nybI7KFsi2D02RPoKXI8IT3ogig-DGx9qZvv-XIPzLSuROpwt9ZcxITd4TG3ZmdYawniODcc38h7wymDP0bYTAwscbZUr8C-T0c9Hqo62WjV9hRKFfJ36lvGR5GtOZDsMwfUz6JM/s200/brook+at+Purina+Farms.bmp" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TWYaHCgN_0zOuD0i2m30S_mitaJdG2E0How4uCEzMPiV1CXHzUi8dBaRZOZl3wz8izagowwKkiPIBjxpGlo6Za4nJaNnV08-GVHACcLvt9AjnvB7qkIDI00Vkp8QW96juVMd67NPP4te/s1600/IMG_1016.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632241222849417282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TWYaHCgN_0zOuD0i2m30S_mitaJdG2E0How4uCEzMPiV1CXHzUi8dBaRZOZl3wz8izagowwKkiPIBjxpGlo6Za4nJaNnV08-GVHACcLvt9AjnvB7qkIDI00Vkp8QW96juVMd67NPP4te/s200/IMG_1016.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFkkn1kiYgAeB2pAW5FyrJtfy3bEWiGepHfhXeqhdbuJYMdoBEFziO5GxRh9fBqBnRkSDjlue_r_iya2BIlPQKn3AKgyXLQoA-hzXAObyOYWNgL0-4rcNrFHyK3-RXcj6R4A8_rNAgLxO/s1600/IMG_1012.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632241220832629010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFkkn1kiYgAeB2pAW5FyrJtfy3bEWiGepHfhXeqhdbuJYMdoBEFziO5GxRh9fBqBnRkSDjlue_r_iya2BIlPQKn3AKgyXLQoA-hzXAObyOYWNgL0-4rcNrFHyK3-RXcj6R4A8_rNAgLxO/s200/IMG_1012.JPG" /></a><br />It was Monday -- it was Purina Farms in Gray Summit, MO -- it was 103 real temp -- with heat indices of over 110 degrees.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Denise and I took ten llamas and alpacas to be ultrasounded by a group of veterinarians. </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>There were some "heavy hitters" in the camelid reproductive world there. Dr. Ahmed Tibary of Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine. He graduated from vet school in Morrocco and has been researching Camelid reproduction since 1980.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Dr. Toni Cotton is one of this country's leading camelid veterinarians. Her practice is limited to camelids and her main interests are camelid reproduction and neonatal care. She recently published a book on Camelid Reproduction with Dr. David Anderson and Dr. Clair Whithead. She is also co-owner of "Suris of the Western Slope" in Ridgeway, CO.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>I'm thinking the St. Louis heat was a shock to everyone. There were vets from North Dakota -- Wisconsin -- Kansas -- MO -- NY -- and many "northern states" that were taken aback by the tremendous heat. They were learning how to ultrasound camelids to look for "ripe follicles" on their ovaries -- look at the kidneys, liver, compartmented stomachs and check for pregnancies.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>I have to say that our llamas and alpacas did well. I took Goodness and her cria, Zapato; Pebbles, Miss Ivory; Brook. Denise brought Avalanche and Cheyenne; Eagle Eye, Platinum and Valentina.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>It was a long, hot day outside. Thanks to Betty from Purina Farms for her help during the seminar.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>It's just too hot to work outside with animals in the St. Louis summer. At least THIS summer.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyfhps3yxfmLcntC5Y5wd8oAjHwh6ls8JULpy9v74f7qnQdQNry8BR5SUbLgkWVEgYokUi-QhRzJ_NXLGeKtZpStDfNSKDXvSpImLk8HD80MebnBMRXfvAmm_-dR2LsC6eBv9hBzizw3D4/s1600/IMG_1007.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632241210657981458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyfhps3yxfmLcntC5Y5wd8oAjHwh6ls8JULpy9v74f7qnQdQNry8BR5SUbLgkWVEgYokUi-QhRzJ_NXLGeKtZpStDfNSKDXvSpImLk8HD80MebnBMRXfvAmm_-dR2LsC6eBv9hBzizw3D4/s200/IMG_1007.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Julie Wierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107890693682089614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465754710856445064.post-74792310737637470692011-07-15T13:43:00.005-05:002011-07-15T14:11:34.636-05:00Amanda -- In memoriam<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW73-7WLiKWizO-nuJ81LloPHQyUhLy3I7QRAdXpNids9xLK63sq0ra1Ij-iFNnRHpRoySWEpn0pNqJBNW0PCCS6wsW-mwag6brzzQA4HGjr6fd4CXfO9HQAxNC-JMlSxN5O2dfUmVpkVQ/s1600/IMG_5969.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629655878449122530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW73-7WLiKWizO-nuJ81LloPHQyUhLy3I7QRAdXpNids9xLK63sq0ra1Ij-iFNnRHpRoySWEpn0pNqJBNW0PCCS6wsW-mwag6brzzQA4HGjr6fd4CXfO9HQAxNC-JMlSxN5O2dfUmVpkVQ/s200/IMG_5969.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZ-gjvhxnYiKUBSA1vrS7TWMg0JuGBIbHLbb7KX7iMexvzfe0QsmfxiGz_WAZerVlnAxgNWHvcZs2oM0onC4KBr8yx-hi5JyBqCjh-vzcH3Fql2kKyZDvd679kZGuHKogUr9W9zgxnJBl/s1600/Copy+of+NAMI+walk+2009-08.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629655819076342786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZ-gjvhxnYiKUBSA1vrS7TWMg0JuGBIbHLbb7KX7iMexvzfe0QsmfxiGz_WAZerVlnAxgNWHvcZs2oM0onC4KBr8yx-hi5JyBqCjh-vzcH3Fql2kKyZDvd679kZGuHKogUr9W9zgxnJBl/s200/Copy+of+NAMI+walk+2009-08.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbr2DA-7GaDmPWf2lFLWWxkVKGyxrftOhQhxJyeB6sOB5UNh3F3xqlql0bEDoxJ7FXNrXe-JvhdgWXzyjQkUuOwd2nmtFwdjVo0HogpWaCbntC3IYZBcLYMCbahYMGBlkGG_e-uxjChvA_/s1600/amanda+botanical+gardens.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 133px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629652521139995538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbr2DA-7GaDmPWf2lFLWWxkVKGyxrftOhQhxJyeB6sOB5UNh3F3xqlql0bEDoxJ7FXNrXe-JvhdgWXzyjQkUuOwd2nmtFwdjVo0HogpWaCbntC3IYZBcLYMCbahYMGBlkGG_e-uxjChvA_/s200/amanda+botanical+gardens.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq9iKH9hKDuMFFYoJpJS5NwaXY1dZqc2N7nl_34eDHiMzdqsO1RzbOKRDRacifGxY0JHf4ItaBcmaJi0h5n83r9JDg4NmgcF3syFOMOHmGCg7WQ60h8cCFxUyLX4wHHd67hoPiBFxq855Q/s1600/amanda+%2526+Santa.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 187px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629652516268183314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq9iKH9hKDuMFFYoJpJS5NwaXY1dZqc2N7nl_34eDHiMzdqsO1RzbOKRDRacifGxY0JHf4ItaBcmaJi0h5n83r9JDg4NmgcF3syFOMOHmGCg7WQ60h8cCFxUyLX4wHHd67hoPiBFxq855Q/s200/amanda+%2526+Santa.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMhd-pdM03GJQ_mDo16OuwyzFZS9AfffnQ9AeXyJwDSXZhrjTh1IO7LcHq4NxM73K2sq5UTli_tYszCxoTmDGHnXNDNQ5N0OIfhQuvM1wPd3Wqhl3MTxo3sJWEWzpk4bSeTr5ybx-DoTKU/s1600/816-020708snLlamaKisser_embedded_prod_affiliate_98.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 133px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629652474863181730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMhd-pdM03GJQ_mDo16OuwyzFZS9AfffnQ9AeXyJwDSXZhrjTh1IO7LcHq4NxM73K2sq5UTli_tYszCxoTmDGHnXNDNQ5N0OIfhQuvM1wPd3Wqhl3MTxo3sJWEWzpk4bSeTr5ybx-DoTKU/s200/816-020708snLlamaKisser_embedded_prod_affiliate_98.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGV_9DSd3PEDI_Ob530zy5Zh7hlLB0XZguqXxWiWl7vURmAZdKCVCv2hvopesY4pWwU_HK3jRhMDJtfAF9QY1b8fhSRF4D2QmuxnxfwKjAhlugrWvetxS9PeLkVlc2MfY6LITgbZXIa7us/s1600/amanda+%2526+jessica.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629652444346024786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGV_9DSd3PEDI_Ob530zy5Zh7hlLB0XZguqXxWiWl7vURmAZdKCVCv2hvopesY4pWwU_HK3jRhMDJtfAF9QY1b8fhSRF4D2QmuxnxfwKjAhlugrWvetxS9PeLkVlc2MfY6LITgbZXIa7us/s200/amanda+%2526+jessica.jpg" /></a><br />The list is long. The list of the the accomplishments of one "Pale Moon's Amanda" both on and off of our farm.</div><br /><br /><br /><div>There isn't much this girl hasn't accomplished. She's been to schools and nursing homes. She's proudly marched in parades. She won awards and certificates from the International Lama Registry for her "public relations" work. She was the llama that the man who wrote, "I Don't Want to Kiss a Llama" -- actually kissed.</div><br /><br /><br /><div>She has been a treasure on our farm for all of the 15 plus years that we owned her. She was our most expensive llama purchase. And worth every cent.</div><br /><br /><br /><div>There will never be another like her. Never.</div><br /><br /><br /><div>She crossed over the Rainbow Bridge yesterday at age 21 years old. </div><br /><br /><br /><div>The unabashed wailing (from me) in the barn when I discovered her lying peacefully in front of a fan, shocked even the boy herd. It echoed from metal wall to ceiling and back around again -- as I stood in the middle of the barn and sobbed mournfully, cried, yelled at the heavens. I knew it was coming. I knew she was on her way to the Rainbow Bridge. I sensed it.</div><br /><br /><br /><div>I can only hope for the joyful reunion between she and I when I enter the Pearly gates. My heaven must have llamas.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Julie Wierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107890693682089614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465754710856445064.post-51796812854848530172011-07-13T22:40:00.003-05:002011-07-13T22:55:08.980-05:00The smell of fresh-cut hay<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAw5GhNj1S9W7JmiFdt_wx2rGOgKHBB_mRVywZUwOGe-QpeaAcr8QoBdcb0cOCiRTS9Iv5tW9vZ9S7EiEcIQCP1Unzxvf5qhRVNCa6qhLD5eNCYvKl-htjrFkMnc72QrJBWlJC1JU16lWA/s1600/IMG_0748.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629051107106448034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAw5GhNj1S9W7JmiFdt_wx2rGOgKHBB_mRVywZUwOGe-QpeaAcr8QoBdcb0cOCiRTS9Iv5tW9vZ9S7EiEcIQCP1Unzxvf5qhRVNCa6qhLD5eNCYvKl-htjrFkMnc72QrJBWlJC1JU16lWA/s200/IMG_0748.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5d82OKAY0eSnDiTTSQy7GA1l5N17PdN_9o6bxQruLm5fXv94yaVcp6bp8O1EvvGxrl0BSHlYxPiUmvJl_Fb56NNRkKUKNk-5yPg9nIZ0OvRMtxxXp6Y-Nq839B4bMo7TMcOuDHhqCbJVx/s1600/IMG_0879.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629051097509511234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5d82OKAY0eSnDiTTSQy7GA1l5N17PdN_9o6bxQruLm5fXv94yaVcp6bp8O1EvvGxrl0BSHlYxPiUmvJl_Fb56NNRkKUKNk-5yPg9nIZ0OvRMtxxXp6Y-Nq839B4bMo7TMcOuDHhqCbJVx/s200/IMG_0879.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Ahhhhh. You can take a deep breath when you enter the barn. There's nothing quite like the smell of freshly-cut hay. Especially if it has a touch of alfalfa in it. Oh my. What a wonderful aroma.</div><br /><div>On one of the hottest days of the year (of course) - Ben and I drove to Bob's to load some hay right out of the field. The price is better for that hay - and the laughing of farm friends adds to the fun. </div><br /><div>When we got home after dark, it was time to unload. The hay fills the barn with the most delicious aura. My animals smell the trailer as it comes down the driveway. </div><br /><div>Summer hay harvest is like no other. Whatever is the hottest day of the summer -- THAT'S the day the hay is cut. You can count on it. </div><br /><div>I guess it doesn't make any sense to "normal" people -- to non-farm people -- that someone could get so excited about the smell of newly-harvested hay.</div><br /><div>I totally get it.</div></div>Julie Wierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107890693682089614noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465754710856445064.post-15293098666151165602011-07-07T10:32:00.003-05:002011-07-07T10:55:31.325-05:00The Breakout<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir9x7LL6uD-d3kJ2Jf7mxEjP-YWD4m-Dk_Dgi_PeJgKVDPfoWDmOw37SLO12PrlGeZz660gjklbgaZSAbUPX2sUra1OS9hp-iJeKTKxBqxco0-xeB7dhTtTvPcRxmfMjC7EPsCOQZF2C9N/s1600/Tuesday+crew.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626638222763589602" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir9x7LL6uD-d3kJ2Jf7mxEjP-YWD4m-Dk_Dgi_PeJgKVDPfoWDmOw37SLO12PrlGeZz660gjklbgaZSAbUPX2sUra1OS9hp-iJeKTKxBqxco0-xeB7dhTtTvPcRxmfMjC7EPsCOQZF2C9N/s200/Tuesday+crew.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzVC8UkoOWVPAqzvPi3vXFn7oWm31inV26uRVCuFUroMbNeODs2zJ94G2hAFXhfS_NOU-syOdKBLuuHuoTCoXgDLjZ7Vk5ZjbpELgi_kXUd__Tqn8BB5RuFmR5tJU_zMypd6qVweOhGal/s1600/shearing+apple+blossom.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626638209984454498" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzVC8UkoOWVPAqzvPi3vXFn7oWm31inV26uRVCuFUroMbNeODs2zJ94G2hAFXhfS_NOU-syOdKBLuuHuoTCoXgDLjZ7Vk5ZjbpELgi_kXUd__Tqn8BB5RuFmR5tJU_zMypd6qVweOhGal/s200/shearing+apple+blossom.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3QnPiFBcUhPEC4LTQ3kT9eCY2Z9OQOCQpJY5MyhGdPtSiIaRLpWRmvTwlttWluVwsOv1g3l25kf5jcF3GeV1RsQFxB1d172va5dVd73puJ7E9dTDZcFsAme1r1yLwG2vwvD0cY4CIaDDM/s1600/hannah+throws+hay.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626638208344891154" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3QnPiFBcUhPEC4LTQ3kT9eCY2Z9OQOCQpJY5MyhGdPtSiIaRLpWRmvTwlttWluVwsOv1g3l25kf5jcF3GeV1RsQFxB1d172va5dVd73puJ7E9dTDZcFsAme1r1yLwG2vwvD0cY4CIaDDM/s200/hannah+throws+hay.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir15wAhQ2DYyAbASdwoa-pnJzqYO4L9XQJS-QDjqw2sIiiU0vzSrtWi2YIrewtyZTm5XGAyiBIV1aDB1bvHvhJZupzpEIxt4B-Jn-RM6of1rtDMComN-xD6VfkhBSEKBojTyRVGtB1fZKZ/s1600/ashley+at+the+zoo.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626638197223425810" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir15wAhQ2DYyAbASdwoa-pnJzqYO4L9XQJS-QDjqw2sIiiU0vzSrtWi2YIrewtyZTm5XGAyiBIV1aDB1bvHvhJZupzpEIxt4B-Jn-RM6of1rtDMComN-xD6VfkhBSEKBojTyRVGtB1fZKZ/s200/ashley+at+the+zoo.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWC8D7n1BnEYQL0HEQ4hKswuDzSU2WoJfDRuIq24zwRg12p9qcBHqb8emrscM6dsV_9H72MfY4j296TWd2uIazH7hc_KGznm7Rk7l7tghu1lmyOEPSpz1mSivR01Gmrxbo_xV3JUxgj_o/s1600/ashley+with+happy+hersham.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626638195372767874" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWC8D7n1BnEYQL0HEQ4hKswuDzSU2WoJfDRuIq24zwRg12p9qcBHqb8emrscM6dsV_9H72MfY4j296TWd2uIazH7hc_KGznm7Rk7l7tghu1lmyOEPSpz1mSivR01Gmrxbo_xV3JUxgj_o/s200/ashley+with+happy+hersham.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Yesterday started out okay -- but ended up in the "not so much" category.</div><br /><div>I had a wonderful crew of volunteers come to the farm on Tuesday. The list of things we accomplished included:</div><br /><div>1. Shearing 3 animals.</div><br /><div>2. Drawing blood for DNA card on one.</div><br /><div>3. Cleaning the girls' side of the barn.</div><br /><div>4. Feeding hay/grain.</div><br /><div>5. Skirting 2 fleeces.</div><br /><div>6. Halter training some of the babies.</div><br /><div>7. Putting to rest a young male that I lost that day.</div><br /><div>8. Treating 3 animals with eye pokes (possible infections?).</div><br /><div>9. Deworming several animals.</div><br /><div>10. Catching/haltering a variety of animals.</div><br /><div>11. Examining fleece/roving and such.<br />12. Doing an internet search for registry info.</div><br /><div>So you can see we were swamped. The bad news? One of us left a green corral panel open and yesterday my boys spent the day fighting/spitting/screeching inside the barn -- with a half dozen males breaking into the "girl herd" and "having their way" with my open females.</div><br /><div>My granddaughter was "Keeper for a Day" at the St. Louis Zoo yesterday. I got up at 6:30 to take her over to the zoo -- went to work on getting my mother's house ready for sale (50 miles in the opposite direction) - then back to the zoo to pick her up. My two little granddaughters came over and then all four of us headed to the barn (at 4:30) to feed hay and grain. </div><br /><div>It was quite the shock to see the boys running around chasing three females inside the area between the stalls. It actually made my stomach drop.</div><br /><div>So -- one year from yesterday (counting back two weeks) -- we'll see if any babies result. Whatcha' gonna do?</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Julie Wierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107890693682089614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465754710856445064.post-68706332203813246532011-07-02T00:11:00.004-05:002011-07-02T00:20:31.567-05:00Crazy heat<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL0wPa_SIU_QMWGGoBWxWLdrxeJ2wKaxjG7t9Ltplnvc_bjQVcTBSFr3bNqrdvCUdtiReEO262El28wK-OaPIYJB4fYyUoMQger2DFKJP8VntkhGkVZ97Ga6Un1eaqSFiGv1bloCZghJXO/s1600/Vinne+in+tub.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 105px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624620204660307826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL0wPa_SIU_QMWGGoBWxWLdrxeJ2wKaxjG7t9Ltplnvc_bjQVcTBSFr3bNqrdvCUdtiReEO262El28wK-OaPIYJB4fYyUoMQger2DFKJP8VntkhGkVZ97Ga6Un1eaqSFiGv1bloCZghJXO/s200/Vinne+in+tub.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZLsnkVr1R1Luczpgxhp4S0b_tEPuIVApSkqVj6bm36VXt4hFJ5q9NYogRfGz_gnmJpTb3hUMzneJwKnKd3yDSIYpRzoC5PsW9pv0COdLiG3Yl7N9iAurHUrxblvbsiyz0vOrmCWZ-QSV/s1600/IMG_0842.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624620194848554162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZLsnkVr1R1Luczpgxhp4S0b_tEPuIVApSkqVj6bm36VXt4hFJ5q9NYogRfGz_gnmJpTb3hUMzneJwKnKd3yDSIYpRzoC5PsW9pv0COdLiG3Yl7N9iAurHUrxblvbsiyz0vOrmCWZ-QSV/s200/IMG_0842.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXd0BUhSaPQR1gu1sdwr1t85-Xr0zzZq-KwpZiML0muie8HmkvToi2ONwirLzdUx0ppz0tNMlqWRvNoD9Eqo-vhTC3h-ZW-RsXPOemOxnQ06uXsbd8ctrBqpcuC-Rn8g39mP_aqK2xm9MN/s1600/IMG_0836.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624620185961659554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXd0BUhSaPQR1gu1sdwr1t85-Xr0zzZq-KwpZiML0muie8HmkvToi2ONwirLzdUx0ppz0tNMlqWRvNoD9Eqo-vhTC3h-ZW-RsXPOemOxnQ06uXsbd8ctrBqpcuC-Rn8g39mP_aqK2xm9MN/s200/IMG_0836.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Okay. I know it's the 4th of July soon -- but does it ALWAYS have to be scorching hot in the Lou?</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>My alpacas and llamas are very, very sick of the high temps and high humidity. It makes them lethargic -- and they move like molasses.</div><br /><div>The babies still manage to leap and zip through the pastures -- but their mamas just meander.</div><br /><div>Shearing is a must in our neck of the woods -- and then, of course, misters, sprinklers, hosing off, fans -- all of it. </div><br /><div>Over the years I've never lost a llama or alpaca due to the winter's cold. You can blanket them, if necessary, put warm hot water bottles around them -- even close them inside. But there's no getting away from the intense heat.</div><br /><div>I thought you might like to see some pix of my guys and the ways they stay cool. </div><br /><div>Hopefully this latest heat wave won't last. In fact, I hear that we might be in the 80s by Monday. Works for me.</div></div></div>Julie Wierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107890693682089614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465754710856445064.post-4688502461946051412011-06-29T22:43:00.002-05:002011-06-29T22:54:09.741-05:00My alpaca boys at the STL Zoo<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjEhQYQZfGS_TOTDPbDOZo2diVu6_BhM-iv8u_VXleh87ENr9Mr7VfeIdXRh06NpPXbZ6DLobpcxgbkPi8yNUYPjpwCGO1Smoir20bkxSxBeNq3awOtLs7sWGr_4NwqzAub6oXRSyIb5x/s1600/4e0b6f077e015_image.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623854320042842514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjEhQYQZfGS_TOTDPbDOZo2diVu6_BhM-iv8u_VXleh87ENr9Mr7VfeIdXRh06NpPXbZ6DLobpcxgbkPi8yNUYPjpwCGO1Smoir20bkxSxBeNq3awOtLs7sWGr_4NwqzAub6oXRSyIb5x/s200/4e0b6f077e015_image.jpg" /></a> Okay. Doc Freeman and Doc Andrus at the STL Zoo are rock stars. <br />Today they were splashed all over the local media when actor Kevin James (King of Queens fame) debuted his newest film, "The Zookeeper" at the St. Louis Zoo.<br />That's Jan (one of the real keepers) with Doc Freeman -- and Doc Andrus is the sweet alpaca boy on the right.<br />It has been such a joy to see how much fun the zoo has had with the two alpacas they purchased from my farm. They often take them for walks throughout the zoo, trek through the snowfall in the winter, and generally highlight the joy of alpacas.<br />I even saw the alpacas on the local newscast tonight! <br />It was a great thing for our farm to sell two such wonderful alpacas to the St. Louis Zoo. The boys have enjoyed such happy lives -- and the general public has seen how wonderful these animals can be.<br />The whole event made me smile today.<br />Gooooooo Andrus! Gooooooo Freeman!Julie Wierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107890693682089614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465754710856445064.post-48709119270866913612011-06-21T00:20:00.002-05:002011-06-21T00:35:14.189-05:00On her due date?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiadWhXI6XqspfNXHjHy91Hva7ho_5BeizwYGAVWuCjz1rK5MNor9fLDKMxy8goW-MEzbjn2AdOL5mSTWuWVoToDcuGKdhLQtofpblYnU5kCUwrmSNmfhuC_DJ9jpqXPGS9iIhTnZ4Z0GL/s1600/IMG_0718.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620542371991350674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiadWhXI6XqspfNXHjHy91Hva7ho_5BeizwYGAVWuCjz1rK5MNor9fLDKMxy8goW-MEzbjn2AdOL5mSTWuWVoToDcuGKdhLQtofpblYnU5kCUwrmSNmfhuC_DJ9jpqXPGS9iIhTnZ4Z0GL/s200/IMG_0718.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglIcWmn3Tnf99NnK-oegBYvxs9OcFfbZGxidbaXk2BAYF2JFOf5OYSTFwtxhIMY_hrgK3ZEHWYn_qtE96QCEJb6zq5Ge2neOibcJSllr_uKyQ1gIUBfOODyB3Da7rsTrPAPa8QtUZhvArl/s1600/IMG_0722.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620542363072797698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglIcWmn3Tnf99NnK-oegBYvxs9OcFfbZGxidbaXk2BAYF2JFOf5OYSTFwtxhIMY_hrgK3ZEHWYn_qtE96QCEJb6zq5Ge2neOibcJSllr_uKyQ1gIUBfOODyB3Da7rsTrPAPa8QtUZhvArl/s200/IMG_0722.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHzmR53LodhgVbRlRu6FCWNEMCj_95JFu0ATRuTD66OigO81iU1wrwd69_3ehaUDdOCc5tdHOTtbatHpHRpWQJhczKQQMqzi3waob96voouD2g4YLbVgMA-cIWJf0Q5JawLYXgkapeKFRJ/s1600/IMG_0711.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620542357812017426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHzmR53LodhgVbRlRu6FCWNEMCj_95JFu0ATRuTD66OigO81iU1wrwd69_3ehaUDdOCc5tdHOTtbatHpHRpWQJhczKQQMqzi3waob96voouD2g4YLbVgMA-cIWJf0Q5JawLYXgkapeKFRJ/s200/IMG_0711.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Last year on July 5th it was 75 degrees. I must have thought it would always be so balmy in the Lou. So I bred my prize female alpaca, Lumina, to my prize male alpaca, Buddy.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>And here we are 11 1/2 months later -- right on her due date -- and Lumina delivered a sparkling white female cria.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>This little gal is gorgeous. Her fleece shimmers in the sunlight.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Luckily my granddaughters were here today to see the newborn out in the pasture. I couldn't resist taking photos of them with the new cria.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Congratulations to my Lumina -- my prize winning girl -- and to Buddy -- my prize winning boy. </div></div></div>Julie Wierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107890693682089614noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465754710856445064.post-5196380565344844852011-05-29T21:15:00.003-05:002011-05-29T21:36:31.495-05:00Fleece, fleece and more fleece<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkwESDtapCy34qBzlYeUu9mpN7WBsX1gU_0WRz_4rna7YZViAFZ5uh-AYhN8M_oFfMemi5RBoAktFP44oksSfmC-uVG0Ao4TrkdZGI7xeVjrnJ9V74e5m86D3FOs7EIGDVzQr2CTdVMVP/s1600/IMG_0548.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612331704216449682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkwESDtapCy34qBzlYeUu9mpN7WBsX1gU_0WRz_4rna7YZViAFZ5uh-AYhN8M_oFfMemi5RBoAktFP44oksSfmC-uVG0Ao4TrkdZGI7xeVjrnJ9V74e5m86D3FOs7EIGDVzQr2CTdVMVP/s200/IMG_0548.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2wx_erT20PKgNN_2O9FNGV70W9SAR6PhaqMzXF5z5aOCI-KH0GUjS8jPLMO32r5Kt8OmBHpwIZlOp0Q4ihcdY7lRptC0U4iasCMlaE6P-QWFf4bsfjms0rLcpQr770f_9dkvoh46N5lr3/s1600/Copy+of+IMG_0539.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612331698494177714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2wx_erT20PKgNN_2O9FNGV70W9SAR6PhaqMzXF5z5aOCI-KH0GUjS8jPLMO32r5Kt8OmBHpwIZlOp0Q4ihcdY7lRptC0U4iasCMlaE6P-QWFf4bsfjms0rLcpQr770f_9dkvoh46N5lr3/s200/Copy+of+IMG_0539.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYUhYlgLneb57dufg_rXjt_WIZARmZ7NKfI_vLCnWH9padYUQ-eb1dxqVQCP6n0Oyy3Kfg-FtrO5DFd3sbD77r5g4hjzkmiRpMcsY8mgfb2ty_ejvkyoaounNb9yIWjrIBlJ3GTLafx5LC/s1600/Copy+of+IMG_0543.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612331689198326034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYUhYlgLneb57dufg_rXjt_WIZARmZ7NKfI_vLCnWH9padYUQ-eb1dxqVQCP6n0Oyy3Kfg-FtrO5DFd3sbD77r5g4hjzkmiRpMcsY8mgfb2ty_ejvkyoaounNb9yIWjrIBlJ3GTLafx5LC/s200/Copy+of+IMG_0543.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7qqnubZRG_fzEpS-clKS_W1IIIXKfYQviAMBFQ6synyX-eXmSjoFMEc1DI2f_tEJodA590LjEYrciyQH9CVL7HBavZGAfekvWqpRpvI3cKt_rMYTT_YKXDKa4fx4tBheHmqkWCOaEQY1/s1600/IMG_0580.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612328327644533074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7qqnubZRG_fzEpS-clKS_W1IIIXKfYQviAMBFQ6synyX-eXmSjoFMEc1DI2f_tEJodA590LjEYrciyQH9CVL7HBavZGAfekvWqpRpvI3cKt_rMYTT_YKXDKa4fx4tBheHmqkWCOaEQY1/s200/IMG_0580.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmZNP5e0MMatzs_sQbUlZNTPBtn1PzJ8WYOOGlMzv3oJ4ZNdLiNvzHkj7jIFguvr-He7qf38m2kCkqOO2sWcjn8hoisOok-SbEIsivfFBdsAqezZGvo1Kw1JTqEu05XseuNZRCMgKIKG6P/s1600/IMG_0585.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612328317119905042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmZNP5e0MMatzs_sQbUlZNTPBtn1PzJ8WYOOGlMzv3oJ4ZNdLiNvzHkj7jIFguvr-He7qf38m2kCkqOO2sWcjn8hoisOok-SbEIsivfFBdsAqezZGvo1Kw1JTqEu05XseuNZRCMgKIKG6P/s200/IMG_0585.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3isSOi_rL8E79t0YumDhqxn1fv8Rw7UrKkCs8CBM1EOBIGGkRE641rKxPOEeI9fiNbGKs6RzzITM4Fc-Nrk0PS78ZLCUUdZOS8pOTuzbezYJsx2u8edvALDQPEaaLgiVHPxxEHN36qyP/s1600/IMG_0560.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612328313087454450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3isSOi_rL8E79t0YumDhqxn1fv8Rw7UrKkCs8CBM1EOBIGGkRE641rKxPOEeI9fiNbGKs6RzzITM4Fc-Nrk0PS78ZLCUUdZOS8pOTuzbezYJsx2u8edvALDQPEaaLgiVHPxxEHN36qyP/s200/IMG_0560.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_Dw60u0DmQeZ79m1q4nmuWwmSUw4Bt9ftLRHKi8s872UY5XjDHwYNC3718AWkB2QQWfxP4m6t-h0HXF7vKCgFQXtxf5XVEHVxyRm7egLdGKuKR6Wr5e4BS7wl5cb2-N13LUUGI7mKfHp/s1600/IMG_0486.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612328305498858034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_Dw60u0DmQeZ79m1q4nmuWwmSUw4Bt9ftLRHKi8s872UY5XjDHwYNC3718AWkB2QQWfxP4m6t-h0HXF7vKCgFQXtxf5XVEHVxyRm7egLdGKuKR6Wr5e4BS7wl5cb2-N13LUUGI7mKfHp/s200/IMG_0486.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Four solid days of shearing at the farm last week. Enormous thank yous to the wonderful volunteers who helped things move so smoothly.</div><br /><div>Several home school groups came to volunteer. Within a short time some of the older students were preparing syringes for the deworming injections, and a few even gave a shot or two.</div><br /><div>It rained nearly every single day, which is never a good idea. But mostly the gang stayed dry in the barn.</div><br /><div>Folks brought delicious food to share -- and the lunches were scrumptious.</div><br /><div>We also had several school groups visit during shearing. A preschool group from St. Teresa School in Belleville; a "moms of toddlers" group; Mrs. Price's class from Illini School; and the wonderful helpers from Belleville East. They made walking sticks; met the animals and shearer; took pictures in front of the tipi; and ate lunch in the yard.</div><br /><div>Shearing is a busy, busy time here. And a special "tip of the hat" to the members of the Artisan Guild of Southern IL. Those folks can WORK. They caught animals, caught fiber, and sorted and weighed volumes of individual fleeces. Way to go!</div><br /><div>Every year when shearing is done I say, "I'm never going to do this again." </div><br /><div>Until next year, I guess.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Julie Wierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107890693682089614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465754710856445064.post-30000326681688339272011-05-15T23:24:00.002-05:002011-05-15T23:36:42.962-05:00Discouraged<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpXYJwwvl_5uJepp16zxztIdIdG1xYEoAMGh2D0QYe09eCXQ4XeaHDmaX4BMnLdCNJu1f7AWZFoM5Sqv_gZmq4975qjeBx5RxLvTi5K2V5LTDkFvqiUVO5uQ87pEB0O74hf1H7mBPB9LG2/s1600/IMG_0208.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607168190162961538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpXYJwwvl_5uJepp16zxztIdIdG1xYEoAMGh2D0QYe09eCXQ4XeaHDmaX4BMnLdCNJu1f7AWZFoM5Sqv_gZmq4975qjeBx5RxLvTi5K2V5LTDkFvqiUVO5uQ87pEB0O74hf1H7mBPB9LG2/s200/IMG_0208.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-kyDZH0x-OBZa8xYHUl99kWjDZBixLa4NkzJIq0-qZkCGteeHJxQoL9evYEV3GKyf8pWD_GWdcRptujWj0whIj6K3yKOQxLAulD9LPtMfiSQluOsFiy6SS9KWpTVq6XaKKxQYMs9zFoLp/s1600/IMG_0206.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607168181061413842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-kyDZH0x-OBZa8xYHUl99kWjDZBixLa4NkzJIq0-qZkCGteeHJxQoL9evYEV3GKyf8pWD_GWdcRptujWj0whIj6K3yKOQxLAulD9LPtMfiSQluOsFiy6SS9KWpTVq6XaKKxQYMs9zFoLp/s200/IMG_0206.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAw4JJDn3QEHROOKjoKkGr3YzWi6Wn27dfEHJ9oD-sGNzXRhLh1DfuCwYqvhl3Uy30ZPttWy30zROWzIRi9ciCtBMEWWNZUDTFMoE1Z6xJWoJ9hNRIpx1v1sMMGB7RBCAFm8GAweGoBhfs/s1600/IMG_0200.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607168170277222258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAw4JJDn3QEHROOKjoKkGr3YzWi6Wn27dfEHJ9oD-sGNzXRhLh1DfuCwYqvhl3Uy30ZPttWy30zROWzIRi9ciCtBMEWWNZUDTFMoE1Z6xJWoJ9hNRIpx1v1sMMGB7RBCAFm8GAweGoBhfs/s200/IMG_0200.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>I have been discouraged lately. I have had some "animal issues" here on the farm. Big time stuff. A young alpaca cria with a broken leg; some sick animals; dumping is rampant (on me -- animals being "gifted" to me); not to mention a couple of birthing issues. </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Seems that I am spending a lot of time at the veterinarian recently. Good thing she's reasonably priced and very compassionate.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>I've also been discouraged about the prices of alpacas and llamas. </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>I send out a monthly newsletter. I have a website. I am out in the community on a regular basis. I have school tours here at the farm.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>And yet -- I have few new customers and not much "foot traffic" coming to the farm to purchase animals. </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>I have found myself discouraged by those in the industry that I consider friends -- people who undercut my prices; sell to my customers; even "steal" my customers. </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>It's been difficult to remain positive. There has been one "bright spot." My Goodness -- an 8-year-old female alpaca who has never had a baby -- she had a baby! Thanks to my friend, Tammy D., Goodness went over to her place a year ago for breeding. It happened! </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Goodness doesn't look anything like her baby. She is light fawn. He is solid black with white "shoes." I named him Zapato. </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>A silver lining in the dark clouds of rain and storms? I sure hope so.</div></div></div>Julie Wierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107890693682089614noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465754710856445064.post-69343448703964518162011-03-26T16:43:00.008-05:002011-03-26T17:53:58.118-05:00They call this "spring?"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisJPoyE9L2lwNjE9BVvmQBjpXGPE-p_bKKGGDh4_6skeF1SoJcWKE8oKiTJRPWjK_P7PWr9BRLrtfoFtMdOKS7X8A_Db_jM5NufIZVE1HPTlBQp6ejQSuH-9KBSv6OPVWlEwzxBZE0wi-R/s1600/IMG_0530.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588525405722810418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisJPoyE9L2lwNjE9BVvmQBjpXGPE-p_bKKGGDh4_6skeF1SoJcWKE8oKiTJRPWjK_P7PWr9BRLrtfoFtMdOKS7X8A_Db_jM5NufIZVE1HPTlBQp6ejQSuH-9KBSv6OPVWlEwzxBZE0wi-R/s200/IMG_0530.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn4uD4mISXNPtSIGCIHTj0xlke_Ho3MFTQ_RrNRxy0tlxrjNLNaFbxHRG7WmS_TVqWX60apdVf_M6dP7HChRO88kZmwc0R1XRAeBC0dwLA0wSY3CLQ9hb_lOmFKXeCeMmQGX0Y706Qnu3m/s1600/IMG_0528.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588507851041366354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn4uD4mISXNPtSIGCIHTj0xlke_Ho3MFTQ_RrNRxy0tlxrjNLNaFbxHRG7WmS_TVqWX60apdVf_M6dP7HChRO88kZmwc0R1XRAeBC0dwLA0wSY3CLQ9hb_lOmFKXeCeMmQGX0Y706Qnu3m/s200/IMG_0528.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpPrczoOOCyifxA165v23oOydyObKsGFDak209YmAfhPBEiIpjUFw8H2KX7mf_kaVigXShMbELHx9OTNtbsVivxUydzFeR2alyN577M09D61_32DALJ4cLfEWkww4J_KNOve9I4b0GgfL/s1600/IMG_0532.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588507845492246674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpPrczoOOCyifxA165v23oOydyObKsGFDak209YmAfhPBEiIpjUFw8H2KX7mf_kaVigXShMbELHx9OTNtbsVivxUydzFeR2alyN577M09D61_32DALJ4cLfEWkww4J_KNOve9I4b0GgfL/s200/IMG_0532.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjji9s4WQLEl3dr0o6PUa3BuuDZcoL8xvoc5SLi4LCbKl6kZtiQYNcD5-S39oNepA5yHdljqNdyWBQU8b8aJMD48yoY7qut4vlfTF0FWHDcPt7L4j5fm7og59i6E8K5tcR3hyB_EfoD6oLb/s1600/IMG_0173.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588507842156307074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjji9s4WQLEl3dr0o6PUa3BuuDZcoL8xvoc5SLi4LCbKl6kZtiQYNcD5-S39oNepA5yHdljqNdyWBQU8b8aJMD48yoY7qut4vlfTF0FWHDcPt7L4j5fm7og59i6E8K5tcR3hyB_EfoD6oLb/s200/IMG_0173.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEobz2pYtWSCVMjwfCUzGp-UEngvWMo3_vv-C_dxNCDH4ZyjOkest1SfDN6yxl4ELIW-JOKJq3jYpnGId_FJWJMcm5mOs5LqUuJfnv8gbv3Qc7qLTOhlpH9wckP0BGF98UwazDVoAYv2IL/s1600/IMG_0169.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588507831059214002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEobz2pYtWSCVMjwfCUzGp-UEngvWMo3_vv-C_dxNCDH4ZyjOkest1SfDN6yxl4ELIW-JOKJq3jYpnGId_FJWJMcm5mOs5LqUuJfnv8gbv3Qc7qLTOhlpH9wckP0BGF98UwazDVoAYv2IL/s200/IMG_0169.JPG" /></a><br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Are you kidding me?</div><br /><div>Really? Really? It is March 26th people! What is UP with this weather? I am so bummin' it's ridiculous.</div><br /><div>Jack and I are seriously considering moving to Florida -- or Georgia -- or someplace ELSE. Of course we would take our herd with us.</div><br /><div>If you would like to make a wonderful bed and breakfast or retreat center out of our fabulous 100-plus-year-old farm home -- huge garage and big barn -- please contact us. </div><br /><div>We're not kidding. This winter has done us in.</div><br /><div>Here's my e-mail address -- for folks who would like to buy our property and move in to a working llama/alpaca farm: <a href="mailto:llamasofwierworld@gmail.com">llamasofwierworld@gmail.com</a></div><br /><div>Only people with money need to apply.<br /></div><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Julie Wierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107890693682089614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465754710856445064.post-5244515879919116742011-03-22T23:42:00.004-05:002011-03-23T00:47:24.544-05:00Tuesday on the farm<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCGtv6FrCd_W4RDhSvQ6NdEuuPBAQQgV5789VQFrXZBvFBlil6HER9De0NITxxMedw9T3IEKECWVPRh4uplAmOT8hz6m55M48GWb0TDL2DyrPCBdHEBoJsJqsPKqQNV4_XSlGpWVSQvF1_/s1600/IMG_0487.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587147172615347602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCGtv6FrCd_W4RDhSvQ6NdEuuPBAQQgV5789VQFrXZBvFBlil6HER9De0NITxxMedw9T3IEKECWVPRh4uplAmOT8hz6m55M48GWb0TDL2DyrPCBdHEBoJsJqsPKqQNV4_XSlGpWVSQvF1_/s200/IMG_0487.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfgpKpzfJFwqP4p_c6kR_ScKA3xQWnfatkK6NYvlLNWh-4MjpkaWnANsNON655WSp-8qP2sAGpTygDj1C7kbsdmsuztUOyc5hE1U8ZtYdVaxUx1uYxNIdA6x8nNnW-eU_Un3nECE1FQ1Fq/s1600/IMG_0501.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587131957800039874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfgpKpzfJFwqP4p_c6kR_ScKA3xQWnfatkK6NYvlLNWh-4MjpkaWnANsNON655WSp-8qP2sAGpTygDj1C7kbsdmsuztUOyc5hE1U8ZtYdVaxUx1uYxNIdA6x8nNnW-eU_Un3nECE1FQ1Fq/s200/IMG_0501.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3TXBhmJl_ZvghxLhur6ai7wSOZoSV9xov0gtHGFSDclILqvFSN1wyNpev-3Eo7HhBEVx_MmDa75RzK3bEODNpAuRkoa5enQWb4EyfRnljsHAr5vbGej7Nuk_44gAoFCpGIEPpQwvv4ePU/s1600/IMG_0498.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587131946032474994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3TXBhmJl_ZvghxLhur6ai7wSOZoSV9xov0gtHGFSDclILqvFSN1wyNpev-3Eo7HhBEVx_MmDa75RzK3bEODNpAuRkoa5enQWb4EyfRnljsHAr5vbGej7Nuk_44gAoFCpGIEPpQwvv4ePU/s200/IMG_0498.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBIkKkqMFhgoGIA8B6LUFwwoloajgH69aX_pRp5vKUFZIL9fB_yqVDSKXP2aFY73bMbSZHVKiBrXBGLVQ5LTQTG5Vfony9cyndgWnZnO9nAX1_cDkGvYvfY9P60_8lGO9ucAkHN2U1FLYt/s1600/IMG_0496.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587131942713158882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBIkKkqMFhgoGIA8B6LUFwwoloajgH69aX_pRp5vKUFZIL9fB_yqVDSKXP2aFY73bMbSZHVKiBrXBGLVQ5LTQTG5Vfony9cyndgWnZnO9nAX1_cDkGvYvfY9P60_8lGO9ucAkHN2U1FLYt/s200/IMG_0496.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwk3TwlU3M-JCwH3hxdw5OsZChB3tIL4q-AyheI64_hYwq7ocHtFSkOeu_p9TgAHme7gvvN5uffTvTk2dMohbwVbl7gnGBnWAVUZ47CnK3L3MK9AEAP61Oj2LfGOSVj3O2Jviev2PIKh2v/s1600/IMG_0492.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587131935615477234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwk3TwlU3M-JCwH3hxdw5OsZChB3tIL4q-AyheI64_hYwq7ocHtFSkOeu_p9TgAHme7gvvN5uffTvTk2dMohbwVbl7gnGBnWAVUZ47CnK3L3MK9AEAP61Oj2LfGOSVj3O2Jviev2PIKh2v/s200/IMG_0492.JPG" /></a><br />It was Tuesday. Every Tuesday I have 4 homeschool kids who come to the farm to learn about agribusiness. Today's bonus was that Steve and Diane came to the farm, too. </div><br /><div>We accomplished a wide variety of farm stuff today. Trimming toenails, giving injections, cleaning the barn, working on catching/haltering activities, doing lots of fence repair, feeding grain and hay -- the list was long.</div><br /><div>I've been allowing local youth and adult volunteers to come to the farm for over 10 years. I teach them all about the care and feeding of camelids. They are ready to have their own farms someday after they leave my apprentice program. It's been a wonderful experience for me and for those privileged few who get to hang out here.</div><br /><div>Just today, for example, Michelle learned how to give injections and trim toenails. Diane worked on her halter training skills and "command voice" and "praise voice" -- to let the animal know the difference between acceptable and unacceptable behavior. Steve repaired fences and taught the homeschool kids the proper way to use wire to secure t-posts and fencing.</div><br /><div>I would like to continue this work. I would need a grant to help me do so. Any ideas?</div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivrnlCHIESAelg9Y1vfLH1OJ3OSiaLBoR7QteLXW7qr8EDN2gGXWhTtyEwjWJkA54Y0ceqyAHdtfaVccYqVT1j9wx09e5zaJyB9FziOQs_JNT7Y2BNDASm-IPWLb48y2b6coHV9ZNnG5Uf/s1600/IMG_0489.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587131925930190626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivrnlCHIESAelg9Y1vfLH1OJ3OSiaLBoR7QteLXW7qr8EDN2gGXWhTtyEwjWJkA54Y0ceqyAHdtfaVccYqVT1j9wx09e5zaJyB9FziOQs_JNT7Y2BNDASm-IPWLb48y2b6coHV9ZNnG5Uf/s200/IMG_0489.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Julie Wierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107890693682089614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465754710856445064.post-8002202024088013242011-03-17T23:02:00.004-05:002011-03-17T23:22:25.679-05:00Students visit the farm<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBy2XulTMJo9JzWosVyQPBKA9Fn-qNOaaV6qsB5Be_Hd4lrgXcG6P0p0UQZ5NqpL_wQpRDpDOZTcAGrJVuupL5dWaxjk67OWp_0XXuAU8lI3oEPXh5RIIwtokh64ph0J1ob4NBYZjkkSzX/s1600/IMG_0338.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585270475950797458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBy2XulTMJo9JzWosVyQPBKA9Fn-qNOaaV6qsB5Be_Hd4lrgXcG6P0p0UQZ5NqpL_wQpRDpDOZTcAGrJVuupL5dWaxjk67OWp_0XXuAU8lI3oEPXh5RIIwtokh64ph0J1ob4NBYZjkkSzX/s200/IMG_0338.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi0922QhZ0U2ZHbvBs85pF4YDuwCUfV9TCYWUEY_WP0Gg1y46sPhRrxlH7OLY_XOpuZZWmCVqWHtKAu-4hBKYwLRrpWveDBftYVU6IAlNQtdBYSbjqgAONYZU1lT0ZFpMfZyIKOp_8VFJy/s1600/Copy+of+IMG_0325.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585267122462567826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi0922QhZ0U2ZHbvBs85pF4YDuwCUfV9TCYWUEY_WP0Gg1y46sPhRrxlH7OLY_XOpuZZWmCVqWHtKAu-4hBKYwLRrpWveDBftYVU6IAlNQtdBYSbjqgAONYZU1lT0ZFpMfZyIKOp_8VFJy/s200/Copy+of+IMG_0325.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4jLYEmVCCRNyz8xrRBtQVXWGze6OCipqyIace-4rwcupKDXQxoBaMVIUwBWIOfXXBJRYnkul8P-j_WBlEnzOi1zPxwMIqmWGIN3FEAlCPdy0WtnuRrof2NUWJ9LhKeGR_FOaGSBKEVW-N/s1600/Copy+of+IMG_0314.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585267112336566914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4jLYEmVCCRNyz8xrRBtQVXWGze6OCipqyIace-4rwcupKDXQxoBaMVIUwBWIOfXXBJRYnkul8P-j_WBlEnzOi1zPxwMIqmWGIN3FEAlCPdy0WtnuRrof2NUWJ9LhKeGR_FOaGSBKEVW-N/s200/Copy+of+IMG_0314.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzfDzb3oBUK14XV6eK41v9QIu1rOKSHy0MlPWk-u0Sp4es0uH8VxJSmtsZsagEhjpF4Q9cAxI113jyzCCnCR72qoRkKBp6sjL0VZc6yoL5gdYgz5g5T2ZvJbmQ2qpsaZHUTiHTGhGs99G/s1600/Copy+of+IMG_0320.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585267093694348434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzfDzb3oBUK14XV6eK41v9QIu1rOKSHy0MlPWk-u0Sp4es0uH8VxJSmtsZsagEhjpF4Q9cAxI113jyzCCnCR72qoRkKBp6sjL0VZc6yoL5gdYgz5g5T2ZvJbmQ2qpsaZHUTiHTGhGs99G/s200/Copy+of+IMG_0320.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_Hko_8zyQqYZ55seidgMayVVJhUysVzDx0X_x_tIItbZ4Bj_7dnOs1YI147D9SS-r1VeE0cEEI-pn6t9W3Rrob5UkigALSLkuMt96OIDgUNaSUoZ7dO6SUnqrTALzK73LtUS0rTsI8VD/s1600/Copy+of+IMG_0313.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585267082278479682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_Hko_8zyQqYZ55seidgMayVVJhUysVzDx0X_x_tIItbZ4Bj_7dnOs1YI147D9SS-r1VeE0cEEI-pn6t9W3Rrob5UkigALSLkuMt96OIDgUNaSUoZ7dO6SUnqrTALzK73LtUS0rTsI8VD/s200/Copy+of+IMG_0313.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPeg5Kt-sGrMWMvt7q-84BQrv3Xg-ifLhwu3Wn52gzxOn7J3sE4F4uU5JEncuY76J_Y0hp0Bd68J9wQHnk_RryHuK9_vAjqPLv_ghhF6-jriis-4B5Kd0hdhnpF1B0DjCgjE9K2AVDJB5V/s1600/Copy+of+IMG_0311.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585267062431782930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPeg5Kt-sGrMWMvt7q-84BQrv3Xg-ifLhwu3Wn52gzxOn7J3sE4F4uU5JEncuY76J_Y0hp0Bd68J9wQHnk_RryHuK9_vAjqPLv_ghhF6-jriis-4B5Kd0hdhnpF1B0DjCgjE9K2AVDJB5V/s200/Copy+of+IMG_0311.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Yesterday was the first official "school farm tour" of 2011. Students from Belleville East High School came to the farm to learn about jobs that are available in "agri-business." They also came to feed carrots to the llamas and alpacas and to meet our son, Ben.</div><br /><div>Ben was home from his day program to share his love of the farm, and his knowledge of the hard work involved in living on a farm.</div><br /><div>These students are in a program for kids with developmental disabilities at the high school, and they are looking ahead to graduation -- and life skills that will help them have productive and happy lives.</div><br /><div>It was our privilege to talk to them about the harvesting of the fleece, shearing the animals, feeding and caring for them.</div><br /><div>The students also watched Hannah spin raw fleece into yarn -- and constructed Native American Walking sticks with beadwork and feathers and alpaca/llama fleece.</div><br /><div>Mrs. Lewis's class was made up of inquisitive students who asked wonderful questions about the animals. </div><br /><div>At the end of their visit, they gathered for a photo in front of our Native American tipi and even went out to the barn to meet the "boy herd" that likes to hang out near the hay feeders.</div><br /><div>We certainly enjoyed the farm visit and the students are welcome to come back any time!</div></div></div></div></div></div>Julie Wierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107890693682089614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465754710856445064.post-10323657516706419942011-03-15T09:53:00.003-05:002011-03-15T10:07:07.781-05:00Creep feeder creeping<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizzhZJhAbVRO9rZx7BrFWHAKkLU6ch9EV93iCaiF5q03JC17zyNs3-RfWQaO0p_P20T3wwcQEeDYCOrFzBDzPonoHo6Od7oT1HFkCZgqbio1jg5r_deQ9hHYc_lgceTDlx3NjsVjyU30BY/s1600/IMG_0219.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584322658442997522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizzhZJhAbVRO9rZx7BrFWHAKkLU6ch9EV93iCaiF5q03JC17zyNs3-RfWQaO0p_P20T3wwcQEeDYCOrFzBDzPonoHo6Od7oT1HFkCZgqbio1jg5r_deQ9hHYc_lgceTDlx3NjsVjyU30BY/s200/IMG_0219.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH2qOMFyV0OXQqmZtSWYyMOYjKQhtSHoo5xQuVoz0OvkZP9kb15efyjjHurQ0ZiA2V814nA5nmovWyGY9c1f5o21WN7Ud7r4weIIQgFN37E0QI4SpEaZnHPwz7z2FNCeKIllPvpnWP8h9m/s1600/IMG_0221.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584322646739578482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH2qOMFyV0OXQqmZtSWYyMOYjKQhtSHoo5xQuVoz0OvkZP9kb15efyjjHurQ0ZiA2V814nA5nmovWyGY9c1f5o21WN7Ud7r4weIIQgFN37E0QI4SpEaZnHPwz7z2FNCeKIllPvpnWP8h9m/s200/IMG_0221.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuiesJ-BZ304fja5pNDIdaxKX4DabeqYqiGUmZJgAYoKnQXdG06BmHstL0ui_2XKeRn-ltSgQjVpyRJtjC5EjAAGz307WW998Xsvy9fPUam00VRplo3HDWdDTrxTzDUTzG1BaUJpoMO9Pe/s1600/IMG_0216.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584322637566021874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuiesJ-BZ304fja5pNDIdaxKX4DabeqYqiGUmZJgAYoKnQXdG06BmHstL0ui_2XKeRn-ltSgQjVpyRJtjC5EjAAGz307WW998Xsvy9fPUam00VRplo3HDWdDTrxTzDUTzG1BaUJpoMO9Pe/s200/IMG_0216.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMW9NlmX5GbHba0yld7n-OVA8ewhxLtmAXu13v3PbmCpL81ZJfU51zb2RPnoEvpaSRBULszH49siVfcsue1KOcuLZFANvwMF9qjGDALV4qrfFjHvItA6z1-6CtrEZui_lwC5GUv-AdqYrV/s1600/IMG_0217.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584322634126638450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMW9NlmX5GbHba0yld7n-OVA8ewhxLtmAXu13v3PbmCpL81ZJfU51zb2RPnoEvpaSRBULszH49siVfcsue1KOcuLZFANvwMF9qjGDALV4qrfFjHvItA6z1-6CtrEZui_lwC5GUv-AdqYrV/s200/IMG_0217.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG_Of6AEkON1s6Emz7kC3NwE_J6uxgjNU-AbNtc7oI1vIKVUvjgx5uTRteFrWaNvsSUXh28_XPee-l43MXvPN3wWwddmI6thVOPmxPduasrYy0Y8UXQ52fSwq-IqFUma0ZotbXljD8s0sz/s1600/IMG_0233.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584322626425057170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG_Of6AEkON1s6Emz7kC3NwE_J6uxgjNU-AbNtc7oI1vIKVUvjgx5uTRteFrWaNvsSUXh28_XPee-l43MXvPN3wWwddmI6thVOPmxPduasrYy0Y8UXQ52fSwq-IqFUma0ZotbXljD8s0sz/s200/IMG_0233.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Okay. I have a half dozen baby alpacas and a herd of over 60 animals in their area. The competition is fierce at grain time, and only Naomi, offspring of my Sophie, manages to squeeze in on the end of the gutter feeder for grain goodies.</div><div>So my friend, Tammy, talked about her construction of a creep feeder for her crias. It's a smaller, penned area that has a "munchkin opening" for only crias to get into. Once inside they can munch grain and hay to their heart's content -- without the big boys and girls stealing all of the food.</div><div>Great idea. Last Wednesday the homeschool kids and I went about the business of building a creep feeder.</div><div>It involved cattle panels, a corner feeder, t-posts and such. Not terribly complicated.</div><div>We promptly caught Hadley, one of the fall crias and put him inside so he could see what wonders awaited him. He totally figured it out and, as a matter of fact, goes in there daily now to eat peacefully alone.</div><div>Here's the problem. Llamas are crazy smart. Within the first hour, my Cherokee, original female llama on my farm from 1993 -- was INSIDE the creep feeder. Honestly people. I could barely fit through the opening when I crawled through. How the heck did a gi-normous llama get IN there? How? I ask you?</div><div>We had to dismantle the thing to get her out. Geesh.</div><div>So we made the opening even smaller with the use of yellow baling rope. I still have Piper going in there (smallish adult female alpaca) but at least no more llamas have gone in. Yet. </div><div>The best laid plans of mice and women . . . I suppose.</div></div></div></div></div>Julie Wierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107890693682089614noreply@blogger.com0