Early in the week we went to Victory Ranch, an alpaca ranch about thirty minutes from the cabin. We had a great time feeding and petting the animals though in the back of our heads at all times was boy this fleece would make a great sweater (shawl, sock, hat, etc.).We did have the opportunity to buy yarn in the gift shop. Imagine my surprise when one of the handspun, handpainted yarns I picked up had a label on it that said it was from Denton, Texas. It was done by our local locksmith. She makes an annual trip to Victory Ranch to pick up fiber and then spins and dyes it for them. It is nice to know that we can get this fiber locally, but a trip into town is not nearly as exciting as a trip to New Mexico.
These animals, who are a year old, were shorn for the first time about a month ago. The first fleece from an alpaca is always the softest and thus, the most desirable.
As far as I am concerned, the entire animal is desirable!. They have the sweetest faces and most of them have an equally sweet disposition. Faces like this just make me melt.
It always comes down to food. Alissa had the food and these guys wanted it. The grilled corn and banana bread that I made last week had almost the same effect on BK and Alissa.
It takes more than food to get to this little girl's heart. She stood outside the herd while the others indulged at snack time. I wish I could have brought her home with me! I know that is pushing my luck; my buddies had to deal with my kids and my dogs all week. But, isn't she cute!
At night, the ranch is patrolled by six Great Pyrenees who protect the herd of alpaca from coyotes.. Technically, the dogs are "off" during the day so they are free to meet and greet visitors to the ranch. Erin made a new friend in "Zeus".
I am proud to say that i resisted all temptations. I bought no yarn and returned home to Texas with only the animals with which I left and a few pictures of what could have been.
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