Shearing the Alpacas Tomorrow
I admit I’m nervous and I’m rambling… We are shearing the alpacas tomorrow. The head count is hovering near 100. We have never sheared 100 alpacas. In 2009 we sheared 77. Every year I get nervous, and every year it goes off without a hitch. Maybe it’s like putting on a big Broadway production. Whatever the correct metaphor, it IS a big event.
So far I’ve labeled the black and brown bags (that’s only about 15% of the way finished since most of our herd is fawn/light). I have to order the food and make the brownies.
Last night my young son made my day year when he actually said to me, “Mom, can I help with shearing day? I’ve always wanted to. It looks like fun.”
Oh yes he did.
He was sick last year. I remember one year him helping a grown up who was sweeping up the debris. (but that was not really fun so he lost interest after a few hours)
I hope super-shearer Marc Loffhagen and I can come up with a cool job for him this year. My son showed me his muscles and he is pretty strong so we shall see…
If you are interested in following along with the shearing madness I will be tweeting all day on Saturday from my @AlpacasLive Twitter account. If you are interested in purchasing alpaca fiber you can email me at katy (at) alpacafarmgirl (dot ) com. Bulk pricing is available in for 9 lbs. and up. Individual fleeces (2-4+ lbs.) are available as well in white, fawn, greys, brown, and black on a very limited basis. Visit our Etsy shop for alpaca yarns and more fiber. Visit our Alpaca Farmgirl shop for alpaca teddy bears, blankets, socks, and more.
Now I’m off to label the fawn bags…
March 19th, 2010 at 7:54 am
I love learning about your alpacas. I think they are sooooo cool. Enjoy Shearing Day!
March 19th, 2010 at 8:10 am
You will have an awesome shear day…it will be longer than last year but with the right shear team (and it looks like you had one last year) it will run smoothly.
Now, have you every considered having your fiber sorted during shearing? I am one of 130 Certified Sorter Apprentices here in the United States that are sorting during shearing. The fleece comes off the alpaca, weighed then right to the sorting table to be graded and sorted. At the end of the day you are left with all your fiber sorted by color, length and grade then weighed ready to sell or submit to a co-op. No more having your bags sit in the barn or basement. Just a thought for 2011.
Will be sending shearing energy your way tomorrow.
wonderwhygal´s last blog ..Fiber Arts Friday- National Quilting Day
March 19th, 2010 at 8:58 am
So awesome! I didn’t realize shearing the alpacas was such an event! Good luck!
Windsor Grace´s last blog ..Knitting groups and badge awesomeness
March 19th, 2010 at 9:00 am
I wish I could have larger fonts in this comment.
SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Dawn´s last blog ..Main Street Shopping Lives In My Computer
March 19th, 2010 at 9:02 am
oh and lookit that “No more having your bags sit in the barn or basement.”
ahem.
it’s like she KNOWS you.
and by the by – seriously? making brownies?
Dawn´s last blog ..Main Street Shopping Lives In My Computer
March 19th, 2010 at 9:12 am
I’m sure everything will go smoothly – sounds like you have a great team. Awesome that your son is so eager to help, too.
Kate´s last blog .."Acadia" for handspun
March 19th, 2010 at 9:17 am
Good luck! Our shearing day is a lot less alpacas and we have the entire alpaca family teaming up. Last year we even put the shears in the 4 month old granddaughters hands. Just so she would feel like she was part of the “fun”. We did have grandchildern from 5 years to 20 years actively involved. And our first year with a shearing table. It was truly fun. Would love to hear more from Sorter. We do have bags in our spare bedroom…..I think there is a bed in there somewhere. Enjoy your day.
March 19th, 2010 at 11:09 am
My gosh 100! I have 10 and it is a dramatic event. Best of luck to you and all of your helpers!
Dutch Hollow Acres´s last blog ..The Dark Side of Fiber Arts
March 19th, 2010 at 12:04 pm
Hi Katie, Best of luck with Shearing! I always get nervous as well, though it does seem to get easier each year. I hope your kids are a big help for you, ours have contributed more and more and I’m excited that our shearing will be on a Saturday this year, too. I’ll be thinking of you!
Alpaca Lindy´s last blog ..Stuff Happens…..
March 19th, 2010 at 3:15 pm
When I have kids available on shearing day, I have a few jobs that are perfect for them…
* collect the fleece in the appropriate bag as it’s being shorn (we skirt later)
* weigh and record the weight of each bag of fleece
* take pictures
* use the leaf blower to the clear the space between alpacas
We also often rotate jobs during the day, with the exception of who’s the shearer ‘cuz that’s me.
Of course, I’ve only sheared 8 alpacas in a day, not 100 or even 77.
Have a fantasticly fun and safe day tomorrow.
Kathryn | Alpacamundo´s last blog ..Japanese
March 19th, 2010 at 3:16 pm
oh, and I almost forgot… last year a couple of the helpers put one of the kids in the alpaca ropes and tickled him.
Kathryn | Alpacamundo´s last blog ..Japanese
March 21st, 2010 at 11:16 am
Thanks Kim!
My lovely Wonder Why Gal – We weigh the fleece after it is shorn then it is classed into different grades. I later inventory and determine what I will do with it based on my current inventory so I don’t really have a need to hire that out but I can see why that would be helpful for some farms. Sounds like you already have a good business going doing that for other folks. Good for you!
Now, Dawn – what would I do when I have an urge to dye if I didn’t have 65 fleeces to go choose from? Lol. And yes, I have all your fleeces girl! We had a bag mix-up with Hope but I think it got figured out.
SQUEEEE! Indeed!
Oh, and the brownies never got made…boxes still sitting on the counter. Went back to the store and bought cookies and beer in the end.
Thank you Kate, Jim, Kathryn, Dutch Hollow, and Winsor Grace for your encouragement.
Lindy I so appreciate your kind words. It is nerve-wracking sometimes. This year I was without my farm manager for the first time, and Steve had a torn knee and I didn’t think he was going to be able to help. I felt like I was going in without my right and left arms. But it turned out fine. I appreciated hearing that your children helped more as they got older. My children are the same way. There is so much happening so fast here that the youngest might get hurt or get in the way…
Thanks again. Your words lifted my spirits.
March 23rd, 2010 at 12:11 am
Your shearing days are amazing! Honestly- shearing is my least favorite thing- I hate it- the way you are so organized and just “together”- you make it all seem so easy!
I can’t wait to read about it!
Jenni´s last blog ..I see you
March 23rd, 2010 at 2:53 am
I missed it and terribly late. The shearing was done over the weekend? I hope that everything went great and that you all had enjoyed the event as much as you son did.
BK´s last blog ..A Better Us Through Self-Discipline
March 25th, 2010 at 12:57 am
I also liked this one =)) =^_^=