Alpaca of the Month~November

ACURA

Maple Brook Acura was one of the first alpacas acquired by Lavender Hill Farm.  She was born September 19, 2002 and is a Pperuvian Mercedes daughter out of MFI Peruvian Wellington.  Acura has had two cria at Lavender Hill Farm; Mateo and Rose Petal.  Mia is also her daughter and is here at Lavender Hill Farm.  Shis is now the pround grandmother of Mikey, Mia's cria.  Her fiber has a long staple length and her color is white.

Acura and her cria Mateo in October 2008.  Acura is a great mother to her cria.

Acura and her cria Rose Petal in October of 2009.

Acura standing proudly with her cria Rose Petal and Kimmy's cria, Thor.  She really loves being a mother.

Acura enjoying the spray from the hose on a warm summer day.

Acura with Rose Petal.

Shortly after shearing.

Acura with full fiber.

She produces a great amount of fiber.

 

Acura with her friends Mellea and Sabrina.

She doesn't mind the snow at all!

Acura (middle) relaxing with her two girls, Mia (left) and Rose Petal (right).

Acura is always keeping an eye on things at the farm.

Acura's fiber as sport weight yarn.  Her yarn is available for purchase at Lavender Hill Farm's shop.

National Alpaca Farm Days September 24-25, 2011

Lavender Hill Farm participated in it's second National Alpaca Farm Days in 2011.  It was a perfect weekend for visitors from all over to come learn about the alpacas.  Inside the shop, you could find alpaca apparel and products, information on alpacas, refreshments and a table where children could color alpaca pictures.  It was a great weekend meeting so many people interested in alpacas! 

Champ looks so happy to see another visitor!

Acura's blanket was laid out along with photos of what she looked like before and after shearing.  There's quite a difference! 

Hats, gloves and scarves were available to purchase.

As were comfy alpaca socks, bears and alpaca dolls.

This shelf holds roving and yarn from Lavender Hill Farm's alpacas. 

A loom was set up with a scarf being weaved on it made from alpaca/silk.

The alpacas were tired after a busy weekend with lots of visitors!

Mikey and Mellea enjoying some grass.

Champ is always a favorite of people who visit Lavender Hill Farm.

A Cria Is Born!

On June 22, 2011 Mia gave birth to a male cria.  He is white in color and weighed in at just under 15 pounds.  He has been very energetic and has a presence about him.  This is Mia's first cria. 

His name is Michael The Great, Mikey for short.

Mikey moments after birth.

He's trying to get on his feet already!

Proud Mia and her cria.

Nursing, getting essential colostrum.

Taking a nap.

Two days old and he was out and about, moving great on his new legs.

Here he is at a few days old bucking and bronking.

Mikey meeting Peg.

He's a really curious guy!

Shearing Day May 1, 2011

This is how the alpacas looked before shearing day!

This is Champ and Mateo the day before shearing.

Peg before shearing.

Buddy before shearing.

Buster before shearing.

Jeremiah and Rick from Twist of Fate Spinnery come to our farm and carefully shear all the fiber off our alpacas one by one.  Shearing takes place just once a year.   

Once the alpaca is safely on the ground the blanket is shorn off first.  This is the area of the back and sides of the alpaca.

The alpaca is rolled to the other side to complete shearing the blanket off.

The ropes are being put around the Buddy's leg.

Buddy's blanket.

Smokey's blanket.

Champ, Mateo and Smokey the day after shearing.

Peg after shearing.

Champ after shearing.

Acura after shearing, soaking up the sun.

There is such a difference in how the alpacas look before and after shearing!  Now they're ready to grow their fiber for another year.