A Look Back to October 2012

These are some photos of the alpacas enjoying a nice fall day in October 2012.

Acura and Ambrosia smiling for the camera.

Acura who is the dam of Mateo, Mia and Rose Petal is also grand dam to Mikey, Mia's cria.

Ambrosia is the only grey alpaca at Lavender Hill Farm.  She definitely stands out with her markings.

Sisters, Mia and Rose Petal, enjoying the day.



Mellea was born on Father's Day in 2010 and is now the largest alpaca on the farm!

Acura and Rose Petal (mother and daughter) still keep close to each other.

Miko enjoying some grass.

Champ is one of seven alpacas that have been born at Lavender Hill Farm.

Meet Kitten

Kitten has been a fixture at Lavender Hill Farm since he showed up in 2008.  He was a stray that didn't seem to care that we already had two cats and decided he'd move right in.  These are some photos of Kitten enjoying his time on the farm.

He could be Garfield in a movie, don't you think?

This is Kitten pretending to be an alpaca, drinking from their waterer.  When the alpacas are out of the barn, he'll sneak in to take a couple sips.

Kitten had bad mats in 2012 that had to be shaved off.  He was given a "lion cut".  He wasn't too happy to have it done, but we're sure he felt like a whole new cat afterwards!

This is Kitten's way of telling the alpacas not to look at him.  He loves to be in the barn with whoever is working out there, but if the alpacas get too close or are looking directly at him, he puts on one of these faces.  Tough guy, huh?

Kitten loves when the shop is open and visitors are welcome to the farm.  This is him keeping an eye over the driveway, waiting for visitors to greet.

He also enjoys a nice sunny day spent laying in the sun. 

If you visit Lavender Hill Farm, keep your eyes out for Kitten, you're sure to see him!

Shearing Day is Coming Soon!

It has been confirmed that shearing at Lavender Hill Farm

will take place Friday, May 10th from 8:00-12:00.  Stop by to see the alpacas being shorn!

Shearing is a very important day on any alpaca farm.  This is when we harvest their luxurious fiber so we can later process it to make things like roving and yarn.  It is also necessary to shear the alpacas once a year to protect them from heat stress.  Shearing at Lavender Hill Farm is usually in early May and this year the date is May 10th.  You are welcome to come by the farm to see this unique event!

Jeremiah and Rick shearing Acura.

  

Champ getting shorn.  Our job is to collect all the fiber and put it into bags.

Buddy is about to be shorn.

The girls soaking up the sun after shearing day.  They look so different once all the fiber is shorn off of them!

Spring is Here!

It's spring and it's time to catch up on happenings at Lavender Hill Farm. 

A lot has been going on since the last post!

Alpacas are not equipped to handle high heat and humidity.  They are susceptible to heat stress, so it's necessary to cool them by providing shade, plenty of water, fans and hosing with water.  April of 2012 was very warm and for the alpacas it feels even warmer with their fully grown fiber. Since shearing day was scheduled for early May we provided our alpacas with fans and hosed them to cool them down.  It's fun to see the alpacas enjoying the water, so a hot day in the summer is a good time to stop by and see for yourself!

JJ enjoying the cool water on a hot April day.

Adonis stepping into the stream of water.

Champ is getting his share of the cooling water.

Holiday Open Farm Weekend

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, November 25th, 26th, and 27th
from 9 - 5

Come to visit our alpacas and the farm shop.  Alpaca scarves, gloves, hats, socks, yarn, roving, and raw fiber will be for sale.  Refreshments will also be available. 

We are located at 411 Beach Pond Road in Voluntown, CT at the juction of 138 and 165. 

Alpaca apparel makes great gifts!

Come visit Mikey, our youngest alpaca, just born in June 2011.

Inside our farm shop you'll find items made from alpaca fiber, alpaca apparel, and information on alpacas.

Roving and yarn from Lavender Hill Farm's alpacas.

Teddy bears and cushing alpacas made from baby alpaca fiber.

Alpaca gloves and hats as well as scarves, socks, and sweaters for the whole family are for sale.

Baby Alpaca hat.

We are located in Voluntown at the junction of 138 and 165.

A Cozy Place For A Nap

We have been working with our fiber, and dying the seconds in many colors to then use for felting.  We had a batch of green fiber drying on a sweater rack and noticed that there was a perfect circle in the middle of the fiber the next morning.  That afternoon, we found Mattie taking a nap right in the middle of all the fiber!  Cats find the funniest places to catch some zzzzz's!

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.