You know it is fall when I have to get up earlier than Frank the rooster to get my kids to crew practice. I love when I get to wake up the rooster- payback!

Visit the Orcas Island Rowing Association.

Just passing along a few photos we took during shearing this year. It was one of the few half-way dry days we have had in a while. Enjoy!

It has been raining nonstop here on the farm. I think as a summer project I might build an ark. On the upside the grass is growing right before my eyes. On the down side the garden is still too wet to plant in many areas. What a change from last years scorching June!

The show season continued to be a challenge. The competition was fierce. It is hard to compete with farms that have 50+ babies to choose from each year. I brought everything that I had and was delighted to take home more than my fare share of ribbons.

Northwest Alpaca Showcase:

Cimarron, Autumn Diva (aka Munchin Martian), and Sage Prince (aka Buddy) all took home some hardware. Kahana and I were lucky enough to have Jeff's aunt along from Sun Valley to help with all of the animals and making sure we made it to the ring on time.


Columbia Alpaca Breeder Association:

Our best show, in my most humble opinion was the Columbia Alpacas Breeder Association the CABA Classic. Interestingly this show last year proved to be our toughest for us. Funny huh? Cimarron, Buddy, Diva and Summer all came away with ribbons. I was most delighted with Summers performance. White is notoriously the most difficult classes and we were able to pull off a fourth!!!! (White is challenging because there are a large number of breeders that breed only white. White fleece is most useful as it can be dyed any color.)
This was Luke's (my eight year olds) first show and he was amazingly helpful and a fine showman in the ring too!

Okay so we went to our first show of the year- Alpaca Western Extravaganza! My goodness it was very competitive!!!

We brought home the following awards:

• Autumn Diva: Our munchkin took a fourth in a very competitive class of 15. I was sooo proud. Thank you Kahana for showing her

• Wolf Den Cimmaron: Ahhh I haven't told you about him have I? He is a new boy I bought with Krystal Acres for stud. (He deserves and will get his own entire entry) He took a fourth also.

• Orcas Moon's Sage Prince: He took a fantastic 5th place in a tough field of 10. What a great result. Again thanks Kahana for showing 'Buddy'

Wow! What a great show for us.

Next weekend we are off to scenic (yeah right) Pasco, Washington for the Northwest Alpaca Showcase. This was a great show last year. We are again helping with color check of all the animals for the show. It is such a great opportunity to see, touch and look over a diverse bunch of animals from all over the West. I can't wait!

And yes I do have pictures to post!!

The girls and I decided that we were spending waaaaaay too much time training those pesky babies and that they needed a 'day of beauty' Maybe a new color for spring?

A Blessed and Happy Easter!

My girlfriend Maria and her family have a wonderful farm, Warm Valley Orchard. Right now they are smack in the middle of lambing.

Warm Valley Orchard is located just past the ferry landing. Anyone coming to the island passes it on the way to town. This time of year Maria and her family call Lamb-Jam season. Cars pull off the road just to see the newest members of her flock and cause quite the back up. I love alpaca cria but think the cutest newborn animal must be a lamb.