August 14, 2004

August has been busy, already. The first few days (July 28-Aug 1) I was away at a spinning retreat. The local guild has so many talented people! They share their experience and knowledge throughout the year, but we really learn a lot those four days. I was told I wouldn't leave until I learned to spin with a drop spindle, so I finally did. After four years, I love it and am actually making some yarn.

Our little cria, Astrid, had a broken leg in June. Last week we were able to take her back to have the pin taken out of her leg and now she delights in racing the pasture with the other seven crias from this spring. As their personalities emerge, I am thinking it will be a real challenge (translate . . opportunity) to train them this fall. That's always my favorite time of year. I teach high school, so I'm used to dealing with several "students" at once, but I think each cria has the energy of several high school students.

Another August task is getting the fiber and fiber products ready for the Back of the Wasatch festival (BOW) over Labor Day Weekend. This year, we will be at an Olympic site with the international Sheep Dog Trials. It will be an exciting four days, and we will make many new friends. It is wonderful to meet with old friends and spin, knit, or weave while we share information about our cute animals.

Before we go to the BOW, we must get everything ready for the State Fair. We always enter several finished items, from shawls and hats to wall hangings and pictures, as well as handspun skeins of various types. It's a real treat to go to the Fair exhibits and feel like we belong, as we view the many items and look for our entries (and, hopefully, ribbons).

Well, school starts for teachers Monday, and I just wanted to jot down a few notes of our lives with alpacas. Please let us know if you find this interesting and helpful. We look forward to hearing from you.

Sit, Spin, Watch the 'Pacas, Janet

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Janet and Clark Otterness
Alta Mist Alpacas
2531 North Mountain Glen Road
Pine Canyon, Utah 84074
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phone: 435-882-0790
cell: 801-557-4162
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