Apples and Alpacas

Today we went on a field trip to an Alpaca farm.  I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was pretty cool.

It's always nice going out in the country.  It reminds you that you either really want to live in the country or really like just visiting. 

I usually think I'd welcome the opportunity to live on some acreage, but not having a farm, like an alpaca farm.  In fact, probably not any animals that I have to clean manure up after.  It just seems like a lot of work/responsibility. 

Not to say that I haven't thought of having some chickens, despite the fact that my brother has lost upwards of 50, to predators in the city.   So I don't know that I want that drama either.  But maybe a couple more dogs and cats, maybe.  Maybe fish in a pond, but they don't require much, just bait.  Then maybe some tame ducks and geese that I pen up at night to keep from predators. 

These pics are of the birds getting out of the cage for the morning. 

Whereas, now, we can leave the cat in the garage for a week and she's good...really.  As long as she doesn't lose that magnet ball that lets her in the doggie door.  And maybe hire a sitter for the dog, or take him with us.  Sammy is fun.  He really likes to be with us. 

But, OH, I realize that it may be some of y'alls dream to have alpacas.  And I guess in their own way they are kind of cute.  Especially the babies. 

 
The owner let the kids have wool?  I guess that's what you call the stuff they shave off the alpacas.  They had 4 layers of wool, grain against grain.  In a ziploc they added soapy water.  Then they rolled it up and mushed it together and rolled it up, for about ten minutes. 

It ended up that the wool fibers all held together and made a hot pad type of fabric? 

We never did pick apples, but there was a pretty good sized orchard there.  Savannah says "Oh!  I've never seen apples on trees before!"  So funny.  And so fun.