Sunsets and Strawberries

While my parents were out at the Harrisburg Show, I was home enjoying the herd. On my walk home from the night time feeding, I was blown away by the beautiful sunset. This is a picture of the old barn and the big black walnut tree.

Another picture I wanted to share was of the awesome strawberries my boys and I found at A&P. This may not be exciting to anyone but us, but they were HUGE and delicious!!!! Just gave me a little taste of the summer berries that will be growing soon. Tossing them with some Cool Whip tonight. Tomorrow's weather forecast is 75 degrees! Turn the fans on Mom! Alpacas will be needing it. I hope the warmth lasts more than a day.
We all need some outside playtime around here.

The wood cutting board in the background is made by Liz and Nick...another Mayo Lane creation!

Hope you had a good weekend. Enjoy your week!
-Leanne

437 yards down...437 yards to go

I have been working on this little Seashell Scarf this week. I am half way done! I am knitting it with Cascade Yarns Alpaca Lace. I am using size 2 needles. The scarf measures a little over 15" wide. I have used one skein 437 yards and now onto skein #2.

This scarf is so soft I love it.

Andee

GOOD MORNING SUN!!!

It's a beautiful sunny Saturday, and Mom and Dad are on their way out to MAPACA (a very big alpaca show in PA. They won't be showing any of our animals, just going for the fun of it)

We're hoping that all of our friends who will be showing their animals do very well this weekend!

Now for a little inspiration....

I have been having a hard time getting inspired to crochet anything for the past few weeks.

It's time that I come up with a fun project... but what to make?! Spring/Summer projects are difficult for me to come up with because I tend to make a lot of scarves and hats in the winter. I love to make blankets, so maybe I will have to come up with a fun idea for a new blanket.

What inspires you in the warmer months, and what kind of projects do you make?

Baby Watch!

I talked to Mom (AKA Alpaca Mama) and it is official, we are on baby watch for Star!

Her due date is Mid-May, and she usually has her babies within a two week range (a week early or a week late), but we get to start baby watch 45 days before the due date!

If you don't know much about alpaca births (which I am going to assume that most of you do not!), there are some interesting facts!

A very high percentage of alpacas have their babies roughly from 7AM-2PM. Most of the alpacas who do not deliver within this time frame have something wrong with the birthing process; there is a problem with the baby or the mom. (Mom and I will be attending an alpaca birthing clinic next weekend in Martha's Vineyard... we should be experts afterwards!) We have also learned that most alpaca moms have their babies on their own with no assistance.

We are hoping for easy, uneventful births, and to be able to look out into the field one morning and see a little ball of fuzz next to Star, and a few weeks later next to Melody! *We will have an abundance of pictures to post when they arrive!!!*

Wednesday Yarn Along

In the blog world, knitters have a "yarn along" on Wednesdays. Knitters post what they are working on to inspire others. We are excited to join this Wednesday tradition! We hope you enjoy looking at what is on our needles this week!

On Leanne's needles:

Cashmere Deluxe Blanket from the book, Knitting for Baby by Melanie Falick and Kristin Nicholas (my new favorite baby knitting book)

I am knitting this blanket for my baby boy on the way. It's been on my needles for a while now, but I'm really enjoying knitting it every free moment I have. My goal is to have it done in time for his birth! Yarn: Sublime cashmere merino silk dk in peacock blue

On (and off) Andee's needles


Little Sea Shells Scarf
Cascade Yarn- Alpaca Lace 100% baby alpaca
Andee's original pattern
casted on 100 stitches using US2 needles
Pattern to come!


Baby Hat
Sublime Cashmere Merino Silk dk

Slouch Hat
Original Pattern by Andee
She's working out the kinks and will share the pattern soon!
Andee has some beautiful pictures of the slouch hat on our Facebook page. Don't miss them!

On Liz's Spindle:

100% Alpaca Handspun Yarn
Made on a drop spindle
This yarn is sooooo soft! Just beautiful.

So that's what we're working on this week. What are you working on? Leave us a comment!

Happy Knitting,
Leanne, Andee & Liz

Winning Pictures!

Here are a few pictures from the weekend. More to come...

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

Spicy- 1st Place Ribbon

Tka "Kigo"- 2nd Place Ribbon

Tka "Kigo" and Spicy are on their way home from the North American Alpaca Show. Both are coming home winners! Tka took the second place ribbon in his class and Spicy won the blue ribbon for her class. We're so proud of them!!! Looking forward to giving them an extra carrot for their good performance.

Abenaki Acres also took home tons of ribbons. Every animal that went in the ring won. Great Job!!!