Alpaca Shearing- a blessing or torture??

All photographs copyrighted by: Rachelle and Codi Black

Ha! Well, we here at Black Magic Alpaca Ranch have been very, very busy lately. All about shearing in a bit but first... After Wyatt, myself, Cameron and Codi worked for two days straight stuffing cds- ta-da! Their second edition printing of The Rosebuds cd is officially finished! Last weekend my children had a huge gig they have been working towards all year. In front of about 500 people from all over the country at our cousin's BMW motorcycle rally. Check out his website here: http://www.rawhyde-offroad.com/ for a really cool idea. Jim and Steph are great people, and now they have a cutie patootie little girl in their family! It was a great time, and here are some pictures:







They did great! They played along with the help of their teacher's 50's band (who just happened to be able to fill with a little Celtic music) since two of their band mates bailed out at the last minute...... ARGH don't get me started. Anyone else out there think personal responsibility and committment have gone into the toilet? A show of hands - - - I thought so, I couldn't possibly be the only one out there who is seeing this disturbing trend. Nuff said.

The kids both play multiple instruments. In this gig they got to shine! Cameron played the guitar (his usual instrument for the band) and the Irish whistle. Codi got to play her flute as well as her Irish whistle. They got to sell some of their cds and had a good time.


Now, on to shearing! We shear our alpacas once a year, and in some circles of our industry, shearing day is known as "Hell Day"- and for good reason! We have 17 alpacas and two llamas right now. We also had two alpacas and two llamas that came up here for shearing. Last year we had two separate days because we had so many, but this year we did it in one.

It is hard, grueling work shearing. We start at about 8:30 am, and it isn't over till about 5 pm. It helps if you have a good shearer, and we do. Brett and A.J. work together when they come up, and we are so glad to have them. It is great when your shearer is also a friend, and has a great sense of humor! You can't get through the day without a good laugh or ten. Brett is a great guy and we love him. You also need baggers, sorters, herders and servers. And someone who can keep my head from exploding. Enter Cathy, my veteran helper, Vickie, and Darlene- Brett's grandma. With help from the kids Jonathon, Austin, Cameron, Codi and Matt as well- we have a good team.
Thanks guys, we couldn't do it without you!!

So, here's how it's done. The night before, I make out 3x5 cards with all the paca's names, and "P" for prime fleece, and "L & N" for leg and neck fleece, or what we call seconds. I also draw up syringes with worming medicine, and their annual vaccinations according to their weight and age. Imminently due pregnant females, or those in their first or last 30 days of pregnancy do not get anything. Too risky. Everything gets documented in their files later.






Brett and Aj work together to lay the alpaca gently down on it's side, then stretch them out and tie one front and one back leg. One person takes the head down and hold the head and neck while AJ takes the middle. You really need to hold their heads well, because with those long necks they can get the leverage to really cause some chaos! I don't have any wrestling matches on film this year, but sometimes getting the really scared and larger males down can be challenging to say the least. Then Brett shears off the 'trash fleece' around the tail, butt, tummy and chest, and then takes off the blanket on that side as seen in the photo above of my Hally-Boo.


That is quickly gathered and then the leg and neck fleece comes off. With that bagged the paca is flipped and the whole process is repeated.

While they are down, I trim teeth, use my alpaca hairstyling skills (shown below on Arwen) to trim up their topknots, and generally check them over physically.

Everyone gets their hands on the preggo's bellys for a quick feel of a foot, or elbow and we are careful to be quick and gentle to minimize stress.

Spit rags over the nose for those of the more cranky persuasion get nice and green before the day is through! And if they slip, or we aren't fast enough, whoops! You get green and stinky too! This year it was Cameron's turn :))

Llamas like my Angie shown above, are shorn standing- unless they really fight it. They are really too big to take down. Angie is a really good girl :))

Lastly I give their injections, one more kiss and they are up and back to their pens!

Here are a couple of before and after shots:

Earendil before ( this is last year)

After! No more fuzzball. Long skinny necks abound, and everyone looks much, much erm.... smaller!

This is Heathertoes this year. Brown on the outside.....

Beautiful dark gray (picture doesn't do it justice!) underneath! I love it when that happens!

Us oldies have pains in places we never even knew we had. Muscles sore, brains fried- we put on a big barbecue for all our great helpers. And we feast!

Then, after the up and down, up and down, wrestle and bend, pull and slip, trip and fall of shearing- everyone is ready for a nap and a long shower! The pacas run right out and roll, roll, roll! Then they lay in the sunshine and soak it all up. Happy to have all that hot scratchy fleece off, they pronk merrily in the evening twilight and enjoy a feast of their own.

Hope you enjoyed this day in the life of an alpaca rancher!

Slainte~
Rachelle

A letter to my daughter

So little at Uncle Jamey's wedding!
Playing the fiddle at the Scottish Society Clan Picnic
On the whistle last year at the Scottish Games
Your "big brother" who really does love you :))

This is for "The Bug" Aka: Codi
From the day you were born, I have loved you. No, I loved you from the day I first knew of your existence, and probably long before that as well.

When I was pregnant, I got an ultrasound and they asked me if I wanted to know what I was having, a boy or a girl. I found out when I was pregnant with Cameron he was a boy, so I said yes this time too.
Afterwards, the ultrasound technician said, "I have no idea." and showed me pictures of your cute face with nothing identifiable. So I never knew! But I always thought I was having a boy. For whatever reason, perhaps because it would just be too good to be true- because ever since I was little I wanted one boy and one girl, I just knew you were a boy.

So when the doctor said you were a girl, and brought you up to me for a kiss, I just cried and cried. I didn't believe him at first! When he finally convinced me, I was just so happy I couldn't stop crying. When I held you in my arms that day for the first time, it was love at first sight. Since then I have been completely and totally happy. Labor was tough for both of us- 18 hours of hard labor and back labor from the very first contraction- and no dilation. Then the decision for a c-section. When they weighed you in at 10 lb 7 oz- boy was I glad!! I mean, big babies run in our family but you broke the record.

You are a wonderful young lady, a sweet and tender spirit that our Father in Heaven chose to entrust to my care for this mortality, and I am so very glad for the blessings you have brought into my life.

From a little baby, your nickname has been "Bug". Lady bug, Bedbug, Snuggle bug, or Stinkbug, whatever fit the moment, that was you. Always fair, always the peacemaker, you bring joy into my life daily.

I can't believe you are 13. It seems like just yesterday that you were going off to your first day at preschool! You have grown into such a beautiful young woman. Remember how we found you outside stuck in the tomato cage? (forgive me a wicked chuckle) Tee-hee

Your journey hasn't always been easy. The health problems you have experienced over the last few years would be challenging for an adult, but you have dealt with them bravely and I am proud of you. You are much stronger than you realize!

You are much more talented, lovely, graceful and wonderful than you realize as well. I am very proud of the accomplishments you have made in music and school. The fact that you taught yourself how to play the fiddle totally amazing. Your whistle playing skills have just blossomed and you bring a delightful element to your Celtic group.

Most of all, your innate kindness and sweetness is what I love. Never lose that, please. Humility, beauty in spirit, and a kind nature are characteristics sorely lacking in the world today. Remember, the world is full of vulgar, crude woman- be a woman of grace, the world needs more virtuous woman; just like in that talk you wrote and gave so well at church! "Her worth is far above rubies..... she stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yeah, she reacheth forth her hand to the needy.... strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.... she openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her." Proverbs

I love you my bug, and hope that I will live up to the honor of being your mother.
Love, Mom