For me, it was a busier-than-normal weekend, to say the least. There was the business with the draft horses Thursday and Friday, then a choir party Saturday afternoon and a choir performance Saturday evening--opera songs. I must say that I am becoming reasonably proficient at stringing (to me) random foreign syllables together to make a believable song. I'm told we were singing about hammers and gypsies and such on Saturday night. In Italian.Sunday morning, though, I was finally able to attend the alpaca-ranch-open-house-day. Missed it two years in a row. It so happens that a woman in the chorus is an alpaca rancher and weaver. I knew this because almost two years ago, I went down to her ranch (about 1/2 hour south), to buy some alpaca products for Christmas, the guild boutique having been held there. Of course, I didn't know her then. But I recognized her when I joined the choir last year.
When the association held its annual, um, open ranch day this year, I decided to visit hers.
It's called "Opus Two" Alpaca Ranch and they have about 55 alpacas (all with musical names like "Sonata") with 5 more ready to be born. SO CUTE! Alpacas are too cute. Seriously. They look like cartoon characters--each different because of the colors and the funny shock of fur usually left on their heads after shearing. And the teeth.
The ranch part of the property (which I had not seen on my previous visit) is divided into many fenced areas, all shaded with oaks, with various alpacas clustered in each. They are very sweet, but shy. All alpaca-owners say they are the sweetest animals on the planet. As Joan says on her website, they capture your heart and calm your soul (check it out: http://www.opustwoalpacas.com/index.htm ). They're smaller than llamas, and though they are used as pack animals in South America (where they come from), they're used exclusively for fiber in the US, whereas llamas are used in both ways.
Two kinds: suri (silky, wavy long hair) and huacaya (woolly, fluffier). Joan has only huacaya. They are sheared in the May so they can be more comfortable in the warm summer months. Here's something else that's so funny. Joan has two guard llamas. Llamas are a little more aggressive than alpacas when confronted by a predator, and bigger. They will actually round up the alpacas, put them into a corner, and stand between the predator and the alpacas while sounding an alarm. I love that. You could see Joan's llamas keeping an eye on all us strangers on the property. Joan also has couple of Great Pyrenees who patrol the area. Predators are few and far between, though. A lone coyote from time to time.
So I chatted with her and her ranch hand and his family (who live on the property). Turns out, she left the software business in Silicon Valley 7 years ago to raise alpacas. Something different, I'd say.
Random fact: like llamas, they have no upper front teeth. Also, the wool (always softer and more expensive than wool from a sheep), is hypoallergenic. I haven't knitted with it, yet, but I plan to. The yarn is expensive (most ranchers send it away to be spun), but so, so soft.
OK. That's enough for now. Just make sure to get close to one of these charming creatures if you have the chance. Might calm your soul.
