Friday, May 9, 2008

A Trip to See the Llamas


Yesterday afternoon, the children and I took a field trip with many other homeschooling families. We visited a llama farm.
It was a wonderful experience where we were able to pet not only llamas, but alpacas, too. The children also enjoyed seeing chickens and ducks.


The farm owner gave a demonstration of spinning the fleece into thread.

She made it look much easier than it is. Autumn and I drooled over the beautiful natural yarns, but not over the price tags!



11 comments:

~~Deby said...

oh this looks like fun.
Tracy, now come on, you are one multi-talented lady...say you aren't spinning your own yarn next?
I was thinking as I saw the picture, was her mind thinking, "I could do this".....
What a great thing to have field trips like this.
Deby

Tracy said...

Deby,
Actually, that's EXACTLY what I was thinking! LOL

Rebecca said...

This is hot off the press-and I've told no one about it either, but this post is related to something that has been on Matt's and my mind. I haven't mentioned anything on my blog because people that employ Matt read it, and that wouldn't be good.

Matt has a job interview on May 28th for a Dairy computer program company that he has been wanting to get into for nearly 5 years. And friends of ours from our old church are fixing up a house and hope that we will be interested in it. It comes with 90 acres and barns (there used to be an old dairy there.) Of course, we are CRAZY interested! We don't know anything about it other than that, and that our friends are admirable, honest, Christian people. Our hope is that they want to sell it to us via land contract (probably the only way we could afford it) and I am PRAYING they don't just want to rent it to us. I want to plant an orchard, perennials and berry bushes SO badly...

We have been praying for these opportunities since SEPTEMBER and only now do they seem to be coming to a head. I would love it, Tracy, if you would think of us and keep us in your prayers in the coming months...please!

Back to your post: Matt wants to have about 30 cows in the dairy but not until the children are old enough to man the stations so we have to wait about 10/15 years for that. So-we are toying around with the idea of having alpacas and selling their wool. I had a friend where we used to live who did this and I could get lots of information from, and possibly animals.

So-that is the scoop. Lots of worries lately for me-they come from wanting something so badly!

That looks like a fun field trip! I am sure the kids had a blast and it seems like it would be all the more fun with other homeschooled families!

Momala said...

Hey Tracy, I have a spinning wheel if you want to give it a try ;) (not that I've ever used it. It's over 100 years old and was my great-grandmother's. I'm not even sure if it would work)But if you ever find yourself in south-central
Wisconsin and want to try spinning a little yarn, stop on by. Just be sure to bring your own llama fleece. :)

Momma Roar said...

What a neat trip - and I was thinking the same thing...aren't you gonna be spinning your own yarn soon!! ;-) I guess you'll be raising your own alpacas too! heehee (that is a tempting idea, actually)

Anonymous said...

What a fun day! I really liked the picture of the ducks and that yarn is gorgeous. (o:

Rachel said...

It really was a fun field trip and your pictures are fantastic. If you are interested, I am almost positive that my mom is knitting vest out of the same type of yarn and knowing her, she would have discovered an awesome deal somewhere. Just let me know and I will ask her:)

~~Deby said...

You can then make Llama or Alpaca Soap....wow..the list is endless Tracy....
Weave your own blankets or fabric...
Actually I am a tad bit jealous about your abilities...wish you lived close so you could teach me...
Deby

Beck said...

That looks like a LOT of fun! I wish I knew how to spin - it looks so beautiful.

gb said...

Tracy, I'm so glad to see your kids enjoying the wonder of llamas. We have lots of 4-H and homeschool kids that visit our llamas at our farm here in Minnesota, and it's a time of grace for all involved...

Crystal Beavin said...

Looks like fun!

Crystal