Walk Around the Moon

Huston we have lift off!!! I just had the wiring redone in my house and my internet is lightning fast!!!! I have a feeling you will be seeing and hearing more from me now! My computer as been so sluggish, but now it has a lot of zip to it. Woo Hoo.

So I have been keeping busy with farm chores, work and the kids. I have also been squeaking in some knitting. I just finished up knitting a Walk on the Moon Shawl. I modified the pattern and knitted it in a round. I love love love love love love love how it turned out. I can wear it as an infinity scarf, poncho, wrapped this way and that. It is just so fun to wear.

I had spun all the yarn for this. I purchased all the fiber at Rhinebeck this year except for the black fiber which came from my parents alpaca Ox. He was so helpful to stand behind it and pose for the camera. Love that guy!  I'll break down the fiber by the color.

White- Polworth / Silk blend (I think I got it from Gale's Art- I have to track down the label)
Light Gray- Alpaca / Silk blend from Gale's Art
Medium Gray- Merino / Tuscan Silk blend from Gale's Art
Black- Arrow Acres Farm "Ox" 100% Huacaya Alpaca

Also I spun all the yarn on my Ashford Traditional wheel. All the yarn is two plied.
I knitted it with US 3 circular needles.

I love this pattern so much!

For reading I am listening to "Drums of Autumn" it is part of the Outlander Series. I am loving these books so much!!!

I'm joining Ginny's Yarn Along

Tiny's Orange Sweater & a Standing Stones Cowl

I made another Standing Stones cowl with Miss Babs Yowza yarn. I modified my pattern to make one skein of 560 yards work. 

Modifications: 

Part II- I repeated the rows 25 times for a total of 50 rows

Part IV- I repeated the chart one full time. On the second repeat of the chart I knitted row 18 and then started the bind off.

I have had quite a few requests on modification for this pattern to make different types of yarn work (mostly people who are knitting from their stash and have a limited amount of yarn to work with). I have been suggesting the modification to Part II. The nice thing about this pattern is that you can end it at any time on Part IV. You just have to keep an eye on how much yarn you have left to make it work for your bind off.  I really love how this one came out and I loved the few cool nights we've had because I got to wear it!

And speaking of the cooler nights I've been sweater knitting!!! 

Tiny requested a hand knit sweater. I jumped at the offer and together we made it happen. He picked out the yarn. He also picked out the cable detail that goes up the front and back. The rest of it I designed for him. I just tried it on him as I went and made it up stitch by stitch.

I love how it came out. He loves it too!

Maybe asking a kid to model a hand knit sweater a few days after having his tonsils and adenoids out might not have been the best idea ...... he was a tad bit cranky.

I took it off of him while we waited for my Dad to get back to the farm with their new alpaca. I was carrying it around and taking some pictures of it.

The sleeves are really the same size. They just look off in this picture.

We went to hang out on the swings in the shade and do you know what????? 

He asked me if he could put his sweater back on!!!!

I am pretty sure I had the worlds biggest smile to that request and I quickly helped him put it back on.

I had him try it on him so many times as I was making it and I was afraid he wouldn't want to wear it once it was done. But he really does like it! 

He is so picky about his clothes. He doesn't like tight collars or buttons. He doesn't like his sweaters too big. He doesn't like tags! His list of dislikes goes on and on, but I was able to make this to fit all his wants. Especially the neckline. Not too tight and not too big.

He was having so much fun giving the alpacas some hay. 

Who know that was all he needed to cheer him up?!

I can't believe this little guy is going to be starting Kindergarten next week. I am going to miss having my little buddy around.

He made sure each of the alpacas got their fair share of hay.

Especially Blue!!!! I can't wait to get his fiber back from the fiber mill. I am having it processed into roving and I'm going to spin it and make a sweater for myself!

I hope I didn't bore you with so many pictures of Tiny's Orange Sweater, but I feel like it has been so long since I've been able to take pictures of my finished knits and share them!  I have some projects on and off my needles that I hopefully will release the patterns next year. I am going to give them a year to be worn, modified, tested and then I'll be release them.  I'm not planning on releasing the pattern for Tiny's sweater. It was just a fun simple knit that I did without a pattern (my favorite way to knit). It was so much fun to make and fun to have him be such a big part of the crafting of it!

Ravelry link- Tiny's Orange Sweater

Yarn: Berroco Vintage Chunky

Meanwhile on my needles is a fantastic sweater! I wish I could share it, but I'm keeping it on the down low.

For reading listening I have been listening to the Audiobook "Voyager" by Diana Gabaldon.  I can't get enough of these books. It is the third book in the Outlander series. I enjoy listening to them and knitting. Since the books are soooooo long and there are so many books in the series I love that I know what book I am going to read next. It is a perfect companion for knitting. I am also watching "Outlander" on Starz.  I am sooooooo  happy with how they are doing the series! I was worried about the show not being as good as the books, but they really are doing and awesome job with it. Or at least I am really happy about it! I am also enjoying that it is a series Freddy and I can watch together.

Okay back to knitting!!! 

Joining with Ginny's Yarn Along

A Pack of 30

My parents herd is officially at 30 alpacas. It think my mom said something about once she had 30 alpacas she would get some additional help for the farm.... Good timing that our school district changed Kindergarten from a half day program to a full day. It looks like I might be able to spend a little more time at the farm starting this Fall.

 

The alpacas are due for their annual sheering.  I have been going around the farm getting pictures of the herd in their full fleeces. Pretty soon they will be sheered and go back to looking like characters in Dr. Seuss books.  I did laugh while editing these pictures. I can just vision what they look like with out all the beautiful fleece on them.  I try not to, but I do catch myself laughing at them for a the first few weeks after sheering.

 

One of the biggest questions we get asked is about sheering them. Does it hurt them? Do they have to be tied up? It is horrible?  Yes they have to be tied up and they are laid out on the floor and each alpacas takes about 10 minutes to sheer. Pregnant moms are down and up as quick as possible. The show alpacas get a little extra attention.  No the whole sheering process is not horrible. Shearing is done for the health of the alpaca. We benefit from the fiber!  Oh that beautiful alpaca fiber!!!

Leading up to sheering day the alpacas are very cranky. Their fleeces are hot and they are uncomfortable. Unshorn they can suffer from heat stroke. So for the health of the alpacas the fleeces are taken off once a year in the Spring. We tie their feet and lay them down this helps the process go much faster. Some don't even make a peep they just lay there and enjoy the instant mega weight loss. Others well... they let you know what they think.  I compare it to cutting a toddlers hair. Some sit fine and others.... well.

 

This post doesn't include all the alpacas in my parent's herd. Just the ones I've gotten a chance to go through their pictures.  I can't resist giving a little tid bit of info on each of them.

 

MFI PERUVIAN ANNASCHAE

DOB 10/7/06 Proven Female

 

Annaschae has a HUGE place in my heart. There is something overwhelming about this alpaca that I can't resist. She is as close to a wild beast as they come.  Her mother 5Peruvian Azucena 8366 was an import. In other words she was wild.  Annaschae possesses so many of the natural instincts an alpaca should have. I am sure if she was to escape the farm she would live fine in the wild. Unlike many of the other spoiled rotten alpacas :)  Annaschae may be wild when she needs to be handled, but she is a wonderful member of the herd. She protects, cares for and disciplines the herd.

 

 

An interesting story about Annaschae is the time she helped out a maiden female.  When one of the first time mothers had a cria she didn't want to nurse her baby. Annaschae forced the mother against the fence and made her stand still so the baby could nurse.  It was amazing.  When the last cria was born she went to work helping the mother during the birth process. She is powerful and protective, kind and gentle, and in my opinion a very important member of the herd.  Now on shearing day I will be sure to stay as FAR away from her as possible! I did mention she is a beast.  I prefer admiring her from the field :)  Oh but her fleece is AMAZING!

 

She has been bred to CCNF Smoke Ring and due this Fall.

 

TKA'S ARROW OF ARROW ACRES

9/10/13 Dark Brown Male

 

Just born this past Fall Arrow is still sporting his cria fleece. He is up for his first sheering. Arrow was one of the first bred and owned alpacas on the farm. That means his sire and dam are both owned by my parents. He is the spitting image of his dad. He is so gentle. We halter trained him last week and instead of walking on the lead he hopped like a kangaroo :)

ABENAKI AWAN

Awan is packing some fleece! He has so much fleece it is amazing. He is a fiber animal. I love his fiber and I love that he has so much of it!  He was one of the first alpacas on the farm and he is quite possibly one of the most easiest going alpacas. He can usually be found laying by the fan cooling off.

 



 

ARROW ACRES MR BATES

DOB: 5/18/13

Medium Silver Gray Male

Mr. Bates is a character. He has some beautiful fleece. I can't wait to see how it comes in after his first sheering. We'll see if he makes it to herdsire status!  I have hope hopes he will! He has impressive staple length and his fiber is going make some beautiful yarn in the mean time.

 

 

DOM'S BLUE MOON OF ELK

Okay so I already showed pictures of Blue, but I had to include him in this post :) Because he is mine!

ARROW ACRES BOCOTE

DOB: 9/25/13 Dark Brown, Male

 

 

His guy is so much fun. We halter trained him the other day and he walked like a pro. He is going to do great in the show ring in the Fall. He is another bred and owned alpaca. 

RR FRANCESCA

DOB: 6/20/11 Medium Brown Female

 

 

Frankie! She comes from California. She is pregnant and due this Fall. She was bred to CCNF Smoke Ring. I hope she has a rose gray female!  She is one of the alpacas I'm looking forward most to have my hands on her fleece on shearing day. Her fiber is heavenly!

 

ARROW ACRES JATOBA

BOB: 7/15/2012 Dark Brown Female

 

Every time I go out in Jatoba's field it is essential that I let her come over and give me a kiss. Otherwise she will be offended. She is such a sweet alpaca. She is one of the show alpacas and she will be getting into the breeding program this Spring.  Her fleece is incredibly dense and she is going to make some beautiful crias.

 

MLIKIGO'S TKA OF ABENAKI

DOB 10/23/09 Dark Brown Proven Herdsire

 

 

Kigo has done very well in the show ring. He is the sire to Arrow & Bocote who I have already talked about. Kigo likes to help me out when I'm at the farm. He is always picking up the rakes and likes to be right next to me checking out what I'm doing. He always makes me laugh. 

GLEN RIDGE DIPLOMACY'S SUGERLILY

DOB 9/17/2010 White Female

I can't say enough about Lily! If you were thinking about getting alpacas I would recommend meeting Lily. You will be sold on alpacas in a minute. She is such a great alpaca. Easy to handle and work with. She is always curious and always finding some kind of trouble to get in. A funny story about Lily is the time she jumped out of the van window. My parents were picking her up from the farm she was staying at for a breeding. They had their van. It has two front seats and then a large open cargo area. It was the summer and they that the windows down. They loaded Lily up in the van and my mother got in the back with her. My father closed the door. My mom went to move something in the back and then Lily (approximately 140 lb alpaca) went to the front and jumped out the open window! Thankfully Lily is not a wild beast and she ran back towards the herd where she was easily caught. Silly Lily.

 

Her fleece will make your jaw drop and gasp for air. It is out of this world!  She was bred and is due this Fall. I can't wait to see if her baby will be as amazing as she is!

 

 

BLACK MIDNIGHT'S ONO OF ARROW ACRES

DOB: 10/12/2013 True Black Male

 

Isn't Ono so stinking cute. Sorry Ono handsome!  If you want bright, soft and gorgeous black fleece his is your ticket!  On the day he was born his father sold at auction for $78,000.00. I wonder if he will bring in that much. Or maybe a little more. We can dare to dream right?! Oh an no we didn't own his father he was owned at another farm.

 

ABENAKI ASKEN

DOB 5/22/10 Bay Black Male

 

I love Ox! His fleece is one of my absolute favorites to work with. It shines! I would give it a comfort factor of 100%.

ARROW ACRES NAZARENO

DOB 6/9/12 Dark Fawn / White Male

Reno is another one of the show animals. His fleece is so uniform and crimp and all the other fancy things that go with impressive fleece qualities. Reno is a farm favorite from visitors. He unlike many alpacas will let you pet him. He loves the attention and we love him.

 

 

ARROW ACRES SAPELE

DOB 5/8/14

 

Sapele is the first cria for CCNF Smoke Ring. And boy Smoky didn't disappoint! Sapele is like one big bundle of knock your socks off bundles! He have high hopes for this guy as well as his daddy's breeding career.

 

ARROW ACRES STONE

DOB: 9/27/13 Medium Rose Gray Male

 

Stone is just want we ordered with this breeding. After he gets shorn he is going to look like a totally different alpaca. His fiber is medium rose gray and the outside looks so much lighter than the inside. Once his cria fleece is off he is going to be growing in some gorgeous fiber. We have been drooling over him since the day he was born.  The spot on his neck is from an area that had to be shorn when he was born for some medicine to be administered. His mother didn't think she had to feed him so he needed a little help the first few days of life. But after a week or so it was smooth sailing for momma and baby.  I can't wait to see him in the show ring this Fall!

ABENAKI WDAMO

DOB: 10/11/09 Dark Brown Proven Female

 

Wdamo is retired from the show ring and now making some beautiful crias! Sapele is her latest baby and she is such a good mom. Wdamo is packing some impressive fleece and since she is such a tall alpaca she produces a ton of it!

 

ARROW ACRES APONI

DOB: 9/11/12 Medium Fawn Female

No she isn't a pony she is Aponi! Which means butterfly. A butterfly landed on her right after she was born! So the name stuck.  She reminds me of a mime with her white face.  I am sure she is going to look so different after she is shorn. 

So that is a little taste of the farm. I still have so many more to photograph and time is running out. I'll be updating all their info on the website.  I'll also be updated pricing on them. If you are interested in purchasing any fiber animals, breeding animals or looking for breedings let us know.

 

Arrow Acres Farm