Making Choices

Now, I'll be the first to admit that my thoughts can be somewhat circuitous with ones that seem random but are usually linked in some way... like a herd just let out in a field, they run around wildly but most thoughts always come back to the center to reconnect.

(Fine Fleece Alpacas pic)

 
So, as I enter my linked trail of thoughts, like Alice jumping in the rabbit hole, don't be afraid because I'm pretty sure that I'll end up somewhat close to where I started :).  I'm sure you will be 'back' lickety-split. Here we go...

Hay -- Lots Of It -- and Birthday Presents...

A good father puts his family ahead of himself. And a truly dedicated alpaca farmer puts the well-being of alpacas above his own personal desires. But, it is a stretch to move 18 tons of hay on your birthday!

Today is Michael's birthday - woohoo! And the old man decided to celebrate by loading a 42" trailer 7 rows high and 13 rows deep with hay. The remaining ~100 bales we loaded into the barn and, as temporary storage, in our large horse trailer!

Fiber Sandwich Photos!

Oops, I just realized that I never posted pics of the fiber sandwich (posted in July)....... So, better late than never! :)  Here they are:

Making the sandwich....

... carded with a bit of black and white alpaca fiber for cohesion... spun thick and thin on our e-Flex Spinner, and then plied with a strand of black alpaca... Some of it I plied with a drop spindle until my willpower wilted... some plied by wheel...

Closeups of the yarn.  You can see the steaks of the red, green, purples, firestar... though the black strand really mutes the overall yarn...

Synchronicity.... and Alpacas on David Letterman

I was downstairs laboring away at getting some fiber carded up to spin at the NAFD event I'm joining tomorrow (the SECAB Alpaca Roundup in Colorado Springs, CO), when Michael came trotting down the stairs to admonish that I should be watching channel 10 (CBS, right?) for the David Letterman show because alpacas were going to be on.  It turns out that AOBA just sent out an announcement that said to look for it.

So, I quickly flipped the channel from USA to watch David Letterman.  I don't often watch Letterman anymore but I used to.  I found it enjoyable, watching his interviews with the Sofia Vergara from Modern Family (great show!), among the others.  I thought Shakira was eye-catching (certainly for the guys), but not so talented; give me Michael Grimm or Jackie Evancho's singing any day over that.

Midnight Sky Fibers' Quotes

I'll be honest, I have yet had time to really peruse this blog and her offerings on her site. But, I was just befriended by Jenn Wisbeck of Midnight Sky Fibers.  In fact on Facebook, she lists herself as its "Chief Executive Creator and Optimist"!  Now, I found this so pleasantly funny, honest, and optimistic all in one!  Aren't we all in our own companies, or at least in our own worlds?  Here is someone who is optimistic (wow) as well as to the point and funny.  Cool!  Sometimes I find myself slipping into just plain sarcasm, which is not so cool.

And, beyond that, she took the time to actually display on her Facebook profile quotes that inspire her ....and they were unique, personal, and inspiring!  Wow, what a concept.  It seems to me, a person that does not truly know Jenn Wisbeck but is 'getting to know her through FB,' that she really knows who SHE IS. That is great!

And, that alone, just reading a bit of calm and centering, helped me feel calm and centered if only for that brief moment ;).  So, here is homage to finding oneself and then succinctly posting it on Facebook!

Here are her two quotes that I want to steals as favorites of mine!