It is the run-up to shearing which means we have to clear out the grading barn, get all the shearing gear sorted and make sure all the hurdles are in place for an efficient and calm flow of alpacas.
There are 96 alpacas to shear so it will be a full-on day. I am in charge of to-ing and fro-ing getting all the groups of animals up to the barn on time plus lunch and a bit of grading. Alice the dog will be present hoovering up toenails as she does love them and 96 alpacas with eight toenails each, that’s a lot for a small dog.
The alpacas will go from fluffballs to the most elegant of creatures.
Meanwhile, it is all go on our little venture into agrotourism with our stay on the farm in a shepherd’s hut project. We had to get planning permission as the hut will be in one of our fields that looks across the valley.
We spent ages at Mendip Shepherd’s Huts in Somerset deciding the layout, colours, flooring and so on. There’s a lot to cram into a small space but I think it will be very comfy and give visitors the opportunity to commune with many alpacas in peaceful surroundings. Not only that, our visitors will lay their weary heads on alpaca pillows and sleep under an alpaca duvet.
The groundwork people are coming at the weekend to have a look at the site and hopefully, we can start the build next week and be open for business in a couple of months.
It will look a bit like this one but not exactly the same as there will be a compact, as an estate agent would say, wood burner, a winter warmer.
We hope you like our Tin of Treats to celebrate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. There’s our very best yarn, tote bag, free pattern, some retro sweets, an edible Queen (honestly) and some other surprises.
