Hey gang!
Want something fun to do next weekend? JMS Alpacas is having an open house Nov 15th. To get the details, drop them a line.
17001 W. Hopi Dr.
Casa Grande, AZ 85222-9362
(520) 836-0637
(321) 223-6895
jmsalpacafarm@q.com
Friday, November 7, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Introducing Jacko
Another busy week is behind us. Most of this week we were distracted, taking care of our ill dog, who is doing much better now. Imagine my surprise when I got home Friday to find Momo with a cria. The little guy couldn’t have been there long, he was still damp. I find that the births I don’t witness tend to be the easiest on me. Of course, I’m pretty much a big weenie.
Since the cria was born on October 31, we’ve been trying to come up with good Halloween names. For the time being, we’re calling him Jacko, short for Jack O’ Lantern. Though sometimes we just call him Pumpkin.
I went to my second Desert Weavers guild meeting, and made out like a bandit. I won two of the raffle lots that they do each month. I’m already plotting on what I can do with it. I see a whole lot of scarves in my future!
Monday, October 27, 2008
Tucson Wool Festival
We were at the Tucson Wool Festival this past weekend. I had a great time. I met so many wonderful people and managed to get a little Christmas shopping done. Pat came with me and helped get set up and man the booth. I don’t think I would have managed without her. And now I possess her secret knowledge of how to put up and easy up tent with only two people.
We stayed pretty busy most of the day and at one point and such a crowd at our booth that one woman asked if she could walk around with her yarn and come back and pay later after the crowd had dispersed a little. It’s nice to feel wanted
The yarn seemed to be the big seller at this event which seems natural enough. I’m almost completely out of my hand painted alpaca and silk blend. Unfortunately, it’s commercially spun and the company I was getting it from had since stopped carrying it, so I’ll have to find a new source. Once I do, I’ll have to plan on spending the winter months with the crock pots going, getting my stash built back up.
Next big event for me will be Alpacafest West next month. I’ll be there with three of the boys. Mean while, Pat will be hosting her open house the same weekend and she has asked for a “care package” of products to offer for sale. I’m not quite to the point of cloning myself, but I’m getting there.
Next year’s Wool Festival will be held October 17, same place (Kathy Wither’s farm, www.uniquedesignsbykathy.com), so mark your calendars!
Monday, October 13, 2008
a new camera
Momo and gang
Heilo and Adama
Satchmo
Storm
Well, the old camera insist on not being found, so Brian bought me a new one. I have been happily messing around with it all weekend, trying out various settings. What I like best about this camera is that it has a "you're an idiot, let us take care of everything" setting that is just perfect for my level of camera knowledge (ie: none).
Heilo and Adama
Satchmo
StormWell, the old camera insist on not being found, so Brian bought me a new one. I have been happily messing around with it all weekend, trying out various settings. What I like best about this camera is that it has a "you're an idiot, let us take care of everything" setting that is just perfect for my level of camera knowledge (ie: none).
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Pinetop Fall Festival and other stuff!
Where is the time going! I need 48 hour days just to keep up!
The Pinetop-Lakeside Fall festival is behind us. It was so much fun, and soooo much work. The event got off to a shaky start when a micro burst hit the soccer field Friday night. We faired ok, but about a dozen exhibitors had their tents picked up and tossed around by the wind. We stuck around to help pick up the carnage and by Saturday morning, replacement tents had been found and the affected vendors where back in business.
The socks where a HUGE success. We’ll certainly be sending fleece out again to have more made after the New Year. We also sold a ton of scarves, yarn, roving, and purses. It seemed at least a little of everything went. I’m going to have to get the web store updated, since some of those items have now found new homes. I’m busy at the loom making more!
The only bummer of the weekend was that I seem to have miss placed my camera. It was sitting there while we were packing up, and I suspect it got tossed into a box, but I haven’t figured out which one yet. Oh well, you’ll just have to imagine how AWSOME our booth looked.
Last weekend I went to my very first Arizona Desert Spinners and Weavers Guild meeting. I have to say, I found very insightful and inspirational. I came home with an idea on how to make some felt ear rings. My mother-in-law has been helping me with some of the experimental felting. I think I’ll have to bring some fleece along on our trip next weekend and get the kids involved. Then I’ll just sit back and watch all the work being done. How very Tom Sawyer.
The Pinetop-Lakeside Fall festival is behind us. It was so much fun, and soooo much work. The event got off to a shaky start when a micro burst hit the soccer field Friday night. We faired ok, but about a dozen exhibitors had their tents picked up and tossed around by the wind. We stuck around to help pick up the carnage and by Saturday morning, replacement tents had been found and the affected vendors where back in business.
The socks where a HUGE success. We’ll certainly be sending fleece out again to have more made after the New Year. We also sold a ton of scarves, yarn, roving, and purses. It seemed at least a little of everything went. I’m going to have to get the web store updated, since some of those items have now found new homes. I’m busy at the loom making more!
The only bummer of the weekend was that I seem to have miss placed my camera. It was sitting there while we were packing up, and I suspect it got tossed into a box, but I haven’t figured out which one yet. Oh well, you’ll just have to imagine how AWSOME our booth looked.
Last weekend I went to my very first Arizona Desert Spinners and Weavers Guild meeting. I have to say, I found very insightful and inspirational. I came home with an idea on how to make some felt ear rings. My mother-in-law has been helping me with some of the experimental felting. I think I’ll have to bring some fleece along on our trip next weekend and get the kids involved. Then I’ll just sit back and watch all the work being done. How very Tom Sawyer.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
New Mexico State Fair
Ok, just a brief pause to come up for air, things are, ah, crazy right now.
We almost didn't make it to New Mexico. Our Ram decided to die the night before we left (bad fuel pump!) and the Dakota is running on slicks these days, so for safty sake, it wasn't an option. We ended up borrowing a truck and a trailer and off we went.
The show was fabulous. Even Brian had a good time. Heilo brought home a pretty green ribbon, which we where thrilled with. Even at the small shows, white/light is an amazingly competative class, so any ribbon is a possative statement on your breeding program. Unfortunatley, every single picture I took was totally blury. hmmm, can't be the operator, must be the camera...
I'll have another opertunity for photos in November when Heilo, Aries and O. go to Alpacafest West in L.A. Rather I'd BETTER get some photos, or Heilo's new half owner (my mom) will have my hide.
A.F.W. is also having a People's Choice Fiber Arts Contest which should be fun. I just have to decide what to pull from my stash of finished projects to enter.
Before all that though will be the Pinetop-Lakeside Artisian Festival this weekend. So I'll be rushing home after work (don't even get me started on what a rotten work week this has been! suffise to say that I won the showdown between me and my computer, but not by much)load up the truck and be ready to hit the road a 3 a.m.
whooo, I'm going to have to schedule a vacation to recover from all this action!
We almost didn't make it to New Mexico. Our Ram decided to die the night before we left (bad fuel pump!) and the Dakota is running on slicks these days, so for safty sake, it wasn't an option. We ended up borrowing a truck and a trailer and off we went.
The show was fabulous. Even Brian had a good time. Heilo brought home a pretty green ribbon, which we where thrilled with. Even at the small shows, white/light is an amazingly competative class, so any ribbon is a possative statement on your breeding program. Unfortunatley, every single picture I took was totally blury. hmmm, can't be the operator, must be the camera...
I'll have another opertunity for photos in November when Heilo, Aries and O. go to Alpacafest West in L.A. Rather I'd BETTER get some photos, or Heilo's new half owner (my mom) will have my hide.
A.F.W. is also having a People's Choice Fiber Arts Contest which should be fun. I just have to decide what to pull from my stash of finished projects to enter.
Before all that though will be the Pinetop-Lakeside Artisian Festival this weekend. So I'll be rushing home after work (don't even get me started on what a rotten work week this has been! suffise to say that I won the showdown between me and my computer, but not by much)load up the truck and be ready to hit the road a 3 a.m.
whooo, I'm going to have to schedule a vacation to recover from all this action!
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
What? The AC is out AGAIN??????
Summer is almost over, thank goodness. It’s been a rough one.
Not for the animals, they took it all in stride, but the electronics have taken a beating. We’re working on the sixth motor on our AC unit. To be fair, we’re talking about two separate parts, the motor on the condenser out side, and the motor in the blower inside, but we did blow up four blower motors in the span of one week.
We witnessed one of the most spectacular lighting storms I have ever seen, which was to precursor to the demise of the first blower motor. Lightning hit the pole in front of the house. It’s a fairly creepy feeling to be standing in the dark asking “do you smell smoke?”
Motor number two was the replacement we bought the following day. We didn’t notice it was a 1/3 hp motor, when the one we took out was a ¾ hp. It lasted about 15 seconds before flames were shooting out of that one. (ok, I exaggerate a little, it was actually a fairly small flame…)
Motor number three blew after we called the AC repair guy back (we were now enlisting professional help) because the blower fan wouldn’t shut off… ever (but the house was nice and cool). Apparently there was a short in the capacitor and when he hooked the ground up (which he neglected to do the first time), well you guessed it, flames.
So, now with a new capacitor and some new relays, motor number four seems to be holding its own. Of course, we lost power again last night. APS hates us and wants us to suffer.
The generators are getting a work out this year.
On other repair news, we kept busting a water line to one of the swamp coolers, but we have since replace the entire thing and I hope that will be settled for awhile.
Ok, so it hasn’t been all bad, our terri socks arrived from the mill and I have to say I am extremely pleased with the results. Our cable socks are on their way, and I expect the crew socks by the end of the month.
I’ve been busy at the loom. I’ll be attending a craft show in two weeks and have been trying to get as much done as possible before the big weekend.
I’ve also been busy halter training Adama and Heilo before the New Mexico State Fair. I think this will be a good place to get the boys started in shows. Here’s hoping they don’t knock me on my butt.
Not for the animals, they took it all in stride, but the electronics have taken a beating. We’re working on the sixth motor on our AC unit. To be fair, we’re talking about two separate parts, the motor on the condenser out side, and the motor in the blower inside, but we did blow up four blower motors in the span of one week.
We witnessed one of the most spectacular lighting storms I have ever seen, which was to precursor to the demise of the first blower motor. Lightning hit the pole in front of the house. It’s a fairly creepy feeling to be standing in the dark asking “do you smell smoke?”
Motor number two was the replacement we bought the following day. We didn’t notice it was a 1/3 hp motor, when the one we took out was a ¾ hp. It lasted about 15 seconds before flames were shooting out of that one. (ok, I exaggerate a little, it was actually a fairly small flame…)
Motor number three blew after we called the AC repair guy back (we were now enlisting professional help) because the blower fan wouldn’t shut off… ever (but the house was nice and cool). Apparently there was a short in the capacitor and when he hooked the ground up (which he neglected to do the first time), well you guessed it, flames.
So, now with a new capacitor and some new relays, motor number four seems to be holding its own. Of course, we lost power again last night. APS hates us and wants us to suffer.
The generators are getting a work out this year.
On other repair news, we kept busting a water line to one of the swamp coolers, but we have since replace the entire thing and I hope that will be settled for awhile.
Ok, so it hasn’t been all bad, our terri socks arrived from the mill and I have to say I am extremely pleased with the results. Our cable socks are on their way, and I expect the crew socks by the end of the month.
I’ve been busy at the loom. I’ll be attending a craft show in two weeks and have been trying to get as much done as possible before the big weekend.
I’ve also been busy halter training Adama and Heilo before the New Mexico State Fair. I think this will be a good place to get the boys started in shows. Here’s hoping they don’t knock me on my butt.
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