Dyeing Fiber

We're going to dye some fiber with Kool-Aid today.

Annie over at Maple Corners has some of the most beautiful fiber - that SHE dyed herself....even Moonbeam was drooling over the purples! I certainly cannot achieve THOSE results, but I can have some fun with Moonbeam......

Pictures when I'm finished.....

Christmas Garb picture for today.....

Here's Rosie.....

Interesting Quote

......Though I am by no means a vegetarian, I dislike the thought that some animal has been made miserable in order to feed me. If I am going to eat meat, I want it to be from an animal that has lived a pleasant, uncrowded life outdoors, on bountiful pasture, with good water nearby and trees for shade.

…The thought of the good pasture and of the calf contentedly grazing flavors the steak. Some, I know, will think of it as bloodthirsty or worse to eat a fellow creature you have known all its life. On the contrary, I think it means that you eat with understanding and with gratitude. A significant part of the pleasure of eating is in one’s accurate consciousness of the lives and the world from which food comes. The pleasure of eating, then, may be the best available standard of our health.

~Wendell Berry

This pretty much sums up why we choose to raise our own meat, and continue to strive to raise all of our food.

I heard some STARTLING statistics tonight on the NBC Nightly News. The United States throws away 40% of the food produced here. Even more frightening...15% of the population goes hungry! I cannot wrap my head around these numbers...it's just too much.

The other thing on the news today.....the CA, college professor dumpster diving for his food. Today, he took some of his students (and a TV news crew) with him. Apparently, he's been doing this for 30+ years.

I told Superman that I wanted to start dumpster diving for the pigs. It would almost eliminate their feed bill -- which would allow us to donate butchered hogs to the food bank/soup kitchens on a pretty regular basis.

After stuffing ourselves yesterday -- I just really feel the need to help, more to give back.

P.S. Skippy honey, you need to stop crying -- You'll get dehydrated, and we'll have to change your name to Raisin.....and how in the world am I going to explain THAT to Pooldad??? ;)

Happy Thanksgiving and

PUNKIN CHUNKIN!!!!!!!!

I hope you all had a grand HARVEST day!

We ate too much, our naps were too long and we STILL have some dishes left to finish putting away......It was a GREAT day!

Onto the second post title!!! We just watched this year's competition on the Science Channel. YAAAAAHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

I want to thank Lori for introducing me and my kids to this competition!!! If you've never heard of, or seen, it -- do a Google search......it is COOL!!!!!

ON THE FENDER OF THE CHUNKIN-OLOGY TRAILER WAS A PURPLE LUPUS RIBBON!!!!!!!!

WAY TO GO CHUNKIN-OLOGY!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, as soon as the show ended.....Moonbeam decided she wants to compete! She's so cool!

Well, I'm off to put dishes away, and gear up for my favorite time of the year........ torturing dressing up my critters (with pictures) in various Santa/Christmas garb. :)

Here's a preview.....

Gizmo in her party dress

Newest Hunter

I want to brag on my hunter's daughter - like she's my own!!! {Puffs out chest}

Hunter and daughter came out today, just before 3 PM. They were planning on staying until dark - unless they got a deer.

Less than an hour after they walked back.....we heard the shot! We scrambled to keep the dogs up front....because they know what the shot means -- FRESH TREATS!!!

About 30 minutes later....here comes our little hunter DANCING down the road -- while her father is exhausted from dragging out the deer....that's 8 POINTS!!!!





He tried to explain to her that it doesn't always happen like that -- they didn't even get the chance to sit down and have their snacks.

Then I explained that it ALWAYS happens that way for us girls! ;P

She is 6 years old, and this was her first trip out hunting. I would also like to point out that her Grandpa was here last week, and couldn't get a shot at a buck that suspiciously looked like this one. ;)

Hunters!!!!

Don't get me wrong....I'm a hunter too. If you do not agree, please click to another blog. We are a family that agrees with the principles of hunting. We also FOLLOW THE RULES!!!!
Besides us.....We allow a friend and his father to hunt here. THAT'S IT!!! I affectionately call them "MY hunters".

Imagine our surprise when Moonbeam came in from riding and said that she yelled at three hunters on the ridge. **She's not allowed to go out riding, until the hunters have left.** What really ticked me off was - they didn't just cross over the fenceline.....they were half way down the hill (in the middle)..... By the time we got back out there, they were gone. When I got up there, I noticed that they probably watched us walk out.

I know WHY they came over the fenceline. The deer on that side of the ridge are pretty slim pickings. The neighbor on the hill has been hunting to fill his freezer....he's been out of work since last year. Plus, the dogs have done their part. The herds have moved to the other ridge line....where they only have the dogs to contend with.

Most of our neighbors have reported "unfamiliar" hunters on their property. The scary part is -- these are people that just walk up on their land. A great deal of them are from out of state too!!! We're fortunate -- people can't "just walk up" onto our land.

Stepping off my soapbox....

More Show Pictures

Here is E-Harmony (with me) in Halter Class. We were waiting for our turn to be judged. Right after this, she decided that she didn't want ANYBODY touching her. Thankfully she didn't kick the judge, while having her little tantrum.


This is Tassel (with me) in Halter Class. She was "out wooled" in her class. That's alright -- She will start her breeding career in the Spring, and we will still enter her fleece in the various shows.


Moonbeam presenting Catch in Halter Class. These two are perfect for each other...Both are true showman!!

Show Pictures

Moonbeam during Showmanship (Fri night). This is one of very few pics where 007 was standing still. We had arrived only hours before, and he was WIRED!!!!

This was right before the Walking Fleece awards. This was the first time he had EVER spit at her, and some how I got a picture of it.


This is both of us after the fleece awards - He won the ribbons and mugs.

Out of a possible 100 points, he won 83.5 points!!!

We're very proud of both of them!

Fiber Show Results

Moonbeam entered 007 in the Walking Fleece. What that means - there must be at least 3" of fiber (regrowth) around his barrel/midsection, in order for it to be judged (on the llama).

He won FIRST!!!!!!!!!!!

Until next time....

Email Me!

Show Results

The show is a double show - sanctioned by ILR-SD and ALSA -- both are national llama show organizations.

Moonbeam Showmanship (Friday night) - ILR - 3rd/ALSA - 4th

HALTER -

Tassel - ILR & ALSA - 5th
E-Harmony - ILR & ALSA - 2nd
Catch - Moonbeam showed him - 4th
007 - Moonbeam showed him also - 3rd

We met a LOT of veteran showpeople, and gained a LOT of advice.
I still felt like I was going to throw up.....and probably always will.

We're going to watch the Performance Classes tomorrow. Moonbeam is going to try to enter 007 in the novice class, and see how he'll place......

Pictures later......

Greenup County Llama Program

WE WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Greenup County officially has a 4-H llama project!!!

WAAAAAHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!