Have you any ... llama?

See these:

They are real farm sacks from a real farm and they are tied with real farmy twine. They are also filled with real Llama fleece.

See, I have this sister who talked to our Grammy who knows these people who have 4 pet llama and they offered me this fleece. Now this is all well and good (and very exciting) but lets try to remember that

A) I tend to get myself into things I probably shouldn’t and

B) I don’t know how to spin fiber.

Now I’ll tell ya I was so stink’in excited over the idea of being given llama fleece that I never really stopped to think about what I’d do with it. Should I send it to a mill and have it all done up pretty for me or should I take the time to learn to do it myself? This is fresh stuff right off the critter so it needs cleaned and carded and all that other mysterious stuff I’ve read about but never actually done.

And as if becoming the proud new owner of llama fleece wasn’t enough... I got to meet the actual llama!

Now, I must warn you that these pictures suck because I’m a total bonehead. Apparently when I am faced with the prospect of meeting real live fuzzy llama who have bestowed their fleece upon me I forget everything I have ever learned about taking a picture.

The llama live with Steve and Denise and their lovely daughter. Never will you meet cooler people than Steve and Denise and their lovely daughter. Here’s the proof... the llama are named Angus, Axel, Oz, and Meatloaf. No kidding.

Here’s Denise and some of the crew:

Turns out llama like to sniff your breath to see if you smell familiar. Seems they also like kids...

There were so many fun photographic opportunities here that I am still kicking myself for not paying more attention to the lack of light in the barn. The good thing is that Steve and Denise have invited us to visit again. I hope they really meant it or they will be quite annoyed when I keep showing up asking if the llama can come out to play.

I’ll keep you posted on what becomes of the llama fleece but feel free to offer up some advice.

Now, I understand that I have been tagged by Tammy and am therefore supposed to tell you 8 things about me. I’ve never done the meme thing before but here goes:

1. I have been divorced, widowed, and am currently not married. Mac Daddy has been trying to get me to marry him for a few years now but I just won’t give in. Seems to me there are no guarantees and no pastor or piece of paper can get me one. I figure we have what we need and we don’t need to prove anything to anybody.

2. I would rather go fishing than go shopping.

3. I hate wearing shoes. I’d rather go barefoot.

4. Ya know how when you roll a penny and it gets to the point where it falls over and does that weird spin in place on its own edge thing? Ya know the sound it makes when it does that? It makes me crazy. I have been known to physically launch myself across a dining room table in order to slap a penny that is making that noise. Plates do it too. Awful.

5. In my opinion the sexiest thing a man can wear is a pair of Levi’s and a flannel shirt.

6. I have never made it to a due date with a pregnancy. All the kids were between 3 and 6 weeks early. They were all natural non-medicated births.

7. I’m pretty sure I was born in the wrong time period. My goal in life is a cozy farmhouse where I can knit and sew and hear the chickens clucking in the yard. I want to name all the hens and collect eggs. I want to muck out barn stalls and throw hay. I love the smell of alfalfa. Thats not to say I want to wear a dress that goes clear to my ankles and be referred to as “Ma” but simple and quiet would be nice.

8. I have a step mom and a mom in law that I am very close to but I don’t speak to my real mom. Seems she’s a bit too much like her mom and I decided it was time to break the cycle. That was nearly a year ago and I don’t miss her. I feel guilty about not missing her.

On moving...
We’re putting some things in storage and packing things we don’t need right now. We’ll soon be listing the house and I figure it will be easier for the real estate agent to show if nobody is tripping over things. We’re still in the exited what-will-happen-next phase but I know the stressful part is coming. I’m just trying to keep my eye on the prize. Visiting the llama helped remind me of where we want to be and what the goal is. Here’s the view the llama have from their front yarn... I am so jealous.

Comments

[clarabelle]

hi Marie Grace, I'm just knitting your Everyday Tweed jumper at the mo (and lovin it!), and I've also got some of your kiddies' knits lined up as they are so nice (and your 'model' kids look so blinking cool!).

But horribly enough, I know what you mean about feeling guilty about not missing your mum. You saying that, just summed up how I feel about my own mum, who I speak to every few weeks on the phone, but who I haven't seen for about 3 years. It actually made me feel 'not unusual', if you know what I mean, which actually made me feel better. Uuuggghh! family life.....

[Bonni]

I'm glad I came across your blog. What a great place you have here! I'm looking forward to seeing what you end up doing with all that llama fleece!

[Miss Scarlett]

Oh my goodness! How fun - but what a LOT of work. I think - get it processed and then spin it yourself, or heck get it spun and skeined up too. :-)

Cool names for the Llamas. Will your new place be close to the llamas? Oh my - will your new place be farm-y? Then you could have your own sheep and llama and angora bunnies. Think of it. You won't have to leave home to get yarn - of course you still will, 'cause that is fun too. Wouldn't your children just love angora bunnies?

[Kristy]

Check the KnittyBoard spinning forum for tips on your llama fiber. There was a fairly recent topic on how to prep fresh llama fluff. You should be able to gauge your level of enthusiasm based on that;)

Even if you do decide to take it to the mill, I *really* think you ought to set a few oz. aside and try spinning! Kathy Nies at Colonial Yarn Shop used to have a wheel (in fact, she was looking to sell it); there's a chance she still has it and would most likely let you take it for a trial spin. Just think.... the perfect addition to country living!

[stefaneener]

I vote for having the fleece processed and then learning how to spin. That guard hair stuff is not fun.

The llama have a view to die for! Good luck finding your own country spot.

[Tammy]

I am so excited that you are making this move and will be able to live where your heart is! I just love that llama view! Maybe I can go live in their barn?

As for the fleece... to the mill woman! You don't have time for anything else! :)