Welcome our newest addition to New River Valley Alpacas!!!  Our first cria of the season was born on Tuesday, April 17 at 1:45 pm.  It's a boy!  Ginger is the proud mama.  I even saw him born this time, and, in fact, assisted in his delivery.  One of his front legs was not extended out at the elbow so I garbed up in ob gloves and lots of lubricating gel and manipulated his other leg so that is was straight out and then Ginger pushed one more time and out he came! He is mostly white with some beige coloring on his neck and head.  At the moment we are calling him baby.  We are still trying to decide on his official name.  Here are some photos of the little guy.

I was suspicious of Ginger's behavior last weekend and into Monday.  She is very hormonal when pregnant!  We would simply touch her neck or back and she would turn and threaten to spit at us.  However, the last 2 days before delivery, she was giving us kisses! It was a total personality change!

Happy Easter to everyone!  It's already April 10, and way past time to update my blog.  So, here I go...

We had herd health last weekend and everyone is doing fine.  Ginger will be having her baby by the end of this month.  Bubbles and Ruby are due in mid-May, and lastly, but not least, Opal will be delivering in early June, hopefully.  We've had everyone out in pasture for 2 weeks now.  They are so happy to be out there again!

We moved the babies over with the teenagers on the boy's side so now Banjo, Wyatt , and Zamboni have 2 new friends.  Everyone is getting along very nicely!!

We'll be breeding the open girls in mid-May.  They are all going to other farms this spring to be bred.  The logistics might be a bit tricky to get 2 of them to their respective studs, but I'm sure it will all go smoothly.

Burgundy wool blend

Angora bunny/alpaca blend 

Wool blend plyed with angora/alpaca blend

I've kept busy knitting and spinning this winter.  I'm attaching a few photos of my newest handspun yarns. I have also woven one shawl on my triangle loom and have another one in progress. Shown below are 2 photos of my first shawl.