National Alpaca Farm Days

Here on Irish Hill, it is difficult to attract visitors to the publicized National Alpaca Farm Days. This year we posted signs in three places in order to encourage new comers to keep driving up to the top of our steep mountain. The weather was uncooperative as well; we had periods of rain.

For John, all these changes in our daily schedule are challenges. But, we find that when there is no schedule at all with many distractions, he copes quite well. (This only works for one day or two. If continued, there is bound to be a melt down.) Having the three grandchildren involved in the presentation of the fiber, yarn, and finished knitted products was very helpful. John became a part of their group as we arranged everything under a small tent canopy.

Our first visitors were an older couple who lived in town. John had met them earlier in the week, so it was easy to assimilate them into the day's festivities. They returned later in the day with their grandson. When things seemed to slow down, we made a fire and roasted hot dogs and marshmallows. Our other set of visitors included a one year old darling child, Izzy. For John, young children and their unpredictability produce stress. He chose to remain down by the fire with his older nephews rather than interact with Izzy. We have come to respect his choices in these matters, and were pleased when he came to say good-bye with the grandchildren.

Our animals, the center-stage stars of the day, were very cooperative in sampling the grain and allowing a few pettings. Kitchi, the newest cria, was apprehensive and skittish. We resisted the impulse to pick him up and bring him to the visitors. Our policy at Alpaca Shack is to create trusting alpacas by only handling them in their catch pen. It has proven to create a much less stressful existence. For sure, the stress of these functions is the hardest for our son. But, there is no doubt that these kind of experiences result in more self-control and self-confidence. The National Alpaca Farm Day, if for no other reason that that, was a success.