Hot days and haircuts.

The past weekend was extremely busy. On Saturday demonstrating spinning alpaca fibre at the Oamaru A and P show day.The weather was sweltering but 4 of us sat and spun on a variety of wheels. There were less animals on show this year, Sheep numbers well down.
We had our stand with a couple of pens of alpacas beside the main arena. The animals always catch a lot of attention. I found the heat trying and by midday all the alpacas were cushed down on the grass, chewing placidly and people watching.
On Sunday I was invited to talk about alpaca fibre processing at an alpaca stud’s open day in Dunedin.
Another scorching day. Fortunately plenty of shade provided by some mature trees.
During the day three alpaca/llama crosses from a neighbouring farm got a haircut each. Only managed to photograph the first, who, being a blue eyed white was also deaf and was the least bothered by the noise
of the electric blades. They also got their nails trimmed and vaccinations.
Hot work for Howard the shearer as there was a lot of fleece.
Sooo... hot, glad of a lie down in the shade.












Quite like this attention.
What's he looking for in there?











Please not the poodle cut....




Came home with several bags of suri fleece (thanks Andy) and a much smaller bag of precious baby Guanaco fleece, ( big thanks) which I’m soooo looking forward to processing even though I know I’m going to be spending a large amount of time picking out the hairs. Guanaco being a dual coated, hair/down fleece.
The down is very short as I expected but very soft and honey coloured. Haven’t spun any Guanaco fleece
for many years.
Guinivere is now over 6 months old. She stayed way at the Back of the paddock with mum so I didn’t manage to get a good photo of her. She looks as noble as her mum and dad and is therefore aptly named.