How to Show an Alpaca

This past weekend was the KY Classic Alpaca Show, for which I had volunteered to spin some fiber as part of the show.  Check a few posts back and you should find documentation of this, and my excitement.

Well, it was quite the experience.  First of all, I suppose I really am a city girl (as if there were any doubt) because it did not once occur to me that the area we were given might not actually be "paved".  The entire arena was dirt-floored.  So I and my Fantasia settled into the dirt along with my purse and my chair, and we sat in the dirt all day.  At least it seemed to be clean dirt, with no hay or poo or other things which would be worse to sit in all day.

Secondly, the alpacas sure were fun to watch.  They were judged in age and color classes, and the little ones were so cute.  Big ones were cute, too, but the little ones I just wanted to load in my car and take home with me.  

Lastly, it was interesting to find that some alpaca farmers truly don't know how to sell their fleeces.  Truly.  It was explained to me by a farmer who brought her knitting over to sit and chat a while that many alpaca farms have barns full of fleeces from the dawn of time.  Just sitting there.  With no one to love them, or pay for them, or take them home to wash and spin and knit.  My plan, and I think you'll join in with me, is to drive around the country, American Pickers-style, stopping wherever I see alpacas, looking for fleece someone's willing to part with for a reasonable sum of cash.  I can see it now:  picture me looking into the camera and whispering "I bet I can get $50 for that bag of fleece!"  Cha-ching.

As for the spinning itself, well, it was challenging.  It took a lot longer than I thought it would to straighten and fluff out the locks to get them ready to spin, and then it didn't go as smoothly as I would have liked.  I just have to keep telling myself that if I wanted even yarn, then I should have prepared the fiber more evenly.  Good thing I like things "rustic".  It's woolen-spun, and I believe that when it's plied it'll even out considerably.  I sure hope so.

This is how much I can spin in about four hours, apparently.

Last week Sadie and I went on our long-anticipated vacation.  It was a smashing success, although we don't have a lot to show for it.  Our only real objective was to relax and take regular naps, which we did.  I did a lot of knitting, a little spinning, and a lot of watching HGTV, since I don't have it at home.

National Cemetery

We did have one day of sight-seeing, on which we toured the Mill Springs Battlefield and environs.  We were staying on the road one takes to view the first eight stops on the driving tour, so I felt a little obligated to see what all the fuss was about.  It was an interesting and moving day.

We started at the Visitors Center, next to the National Cemetery, where they have a museum and gift shop.  My hosts had year-long passes available, so I took advantage while Sadie waited in the car.  Then we walked over to the National Cemetery.  It was a beautiful day, and a moving sight.  The cemetery was established after the battle at Mill Creek, and many Civil War soldiers are buried there, but it is an active cemetery and many who have served our country since are there.  I was moved but ok, until I saw this and wept:










If you can't read it, it says "Unknown US Soldier".  There were many of these throughout the older section.  We frequently give thanks to those who have given their lives for our country, but these men also gave up their names.




The next stop was the actual battlefield, which included a Confederate cemetery.  A walking trail has been constructed that takes you around the field from Union to Confederate and back again, with informational signs along the way.  Sadie and I enjoyed the walk, and it was amazing to be able to imagine what had happened here almost 150 years ago so vividly.

The mass grave of Confederate Soldiers killed at the Battle of Mill Creek

The monument to General Zollicoffer, whose body was leaned against an oak tree, now referred to as "The Zollie Tree", when he mistook the Union army for his own, told them to stop shooting at the Confederates, and was shot after his assistant verbally identified him.  Or something like that; it depends on who you ask.

Headstones placed for the Confederate soldiers buried in the mass grave.