Great Lakes Fiber Festival

I'm not sure we had the money, but we went to the Great Lakes Sheep and Wool Festival this weekend. I am really wanting to learn to spin and I desperately want to crochet something with some natural fiber. We took a tent and camped out. We arrived Friday evening, set up, then went out and attempted to find 5 letterboxes in a nearby park. Well, the trails are extensive. We found one, and I tried to determine from the clues to the other ones if there was another nearby. We think we found the location, but there was no box that we could find. The brick was there, but we didn't see a box. It was getting late at that point, so we went back and found one that was right by the parking lot. We went back to the tent and rested, and once it cooled off some we went to sleep.

There was lots to see the next day. All the vendors were set up. There was a sheep and angora goat show going on and a judging of wool. There were lots of fleece and roving for sale. Lots of traveling spinning wheels, tabletop looms. Many people where plying their wares: knitted items, felted items, woodcrafts, woven goods. There was even a potter. Some people had soaps and lotions. There were also activities for the kids. What Bradley enjoyed the most was the alpacas.

I had thought that llamas and alpacas were the same, but they aren't. Alpacas are smaller and basically raised for their wool. Llamas are larger and used as pack animals. Alpacas are not strong enough to use as pack animals. They make a "hum, hum" sound when concerned or nervous. One alpaca farmer had three young alpacas at the show. They were 8 months old and had just been taken from their mothers three weeks before. They had never been away from the farm. The little female was "hum, humming" all day. They learned real quick how far away was arm's reach and they would stand in the center of the pen when people came around. The gentleman would occasionally go in the pen and move one over to the rail so it could be petted. Everyone wants to touch and alpaca. They are a very lovely animal, and so entertaining to watch.

Another alpaca farmer came on Sunday and brough his one-day-old baby and his mother to the fair. It was simply precious. So tiny. He was unsteady on his feet, but not real timid. When he was asleep Bradley managed to pet him.

So our son now wants an alpaca. I have to admit, they are a very endearing animal, and I wouldn't mind having some, but having an alpaca farm is something in the very distant future.

It was a bit of a long drive for the heat we are experiencing, especially since we have no air conditioning in the car, but we enjoyed ourselves.

I really appreciated the gentleman with the three young alpacas. He would kid around with Bradley, answer his questions, and put him to work. I know it made Bradley feel 10 feet tall to help out. He enjoyed learning more about alpacas, especially "snerts." He did get to witness one. A "snert" is a termed coined by this gentleman to describe what an alpaca does -- it sneezes and farts at the same time. It would be great to get a picture of that....

So, maybe next year we'll get to go again and catch up with the Winsome Alpacas.