Harrisburg Alpaca Show

I've never been fond of competitions, particularly in a professional context. I was 16 the last time I went to one. Couldn't tell you what networking meant. But I quickly learnt what schmoozing meant. There was as much friction in the clenched butt cheeks as there was in the pleasantness between direct competitors. It didn't feel much like a community. I wanted out.

This is the first time I've returned to any kind of contest, even as a spectator. Hundreds of alpacas under one roof was more than an incentive for me. In support of my dream my husband, mother-in-law and sister-in-law joined me. I feel like the alpacas and promise of an obstacle course helped.

Within minutes of arriving at the show we started talking with a breeder. No butt cheek friction. No holding back. Just enjoyment of each other's  abundant passion for these creatures. Like Donna, he answered my questions honestly and made me all the more excited to have my own farm. I felt like part of a community. We all enjoy this lifestyle and only wish more people knew how satisfying it can be. After talking with other breeders I realized how much Donna has taught me. How this has become a life choice.

My husband fell in love with a silver grey rose. My mother-in-law and sister-in-law got friendly with a few. I was captivated by every alpaca I saw. Shapes, colors, personalities, size, wrinkles, curiosity, the puffiness of their wool. I watched them stand in front of their fans, their ears angles back in the breeze, stray fibers dancing.  I observed their group dynamics. I watched how they interacted with humans. I laughed at them contorting their bodies to scratch an itch. I loved them all.

I was conscious that I'd been making doe eyes at alpacas for some time. I felt like no one in the room could be enjoying themselves nearly as much as me. I ushered my family to the alpaca obstacle competition, this was definitely going to be fun for everyone. Especially since I'd been trying to convince my sister-in-law that they would be jumping through rings of fire! I was surprised at what I did see in the arena. Children. Each of them had a visible bond with their animal and handled them expertly. When the opportunity to be part of the obstacle course arose my hand jolted up like it was attached to a pulley system and the sandbag was dropped. I was one of two petters. We had to pet each alpaca in the same way so the judges could see how they responded to human contact. I was so impressed by how each child knew their animal intimately and offered comfort when they became nervous. I think there's no better way to teach a young person mutual respect.

It was time to check out the fiber arts competition to see where I stand and how to improve. I wrote previously about a Jackson pollock themed alpaca for competition. Let's just say it would not be at home amongst the soft natural pieces I saw. So I'm working on an even crazier piece for the next competition!

Herd Life

The snow has gone, the alpacas are finally grazing in the pasture and I'm at the farm every other day. My frequent visits have strengthened our bond and established my place in the herd. I've trained some of the more nervous characters and gained their trust. We've progressed from standing 2 feet apart to kisses on the the second date! This has been more rewarding than any monthly bonus I worked for previously. No matter how big. I'll tell you why.

My job always seemed so pointless in the past. 9-5 just makes no sense to me. You go to work to pay for a house. After work you come back to your house, eat, watch t.v, go to sleep. Do it all again the next day. You work a bit harder so you can go on holiday every year. FOR 40 YEARS. If you work hard enough you'll have a nicer house and more extravagant holidays (your boss will always have bigger and better). But you still follow the same cycle. For what? Retirement? I refuse to wait until I'm 65 to start having fun. I'm 27 and my knees hurt, I can't imagine what great adventure can wait until they get worse. I think it's important to see the world from standing eye level not scooter level from designated concrete paths. The defining moment in humanity was when we stood upright and stopped looking at the ground. Imagine how different the world will be in 40 years. How some of the things you took for granted earlier in life are gone for ever. They're all there right now. A meaningful, independent way of living is available to everyone. Everyday becomes a holiday. Work isn't work. Home isn't a pit stop before the next working day.

I'm making it sound easy. I know it's not. Especially for long term employees with financial responsibilities. I appreciate that I'm in a fortunate position right now. However, I made the extra effort to break the cycle. I've dreamed of doing it for a long time. Now that those thoughts are being put into action I wonder how I stayed in the cycle as long as I did. paidtoexist.com gave me a nudge in the right direction and I still follow the emails religiously.

Seeing the alpacas progress in their training is spiritually rewarding. The life lessons they're teaching me are invaluable; patience, alertness, compassion, appreciation, confidence, maternal instinct. After weeks of leaving the house with no make up, coming home with hay in my hair and smelling of poo I've come to the realization that I never want to step foot in an office again. This is the life for me!

As much as I'm living in a dream world, I still exist in the grizzly real one. It's a long way down the road until I can afford my own alpacas. In the mean time I'm brushing up on my felting skills to earn a living. I wrote previously about my experimenting in this field. Some of my creations included a whale/iceberg mobile, pug angel,  tentacle beret and finger puppets.

I loved experimenting with wool but I didn't have a focus. My rough and ready technique meant that one project could take more than a week to complete. It never occurred to me that a little patience, appreciation and confidence could be the start of an artistic career. I have the alpacas to thank. I'm sure their ears are burning by now. I've been patient in learning new felting techniques. I'm more confident in my ability and my appreciation for the alpacas is resonating in my work; I'm using their amazing fiber and making pieces inspired by their different personalities.

I'm in the process of making and love watching raw wool transform into works of art through my hands. But I'll tell you more about that next time.