Happy Birthday, Norma Rae

Norma Rae is one year old today. She's a big girl for her age, but Rick says even though she's big, she's not mature enough to breed yet. I spent some time in the field with her today. She's not real social. In the next few weeks, we're going to bring her and Pati Cake up to the show pen to see if their fiber is good enough to go to shows. If so, they'll need to be halter trained for AlpacaFest West in November. Rockstarr won't see his first show until March 2009 in Phoenix.

Wow, I've spent every other day at the ranch for the last few days. Thursday, Diane, Shelby and I went down and we had a nice lunch with Rick & Pati. Diane hadn't seen the Alpacas since shearing. There are many new crias since she was there. She, especially, wanted to see Aurora and get kisses. Aurora and her mom, Dusty Rose, did not disappoint her. I went down Saturday, as usual. It was very hot and humid (heat index around 130 degrees), so we really couldn't do anything with the Alpacas except keep them cool. The heat index is the total of the temperature and humidity percentage. 130 is really high for Alpacas. As Rick left on a cross country transport yesterday morning, Pati asked if I wanted to come down today and help with breeding and spit testing. Sure! It was really cool and overcast this morning, perfect for breeding.

Today was Star's day for her date with Fred. Nope. She wanted no part of him. I guess she's not ready yet. We'll try again Saturday. We spit tested Percy and she sat again. So, she had another date with Mo today. McGuyver's Storm hasn't had a date in a year, so today was a real treat for him! He had a date with Malea. At first, he fumbled around a bit, but then it was like riding a bicycle! This boy has stamina :) Poor Fred, girls either spit at him or ran from him. He'll need a cold shower.

Sonny and Soleil went to a new home in Northern California. Rick dropped them off yesterday. I'm really going to miss them. They are both so cute. I'm sure the new owners were very pleased when they walked out of the trailer yesterday.

We're already started planning the next Pacaribbean cruise. It will be on Royal Caribbean's "Oasis of the Seas", sailing October 9, 2010 to the Eastern Caribbean. We have already booked two balcony cabins to get the ball rolling. This ship is "one of a kind" and unlike anything other cruise ship. Check it out at www.oasisoftheseas.com, then call me to book it - 1-888-997-8726.

The next few months are going to be very busy. September 27 & 28 is Alpaca Farm Days; October 13 is Rick's birthday; October 18 to 26, we are on the First Pacaribbean cruise to the Caribbean on "Mariner of the Seas" (and will celebrate Pati's October 20th birthday onboard); November is Thanksgiving and Rick's famous turkey; November is also AlpacaFest West; December begins the holidays. I'm having Christmas dinner at my house with 19 of my family and very closest friends. New Year's Day at the ranch, then January 3rd I'm having a birthday party for my sister's 50th. Whew!

All the crias are doing great. Rockstarr is hot! He and Aurora are buddies. Maybe her kissy face will rub off on him. Yeh, right. They look so cute together as they look so much alike. Well, they are half brother and sister (same dad).

Since it was so nice out today, I got to take the boys for walks. First, Felix and Alpha (or Felix would have been upset). They were such good boys. Then, I took Majik and Luther. Luther is like a Mac Truck, but he was a pretty good boy today. Majik is just a sweetheart. I was going to take Apolla and Kona, but changed my mind. I haltered Kona and he started doing the funky chicken. Since I was walking two, I decided walking these two wasn't such a good idea. They need a little more work on the halter. Next week I'll take each of them with one of the other boys (Felix, Alpha, or Majik) which should make it easier on me. The boys hadn't been for a walk in quite some time. It's just been too hot lately.

I had to leave about noon today because I'm still working on remodeling my bathroom and bedroom. The flooring is in now. So, it's painting, wallpapering, molding, etc., etc., etc. It's alot of work, but I love it. It's coming out very nice.

Well, I guess that's it for now. I wish Rick a safe an uneventful trip from here to New York, and back, with many stops in between.

Sambuca and Kalea should be delivering soon. And, IF Meg Ryan is pregnant, her due date is September 16th. If she is, and has a girl, the cria's name will be Mys Tery.