Life Can Get Busy

While going through my AdSense account today, I realized I have a handful of very neglected blogs. I was happy to see however, that even though they have been severely neglected, they have been steadily earning me a small income. If a neglected blog can still earn, imagine what an active one will do!

The last year has been one of ups and downs in all areas of my life. A dislocated shoulder just over a year ago put me into a tailspin, as I was very limited in what I was able to do. After some physiotherapy and a lot of painful weeks, it is finally getting to the point where I can use my right arm for almost anything.

The early months of 2012 blessed us with two cria (baby alpacas), which were a surprise. March was also an exciting month for me, as I attended my first-ever Brier (in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan). We will be attending the Brier in Edmonton Alberta this year, which is a few hours closer to home than Saskatoon.

I haven't done much in the way of crafts or quilting, although processing some alpaca fiber did get done. My daughter and I sheared our February cria, and the neck of one of our males. The funniest part was we had just as much fiber from the male's neck as we did the cria. I learned how to card the fleece and spin it using a drop spindle. I also attempted wet-felting, and made myself some mitten liners and a pair of insoles. The liners and insoles were what kept my hands and feet warm during the coldest chore times.

This post is only to let you know I haven't neglected you on purpose; life got busy and time just got away from me. I will do my best to keep you updated on a more regular basis; my goal is at least once a week. I will add pictures of the yarn I spun and the felt I made at a later time.

I have also been very busy with my books and even wrote a novel in November (NaNoWriMo Challenge), which has been self-published and is available on Amazon, Kobo and Kbuuk.

Oh Dear!

Oh dear! I have been neglectful of this blog, haven't I? I do apologize!

I have been busy working on my books and writing blog, which has taken up some time. I have also been submitting articles to EzineArticles as well as a couple of other sites.

I received a Kobo Vox for Christmas and love it! It allows me to be just a bit more mobile, as I can write articles and blog posts on it. They are saved online and I can then go to my computer and simply copy and paste them to the appropriate website. Absolutely wonderful!

In addition to using it for writing, I have read several books on it as well. Most have been about writing, self-publishing and marketing (I am a sponge when it comes to information I can utilize), but I have read some just for fun as well. I am currently reading The Lost World, one of the books available for free from the Kobo store. I also read Soul Identity (was also free) and just this morning I downloaded Soul Intent ($2.99).

I have also been busy in the craft area of my life, and have designed some patterns which are available for purchase at Ravelry. They are available for immediate download once payment is processed, which will only take a minute or two. My other works are available via my Homemaker Helper Series Blog; I would appreciate your time in taking a look.

I will be posting here more regularly but also invite you to follow my other blogs as well.

Thanks and have a great day!

Diane

New Website

As I expand my portfolio and knowledge, I am also expanding my horizons online. I have created a website showcasing my Author status and am also offering my services as a proofreader and copy editor. I am very anxious to spread the word about my new site and my upcoming Homemaker Helper Series. Please visit my site for more details on the books and my services.

Thank you and have a great day!

Reduced Prices on Fabric!

I still have mountains of fabric which I need to part with! I will toss in an extra two fat quarters for anyone who orders the bundle on the right hand side of this page. They are all quality quilting cotton prints; I have to make room for my spinning wheel, so the fabric has to go. Order two or more bundles and I will toss in a half meter cut of 100% cotton broadcloth. This is a limited time deal, so please take advantage of it.

Since I want it gone and this is a very good deal, I would appreciate the word being spread. Please share this post on any social networking sites you belong to, even if you yourself do not order. I cannot use it all myself, and most of it is still on the bolt. Thank you for helping me out!

Friday the 13th

Good evening! Finally I am able to post...Blogger has been having a few issues for a couple of days and I was unable to post. Maybe we'll just attribute it to Friday the 13th...at least that will explain today's problems...not so sure about the other days.

I love Friday the 13th's...this one is extra special because it is also my birthday. My Mom hates it...I tell her it's not like I was born on Friday the 13th. I was born on a Monday...the day after Mother's Day. My Dad tells me the story every year...I never tire of it though. It sounds like this year is much like the one I was born...trees leafing out along the river and everything turning nice and green.

As the day comes to a close, I can't help but reflect on the last forty plus years. I am almost to where I want to be in life; I am a freelancer and an author, and now also an alpaca owner. By this time next year we will have alpaca babies on the way and I will have tried my hand at spinning the fleece into yarn. I cannot wait to get the fencing finished so we can bring the herd home.

My daughter is just as excited as I am; her and I will be the owners of them and will share in the work, the costs and the rewards. I have been making connections on Facebook with other alpaca owners and enjoy looking at their pictures. One of the cutest so far is two alpacas lying on a front porch...in much the same way the average dog would be. So very cute!

I have been busy with a temporary position with Statistics Canada, so have been unable to spend much time on my book. I will have to push back the original publishing date, which saddens me. There are only so many hours in the day and apparently I am supposed to sleep some of them. I am sure things will get back to normal soon; or at least a new normal. I will have a lot to write about once the herd comes home. It may have to be a book of its own.

With the warm weather also brings the planting of the garden, the cutting of the grass and the cleaning of the barn. The latter must be done before we can bring home the alpacas, but can't be done until after the 4H calf is gone. It will be a very busy couple of days between the sale and the day the alpacas come home.

Alpacas

As a new alpaca owner (herd to come home in early June), I am very excited to start working with the fleece. I have made some sales already, and I haven't even created the products yet. Most people give me a funny look when I tell them we bought a small herd of alpacas, and say there is no money in them. I have found there is either support or there isn't. We will not take the nay sayers comments to heart, as they are most likely uneducated in the world of alpacas. When people ask if there is money to be made with alpacas, I tell them yes...with proper management. It is the same with any business...there has to be proper management.

Alpacas are not as costly to raise as cattle due to their smaller size and less feed requirements. Plus they are raised for their fleece so there is no need for slaughter. These beautiful creatures can live up to twenty five years; that is a lot of fleece. As I was telling a friend about them yesterday, she told me I had to call her as soon as I brought them home. She loves them and can't wait to see them. When I saw her partner later in the day, she had already told him I was getting some. He asked if I was going to knit mittens and socks; if so he would buy some from me. See, sales and I don't have the herd home yet!

I know I have a lot to learn about the alpacas themselves and their fleece. I am planning on making my own yarn, so will be in need of wool carders and a spinning wheel. I will be a very busy girl in the months to come! My daughter and I will be working with the alpacas; perhaps I can teach my son to do the spinning. It would give him the perfect opportunity to do something creative with his hands. (With his limitations due to cancer and surgery, being on his feet for long periods of time is not an option.)

Our main goal in the next two weeks is to build another pen so we can keep the boys separate from the girls. Once we get them home we will be able to let the breeding commence; we should have a few babies next spring. I am limited for time this week however, as I have taken a temporary position as a Census Enumerator. It is interesting and I am hoping to come across an alpaca ranch in my travels. I have seen many cows, horses, sheep and even elk so far...but no alpacas. Maybe today!

Good Morning!

Good morning to all! I have been busy this past week with Easter, training and taking an afternoon trip to see our new investment...a small herd of alpacas. We will be bringing them home by mid-June, as 4H will be finished for the year. It gives us just over a month to build a pen for the males, as the females will be getting the barn and corral. My daughter and I are very excited...pictures will most definitely be posted when our herd comes home!

That aside, I purchased a new gardening book yesterday. I know I most likely don't need another, but I couldn't resist. It is The Canadian Illustrated Guide to Green Gardening by Reader's Digest. There is a hardcover issue available, but the one I bought is a binder format; pages lay flat to make it easier to stay on the page you need. I bought my copy at Coles Bookstore. It has over three thousand color illustrations and photos, and is divided into sections so it is easy to find what you are looking for. It is over five hundred pages packed full of information, from soil to plants to trees and shrubs. A recommended purchase for anyone who is a gardener as well as anyone just learning about gardening. In all honesty it would most likely benefit the new gardener more than those of us who are veterans, but anyone will find it helpful.

For those who enjoy gardening and wish to profit from it, I do have some suggestions in my book Success...It Can Be Yours! which is available on Lulu. There is also a button at the upper left on this page which will take you straight to it. Along with my writing and alpacas, my goal is to open a U-Pick for a few weeks each summer. I may not get it all in place for this gardening season, but my personal goal is within the next two years. It will all tie in together if all goes as planned.

I also still have several bundles of fat quarters available (see Buy Now button to the right). I am hoping I can liquidate as many of these as possible within the next couple of weeks, as they would be much better in the hands of someone who can use them. It will take me twenty years to make use of them; that's how many there are. I will toss in an extra fat quarter for anyone who orders from this Blog post...please make note of it on the order form. If you order two bundles, you will receive two extra fat quarters. Thank you!

Along with the arrival of our alpacas, I will be learning to process their fiber. As time goes on, I will also have alpaca fiber items for sale. I am contemplating buying a spinning wheel so I can make my own yarn; if it works for me I will have the yarn and products made from it available. I will be posting pictures as time goes on and I learn more about the fiber and the animals.

Wishing you all a good weekend, and may the weather co-operate so we can all get some yard and garden cleanup done!