The Master , Dave Easter

As I mentioned in my last blog, Dave Easter was "The Man".  He did the shearing and gave us directions.   "Keep your fingers out of the way!"  "OK, tighten the rope, please!"  "Could you please stand right there?" (It turned out the sun was in his eyes and he needed a personal "sun blocker"!)  Here is a picture of Dave and his wife at Westwoods School as featured in today's Record Eagle.  They brought four of their alpacas to the school for the education and enjoyment of the kids.  I'm sure they were fascinated with the shearing process!  (Dave and Kathy are working with the "customer" and the school principal is doing fiber clean up!)

Shearing Day at Aral Peak

What an adventure! I arrived at 3:00 pm in time to see Chris and Pat rounding up and leading the girls to the waiting room. Inside the building, out of the sun, stands professional shearer, Dave Easter. . .clippers in hand waiting for his first customer. On the floor is a rubber mat and, attached to opposing walls, what can best be called rope restraints. (Before I continue, the restraints do not hurt the animal and provide safety for both the animal and the shearing crew.)

Here comes Lena. Very pregnant and wearing a lush, dense reddish brown coat. After leading her onto the mat, her front legs are place in the restraints, then her back legs, and then the ropes are pulled so she is eventually on her side with her legs straight out fore and back. She complains at first and then quiets down and lets Dave give her a full beauty treatment. I must add at this point. . .not all quiet down. Each one has a different way of vocalizing their displeasure . Another display of displeasure is spitting! The big time spitters get a sock put over their mouths. . . some come into the building spitting and yelling. Picture a very unhappy child who absolutely does NOT want a haircut!!!!!!!

First the sides and back are sheared. This is the prime fiber (firsts). Next the shoulders and neck are sheared. This is less dense and typically shorter fiber (seconds). The firsts and seconds are bagged separately and carefully labeled. The fiber from the rest of the animal is essentially called "garbage" and is thrown away. The last thing done is the hair-do. A trained beautician couldn't do a better job of shaping and styling the top knot! The younger kids are also left with cheeks. . . making them look like bobble heads.

After checking teeth, and giving each animal a pedicure, the restraints are loosened and off to the pasture they go, feeling lighter if not happier for the experience. Fourteen girls through the salon and not one of them tipped us!!!!!

After doing the girls, we move the operation down to where the guys hang out. Three big guys lined up for the barber shop, after a bit of rounding up. They are actually a bit more cooperative than the girls once on the shearing mat. Getting them there is another story. Big Rogallo was first. Turns out he was all bluff and actually accepted the experience rather calmly. By the way, they are lousy tippers as well. Off they go, looking all handsome and dapper. . .and not one expression of gratitude!

Approximately five hours later, we are gathered in the house, eating pizza, enjoying some liquid refreshment.

What an experience! It is definitely hard work and I haven't been that dirty in a long time. I LOVED every bit of it and I learned so much. I'm on for next year!

The Happy Rover

For the past week or so I have been packaging gorgeous alpaca roving from my friend's alpaca farm in Leelanau County Michigan. I have also been spinning alpaca fiber for a sweater/jacket for myself! So far I have the back of the jacket completed and just finished spinning the yarn for the fronts. I am spinning as I go as this is my first big "spin for me" project and I am keeping a record of how much yardage I am spinning from each 4 oz skein. Today I am going out to the farm, Aral Peak Alpacas, to take part in my first shearing adventure! I cannot wait.