Why I love living in the country

Our house is at the edge of a field that is at the base of a beautiful hill. We are really fortunate to witness some amazing sunrises. This photo was from Friday morning. Jeremy was out doing chores and yelled in to take a look at the sunrise.

Sunrises are really important to me. I call my Dad on the drive to work to comment on the really pretty ones. Dad is a notoriously early riser. He gets up early as a regular practice and also lives his life in a way that puts an emphasis on the little things - like a beautiful sunrise.

Shearing time

Ok, so everyone was curious about how the two new boys would look without all that fiber. Well, here they are!

All of our alpacas look skinny and gangly after shearning, but Wes and Magellan really look small. They came to us with several years' growth on their front and hindquarters. The fiber from both of these ends is not usable because of the hay and brambles. A farm visitor who grades fiber told us that if it is "crunchy" when you touch it, the cost of cleaning the fiber for processing would be too much. Next year, we will have lots of usable fiber from both of these boys. This year, just the blankets will be used.

We are really anxious to send all of the blankets to Phillipsburg for yarn and roving. New fiber fresh from the mill should be here in about 6-8 weeks.

Good neighbors

Jeremy and I are blessed to have the best neighbors! Today, they played Easter bunny and brought us the sweetest gift that was waiting in the garage after work.

A couple of weeks ago, we shared 18 eggs in an oversized carton. Today, our neighbors returned the carton with our bantam egg shells filled with pansies. Each egg cup had Easter grass and if the cup did not have an egg shell with a flower, it had a chocolate egg! What a sweet (and absolutely perfect) thing for them to do!

It reminds me of a story from several years back that my Grandpa Harsch told me. A young farmer and his wife moved down the road from his farm. (Grandpa lived in town, but still farmed and had his old farm house, equipment shed, a garden, and all the makings for a full-scale operation just outside of town.) The young farmer needed to borrow some equipment and my Grandpa gave the go ahead. When he returned the implement, the young farmer took out his checkbook and prepared to pay my Grandpa. My Grandpa refused and said, "Let's just be good neighbors."

I have carried that sentiment with me. It's simplicy speaks to the best of rural life. I love having that story as part of my legacy and we are so blessed to have neighbors share the same value.

First annual spring alpaca day at Prairie School Farms

Don't miss the first spring alpaca day at Prairie School Farms!

Sunday, April 5
2-5 p.m.
The Lehning's, 12015 Flush Road

To RSVP on the evite, go to:
http://www.evite.com/app/publicUrl/YDSYBVCXIDUWINJPAGBN/alpaca

We look forward to having our friends join us for an afternoon of just spending time with the animals. We will have yarn and rugs on hand for you to see the finished product. The alpacas will have their shearing on April 14, so this is the best time to see them in full-fiber mode.

Hobby Farm Home - my new favorite magazine

This Hobby Farm Home magazine is amazing! Not only does the current issue have a feature on honey and bees, but it also profiles Susan Gibbs and her fiber cooperative - Martha's Vineyard Fiber Farm.

Susan left the media industry (producer for CBS) and Angora goats and Cormo sheep. The article tells her story and highlights her beautiful yarns.

There are also six fiction books on knitting that are listed with the article. I have one of the six checked off. For my knitting friends...

• The Friday Night Knitting Club (Berkley, 2008), by Kate Jacobs
• Knit Two (Putnam, 2008), by Kate Jacobs
• The Shop on Blossom Street (Mira, 2005), by Debbie Macomber
• A Good Yarn (Mira, 2006), by Debbie Macomber
• Cast On, Bet's Off (24/7 Publishing Group, 2007), by Jack Olesker
• Yarn Harlot: The Secret Life of a Knitter (Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2005), by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

Happy reading and happy knitting!

The Great Sunflower Project

Hobby Farm Home magazine, www.hobbyfarmhome.com, has an article in the May/June 2009 issue about the Great Sunflower Project. Gardners can sign up to plant a sunflower and survey the number of bees it attracts twice a month. The goal is to spend 30 minutes or less and to spot five bees.

The star variety for this year's effort is Lemon Queen. The Project will send you a packet of seeds to plant and provide growing tips. Go to www.greatsunflower.org to sign up and to learn more.

With the decline in bees, this is a great cause and assistance in the research of natural pollinators.

Farm visitors

We were so pleased to have some farm visitors this Sunday. Danny and Glenna Titus from Wadena, MN came by the house. They have an alpaca farm, Tis The Season Alpacas, http://www.tistheseasonalpacas.com/. Their daughter is a student at K-State and would drive by our house for work deliveries. She called home to say that she had an alpaca farm on her route.

Danny and Glenna were down to visit and they took a drive out to our house to meet the boys. What a great family! We continue to be impressed by the alpaca community and their kindness.