It’s Sunday, and just like that, the snow has disappeared as if it was never here - and then started back up again today. Once the snow melted on Saturday, the alpacas wasted no time heading back out into the field, happily spreading out and nibbling on those first fresh shoots of grass. After a stretch of hay-filled days, you can almost hear them thinking, “Now this is the good stuff.” There’s something about that first taste of spring grass that gets the whole herd moving with a little extra bounce.
The weather is lining up nicely by the end of this upcoming week, too. We’re expecting things to start warming again by Tuesday, and by next weekend we should be sitting comfortably in the upper 60s to low 70s. That’s about as perfect as it gets for this time of year—and just in time, because we’re planning to kick off shearing on Saturday. Timing really matters here. Warm enough for comfort, but not so hot that anyone’s uncomfortable in their fleece.
Today is all about getting ready. I’m setting up the shearing equipment, checking everything over, and getting into that familiar rhythm that comes with the season. Over the next week, I’ll be sharing more about the process—how we sharpen the combs and blades, how we prepare, and what shearing day really looks like behind the scenes. It’s one of the busiest (and most satisfying) times of the year around here, and we’re just getting started.