What is an Alpaca?

These creatures were first bred by the ancient Incans over 5000 years ago in the Andean Mountains. Centuries of selective breeding resulted in the finest of natural fibers. Their intelligence and quite, gentle demeanor is captivating. Today, alpacas have bencome an increasingly popular alternate livestock in New England as well as other parts of the country.

Alpacas are environmentally friendly having soft-padded feet and only a set of bottom grazing teeth (great environmental friendly lawn mowers)........they don't "pull" up the grass, they just cut it. Alpacas weigh an average of 160 lbs., so the flake of hay and cup of grain they eat makes them economical to feed. Clean-up is made easy by their use of a communal pile. They only have one birth a year with a gestation averaging eleven months. (whew!).





Their incredible warm fleece takes them through the winter and they are shorn in the spring before the heat of summer. Their wool is used to make a variety of garments, sweaters, hats, gloves, etc. Very warm and soft to the touch.
Aren't they adorable!

Craft Fair and Alpacas

Today Cher and I took her Mom over to Big E in Springfield to the Craft Fair, it was nice , lots of crafty stuff! and I got a leopard walking stick with a built in bubble maker (more about this later and I will post a picture!)

After we left there we noticed at the Big E they were having an Alpaca show. We just had to go!
The Alpacas in the field were actually taken on our way to Cher's Moms house, there is an Alpaca Farm along the way. They are so cute! I just had to get some pictures.

Leopard mania

Look at this! Another wonderful Leopard gift from Cher! It is also by the designer Toni Cioto and you can check other stuff out on her website that I mentioned with my night light!!

Always on a quest for the ultimate leopard findings:) That's Cher :)

Leopard Night Light

Look at this! Cher got it for me for my bedroom. There was a lady that came by her work who has her own Decoupage company. Her name is Toni Cioto and her website is www.decoupagedesignsbytoni.com She makes some awsome stuff! Of course Cher couldn't resist on getting me this cute night light! Hey............I just turn it on and stare at the "glow" in the dark :)

The BARN office

Well, here ya go, here is the "barn" the Behavioral Health Dept. is going to.......right across from the building I work at now. Actually the red barn part will just be for storage, see where there is white siding on the side of the building? That is actually where the offices are going. There will be 5 offices for the practitioners, a small lobby for the patients, a bathroom, a small kitchenette and of course the reception office where I and Cheri my coworker will be. I haven't been over there in over a week with all the construction and everything going on........so I have something to look forward to since I haven't "peeked" in a while. See where all that dirt is in the picture? That is where a sidewalk will be layed once the cement places open up around here. I found out that they don't open up til after April 15th because of the "potential" for April snow storms and the ground still being frozen. We will be moving in Friday, April 7th. Valley Medical Group has hired professional movers for all the big stuff (desks, chairs, file cabinets,etc) We are just responsible for packing our desk stuff and personal items. There is LOTS of paperwork that Cheri and I have to pack up too. I will probably end up going to work on Saturday to get my work station set up before we open up on Monday, April 10th. Monday's are usually a very busy day and even with the move there is no exception. So busy we will be! We have been trying to let all our patients know by mailing out letters, handing out letters, word of mouth, and signs.

I will take a front view of the building when I can get around there..........to much dirt to walk through right now.

Til then.................:)

Inside Thornes Market

The picture is kinda dark, but I was trying to take a picture inside Thornes Market in downtown Northampton, that place is great! All kinds of funky shops and "people watching" is very entertaining.

California Dogs

Aren't they the cutest?! They were spotted in California on a recent business trip that Cher had to take.

Leopard legs!

Of course I think leopard is the way to go...................but I don't think Joey is into it that much. Here is sweet Erin styling my leopard PJ pants that I offered to her when her luggage didn't arrive (lost at the airport.......surprised?)..........Joey didn't exactly go for it though, and Erin had to pick out something else................I gave her some pink ones.

The life

Yes, Felix has the life, can't you tell? He "hangs" all over the furniture like this. What happened to a kitty curling up kitty style? He likes to live on the edge :)

Spring is coming?

I sure hope so, it was nice here today, with the promise of it being in the 60's and maybe up to 70 by the weekend! YaY! I don't want to see any MORE SNOW! Around the holidays it is nice...........but after that, it just needs to get out of here! This southern girl will just never get used to it I don't think, it is the plowing and the cleaning off (finding) the car, the salt, the sand that ruins underneath your car....Ugh! Last year I had to get a catalitic converter and a new muffler..........can anyone say $1000.00!! There went my winnings that I had won while down in Miami on a Casino Cruise.......someone was watching over me, knowing I was gonna need that money when I got back up north to COLD country!

Anyway, things have been fine, really busy at work as it always is. The Behavior Health Dept. (where I work) is moving to a new building. The workers are still working on it. Actually (now don't laugh) the building we are moving into was a barn. Yep, I said a BARN. They gutted it, and now we are going to have 5 offices, a kitchenette, a bathroom, file room and of course the office where I will be spending most of my 8 to 5 Monday thru Friday. I will have to get some pictures of it soon. They are also residing the barn with white siding, it won't be red anymore.

Also I have been talking to my son Allen just about every night. He is back living with his Dad now in Triangle VA and looking for a job. He seems to be doing better mentally since he has been on his meds for a while, but does have a ways to go. Have sent him 2 boxes of clothes that he needed, as when he was in the homeless shelter they were all given away.

Talked with Joey last week and things are coming along for the wedding........he is a planner that one. I get excited when I think of the date ( July 22nd) getting closer and closer! I can't wait!

Cher and I went over to her Mom's house yesterday and had a Birthday dinner get together for her brother Kenny (he is a firefighter) he turned 48. Guess who is going to be 50! in a few weeks! I just can't believe it! Me?............I don't feel it, but then again what is 50 suppose to feel like? I just think it is a neat age, half a century, think of that :)

Saturday Cher and I went to Rhode Island again to see my Mom and Grandmother......they are doing the same........fine for their ages and ailments, 77 and 96 years old. We ordered Chinese delivery (my Nanny loves Chinese) and we had a nice visit with them.

Well, that is about all for now, I will try and do better with my blogging, not really a whole lot going on........just work, and the dreary days of winter are finally coming to an end! I can't wait to get my bike out and hit some great bike trails they have around here.

Until next time............................:)

Can you say "Leopard Shoe"?

Just look at these cool shoes! They were in a store window at Thornes Market in Northampton, MA. I wonder if they are comfortable (sure look it )..............I just love 'em!
Now these are what I call the most desirable and ultimate in lepard!
Hmmm................I can actually see my future grand children in leopard! :)

What could they be?? Attack of the Buckets!

What is this strange phenomenom going on in New England? Buckets attaching them selves to trees? No...................... Trees sprouting buckets??? Nooo..................................................
It's MAPLE SYRUP time in New England!! Looks like with the cold nights and warmer days, buckets are sprouting themselves everywhere in the Sugar Maple trees around here. That is just something you don't see in the South! Had to stop the car and get some pictures of this, no one down south would ever believe me if I told them I saw buckets stuck to trees. So here's the proof! The sap starts to flow from the Sugar Maple trees and the buckets catch the stuff. There is a hollow spike driven into the tree that then acts like a spout to drain into the buckets. All this will be processed to make Maple Syrup. MMMmmm! Good! There is a very short time span apparently, 6 weeks that the sap runs, so ya gotta get the Sugar Maple sap quick!

Where the Maple Syrup is made and sold

The Hadley Sugar Shack where you can buy the BEST (straight from the Sugar Maple tree) syrup!!

Northampton

If you ever get the chance to get to Northampton Massachusetts you gotta go to Thorne's Market Place, inside is 30 shoppes, all kinds, funky, jewelry, a kitchen gadget store (which Cher just loves!) and little boutiques with just about everything in there. Cher and I had a nice lunch of roast beef sandwich, turkey sandwich and homemade soups!
After the Flower exhibit, we decided to walk into Northampton to see the sights and to see what was happening. This is one of the beautiful churches that are in the center of Northampton.

Spring will be coming to New England

Today Cher and I decided to get out of the house a little bit and do something different..
We went over to Smith College to see the flower and bulb exhibit........everything was beautiful! as you can see by all the pretty flowers and plants. This is a sure sign that Spring is on it's way. These are all in hothouses to force the bulbs and flowers to bloom. Aren't they pretty??

Cher trying to get some work done

As you can see my friend Cher is trying to get some work done on the computer, but little Ms. Cleo wants her Mommy's attention, so she is sitting on top of the mouse where Cher can't get to it! Isn't she something :) 

Cher and

 

Felix the Cat

Here is my baby boy.......see that glow in his right eye? He has a small kitty cataract!! I hope it doesn't get worse or later in his kitty life he will have to get kitty cataract surgery! My poor Boy! 

ZZZZZ...zzzzz

What could she be dreaming about??? 

Cleo sleeping....shhhh...

My little girl sleeping away in the bathroom window, with not a care in the world.