Learning Llamas

The Lama Letter: Supporting OUR Advertisers

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Connections) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 12:44:00 +0000

At Day of Discovery, Silver Spring MD

I am a firm believer in supporting the people in our industry who put us on the map and continue our sense of community. To that end, I am a committed supporter of the Discovery Educator Network. But in my other life (don't we all have more than a few), as a llama lover, I believe that our organizations need to continue to support our advertisers. To that end, I have perused The Lama Letter (May 2011), the official publication of the Pennsylvania Llama and Alpaca Association to reacquaint myself with our supporters.

Recently, I purchased two 8' x 32" hay feeders. Farmco was a proud supporter of GALA 2010, so I am their supporter. And they make an amazing product--best in the business. The pleasantest purchase I have made in a long time, the people of Farmco trusted me with payment after my first pickup, and then delivered my second feeder two weeks later. I love this product because it keeps hay off the ground, eliminates parasite problems, and is a durable product, requiring two uber-supermen to move the Model 832L.

Tess enjoying hay on demand

Some products are life changing and these feeders qualify as just that. I can load 3.5 bales in each feeder, and for 7 llamas, restocking is well over a week (we reseeded our pastures so llamas are on hay for the summer). As you can see from the image, the feeders are not positioned for optimal access (by choice), so with 2 feeders I can easily accommodate my 7 llamas, but re-positioned in the open, 14 llamas to one feeder would be a more than reasonable ration. I love this product because even in dense downpours, the feeder fits snugly enough under the roof to keep hay dry but still permit ease of stocking. Farmco is working on putting a roof on these popular feeders with an approximate 2 foot clearance.

Another advertiser with an excellent product review by Carol Reigh in the May issue is Ranch Manager. After reading the review and speaking with Carol, I downloaded the free 30-day trial and can tell you that for ease of digital record keeping, this product is perfect for any farm, large or small, business or hobbyist. With 8 different livestock management programs, there's one for everything, including camelids. A joy to use and customer support puts you in contact with the owners and they are delightful, user friendly, and open to suggestions for customizing ease of use.

Call 814-275-2400 or email llamas@llamalove.com

Leisure Acres Llamas is a full-page Lama Letter advertiser and a Pennsylvania business nestled in New Bethlehem, not very far from our farm, making us almost neighbors as we reckon distance in rural areas. Although I have not visited this farm yet, they are on my short list of places to experience since I am looking for a large stud for one of my very large llamas. A perennial full-page ad is also my breeder, Carol Reigh's Buck Hollow Llamas. You can check her updated website to see her newest offerings. I'm actually interested in Mamie, and Carol is not exaggerating when she says she scissor clipped her at her Open Barn. I filmed the process and you can view it on PLAA's Facebook page.

Snyder Quality Llamas is hosting an Open Barn Day on Sunday, July 31, 2011, in Milford, PA, so if the Camelid Community 2011 in Kansas is not on your calendar and you are looking for a wonderful event, either as a person of interest in the llama community or a full-fledged llama lover looking to expand your blood lines (or just enjoy the day), please consider our full-page ad supporter. If you have never been to Milford, you are missing a delightful destination stop in PA. If you follow 7th Street North up to the Hill to Llama Llane, you'll be at Synder's Open Barn. You can call them at 570-296-6249 or email at llamas@sql.ms. Join us for farm tours and demonstrations. Hopefully, I'll be there, filming (if my husband's surgery and post-op therapy goes well).

Hidden Valley Farm, nestled in Cochranville, PA (another must visit) has operated as a full-service llama breeding operation for 15 years; however, they are dramatically reducing their herd size and you can be the winners. Quoting from their full-page ad, "...you can be the winners. We will be offering suggested pricing with no reasonable offer refused." They have excellent champion bloodlines with former Grand and Reserve Champion animals. You can contact Bob and Fran Swartwout at 610-932-8943 or email them at hvf@hughes.net.

PLAA on Facebook: A Great Resource

Continue to check our PLAA Facebook page for additional posts about our advertisers. Please "Like" us if you visit and consider adding us to your profile and farm pages as well.

To all you Southerners

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Connections) — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 12:12:00 +0000

...who passed on this lovely little girl, in the words of Julie Roberts' Pretty Woman character, "mistake...huge." I'm guessing you passed her by and left her for last--for me--because she was the runt of her litter. Admittedly, she's smaller than the usual Black Lab female, only 51 pounds, but she is all heart, all love, all lab, and always willing to do whatever the moment offers. Call it spunk, heart, willingness to please, or just being a lab, she is the delight of our days, every day.

Allie is the companion of my long walks. She swims in the pond, jumps trampoline high, fetches frizzbees leaping lizards, lights up lives of senior citizens in nursing homes, waits patiently on a raft (in the shade, of course), flies off our dock to go fishing, understands the true value of stopping to smell the flowers, and I could go on and on. She has added a special dimension to our lives, has locked herself into our forever hearts, and life has never been the same since her arrival. If there's an easier dog to live with and love on this planet, then Allie has a double.

Point being so simple: you missed out on the dog of your lifetime and now she's mine, and we love everything about her, including her size because we know she has the biggest heart of all. Your loss.

Chickens in the Attic

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Connections) — Sat, 14 May 2011 18:38:00 +0000

Chickens--definitely in my farm future

Definitely not urban agriculture

In another life, one of my best friends raised chickens. We lived in a typical small town neighborhood in Historic Bethlehem, PA, and my friend's family owned the concession stands at Willow Park. I loved the park because it had, bar none, the biggest ever swimming pool. Even the country clubs couldn't touch it. Today the park is a memory, plowed over and under for, how ironic, a construction company.

Image from fahrmboy http://fav.me/d2ej2dq

OK, I'm getting to the heart of the story. I used to hear strange noises when I visited at my friend's home. One day I summoned my nerve and asked her what was upstairs (reluctant to ask--figured mice or something awful like that, although that didn't figure, given the neighborhood). Turns out it was chickens. Which brings me to the chicken debate in Albany. I don't know the mayor, but my sense of things is so simple: chickens belong on a farm or outside of a city. Not inside. If I lived in our Parkway home, given we have more land than a more tightly packed neighborhood, lots are larger...I would not raise chickens, nor would I want my neighbors to either.

Definitely in my farm future--but beige.

We live in a culture that has a level playing field mentality. I just don't buy it. City homes and country homes have different purposes, which is why we have both. Truly, I do not want to lose my NY friends on Facebook, but from personal experience, I just do not think people should be permitted to raise chickens in a city environment. For me, urban agriculture is an oxymoron. Not the hill I'm dying on, either, but if a city dweller near me started with chickens, I'd be at city hall complaining, first thing. Sorry, Teri. Love you lots, but not this cause. When I retire, I plan on raising chickens; even found the chicken coop of my dreams (but it must be beige). But the chickens will free-range on the farm, not in our city home.
Amen.

A COYOTE in our backyard...do I need a guard dog?

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Connections) — Sat, 14 May 2011 15:44:00 +0000

Cierra at Carol's for breeding

Fifteen years ago, before llamas, we saw a coyote in our back yard. In the upper pasture, actually. Initially, I thought it was a stray German Shepherd Dog, but it wasn't. Tail always tells. More recently, we knew coyotes were in our neighborhood, visiting a local breeder of sled dogs. Last night, one was literally outside our back door, running so close to our llamas.

The new herd alpha

I'm always afraid of predators and fearful for my llamas. My breeder, Carol Reigh, tells me not to worry. Even with a herd of 7, my llamas can take care of themselves. No need for a guard dog with two guard llamas. My oldest llama, Miss Cierra, is herd guardian, but Tess, a three-year old, is also vigilant. Perhaps moreso than Cierra, who is aging at 15. But when I was perusing YouTube for an addition to PLAA and GALA's Facebook pages, I came across this video. Disclaimer: I do not condone any kind of violence, but I never knew how llamas defend and always wondered how they would deal with a predator. Finding this video gave me a more restful sleep. So does my electrified fence.

A year ago; so MUCH bigger now

Although I am always alert to intruders via our dog, Allie, I feel better knowing that I have a few really large llamas. Et Cetera is one huge girl, and given another 27 pounds (not hoping for this), she'll rival the one large male I heard about at GALA 2010 for largest llama. She is gentle to a fault, and timid, making handling her easy. A good thing, considering she is as large as most horses. But I do get a sense of comfort knowing she's in my herd, because combining the 6 adults, I'm betting they're capable of protecting our eight-month old Golden.

City Folks Down on the Farm

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Connections) — Mon, 09 May 2011 01:35:00 +0000

What happens when you take dyed-in-the-proverbial-wool-city-folks and transplant them down on the farm. Well, you make mistakes. Last summer, thinking we were doing a good thing, we mowed our pastures routinely. Llamas like short orchard grass, right? So we mowed, and then the drought came, and what sparse sprouts of orchard grass remained, the llamas finished.

Mr. Miller and son Dwane on tractor

Fortunately, our farm family, The Millers, with multi-generation experience, came to our rescue. You can tell we weren't born to the land; our four gates are 10 footers. That will change sometime this summer. They accomplished the impossible, managing to navigate our too-small gates with too-large equipment. We are so grateful to Donald and Dwane for their laboring against impending rains (came as they put away the last pieces of equipment on their truck). A special thank you to Adam for lending his farm machinery. In rural America, farm families pull together, help each other, and refuse remuneration. They will tell you, "it just what neighbors do."

Reseeding the Llama Pastures: April 2011 from RJ Stangherlin on Vimeo.

I remember when...

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Connections) — Sun, 08 May 2011 23:36:00 +0000

I know they're my cousins, but which ones?

Can anyone out there remember when b&w was the only choice. Like Henry Ford's dictum, "You can have any color, as long as it's black." Hard to tunnel that far back into our past, but I remember when.... One of my favorite photographs from the past has to be this one from my brother. It's his fifth birthday, and I am thirteen. What a really wonderful childhood I had.

When I was younger and blonde

When I looked at this photograph, at first I didn't recognize myself. It was in the mid-eighties, I'm guessing '83 or '84, when I hosted a shower at our new townhouse for Annie Bodish. It was a lovely time, and the dog in Anne's lap is Scruffy, our neighbors' (and townhouse owners') dog. When you have your heart's desires, memories become meaningful.

My Father's Daughter

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Connections) — Sun, 08 May 2011 23:35:00 +0000

Dad and Clare

I was my father's daughter. It was an expression I heard throughout my life--you are your father's daughter--and still sometimes it echoes. Usually it meant I had made a transgression, and I was my father's daughter, making him accountable for my misstep. But undeniably proud about it, I am my father's daughter in so many ways. We were so similar, and his death left me bereft of my parental support system. As long as I carry his memory in my heart, I know he is always with me.


Family Traditions

Dad in the background; Ben's is a baby, now in high school; time flies.

Controlled Firefighters Certification: Burning Farmhouse #2

Dad and Mickey at the Controlled Farmhouse Burning

Cancer was already devastating his body, but he was a trooper.

Dad loved this experience and documented w/analog camera; brother David converted the files

Best Friends: "Peas in the Pod"

Dad and Mickey eating at the fire

My Dad

Forever in my heart. Miss you, Daddy.

A very special thank you to my brother, David, for the time-consuming task of rendering analog to digital so these images can live again.

Remembering A Second Mother

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Connections) — Thu, 05 May 2011 23:18:00 +0000

Aunt Margaret's bragging rights to Flo Jean's in NY

Aunt Margaret was my father's sister, a maiden aunt who was like a second mother to me. She was born in 1916 and she certainly did not have an easy life, but she never complained. To her, it was a good life and she would have been the first to tell you so.

L2R: Donna, Mother, Verna, Aunt Margaret

She was connected to family, and family was everything to her. She lived with us on weekends, maintaining her independence and own residence during the week. And she was a workaholic; next to family she loved working. Busy hands, busy heart. Perhaps it's why she lived into her nineties (I hope I got this right); she was always busy.

Aunt Margaret and Mickey at Longwood Gardens

Aunt Margaret was a little woman with a large heart. She helped raise me, along with my parents and grandparents. Years ago, generations ago, the look and feel of family was different. We lived with open doors, unlocked cars, and a walk-in and stay-for-a-while-approach. It was a better time, a safer time, a gentler world. My aunt's world.

Having a Great Aunt was one of life's many blessings. As the first and only grandchild for 9 years, I grew up surrounded with love, attention, and indulgence. And as I reflect, I know it was the making of me.

The Family Picnic: City Home

Totally engulfed with support, care, and sometimes too many mothers, nevertheless I was so very loved and encouraged to reach for the stars. I was taught to make my own life and to make it wonderful, special, something uniquely signatured. Nurturing makes a difference, and I know I have been very lucky indeed.

I was finished with this post when my brother David's next batch of digitized photos from our past arrived in my inbox. This is his favorite photo ever of our Aunt Margaret. I love it too.

Miss you, Auntie. Happy Birthday (5-4-1916)

It's A Dog's Life

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Connections) — Tue, 03 May 2011 17:04:00 +0000

When Allie entered our lives in August, the very first thing she did when she touched ground was to smell the flowers. Several seasons later and spring returns. She still smells flowers, ferns, everything growing above the grass level.

A kind, energetic, but growing watchful young dog, Allie lives to be loved. I guess that's the lab personality. We walk the farmland and I get a different perspective from her. What she notices is different and more than what I see, hear, absorb. She makes farmlife fun.

A very VERY great new FB page to like - no matter where you live!

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Connections) — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 11:54:00 +0000

The status update says it all

Welcome to Little Italy Italian Food Center, a place as close as you can get to fine dining in Italy. If you want the real thing, the real deal for authentic Italian anything, then you want frequent Little Italy Italian Food Center and Restaurant. Their website is inviting and taste tempting, but their newest online foray is their Facebook page, and you really should "like" it and add it to your page.

Immaculate, imported, and extraordinary flavor!

Why? Because if you live even remotely close to Phillipsburg, NJ, you want to make this restaurant your dining and shopping center of choice. The center is spotless; you could eat in their restrooms they are that immaculate. Each time I visit, it feels like they have just built and occupied the building. Cleanliness is next to Godliness, we were taught for 12 years of Catholic school. At Little Italy, cleanliness is goodliness.

Fabulous Food from Little Italy Italian Food Center

A rich array of healthy snacks await your palate and your purchase. Always very hard to resist, this case, nestled next to the cheeses, supplies our snacks. Hard to argue with quality, taste, and the natural nutrient goodness of a Mediterranean diet.

Rome has competition with Little Italy

When it comes to gelato, Little Italy's is home made with recipes straight from Italy. I cannot tell the difference between the Trevi Fountain gelato shop in Rome and Little Italy. Texture, rich flavors, unusual combinations (check the labels) make choosing dessert difficult. And I did not take a snapshot of the dessert case--to die for...

Where else can you buy raffle tickets (3 for $5) on a 20 pound Italian Chocolate Easter Egg? Let me tell you this is chocolate, Italian style, larger than life. Where else can you purchase Italian Chocolate Eggs in any pound weight?

Then there's this smaller egg, 15 pounds. I love that this store lives large, with a big approach to merchandise.

And a large part of that philosophy comes from the center's owner, Francesco. Kinder, dearer, customer friendly--you just won't find--anywhere. He lives to please, and he will custom cook anything for you, on the drop of a phone call. In between cooking specialty items (keep checking his Facebook page for daily additions), he mingles with his customers, shifting between Italian, Southern dialect and English. He is the perfect young man for this business, and he makes dining--and shopping--a pleasure, a delightful experience for palate and pocketbook. One of my all-time favorite places and people, I encourage you to spend some time, on and offline, with Little Italy Italian Food Center.

Tabbethia Haubold ~ Green Is Good

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Connections) — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 11:46:00 +0000

Rev--returned to normal after delivering Golden

Tabbethia Haubold is a household name for many of us. Whether she's shearing our llamas, alpacas, or sheep, or showing in the conformation and performance rings, teaching us at GALA 2010 how to train our llamas for agility and therapy work, or supporting 4H and various educational programs for youth, she is one busy lady. And she has just launched a new eco-green product line you will love--I promise!

Recently, Tabbethia and Christopher married, and from what I have heard and seen, it was a wonderfully different celebration, with a signature say-it-with-style that only Tabbethia could create for a milestone in life. For more wedding news and living happily ever after, you can visit Tabbethia and Christopher's Wedding on Facebook, as well as friend Tabbethia and add her Long Island Livestock FB page to yours.

For Tabbethia, April is not the cruelest month, but it is the busiest since it opens her three-month road trip, better known as her shearing season. April and May find Tabbethia in the north, south, and mid-west. In June, she works closer to her Long Island home territory.

It was great fun hosting Tabbethia overnight and we have to make the sleep-over an annual event because we just had so much fun. Tabbethia had a surprise for me, the gift of soaps, and that led to this home video we made of her newest foray into the business world. Currently, Tabbethia manufactures soap in a most unique way--Woolie Washies and Llama Loofahs--in addition to her lanolin and honey-based soaps sans fiber wrap. Coming soon to her line of eco-friendly products are a healing body butter and lip balm. I can hardly wait.

Take a look at our video, followed by her product offerings and Wooly Washers/Llama Loofahs Scents.

Product Offerings From Long Island Livestock Company

Woolly Washers - Llama Loofa Scents

Remember: you can find Tabbethia on Facebook or contact her at 631 680 6721 or LILivestockCo@optonline.net.

For a creative look at marketing llama products, see Teri Conroy's blog post:

BHLF Open Barn 2011: Mark Your Calendars, Save the Dates

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Connections) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 14:57:00 +0000

Enjoy an escape to Llama Land ~ Walk a Llama

If you have never been to an Open Barn, Carol Reigh's Buck Hollow Llama Farm's weekend is a great place to begin. Join us for a beautiful day in the country. Meet the most socialized llamas ever. Take them for a walk, watch some videos, enjoy the vendors and their hand-made and eco-green wares. Breathe in fresh air, socialize, eat a picnic lunch (you must bring your own) under the shade trees. Linger, learn, and fall in love with the wonderful world of llamas. Saturday and Sunday, May 21 and 22 from 10 - 5. No admission charge. We hope to see you there.

For a glimpse into a BHLF Open Barn, enjoy this video from last year's event.

The Faces at PLAA 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Connections) — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 14:29:00 +0000

PLAA President John Mosovsky

A briskly cool central Pennsylvania morning with a view of Endless Mountains, bucolic scenery, in a place where people "bleed blue," we are at the Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Llama and Alpaca Association at the Toftrees Resort complex at State College. Thirty people registered and 28 arrived for an exciting informative day. An amazing silent auction occurs throughout the day and it is a camelid fanciers bidding paradise.

Linda Cortright ~ The Global Pasture at GALA 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Connections) — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 17:42:00 +0000

Linda Cortright's images from her Global Pasture presentation at GALA 2010 are shared at the bottom of this post with permission. We gratefully thank Cortright for her informative presentations, her gift of storytelling, and her beautiful images.

Linda Cortwright, Editor, Wild Fibers Magazine ~ Back Issues

Linda on a sheep rescue in New Zealand

Some people are natural storytellers, and Linda Cortright, global traveler and editor of Wild Fibers Magazine, is nothing short of extraordinary. She has led, from what I could garner from her presentations at GALA 2010, an exceptionally unique life among fascinating peoples in the far reaches of the universe.

Photographing the sheep rescue

It is impossible to recapture the gift she possesses as she spins her stories; she has traveled to places unknown to many of us. Yet she captures the hearts and souls of the people she meets and we are her beneficiaries. At the onset, I wish to thank Linda for sharing her incredible photographs; they are an amazing gift and deconstruct conventional notions of global farming. Months have passed since GALA 2010 and only recently I found this draft which I thought had been deleted; hence this late posting.

200 vicunas were airlifted into Ecudor to grow an economy and reintroduce them to the area. But the area volcano, Throat of Fire, spews ash to Timbarazo and produces an instinctive behavior that does not allow the animals to reproduce. So, the learned lesson is to place animals in an indigenous habitat. The Peruvian government gifted these people with another 89 vicunas, a considerable gift, but the native habitat has still not enabled reproduction nor fiber harvest.

Then, Linda said she saw a native alpaca herd with a shepherd and she stopped to visit them. Interestingly, in this community of alpacas, the shepherds rotate weekly and in their collective environment they share responsibility for herding and raising their combined flocks. In America, we live in a capitalist culture and are programmed to function and live independently; however, this collective group shows us an alternative and perhaps a better way. The women of this village wear heels and dresses to herd the alpacas.

Note the cooked Guinea Pig on the table

In another village and a recently new community of indigenous people in Ecudor, Cortright met a young mother with child. That day a chef came from another place to teach the villagers how to cook guinea pig. Cortright became the foreign guinea pig for the Ecudorian Julia Child. The guinea pig is on the table and the people were so excited because the village had learned to prepare guinea pigs for tourists. Cortright mentioned that wherever she travels, people in indigineous cultures see her first and foremost as an American, so she accommodates the people and has eaten some amazing things.

Otavalo and the Saturday market is a big fiber destination in Ecudor, and weaving dominates the animal scene more. Cortright goes to peek in on a weaver, Maria, who lives 40 minutes by bus from Otavalo. Everyday, Maria takes her weavings on her back and goes to the daily market. Her husband has made both of her looms. They wake at 4 AM and live in one small room with 7 children in a bed next to her two looms. Her oldest son is in college but comes home to help his mother with her business. Some children create a different lifestyle from their parents. Contrary to what we consider market scenes, when you get to speak with someone like Maria, you get to see and hear what this particular piece of created fiber means to them. You make a purchase and are invited to dinner.

Saturday at the Animal Market in Otavalo (see pictures in link)

Every Saturday in Otavalo is the animal market, and Cortwright said it is quite an experience. Here’s the quick lesson on fiber animals in South America. Wool is becoming a scarce product and is produced in areas where sheep are becoming a meat market. Only one remaining mill exists and that is because they get the fiber from the slaughterhouse. People are now buying acrylic. The animals create horrible noises from being pulled, shoved, hit, dragged. Without being judgmental, Cortright notes that this is how they survive and eat, but she couldn’t handle the cacophony and left, confronted by the reality of a third-world culture.

The regular market, the food market, was a welcomed relief, but her photographer was picpocketed, likely by the two women. Cortright has the photo in her office, and someone who a year later visited her saw the photo and said, “The pickpocketers from Otovallo.”

Cortright purchased sheep shears in Otovalo for someone in New Zealand. Lake Tekapo, NZ, a rustler’s paradise, David Whiteman is a sheep farmer who raises 25,000 sheep. John raises merino sheep. When they bring the sheep down from the mountain, it takes two days and they herd by helicopter. In 2001 there was a band of renegade sheep who eluded muster; David was responsible to clip this band. When they were clipped, they had trouble walking because they lost 1/3 of their of their body weight. Later, they found a small band of remaining renegade sheep and Cortright was invited to attend the muster in the helicopter. When you lease land from the Crown, you must establish certain environmental protocols like opposum control.

To capture the four sheep, the guy jumps down on the sheep, lands, bear hugs the sheep, captures it and flies it via helicopter to safety. 2009 was the International Year of Fiber and was addressing the sustainability of the fiber industry, for whom polar fleece is not your friend. The 4 sheep are put into David’s truck, rescued, and says, “They’re not my sheep.” Eventually, the sheep are returned to their owners.

The mission of Wild Fibers is to find global fibers. Cortwright raises cashmere goats. Cortright fell in love with cashmere goats when a friend went to visit the Himilayans. She saw photos and years later determined to raise them. One of the things that makes cashmere goats’ fiber so very fine is that they live on very sparse vegetation. Everyone exists at one level of the food chain; either you own the animals, or you harvest the fibers and process them, or you purchase the end product.

Linda’s last story was a favorite llama story. For the International Fiber Year, the world’s longest fiber scarf was made. To make an impression in New York, Linda asked Lars to bring a llama to Manhatten. And he did. It was Gail and Lars who inspired her, and Gail who inspired her to “keep going on.

Gail's memory lives on with all of us in many ways. She was honored posthumously at GALA 2010 with the naming of the fiber room in her memory. The ladies of the fiber room also weaved and felted a rug that represented the many facets of Gail's life among her friends in the camelid community. The magic carpet was auctioned at the Saturday evening dinner and then given to Lars. Her friends and family miss her, but our community continues to honor her work, her lasting legacy.

Linda Cortright's global pasture gala 2010

View more presentations from changingconnections.

Animals in Our Past

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Connections) — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 22:00:00 +0000

David and Debbie Kudla

Through the kindness and painstaking investment in time of my brother, David, part of my (not forgotten) past has come to life again through digital scanning. David holds a degree in Botany from the University of Delaware from years ago, but more recently he retooled in computer science. I'm very glad he went the tech route, because he has recaptured our collective memories in images. Sadly, not all of our loved ones are still with us, making the images all the more precious.

It is my intention to group the images and share them, so we have them a family album with a narrative. Unfortunately, I cannot even date most of these images, so I am hoping that the people in them (or my brother, whose memory is razor sharp) can help me with comments that will complete the storytelling on a time line. Then, I'll re-edit the sequence and create a family movie.


Donns, Randy, RJ &; Miss Emmie ~ how young we were!

The closest I can come to a date is a generalization, the 90s, because Miss Emmie never made it to the farm. Fortunately, the rest of us did.


Merlin was totally my cat. No one else could get near him.

For the time he was in my life, Merlin was my soul mate, as cats so often can be. I rescued him from the horse barn where he wandered in one day. The barn folks called him Pencil, because he was so deathly thin. He took to me from the start, and it wasn't long before I asked Mickey if we could adopt him. We did, and somehow I think it was before we were married, but I could be wrong. Merlin was magical and different. He loved being outdoors, took walks with me, but was famous for his love of the long rides we so frequently took. We put food and water and a litter box in the van and off we went. Merlin was a dashboard ornament; he sunned there or claimed another seat of choice. Never a problem, but one day when someone was working on the city house, doors were left open and Merlin left, never to return. I saw him once, a day later, but then never again. Later we learned from a neighbor he had died. But for the wonderful years he shared with us, I am always grateful for his presence in my life.

Miss Emmie's Therapy Dog License Photo

Miss Emmie was our best dog ever. Likely she will hold that title for the rest of my life, because I cannot imagine any other pet coming close. Not to say I do not love or have not fancied our other dogs, past or present. Just none of them were ever quite the legend that Miss Emmie created in our lives.

The love of our life and Best in Show

What made her so special? Timing, partly. She came at a time when we wanted a visible deterrent, a strong presence of protection. She was that and more. Pure instincts of a German Shepherd Dog. She was the most intelligent, easily trained canine. Stay meant stay, and twice I had inadvertently left her, once at the beauty parlor and another time at the landscaper, but she stayed. She was trained in an obscure language as a protection dog for walking and running with me as I trained for half-marathons, and she was trained in hand signals for distance commands. She was a ringer of a tracker, and would have made a great search-and-rescue dog, if I could have made the sacrifice. She did not like children, and she was always a dog with whom you needed an introduction and my watchful eye; nonetheless, she was our Best in Show, still first in our hearts (yes, I love you Allie, but Emmie you're not).


Beloved Ono, my brother David's dog

Ono was my brother's dog, but if I didn't know better, he could have been the image of two of my Welsh Terriers. I'm guessing this dog was in our lives in the late 60s and/or early 70s, our vintage Welsh Terrier years. I'm so glad I had this breed of antical, high-energy dogs in my life when I was younger, because despite Allie's (our current dog, black Lab puppy) energy, the Welshies had it over any other dog I've known, including Blue Heelers.

I'm sending a special thank you to you, David, for the infinite care you took in making our memories live forever. Much love and gratitude.

You know it's spring when...

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Connections) — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 19:11:00 +0000

Image via WikipediaMy Top Ten, although any one would be a sure sign.

Check out the short video below (especially Brandi).

10. A rough week adjusting to Daylight Savings Time.
9. Even our dog is waking up at 3 AM thinking it's 4.
8. My husband has a spring cold; I'm battling one too.
7. I'm riding around in the golf carts again.
6. The residual effects of spring flooding and erosion are everywhere.
5. We'll have lots of firewood if we decide to use our alternative stove next winter.
4. The girls and Golden are spending all but grain feeding time in the pastures.
3. It's time to move the garbage bins (dust bins as UK says) off the porch.

Check out the "paddle."

2. You can hear the woodpeckers wrecking yet another tree.
1. Michael and company arrive with smiles on their faces, ready to tackle my "short list" (which I always think is reasonable but never is).

Six-Legged Walks, Ecotips, and Beating Back Cancer: Life Choices to Beat Back Cancer

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Connections) — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 17:33:00 +0000

Cross posted on Beating Back Cancer.

Allie loves winter, water, but not ice...

Weathering winter can challenge the best in us, and despite a harsher noreaster season than usual, signs of spring revitalize. A thick sheet of ice blanketed the farm most of the winter months, thick enough to ice skate, really. All of which made walking a brand new ADHD Black Labrador Retriever puppy a challenge because she always has energy to burn, even after an hour plus walk. The snow stayed forever but still we took our six-legged walks. Not nearly as long but definitely more often, so it all balanced. And here's the cancer connection: in spite of being outdoors at least 3 hours a day in all conditions, I never spent a healthier winter, and I owe this feat to how I choose to live. Walking Allie keeps me fit and lets me sleep through the night without Allie wanting "out."

Hours old Golden with Rev and Aunt Tess

Clearly, having 7 llamas, one of which is a growing cria, 185 acres, a husband, a city home, and a teaching career, plus 5 blogs (farmlife, cancer, school, DEN, and tech), I am always busy. And that works for me. No matter how I feel, physically or emotionally, knowing my llamas depend on me gets me up every day at 4:30 AM to begin an hour-and-a-half routine of caring for my house and barn animals. After school, another hour plus (never minus). With a house, barn, and farm to keep clean, vehicles charged, cleaned, and all the seasonal work that comes with a farm plus grading students' work keep me very busy. Seeing a cancer connection pattern here, right... My cancer specialist Dr. Sunita Nasta at the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, part of Penn Medicine at the Abramson Cancer Center repeatedly tells me that exercise if the best medicine, but warns me not to get exhausted. Working on the farm is whole body exercise, with the added body and soul or mind-body connection. Despite occasional fatigue, I would not change my life an iota.

Gishpheol A Nalgene plastic~think before you drink

Then there's the issue of consumption. What we choose not to consume is as critical as what we opt to select. I've moved away from most canned goods, plastic as much as possible (yes, I read for numbers). The newest and best packaging of food has moved away from BPA (Bisphenol A) because it is a suspected endocrine disrupter, a chemical that can interfere with the body's gland and hormone functions. The FDA is "working on" deciding what safe levels are. I just avoid the claptrap by choosing glass, carefully prepared frozen foods, and choosing organic. I eat a balanced abundance of grains, vegetables, and fruit, some of which comes from our farm or our neighbors' farms. Meat is usually not on my menu. This summer I am beginning an organic garden, using carefully harvested heirloom seeds that are NOT irradiated. Can you tell I am moving closer to the "R" word (retirement). Watching what you eat and drink and how your purchased food is packaged can be a lifesaver.

Great online resource for living better

Affordable symposia @ $25

Another daily practice is to read and research about cancer, and I choose mainstream, nontraditional, and alternative research therapies in hard and digital formats. I read, read, read. I look for venues that provide me with possibilities for better living in harmony with the earth. I found a free magazine (supported by practitioner and business advertisements) called Natural Awakenings. It has an online presence, but exists nationally, and if your locale does not have a current NA magazine, you can become a publisher. Inside each monthly issue is a world of lifestyle changes from which you can choose those that suit. One of my best finds from this periodical (I still love hard copy although I live a digital life) is Twin Ponds Integrative Center, a place that aggregates healthful programs, integrative practices, holistic therapies, and vibrant options for moving forward with a happy lifestyle that supports beating back cancer.

Fourth and final daily approach: prayer. Although a cliche in a post-postmodern world, I believe in the strength and healing power of prayer. Whether I'm cleaning pastures or doing yoga, I tune into God, have conversations of the silent sort, thanking and counting blessings. I pray for others, because what goes around comes around and back to you. Better to receive prayers from others than to ask God yourself. And I've learned to listen. Silence speaks, and in the early morning hours with my llamas, or in romping six-legged walks, or in late-night visits to check on the girls, I carry God's presence in my life with me.

The end result: a healthier happier me. But then, I have said this so often, I've been really lucky. Blessed.

Gurdy Run Woolen Mill: Continuous Strand Weaving Classes

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Connections) — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 16:24:00 +0000

Sale Barn

On May 13-15, 2011, Carol Leigh is coming to Gurdy Run Woolen Mill to teach continuous strand weaving which is done on a triangle loom.

Take a look at what your days have in store for you.

Carol Leigh Weaving Class

If you are interested in attending this three-day event (single day or weekend), please contact:

Lydia and John Piper
Gurdy Run Woolen Mill
763 Tourist Park Road
Halifax, PA 17032 USA
717-896-7661 (mill) ~ 717-896-8419 (home)
www.gurdyrun.com/farm
www.gurdyrun.com/mill

Heartily, I recommend your perusing the Gurdy Run mill and farm sites (all housed under one website). There's a wealth of resources and opportunities to view and/or purchase. From all that you can tell from a website, this is one farm I really want to visit--and soon. Hoping to see you at the mill for the continuous strand weaving. A special thanks to GALA 2010 Co-Chair Dr. Anita M. Collins for forwarding this information.

CAMELIDynamics 1-Day Clinic in Harrisburg PA Coming Soon

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Connections) — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 12:34:00 +0000

Very informative drop-down resources.

Email is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you are going to find when you open your inbox. This morning I was pleasantly surprised by a notice of a one-day Camelidynamics clinic in Harrisburg, PA. But if that is not your home base, the entire year's schedule is listed for presentations throughout the country. The presenter is Marty McGee Bennett and the date to reserve is April 7, 2011. As of this posting, seats are still available. If you wish to contact the presenter, her information is listed below.

Email jpressler@vermontel.net, call or visit www.camelidynamics.com, for additional clinic information and registration forms.

Join the CAMELIDynamics Guild

For Marty's year-round schedule, look below.

Marty's Complete 2011 Clinic Schedule

2-Day Basics
Texas (March 26-27)
Canada (April 30-May1)
(Regina, Saskatchawan)

Canada (May 28-29)
(Near Montreal, Quebec)

Oregon (June 18-19)
Wisconsin (June 25-26)
Vermont (July 30-31)
Switzerland (Sept 3-4)
Germany (Sept 10-11)
Ohio (Oct 8-9)
New Mexico (Oct 22-23)
California (Nov 5-6)

4-Day Advanced*
Vermont (June 3-6)

Oregon (July 10-13)
Vermont (August 5-8)

England (Sept 16-19)

1-Day Basics
Pennsylvania (April 7)

From perusing Marty's website, I feel very comfortable in suggesting these events; I may even join the Guild.

Farmland Report: Working Toward 21st Century Solutions

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Connections) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 15:20:00 +0000

My blog style has never been copy/paste, but today marks the second consecutive time I am taking something truly worthwhile and just transferring it without additional commentary. I think the issues as they are presented by the Farmland Report speak for themselves; I just hope to broaden the audience.

Working Toward 21^st Century Solutions at National Agricultural Landscape Forum

You can subscribe to Farmland's e-News

How much land and water do we need to meet present and future demands for food, energy and environmental services? Recognizing tight budgets and multiple resource demands, 21st century solutions will require greater cooperation between farmers and ranchers, federal, state and local governments and private partners to focus on conservation outcomes.

Toward this end, USDA has partnered with us and Farm Foundation NFP to host a National Agricultural Landscape Forum in Washington D.C. on April 7-8, 2011. The forum is guided by a Blue Ribbon Panel of leaders in agriculture and conservation and is part of the public input process required by the Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act (RCA) to improve the effectiveness of federal conservation and rural development programs. Come make your voice heard! Register now for the opportunity to take part in this critically important dialogue.

Charting New Waters Coalition: A Pledge to Protect Our Water

As the single largest user of land and water resources in America, farmers and ranchers can be a major part of the solution to the environmental challenge of water quality. That is why we have joined the Charting New Waters coalition, committing to help preserve our freshwater resources. You, too, can pledge to protect America’s waterways by taking our Clean Water Challenge: Match a Farmer’s Commitment.

Strong Economic Future Needs Conservation Programs

What’s on the horizon for the agriculture economy in 2011? Our president Jon Scholl offers his reflection from the USDA’s annual Ag Outlook Forum. The message was clear: the loss of farmland and increased demand for sustainably produced food and fuel puts even more pressure on our working lands. Yet right now, federal funds for conservation are in jeopardy. Help us protect programs that farmers need to provide a healthy future—ask the Senate to stop cuts to hard-won conservation programs!

For more information, please check this link.

Allie's First Snow on The Farm

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Connections) — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 17:23:00 +0000

Some of my Facebook friends plow their pastures so their llamas and alpacas have access to roam despite deep snow. We also plow our fields so Allie and I can continue to take our forty-minute daily walks. Here's Allie, waiting to walk about on the farm.

Allie's First Snow on The Farm from RJ Stangherlin on Vimeo.

From A Picture Window...A Snapshot of Farmlife

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Connections) — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 16:18:00 +0000

Picture Perfect Dream Come True

I always wanted to live on a farm. Always. It just took me a while to achieve my lifelong dream, to look out my window and see my animals in my backyard. Let me tell you nothing is more fulfilling, nothing brings more happiness than working hard to achieve a dream and then have it come true. Definitely blessed. Totally grateful.

Through our picture window, I see my world in microcosm. Almost everything that matters in my life (except school) is right here on The Farm. Everyday, when I look through this window, I give thanks to God for His Blessings. And I thank my husband for making it all possible.

Cat to my left

Cat on my lap

Usually at my feet on the bed

Saturday is my favorite day. We all sleep in. Life begins when Mickey awakens; until then, we keep the house in lockdown quiet, since weekdays my alarm rings at 4:30 AM. Today is R&R day; I get to catch up on posting to my 4 blogs, or at least make a dent. Calm sets in and the stress of the week dissipates. Is life on the farm idyllic. Nope. But it's the life I have always and will always want. Living your dream is not something everyone gets to do, but I have always been aggressive about living not existing, and getting there and not settling. And that, I think, sheer determination, is at the heart of achieving that picture perfect window.

Life in harmony

It Isn't Snow Until...

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Connections) — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 00:58:00 +0000

Real snow

If you don't need a plow or two, a shovel, and your full-length Carhart gear head to toe, is just isn't snow. Nuisance white stuff, but definitely not snow. Today we had snow, and from 4:30 AM till noon when I called it QUITS, it was definitely snow. Not the most ever, nor the worst ever. Just snow and all that comes with it -- life on the farm. The new truck's battery: dead. My FLIP camera: dead. My regular camera: dead. Plowing with the new truck: opportunity missed. Photo ops: missed in daylight.

Not too spoiled, right.

As night nestles in, our llamas have already selected their kush-down spots. Golden, our first farm cria, continues to be the most independent lad in llama land, except at night. Then he snuggles close to his mother. Almost always indoors.

The night watch

EtCetera, with the densest coat, having received only a barrel cut, chooses outside even in single digit cold. SP joins her most evenings, but ultimately retires to a stall. In past years, I suffered angst over to close or not to close the pastures when snow fell. Now I leave it to the more intelligent to make the choice.

As for me, I took my first nap of the season with a snow day. For most teachers, a snow day is a free day but life on the farm--never a free day. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

A Snow Day and Montana

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Connections) — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 04:00:00 +0000

I was ready to drive the almost hour to school when the no school call came. Nothing beats a snow day when it makes a long weekend, either on the front or back end. And it was such a good day. Spent time with the llamas, played with Allie, rested with the cats flanking me. Mickey stayed home. Winterizing done the night before, I was left with a day to reflect, to blog, to count my blessings, and there are so many.

Criminal Neglect!

Then I went on Facebook and now I am having trouble sleeping. Montana. How can people commit such horror (and not just to animals). Have we lost our conscience? So much for sanctuary. Animals give us unqualified love and what do some people do.

So how can we help? Many ways. Penalties should be imposed. The force of law and animal rights organizations need to vocalize. We need to donate something of us, however small, to help these animals. Brenda Larson Vance pointed me toward AniMeals Missola, and I became a friend.

Sometimes horror is so great that we turn from it; this is one horror we need to face. Fix. Please help, any way you can. The cruelty must end, and as animal lovers and camelid owners, I think we share a greater responsibility to do something. Please help. If you can make a donation, however small, please visit Southeast Llama Rescue.

Allie's First Winter on The Farm

noreply@blogger.com (Changing Connections) — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 03:24:00 +0000

If you are an animal person, then this video needs no introduction. I believe the animals who share their lives with us enrich us, keep us calm and grounded. I cannot imagine life not surrounded by the friends I love.

Allie's First Winter on The Farm from RJ Stangherlin on Vimeo.

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