Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Diena and Goldie
When we moved here in 2015, we had never had chickens before. I had only held a chick or two when I was a child. M said, "We don't need chickens" and that was that.
One week when he was in SLC, he returned home to find we HAD chickens. I had overcome my fear and had traded loaves of fresh wheat bread for chickens, a very good trade indeed.
From that day on I have enjoyed chicken ownership and the ups and downs of it. I have lost a few to old age, and that has been sad. I have read more...
Ethel the hen
Ariel the hen
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Saturday, March 16, 2024
Django Fandango loving the snow
The heavy wet snow started falling here Friday. We were warned we'd have snow, and snow it did. Electricity went out during the night, but came back on after about an hour.
Snow continued through the day and we were blasted with almost 18 inches of very heavy, wet snow. We usually don't get snow like this. Since we've lived here (2015) it's only the second time we've needed our neighbor to use their huge tractor to dig us out of our long driveway so we could four-wheel-drive out read more...
Tomar Leche doesn't mind snow if she has grass hay
Charlie, our Livestock Guardian Dog, loves the snow
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Saturday, December 30, 2023
Harry is growing and his fleece is so crimpy and beautiful
It may be chilly outside and getting ready to snow (oh well, we need it). Our weather here is unpredictable. However, everyone outside is just fine. Our happy alpacas are wearing their finest natural coats (alpaca fleeces are three times warmer than wool). They're enjoying locally grown second cut grass hay, fresh water and have been treated recently to carrots and grain from the generosity of ranch visitors who recently gave them extra lovings and attention. With every visit, they put on an read more...
Closeup of 100% alpaca scarf
100% alpaca woven on Blue cotton warp
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Thursday, November 16, 2023
Circle Cliff's Harry James and Circle Cliff's Zorro Cloud
This is the time to really give and express thanks. We think it, and we need to say it as well.
We are grateful and thankful to each of you who have supported and helped us here at Circle Cliff Ranch Alpacas.
Thank you to those who have visited us at our ranch. Any profits of your visits and purchases of alpaca-related items go directly to keep the alpacas, doggies and chickens cared for.
Thank you for supporting small businesses and shopping local. This means a read more...
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Friday, August 11, 2023
Gentle Alpacas and the trust goes both ways
We've had such a wonderful variety of ranch visitors this summer. What's been different?
*Many sets of twins.
This is the first year that we have had a high number of twins visiting us. Mostly identical twins -- it's been a BLAST having DOUBLE the FUN here. One of our favorite times was when Norah June and Polly were haltered and identical twins took them for a little walk. It was like an old commercial I saw when I was a child, Spearmint Gum, "Double your Pleasure, Double your Fun read more...
Dream Catcher and Odin watch while Norah June eats her grain
Silver Breeze eats while mama, Oprah, watches us
Totally surrounded by the girls and little Silver Breeze
Oprah gives her best kisses today
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Tuesday, July 4, 2023
Welcome Circle Cliff's Silver Breeze
We celebrate today the beautiful cria (baby) that joined our ranch one month ago today, Circle Cliff's Silver Breeze. Born to Circle Cliff's Oprah and Springtoo Oh Geoffrey, she's called "Breeze" because her birth was so unusually fast Toni Lamb and I needed to help clear out her lungs for about 15 minutes after she was born.
When she was three weeks old (last week), she weighed in at 30 strong pounds.
Breeze is now nursing well, eating grass hay, and nibbling grain from the ground that's read more...
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Monday, April 17, 2023
Polly and Praline Sundae figuring out the children
Having 30 first graders, teachers and parents at the ranch has become a tradition that we look forward to. This is the third year we've welcomed our local elementary children to visit and explore the wonderful life we have at Circle Cliff Ranch Alpacas. When they leave us, we hope that they will carry with them a fondness for alpacas, for the love for nature and the experiences they felt while here.
"Farmer Mike" and I welcome groups like these first graders. Before becoming an alpaca rancher read more...
Farmer Mike & Miss Diena
Hand feeding alpacas
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Monday, February 6, 2023
Natural silver - 200 yards
We have added lots of beautiful hand and mill-spun yarns to our Paca Shop. Because alpacas come in 22 natural colors, I have only enhanced some of our yarns so far with silk and bamboo. Our alpacas produced such a high quality of fleece last year; we are proud to offer this to you an amazing selection now.
Many of our yarns are worsted weight, while some hand-spun are a little heavier but so beautiful. In yardage you'll find many in 150 or 200 skeins, but again, this may vary with hand spun.
read more...
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Wednesday, January 18, 2023
Jasmin didn't let me hold Circle Cliff's Finnegan SirPrize unless I tricked her and separated her little guy in the nursery without her. Sometimes you have to weigh the crias (babies) and give them medications and just handle them. Jasmin is so very loving and watchful of her little ones trickery is the only way.
Currently, Jasmin will let her little guy run and play with his best friend, Circle Cliff's Neapolitan Sundae (Polly) and the two of them stir up their own fun. Mommy read more...
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Saturday, November 19, 2022
Alpaca Dryer Balls too!
Mike and I have spent time this week doing some herd health (that's what we do here to help keep everyone healthy). We gave Finnegan SirPrize his three-month shot and Melvin a shot to help him with his dry lip condition that hasn't gone away. We trimmed Norah June's front toe nails and walked her around so she wouldn't feel "picked on" because nail trimming is not always fun. We also rubbed some "zinc lotion" on Praline Sundae and Cocoa Sundae's noses. They have bare spots there; today the read more...
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