Old Homestead Alpacas

11/07/2023

BEWARE! Open mouth chewing and all kinds of alpaca zen.

11/06/2023

Rain on the barn roof. There’s nothing quite like it, unless there are also adorable alpacas under that roof, too 😉

11/05/2023

Someone forgot to close a gate! ((Me, as usual)) and of course Scout took a few gals on a walk-about. It was short lived & great exercise 😅

11/04/2023

🚨This is the infamous alpaca alert call! Volume up! Any guesses which unexpected visitor they were announcing?!

11/01/2023

Look what I made! 🧶🦙

where color work & the post-season collide!

10/31/2023

Chilly mornings on the farm - it’s a beautiful thing!

10/30/2023

Elena & Hammie sporting the Hammie Headband — the most plush and luxurious new favorite for your winter wardrobe! Available now!

https://www.oldhomesteadalpacas.com/shop/p/headband

10/30/2023

Instead of a hat — try our ultra plush, super warm headband! As modeled by farm intern Elena 😍 available for immediate shipping!

Don't like how ya look in a hat? Just need a touch of warmth? Wanna preserve that perfect pony tail? The Hammie Headband was made for you! Abandoned at birth by his mama, Hammie had a rough start in this world. But 31 days of bottle feeding by yours truly, and with the help of his BFFs, Bern

10/29/2023

Back in stock — our best seller — the Cozy Cowl — your new favorite neck warmer ❄️

You new favorite all-season circular scarf!

10/29/2023

‼️ Despite only being 58 days old, Ron (middle) has almost 3 inches of fleece. So on mornings like today, a crisp 25° is no match for the insulating power of alpaca fiber.

Most of our hats & scarves are only 3 ounces but they provide this same exceptional warmth and softness.

If you’d like to experience this for yourself, our online shop is stocked with plenty of options ready for immediate shipping ❄️

10/28/2023

We got our first fall frost! ❄️

I really love the changing of the season—even if this is the cold one.

It’s a perfect time to get out those knits & breathe in the crisp air.

Three CHEERS for SNUGGLE SEASON!

10/27/2023

Snuggle season is here!!

10/24/2023

Just harvested one final bunch of dahlias since we’re expecting our first frost ❄️ tonight. This big bouquet & the rows of flowers behind me were grown using the alpacas manure. Wearing my cowl & headband from this year’s knitwear collection while doing this ceremonial final harvest is a reminder just how perfect flowers & fibers are together! 🌸

10/23/2023

‼️Ron & Roxy hatched a plan over breakfast this morning. If you missed our knitwear sale — the store will be reopening later this week‼️

10/19/2023

I knit this cowl using our farm yarn and I really wanted to get a picture with the herd while wearing it…this wasn’t the image I was going! But Hammie, Bernie and Wyatt wanted to cuddle instead!

10/19/2023

Here are the kiddos at breakfast enjoying the brisk but sunny morning!

10/18/2023

Your moment of alpaca zen

10/17/2023

10/16/2023

Fall on the farm...

10/15/2023

Look at all those ears!

10/13/2023

⭐️ Name those babies….from left to right…

Winner gets a super big gold star ⭐️

10/12/2023

Long caption alert!

I’m slowly re-emerging from the excitement of our 9th Annual Open Barn event.

We welcomed a record setting 475 guests to the farm over the 6-hour event. It’s always a thrill (and an insane push) to prepare for such an event — which is why we only do it once a year.

We had several local friends help us put it on, along with family who traveled all the way from Chicago, Salt Lake City and Tacoma.

It’s always an honor to open the farm for those interested in a fun escape from their screens, those who are curious about alpacas and of course the enthusiasts who are inspired to learn how we produce garments from these majestic beings.

I am humbled year-after-year at all the kind words, thoughtful questions and generous patrons who come out to support the Open Barn & purchase pieces of our Knitwear Collection.

This annual event is a capstone for my regular season. Now begins a nice stretch of rest & recuperation. I’ll be back in the “office” responding to emails and messages at the end of this month.

I still have a nice selection of knits & yarns, so look for another online sale next month. And I’m toying with a small Christmas in the Barn gathering to officially close out the year.

But for now, I’ll be taking it real easy, splitting my time between the couch, my knitting chair and the pasture of course.

With deepest gratitude,
Elaine & the whole herd

10/09/2023

Walter & Wyatt got their fall haircut yesterday at Open Barn!

You might be wondering why we cut their hair in the fall before it gets cold. Well, as Valais Blacknose breed of sheep, their wool grows very quickly. So quickly they need to be shorn twice a year to keep the sheep healthy.

They had at least 8 inches when it was shorn yesterday, and with sunny days like it has been, they get quite warm.

The forecast this week is ideal for shearing, their skin will toughen up and they’ll be totally acclimated in just a few days. And they’ll have grown several inches of new wool before the snow flies.

And then they’ll be shorn again in spring along with the alpacas.

10/07/2023

ALMOST READY. The boys had a mini spa day with fresh toe nail and bang trims ✂️ We hope to see everyone at our 9th Annual Open Barn tomorrow!

10/06/2023

All 4 cria (babies) are looking forward to showing off on SUNDAY! You coming??! 10am to 4pm

10/05/2023

THIS COULD BE YOU! If you come to OPEN BARN on SUNDAY.

10/04/2023

Ron has an important question - are you coming to meet him (and all his pals) at Open Barn on Sunday?!

10/02/2023

Our knitwear sale yesterday was a huge success. I cannot tell you how much it means to see orders coming in.

There were over 100 orders in the first hour alone. I had happy tears for most of the day.

You’ve heard me say it a lot already, but it bears repeating. The knitwear takes 18 months to bring to life — 12 months for the alpacas to grow it and another 6 to get it processed & dyed.

During that 18 months, I’m never sure if it’ll pencil out. There are so many upfront and ongoing costs that it feels risky (reckless even) to put all my resources into something that long before it’s sellable.

This situation is not unique to me as other farmers can attest, that’s just the nature of agriculture. But with yesterday’s sale, there’s a deep relief in knowing I’m able to pay the processing bills in full now and be able to keep the barn lights on all winter.

Thank you from every nook & cranny of my shepherdess heart ❤️

Here’s the herd galloping with glee to a new pasture, steadily growing next year’s Collection 💫

10/01/2023

Now available - our 2023 Harvest Knitwear Collection! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

https://www.oldhomesteadalpacas.com/shop

09/30/2023

Hammie & Co. Headband comes in two versions of black & white.

It’s taken so much love & effort to get to this point and I cannot wait to share it with you ONLINE tomorrow!

09/29/2023

What a fun morning to have Elena back on the farm! We did a little photoshoot for our big online sale on Sunday. Here she is modeling our all new 2 color headband. The white fiber came from Hammie & Co so you know I had to have him try it on. I think he likes it, don’t you? 😁

09/28/2023

Winnie & her big fuzzy ears want to remind you about our upcoming knitwear online sale! October 1st!

09/26/2023

Reba and Ron here with an important question — are you coming to our 9th Annual Open Barn on Sunday, October 8th?!

09/25/2023

Similar to our wine growing neighbors, I like to create “tasting notes” for each year’s collection. It’s mostly pictures of the 18+ months that it takes to bring it to life. It’s worth the read — and the Collection will be available soon!

These ‘tasting notes’ help you experience the homestead terroir in every stitch.

09/22/2023

Hello Friday!!

09/22/2023

Frolicking in the fog!