It's been so much fun getting your photo submissions in response to my last post!  Thanks to everyone that has participated so far.  Here are a few I'd like to share. 
As you can see, it's a fun and different experience.  For those that have not been to Pronkin' Pastures, we invite you to visit!  

Speaking of visiting, we are holding an informal 'Open House' this weekend.  Stop by for a cup of hot apple cider and a visit with the alpacas.  And if you need to do holiday shopping, our store will be open and is packed full of goodies, too!

We hope to see you soon - both in person and in photos!  Keep sending  your photos in for a chance to win a $20 Pronkin' Pastures gift certificate.
 
 
Once again, it's been much too long since I've posted.  I love writing the blog, but have such a hard time finding the time!  There's lots to tell you, but for today, will start with our most recent event.

After another long year of hard work, Fiber Fusion Northwest has come and gone.  The big event took place last weekend.   I am very involved with the planning of this event and,  along with a small but dedicated team,  have put a lot of time into it over the past year.   Finally the day came to see the results of our labors.   The YouTube video below was created by another member of our committee and shows a compilation of the show.  
The show was as much fun as it looks, and it was so rewarding to see it all come together! 

In addition to being active on the planning committee, we participated as a vendor selling yarn and roving from our booth, and we entered 3 fleeces in the alpaca fleece show. 

I was thrilled to win ribbons with each of the fleeces we entered!







Our pretty little Daphne won FIRST place in her class of dark yearling alpacas!







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Daphne - May 2012
Our handsome boy, Matteo, took a Second Place ribbon in his gray color class....

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Matteo's 2nd place fleece and ribbon
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Matteo - July 2012
And Sweet Mariska won a Second Place ribbon in  her light color class!
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Sweet Mariska - May 2012
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Sweet Mariska's red ribbon

We couldn't be happier to have these three alpacas in our herd and breeding program!

With Fiber Fusion over for this year, it's time to look toward what's happening next.  That would be Whidbey FiberQuest, and it's happening this weekend!  Similar to a yarn shop tour, Whidbey FiberQuest is a self-guided tour of several fiber farms, a yarn shop,  two wineries, a deli and a chocolate shop.  Visit all on the tour for a chance to win great prizes, including a wonderful fiber-filled gift basket valued at over $300.  Visit the FiberQuest website for all the details, and plan on making a trip to Whidbey Island this weekend!  It will be a fun, fiber-filled event you won't want to miss.  Hope to see you!
 
 
Inspiration for this post comes from a comment on my last post -  “Who is that in the picture?”   So, I thought I’d give you a run-down on some of the new header photos….

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Header photo found on our 'Home' page.

This is ‘Winsome Willow’.  She is my very favorite alpaca.  She has the sweetest personality and loves to interact with me.   Just look at that sweet face and adoring eyes!  I’m proud to say that this particular photo won first place in the People’s Choice photo contest at Fiber Fusion.


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Header photo found on the 'Store' page.

This is Matteo chasing Finnegan. 
Matteo is several weeks old and Finnegan is just days old.  They really aren’t pronking here, just running. 

Pronking usually takes place at dusk or sometimes even after dark, so it’s harder to capture a good photo, but I'm working on it!

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Header photo found on the 'Calendar' page.

This is Baloo.   Baloo and his pal, Cesario, are Suri alpacas and are new to our farm.  We purchased them last summer because I wanted to diversify the type of fiber we are producing, and because we wanted to be able to show our visitors what a Suri alpaca really looks like. 
We have fallen in love with both of these guys, and so have our visitors.  Baloo has become is our little farm ambassador.  If ever a visitor needs an alpaca kiss, Baloo is the 'go-to' guy!

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Header photo found on the 'Contact Us' page.

This is baby Duncan at just 2 weeks old.  He rests while mom, Lilah, grazes.  He was a very cute baby!



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Header photo on the 'Resources' page.

Here I am working with my favorite subject – Willow.   We are doing a clicker training demonstration. 
 
In March of last year, a small group of people that are interested in dog training took a field trip to Pronkin' Pastures.  They were all familiar with clicker training in dogs, but were interested to see clicker training with a species other than dogs.   This particular photo was taken by one of the attendees. 


This is our pasture in Summer.  The herd just loves to get out there.  Moms enjoy the fresh, green grass and the babies love to get our there and kick up their heels! 
If you look closely, you can see a young alpaca in mid-air jumping from the mound under the tree!


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Header photo found on the 'Alpacas' page.



Everybody loves these alpaca teddy bears in the store.  Here, the medium sized teddy bear is pictured with some of my hand-dyed yarns.



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Header photo found on the 'What is Pronking?' page.



This is Finnegan (white) and Daphne (brown) as crias.  Aren’t they sweet?





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Header photo found on the 'Blog' page.
 
I love this photo because, to me, it is so in tune with the essence of our ranch name and the idea of fun that we were trying to convey with it! 
While they aren't actually pronking, Sparky and Skye both seem to be having a wonderful time!


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Header photo on the 'Join our Email List' page.



This is Lily, 11 months pregnant, taking a break in the shade. 








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Header photo on the 'Clicker Training' page.
So, there you have it!  Hope you enjoy the photos!