Fall Outlook

It was great being home this summer, as I could do tons of things with the llamas whenever I wanted!  It won't be nearly as easy this fall now that I'm back in Michigan for school, but I'm going to do my best to keep going with llama shows and fiber events!

First on the calendar is LamaFest, which is this coming weekend!  It is held at the MSU Pavilion: Friday evening and all day Saturday and Sunday.  I won't be able to actually show a llama this year, but I'll be around Saturday to help with the fiber show and walking fiber.  It's a great show, if you're in the Lansing area you should check it out!

Annie and Ralph at the 2011 LamaFest show.

Next is the Shelby County Pioneer Fair back home in Shelbyville, IN.  It is being held at the fairgrounds in town, Sept. 15-16.  I'll be there (in costume!) spinning on a walking wheel and selling some of my handcrafted fiber items.  There will be lots of things to see and do (hand's on stuff for kids too!), so stop by and say hi!

A example of the handknit items that I will be selling at the Pioneer Fair.  I'll also have handspun yarn and handwoven rugs and scarves.

The next Saturday after that is the Meridian Township Heritage Festival in Okemos, MI.  It's actually a lot like the Pioneer Fair (not quite as cool, but at least they're trying!).  Once again I'll be there spinning (not in 1800s clothing though) and selling fiber items.  The farmer's market is also being held at the same time, so it's a great Saturday event!

My set-up at the Meridian Township Craft Marketplace last summer.

October 13 is the first of two llama shows for the fall (where I actually get to show llamas that is!).  A local 4-H club is putting on a double ILR-SD llama show (halter and performance) in Crawfordsville.  I'm planning on bringing the boys (Ralph and T), as well as debuting Kara in the show ring for the first time!  Hopefully I can find some time to work with her on the obstacle course and get her pack trained...she has a great performance personality!

Let's hope Kara poses this well in her halter class at the shows!

And last but not least is the North American International Livestock Expo in Louisville, KY, Nov. 2-4. This is one of my all-time favorite llama shows, and I'm so glad I get to go again this year!  It's been at least 6-7 years since I've shown there!  This one's a little more expensive, so I'm just taking Ralph and Kara.  Kara probably won't be as good of a showmanship partner as T would be, but I'd rather show Ralph in open alpaca performance!  Either way it will be a great show!

The last time I took a young cria to show at the NAILE.  This is Autumn Hill's Charity at just over 5 months of age, and she did quite well!  I hope Kara will do just as good!

So that's a bit of what's going on in my neck of the woods this fall...what are your plans?

I also have a lot of fiber projects in mind to work on this fall.  I have at least 3 knitting projects that I need to finish before Christmas, and I have 2 sweaters (one with handspun yarn that also needs to be spun!) that I want to knit!  Plus a big tapestry weaving project that also needs handspun yarn!  I'm going to be busy, but it should be fun!

Two of the "donors" of fur for my tapestry weaving project...it is all natural dog fur!

FOR SALE: Overman Bluff N Fluff

It's sad to have to do this, but the time has come to look for a new home for Bluff.  The herd is moving to central NY next spring/summer, and I have to downsize as much as possible.  I'm keeping Bluff's gorgeous daughter, Kara, to carry on the legacy in my future breeding herd.

Bluff at ~6 months of age (Fall 2006).

Bluff is definitely one of the coolest llamas I've ever purchased, and she is still one of my favorites on the farm.  I bought her in 2008 from Doug Overman of Overman Llamas in Otterbein, IN.  She was only halter trained, but she had a very calm disposition and I knew she would be easy to train.

Bluff at ~1 year of age (Spring 2007).

A family friend showed Bluff at her first show (Kentuckiana Classic) just a month after we purchased her, and Bluff placed 2nd in a very competitive halter class.

Bluff in April 2008.

A couple of months after that I showed Bluff for the first time at the Allen Co. Open show, where she placed 1st and Grand Champion in halter!  I was over the moon!  We also went to the Ohio State Fair, where she placed 2nd in her first Novice performance class!

Bluff and I in Adult Showmanship at the 2008 Ohio State Fair.

Shortly before the Allen Co. show we bred Bluff for the first time (to MRLF Ridge Runner- our ALSA Halter Champion herdsire at the time), and Bluff entered the "mom" portion of her life.  In June 2009 she gave birth to Autumn Hill's Rainier, who has since gone on to win Champions in halter and place in many competitive Novice performance classes with his new owner.

Bluff and Rainier at the 2009 Indiana State Fair.

Bluff and Rainier getting ready for the costume class.  Bluff is the one covered from head to toe!

Rainier at ~2 months of age (Summer 2009).

We bred Bluff back to Ridge later that fall, and in October 2010 she delivered Autumn Hill's Iliamna (aka Lily).  Lily was almost perfect in every way, and it was devastating when we lost her to a cruel dog attack at just 3 months of age.

Lily and Bluff, Fall 2010.

Desperate for a Bluff/Ridge baby to keep for myself, we bred Bluff back to Ridge one more time, and Autumn Hill's Karakoram (aka Kara) was born this past April (2012).  She is even more colorful than her two full siblings, and I hope she matures just as well as Rainier has!  She shows a lot of potential, and has her mom's fabulous personality.

Kara and Bluff, Spring 2012.

Kara and Bluff, Spring 2012.

As much as I hate to see her go, Bluff deserves to be more than a pasture ornament.  She has an extremely friendly personality, and would make a great Public Relations llama.  You can touch her anywhere, and she isn't spooked by large crowds or loud noises.  She would also make a wonderful 4-H or open show llama.  She's already obstacle, pack, and costume trained, and would have potential as a driving llama.  With a little bit of practice she would be amazing!  And with all of the gorgeous crias she has produced, Bluff also would make a great breeding female.  She has good conformation, huge stature, and tons of presence.  Her fiber is gorgeous and she passes on her sweet personality.

Bluff, Winter 2008.

So you can decide...what could Bluff bring to your herd?  I'm asking only $500 for Bluff, which is much less than what she is worth, especially with her training.  And to the right home, I would even consider lowering her price.  She is a one-of-a-kind llama, and deserves to have a home that can appreciate that!  Visit our Facebook page, or call (317-979-2669) or email (llamapyr 25 @ earthlink.net) (get rid of the spaces!) for more information on this gorgeous girl!

And last but definitely not least...her bloodlines.  Her sire is MSF Ringmaster...a Tuna Catcher son from the famous Mark Smith Llama Farm!  Her dam is a beautiful white Chilean girl, who throws a lot of gorgeous female crias!

Bluff's sire, MSF Ringmaster.

Bluff's dam, Chilean Fluff & Buff.