Friday, June 18, 2010

It's Raspberry Time! and Llama Shearing..

rasp pie june 2010 The raspberries are about 2 weeks ahead of normal! WoW! We've had lots of rain and warm days, they're plump, juicy and coming on like wildfire!!

I made a Raspberry Delight over the weekend
and 2 pies last night!
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!

rasppie june 2010 It was still warm and oh~so~yummy with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

Some of you have asked how, why, what, when, where do I shear a llama. These pics are from several years ago, but will show you "before" and "after".

I put the llama into my chute, blow them out with a very strong machine called a Circuiteer, this gets all the dirt and vegetable matter out of their fiber. Then, using electric clippers, I give them a hair cut. Depending on the animal, (show animal, 4H animal, pregnant....or just a PITB to shear) guides me on how I shear.

Here is Lady, who at the time was pregnant, so I wanted to make her comfortable...and, knowing she wouldn't be getting groomed often, wanted to take off more fiber just to keep her clean!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA         She's all fluffy after being blown out. All the other girls are looking on, waiting their turn!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA         And here she is naked! Ahhhh, the cool air!

This is Tobi...I sheared her this way to make it easier for a young 4H'r to take care of her. Normally I just do the middle, a barrel cut.

nakedTobi 07 Why I left that tuft by her tail, I don't know! I think I later trimmed that down! LOL

nakedTobi head 07 resz She's such a pretty girl...but so funny looking with NO hair!

I got 5 done yesterday! Woohoo!! With the 4H animals I let the kids help, so have to wait until they're available to be here. As the kids get older, their schedules get busier!! Whew! But we're about done. We're gearing up for the Ohio State Fair show!!

Well, guess I need to look up MORE raspberry recipes! You can only make so much jam!! LOL!

Thanks for stopping!

Dawn

5 comments :

Anonymous said...

Hi Dawn~

That piece of pie looks absolutely perfect! It made me want to go out and get a piece of pie. I only know how to make apple pie, and only bake in the winter...it's too hot for the oven to be on!

Those llamas do look pretty unique with their hair-cuts! The black and white one with the hair on her behind, looks like a VERY big poodle!

Thank you for showing the pics. I don't think I would have seen anything like this anywhere else!

He IS Able,
Traci S.

p.s. Did you think of submitting a pie in the fair? Seriously. It looks so beautiful.

Tosha Leyendekker said...

Raspberries.....YUM!! And that pie looks delish!! Love seeing the llamas and the shearing!! Thanks for sharing Dawn!!

Marlene said...

Oh, I'm HUNGRY!!! What a fantastic looking pie!

The llama is adorable. I love furry beasts!

Kathy Jones said...

SIGH - if I lived closer, I'd be coming over and having some of the pie Dawn!!!! Love Raspberries, but of course it's too hot for them to grow here! :( Your lamas look so cute all shorn and I'm sure they'll appreciate the new 'do with the hot weather coming!

Heather Huggins said...

Yummy pie!!!