As much as I dread driving in the white stuff, I think snow is one of God’s most remarkable inventions. I suppose I can attribute my wonder to the way the white flakes drift silently through the air and toss about with the wind. [more]

AS A HUSBAND AND A FATHER OF TWO LOVELY DAUGHTERS, there are times when I feel the need to sneak off at night and sit in front of my computer and download a movie from iTunes that’s full of action. The more explosions, chase scenes and shoot outs the better. [more]

This First Friday, einmaleins will be celebrating the holidays with a treat that is one of our family favorites. My wife, Lois, picked this recipe up for homemade marshmallows from Martha Stewart’s website. Martha calls them S’more Squares, because they can be size just right for a graham cracker and a Hershey bar. [more]

My first encounter with alpacas was at Sand in the City in August. Alpacas of America, based in Tenino, brought three alpacas to display and for kids to pet. My daughters immediately fell in love with these adorable animals, so we committed to attending the National Alpaca Farm Day event held this Saturday and Sunday (9/27 and 9/28). The weather was most cooperative this morning, providing a sunny, delightful getaway to admire these gentle creatures.

Alpacas are native to South America and are smaller versions of llamas. Importing these animals has been illegal since about 1998, but alpacas have been bred in the U.S. since 1984, so they are abundant. Alpacas of America houses approximately 1,600.

Our day at the farm included a presentation that was geared both to educate the curious and inform would-be investors. Alpacas have become popular as pets, as a show animal, as a breeding livestock and for their soft, luxurious wool. The raw wool can sell for $10 a pound, but once processed the price jumps to $5 or more per ounce. Alpacas are a relatively low maintenance livestock. You can raise as many as 10 alpacas in one acre of land. Their diet consists of primarily hay–one bale of hay can keep a single alpaca fed for six to eight weeks, though they enjoy supplemental pellets to round out their diet. Most cat owners spend more money feeding their pets then someone who owns an alpaca. They are very clean animals and their sociability makes them excellent pets.

After the staff presentation, we went on a tour of the farm, which included a visit to the nursery where the crias (baby alpacas) were being cared for by their dams (mother alpacas). The crias average 15-20 pounds at birth and are weaned at approximately six months. The average lifespan of an alpaca is about 25 years.

We ended the tour at the showroom where the kids were able to get close to the alpacas and pet them. Unlike llamas, alpacas are unlikely to spit at you–unless you decide to take their food away. They are timid and gentle by nature. Their community instincts are apparent as you watch them gather in their pens. Their heads perch high on their long necks, often glancing in opposite directions as if keeping watch of their territory. 

As I studied these animals, I was impressed with how individual they were. There are two breeds of alpacas: long-locked suris and fuzzy huacaya. They have been classified in 16 different colors and many of them are a combination of colors and patterns. Their eyes are large and cow-like, but they are often hidden under tufts of fleece.

Alpacas of America is open again tomorrow and the weather is promising again. This a treat for the whole family or anyone curious about the investment opportunity. We made the most of the day by taking some of the back roads. On the way home we stopped in Tenino and had lunch at Scotty B’s. It’s a 50’s-style diner with fun memorabilia and a variety of food to suit any member of the family. After that we followed Old Highway 99 back to town. We timed our trip just right to race a train from Tenino to Tumwater. It’s a nice scenic route through farmland a forest–a nice change from I-5.

If you would like to learn more about alpacas, go to Alpacas of America.

One feature that sets Olympia apart from many Northwest cities and growing communities is the downtown district. From the capitol campus to the Farmers Market stretches a hub of activity that gives Olympia a flavor that leaves many Northwest communities tasting bland by comparison. [more]