January 5, 2005

There is a saying which goes something like this:" Happiness is having someone to love, somewhere to be, and work to do". If anyone knows the correct quote and author, I'd love to know.

The quote came to mind because I am back at school and my "work" makes me happy. I am fortunate to love what I do and to work with bright young people. I find that in dealing with teenagers, I generalize the things I do with my 'pacas to my teaching. For example, I wait for reactions more patiently and seem to "herd" students with proximity, as we do with the 'pacas. Marty McGee-Bennett said she was sure there was a lot of cross-over between training techniques and teaching.

The Christmas season was "awesome" for us. I mean that we felt awe as we looked over the snowy fields under the moon when we went to the house from the barn in the evening. The only time the peace was broken was when I went off chasing the deer from the garden. The last time I went yelling and waving my arms, the grandchildren fell on the floor with hysterical laughter, so I'll make sure not to have an audience next time!

Our systems are renewed by spending time with friends. Having so many visitors made the time go very quickly and was tiring, but it seems as though we started the new year with new ideas and ambitions. It was sad to say goodby to the crias and maiden who moved to New Mexico, but there are still 7 weanlings to be trained and 2crias to be weaned. We will have quite a few animals leaving this month, and we will miss them. One of the girls who is going is very smart. When Clark takes the pellets out to put in the feeder, she spits in the cup so no one else will eat them. She is now "on diet". When the pellets are distributed, there is a lot of spitting. It's not pretty and leads to my New Year's resolution, "Let there be peace and let it begin with me." I certainly don't want to look like some of our girls!

We received new yarn last week. With names like "Dragon's Treasure", "I Dream of Greenie", and "Purple Rain", you can imagine how beautiful they are. My favorite is "Anasazi". And, yes, I did get all my projects finished. As I finished the 6th pair of socks, the 3rd hat, and the 2nd pair of mittens, I noticed that the skin on every fingertip was gone all the way around. I was grounded from knitting for a week!

My new spinning wheel (I knew Santa wouldn't let me down) is beautiful. I read all the directions and began spinning, but had the bobbin on backwards, so will start over this weekend.

Happy New Year
Sit, Spin, and Watch the 'Pacas
Janet

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Janet and Clark Otterness
Alta Mist Alpacas
2531 North Mountain Glen Road
Pine Canyon, Utah 84074
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phone: 435-882-0790
cell: 801-557-4162
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