I have a new family these days; Jodi, her 12 year old son Andrew, and Jodi’s mother Judy (aka Mom). We live on a small alpaca farm southwest of Knoxville on Fort Loudon Lake along with 15 alpacas, 23 dogs (and yes, they all have names), 3 old goats (4 if you count me), 2 ducks, 3 bull flogs and 1 water snake named Sheila.


Mom is an avid gardener and has done a great job of keeping the yard beautiful. There are crepe-myrtles and roses everywhere plus lillies, tulips, iris's, and lots of other things I can't spell or pronounce.

 

In addition to the usual farm chores, feeding, mowing, shearing, maintenance… (the list goes on and on), I find time for a few fun projects just to stay busy.

 

The pond shown here is my current obsession. It was a green slimy mess a few months ago. I’ve managed to kill all of the weeds (slime), installed the fountain and planted cattails along the banks. I’m getting ready to put rocks all along the edges and Mom is shopping for various other plants.

The big white blob under the tree is Angel, a 140 pound Great Pyrenees. Angel’s job is to protect the alpacas from whatever critters that might want alpaca for lunch.

Sheila and the bull frogs live in the pond and come out to watch when I clean the filters.

The ducks stop by for a couple of months every fall on their way to wherever it is that ducks go.



Last summer I built Andrew's “Fort”. It has board and batten siding with cedar shake gables, deck and storage room on lower level, electricity, carport (for ATV and bicycle), build-in bunks, carpet, etc, etc.

Carport entry door is equipped with a state-of-the-art pull-string latch. Access to the upper level is by ladder and trap door complete with “No Girls Allowed” sign.

 

This is Jodi (at least most of her) with Lucy. Lucy was (in this picture) a 3 month old registered female. She had to be bottle fed and kept in the house for about six months. She is worth $7,000-$8,000 so it was well worth the effort and inconvenience.

 

I know some women who would kill for these eyelashes.

Alpacas are fantastically beautiful and gentle creatures. That is, until shearing time, then they don’t give up their wool willingly. This is Lacy, Lucy’s mother, getting her annual beauty treatment.


 

 
 

Andrew and Jodi
     

 

 

 

Somewhere along the way, while I wasn't paying attention, I got old. But my health is good, I am surrounded by good friends, good food, good wine. I work when I want to, play if I feel like it, take lots of naps, and generally enjoy the winter of my years. All-n-all, the Cosmic has been kind to me.

Life is Good!