Alpaca gives birth

Newborn alpaca (1 hour after it enters the world).

Pretty amazing morning. But before I show photos, you should know that the scenes below are from the actual birth of a baby alpaca, so if you are squeamish about that sort of thing, you shouldn’t scroll down.

So, our neighbor Mindy (at GalPaca Farm) called to say the mama alpaca’s water broke, and she was going to give birth soon. We’d talked earlier and Mindy agreed to let me come take photos of the birth, etc., to use as reference for future art (any alpaca art I do, they get a print in the edition, as owners of the models…).

The alpaca mother’s name is Maggie. In the sequence below, you’ll also see some of the rest of the herd as well (mostly all females–males are kept in another pasture). And that big white dog is named Betty. She’s a Great Pyrenees. She was brought to the farm years ago, specifically to guard the alpaca (from coyotes, etc), and although she was never taught how to care for alpaca young, you will see below that she always knows exactly what to do. This is not her first experience at caring for newborns, but Mindy tells me that from the very first one, she knew it was her job to help the mama alpaca clean and protect the newborn.

So, anyway, the call came and I got over there just as the head/feet of the baby were showing.

(Click on any photo to enlarge it)

And so it follows…

Everybody come see

Betty starts cleaning the baby even before it’s out

Wait for it…

Fell to the ground totally healthy. It’s a girl!

That’s the mama on the left looking at you

Betty and Mama Maggie begin the cleaning process

Betty pulls off all of the gunk

Cleaned up considerably…

…the newborn picks her head up, and starts to try to stand up.

Betty on guard

When one of the others gets too close or starts being too rough with the baby, Betty steps in and pushes the offender back (or gets between her and the baby). Here, she’s confronting the potential trouble-maker.

Face-plant

She’s up!

Welcome to the herd.

Drying in the warm sun and cool wind.

Here she is one hour after she first entered the world.
What a perfect morning for a birth.

Sausage making!

This is turning into an annual event…. Making sausages with Bryan (and Alicia). This year we made 3 kinds: a Longuiza one, a southwestern (hot) one, and a mild apple/herb one.

Made them this past weekend so that they could “rest” and the flavors meld (in the fridge, and now in freezer) for a “Handmade” gathering this upcoming weekend. This pork is from last year’s (2011) hogs.

Here’s the hot one:

Porkert brand sausage maker

 

This year’s hogs are still in the pasture. Butcher date coming up in September

Why the sad face? Because this year’s pigs-now-hogs are super-cute and friendly–always talking and happy to see you (and your food gifts)….

But, I guess that means happy meat too.

We used Bryan’s Porkert sausage maker, from the Czech Republic (here’s a link to what looks like the all-metal version). I want one!

Twist-n-Print

This past weekend had my family and friends help print the big 4x8ft pig (woodblock). Oil-based, black, block ink printed onto Tyvek. Worked pretty good. Here’s some pics…

Inkin’

Inkin’ some more (took about 1/2 hour I think?)

Ready, set?

Twistin’ fools!

It’s never to early to learn to twist-n-spin.

The Twist-n-Print playlist:

Jerk It Out: Caesars
Twist and Shout: The Beatles
Walkin’ On the Sun: Smash Mouth
Surf Medley: Junior Brown
Monkey Spanner: Dave Collins & Ansell Collins
A Little Less Conversation: (JXL Radio Edit Remix) Elvis vs JXL Elvis Presley
Bed & Breakfast Man: Madness
City With No Children: Arcade Fire
Shout (Remastered): The Isley Brothers
Dog Days Are Over: Florence + The Machine
Somebody That I Used to Know: (feat. Kimbra) Gotye
I Can See Clearly Now: Johnny Nash
One Step Beyond: Madness
Poker Face: Lady GaGa
Pretty Woman: Roy Orbison
Born This Way: Lady GaGa
Bohemian Like You: The Dandy Warhols
Learning to Fly: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Night Boat to Cairo: Madness
Nelson Mandela: The Special A.K.A.

Let’s hang it up

Ta da!

Printers in the making (learning to cut lino)

We’ll print his design onto his own shirt at Handmade party…

Somebody has a new pink “Cool Clutch.”(Thanks Michelle)

Beautiful sky. Thanks for the awesome photos
Tom Fjeldstad!

New cow (for Graze)

Graze restaurant has commissioned me to paint a cow for their patio.

The design will be a holstein (modeled after one of the dairy cows milked at Sassy Cow Creamery, where Graze gets much of their dairy products). Incorporated onto the black/white holstein pattern, will be painted the specific, locally sourced products–produce, Highland beef, trout, etc (that Graze buys from local farmers in the area)–from which Executive Chef Tory Miller and the Graze team create the dishes on their menu.

It just arrived today…

Unwrapping

Yep, it’s a girl!

Great Taste of the Midwest 2012

The Great Taste is the second longest-running craft beer festival in North America. For those of you unfamiliar with this event, read the synopsis at Madison Homebrewers and Tasters Guild, the folks behind The Great Taste of the Midwest.

<—- “Click me or any of the pics to enlarge!”

A big part of the fun of The Great Taste is people watching, and interacting with complete strangers who, for the most part, are super-friendly and love to ham it up for the camera. This year, accompanied by husband J and my sis, we had a great time. Here are some of the highlights:

Standing in line (for about 15-20 minutes–it was a really long line!!) at Three Floyds Brewing Company, waiting for just-tapped Molok-Old. It was worth the wait. The description included “… Chocolate, coconut, and vanilla liquid awesomeness.” It was.

Posers! Complete stranger on left. Those yellow capes are from Bell’s Brewery I believe. Everyone was wearing them–very funny to see beer drinking superheroes all day. My sis and our friend (Andrea’s) Mark on the right:

Below, preparation begins for the Chocolate/Beer pairings in the Presentation Tent (barn). This year’s pairings are Gail Ambrosius Chocolatier (chocolate) and Ale Asylum (beer).

Here’s the list:

Everyone’s favorite? Pecan Praline and Contorter Porter:

My favorite chocolate? Caramel with Sea Salt. Always. Hands down. Last year this was paired with Furthermore Brewery‘s Knot Stock. Unbelievable! Really fantastic. Here’s a whole tray of these delectable chocolates. One for everyone…

Place was packed! Fortunately, beer drinkers on the whole seem to be a happy bunch.

The crowd was big this year, full of quirky characters. Here is the Schlafly Beer Bottle Guy (from St. Louis) on left. On right, tempting him with pretzels, sis got Chicken Hat Guy to pose as well:

This year’s Kuhnhenn Brewing theme: Kuhnhenn Dyasty: The year of Asian persuasion (on left). On the right, a Chicago South-sider who didn’t mind being mimicked by my sis. His recommendation for a brewery to visit in Chicago? Three Floyds, but only during off-hours he says.

We found out that with offerings of pretzels, you can get just about anybody to pose. It helps too that it’s almost impossible to say “no” to my sister:

Great graphics abound! Including this poster (featuring the tapping times at Half Acre), and the backs of shirts:

Wonderful logos everywhere!:

And sayings on backs of…backs. Wonder if this guy enjoyed the Real Ale tent.

The scary zombie folks at New Holland Brewing Company. This year’s theme: Zombie Prom:

Would you take a beer from this zombie? I thought so…

Pictured below: Bubblelicious Weisse from the folks at Leinenkugel’s Brewing Co. The little bubble balls were delicious!

Leiny’s description: This classic sour German beer is served with an Asian bubblelicious twist. This new addition is a translucent gummy ball that contains flavored juices in the center which “pops” with every bite. The bursting bubbles come in Lychee, Mango, Orange, Passion Fruit, or Strawberry.

Perhaps my favorite photo of the day…. It was nearing the end of the festival, and we noticed this solitary figure defending her space “in line”. As you can see, no one was questioning her. The cape lends authority don’t you think?

Virtual “Tunnel”

Thanks Theresa at Artisan Gallery, for the virtual tour (video) of The Tunnel of Mortality:

Facebook video of The Tunnel of Mortality