It certainly should come as no surprise that most people I know are eager to wave 2009 good bye and hope for a better 2010. But even if this year has proven difficult to say the least, surely Thanksgiving provides the perfect occasion to take a break, pull our head up, and take a good look around.
I bet all of us can think of a lot of things to be thankful for. I know I can even as I struggle to navigate these uncertain times. And no matter how cliched, how trite it might seem – I’m going to count down my top ten things to be thankful for as an alpaca owner and breeder.
10. I actually found a year’s supply of good second cutting orchard – whew!
9. I actually found a friend willing to store the hay I couldn’t fit into my storage area
8. I have three (count ‘em, three) good camelid vets to call upon
7. I found an alpaca sitter…hallelujah!
6. The number of alpaca breeders who I consider to be friends increases every year – never decreases
5. I found a herdsire to take my breeding program forward
4. Made it to the Fall and early Spring shows safely – despite two nasty snow storms (that’s life in the Rockies)
3. All my dams are rebred ….woohoo
2. Alpaca sales seem to be picking up
1. All the babies born this year were healthy and are thriving!
