The Joy of Alpacas

Keiko and Matt Makarczyk and their 9-year-old son, Kenji, are living a peaceful  life on a few acres south of Taylor, Texas.   They’ve got a few dogs, chickens, a feline friend or two and a nice horse.   But the glue that binds them together are a herd of beautiful, fluffy Suri alpacas they raise on their place, Wisteria Suri Ranch.  These lovely animals are native to Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and Chile, but these guys seem to be faring quite well in Central Texas.    What helps, of course, is the once-a-year shearing of their fleece, which not only makes them more comfortable during our Texas summers, but also provides a marketable product for the Makarczyk family.   Shearing is an art best left to the pros like Biosecure Alpaca Shearing, a group of folks based in Nashville, Ohio who travel the country each Spring to do the job right.  Four strong young fellows showed up at the ranch early on a recent Friday morning.   The haircuts were performed on 17 alpacas in less than two hours.

The newly-shorn alpacas are ready for summer.   A couple of mamas are expecting babies soon.   I hope to post that blessed event in the near future!