Nancy & Jerry lived happily in a (no yard work) Condo in downtown Bellevue for 15 years. They had a house cat named Xena, the Princess. Jerry “Retired” and they decided to buy a “Country Home”.
In 2003, they found a wonderful Cedar Farm-House Style house in South East King County, just North of the town of Enumclaw. On 9 acres they had a large Vegetable Garden and a 12 Fruit Tree Orchard. Of course, now they needed a yard dog. Good Friends’ Doberman had puppies; so they acquired a large black Doberman mix; Bacchus, who indeed guards the yard very seriously.
From the same source came two outdoor Cats (Gabriella & Danny-boy) to chase the mice from the Barn/Shop/yard. OK, mostly outdoor cats. You know, the Barn came with a cat door & a stray cat. Queeny had a litter before we figured this all out; but, we placed them out. Except for Grayson who we kept as the “Farm-House” Cat. The house also needed a dog, so Nancy got a miniature Dachshund; Brigit.
Our neighbors thought we were “city-slickers”, so we fixed them; got a trio of Nigerian Dwarf Goats. Diana, Pan and Eros set about to eat the Blackberries & everything else in the yard. We rehabbed the old Goat Barn & a paddock for them. They hang out with the Flock of very Fancy Chickens. We have Jersey Giants, Silver Phoenix & Polish Layers, and an some mixes (28 or so) & a Rooster for each breed. We have wonderful organic free-range eggs to eat - which we sell. Yes, we built a chicken coop & much new fencing. During the winter we will get at least one egg and day and during the summer we can get well over a dozen a day.
Does the concept of “Green Acres” sound familiar???????
Of course, the pond in back has Frogs & Mallard Ducks in season and the new decorative pond in front has Koi fish.
In October 2005, we were “given” two Alpacas as pets & lawn-mowers. They were so pleasant that we bought a Herd. Of course, an Alpaca Herd needs a Sheppard/Guard Dog, so Jerry got Cybele, a white Great Pyrenees. Think, large White Saint Bernard. We no longer have the Great Pyrenese, and now rely on Bacchus our Doberman/Coon Hound mix to guard the alpacas - and Brigit, our minature Dachshund (the backup)
That gets us to the Alpaca Herd; no we are not going to name them all here. The Alpacas are all listed on the web site data page. Each of our Alpaca’s has a unique personality. They are all curious, smart and trainable. Certainly a labor of love!!!
As all owners and potential owners of camelids know, you have to shear these critters once a year. When we had the two, we were able to take them back to where we purchased them and they got sheared along with their herd. That worked for one year. The following year, after our purchase of the whole herd, and letting the shearing know that we had all these alpacas for them to shear - we got cancelled. Now what to do. Having joined the local Alpaca Co-op (Cascade Alpaca Breeders) we turned to them and they hooked us up with another shearer.
However we were not entirely happy about this whole experience and Nancy found a shearing school, through Washington State University, she signed up, and got in at the last minute. And a new shearer was born!!!! - see the shearing page for more info on where that business has taken us.
Because of Nancy's shearing we now offer free shearing for two years with each alpaca your purchase from us!!!! (if you live way far away we might have to charge mileage)
We (Alpacas, dogs, cats, goats, chickens and resident humans) welcome Visitors!!! |
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Xena`s Alpaca Farm is a member of |
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