Alpaca Shopping

I truly believe everything happens for a reason but sometimes doubted this theory when my husband, Larry, and I finally decided we were ready to purchase our first alpaca(s). I had chosen two that I absolutely loved. We had a plan for our farm, how to get it started when we really had no farm.

This first female was young, unproven but was gorgeous. Everything I wanted in a grey. I watched her for months (I think in the range of 4 or more months). When we decided we would buy alpacas and agist them I finally sent the e-mail asking if we could purchase her. Then we waited. When I opened the response my heart dropped... they already had an interested buyer! Of course they have other alpacas we can check into but I had my heart set on this particular one as our first alpaca.

So, then we decided to move ahead with my second choice alpaca. I went to the website knowing we should move quickly. I pull up the website and can't find the listing. I must be looking at the wrong section... Then on a lark I click the "sold" link... There she is.

I have no plan C. No one ever needs plan C. So are we not meant to own alpacas? I don't believe that for an instant. We just aren't meant to own these alpacas.

Ever determined I continued my search. We were headed to an alpaca show the next day (a Sunday) so I was surfing my way through alpacanation.com and found a pretty grey from a farm that was going to be at the show. I printed out her information but she was very out of our price range. We walked around the pens at the show and low and behold there was the girl I had searched out. We took a flyer since her owners weren't around and left. At lunch around the corner we kept talking about the pretty grey girl, Sudi. We debated. She was listed as going up for sale at a pen show the next weekend. BONUS, she was on sale. We decided to go back and just see if she was still there since the show was over. We walked in, all the rows were broken up and you couldn't really see where one farm's stalls started or ended. Eventually we found her and another small female still left in their pen so we waited. I kept asking Larry if we should leave and he kept saying to be patient. Finally, a woman walked up and kind of glanced at us. I asked if she was the owner and she said she was. I said we were interested and she took us into the pen to show us Sudi. Two days later with contracts signed and money exchanged we are now the proud owners of an alpaca. Sudi is Twilight Ridge Farm's first alpaca.

How was Sudi our meant to be? Her previous owner is amazing. She has provided us with some of the best customer service. She offered to let us stay at their house if we want to come and visit. She is sending us yarn and pictures. She sends updates via e-mail. A true example of excellent customer service.

Now, we have started and alpacas are coming out of the woodwork. Whether it is the time of year or what there seem to be numerous grey alpacas out there for the taking! We have two more in our sites to purchase. One brown and one grey. Happy shopping!