Under capitalism, man exploits man. Under communism, it's just the opposite.
John Kenneth Galbraith (1908 - 2006)
May 2009
May 21, 2009
May 18, 2009
May 15, 2009
May 14, 2009
May 13, 2009
Day in the Country
By now, anyone who knows me should know that I have developed an intense affinity for llamas. This cheerful affliction started last year when I went on my very first hike with George Caldwell and his llamas in Redwood Regional Park in Oakland. George and Christy tend to 57 llamas at their Circle Home Ranch in Sonora. You say, what - 57 llamas? I have never seen 57 llamas in one place until I visited Circle Home yesterday for my Day in the Country. I thought we were going to start on shearing the llamas to remove their warm winter coats, but George had a request from a teacher at Sullivan School to bring several llamas to the school for the kids to visit with.
The drive out to Sonora on a spring day is particularly nice. The hills are now in a patchwork quilt of green and brown - not yet dried up from the rainless days and heat of summer. From San Leandro, you simply cannot get lost. Go east and east almost to Yosemite. Just follow 580 to 120 to 108 and the ranch is right off a main road out of town. Traffic was light and I arrived in Sonora just about 2 hours from when I started.
First I get a tour - the older boys in one area and the older girls right across the way. I have never met the girls before since they don't go to Oakland for hikes, but they are very excited to meet a new person. See how they come right up to the fence to say hello!
Then it is on to greet the teenagers - mostly two and younger who stay in the large area in the rear of the ranch. Some of these kids I have met before - Nash, the Delicate Flower - on my last hike. Nash is not really so delicate as he is the largest of the youngsters, but with his shorter fiber coat and long legs he seems that way compared to the older boys that hiked with us.
Then we start the feeding rounds for pellet food in the same order. The bucket needs to keep swinging as you dip the scoop cup and sprinkle the food into the individual pans so each llama can have a feeding station. If you don't keep swinging, they will try to eat right out of the larger bucket and a near riot may ensue.
Next is the grooming. Llamas are intelligent and regal creatures, but they do love to roll in the hay, so their typically long coats get dusty and messy. We were going to take five llamas to the school, so we chose those to brush. After leading them to the barn area where the blower is plugged in, we blow off as much dust as possible to get a head start. Then we hook them up near a feeding station, so they can get a treat when they are being good while getting brushed. After we get them ready, we run into a little snag - no key for the larger van! So intead of five llamas, we load up only two into the smaller van, but not after a long patient wait while searching high and low for the key.
Now it's off to Sullivan School where the kids are alright and the llamas are loved.
After we return back to the ranch, it's time for some lunch, then a little more grooming before I head back to the city. We pick three more good boys to brush since brushing first makes shearing that much easier. It also makes for better quality fiber to spin into yarn. The older boys are much more used to the process and don't balk as much for the "blowing" off session. As much as I would have loved to stay longer and help with the shearing on Wednesday, there is work to do at my own home. But I hope to spend more wonderful days in the country, especially with my 57 new llama friends.
May 10, 2009
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WORD OF THE DAY
Deterge
\dih-TURJ\ verb
Meaning:
: to wash off : to cleanse
Example Sentence
In order to prevent infection, it is necessary to properly deterge and disinfect the wound.
Did you know?
"Deterge" is not a particularly common word in the English language. However, it is related to a word with which most of us are likely familiar: "detergent." Like "detergent," "deterge" comes (possibly by way of French "déterger") from the Latin verb "detergēre," itself from "de-" and "tergēre" ("to wipe"). "Deterge" entered the English language in the early 1600s and has primarily been used in medical contexts, such as Ambrose Cooper's 1757 recipe for Vulnerary Water: "This Water is of excellent Service in Contusions, Tumors attending Dislocation, Fractures and Mortifications, the Part affected being bathed with it. Some also use it to deterge foul Ulcers, and incarn Wounds…."
