I’ve been living a little bit of a lie in this blog – for a good reason. I’ve been writing about selling alpacas and moving, but I’ve been writing as if I were still in Oregon. I’m not. I left Oregon on January 22^nd and I’ve been working in Alabama since the 27^th. It’s been hard. I knew when I drove out that driveway, that I’d never see my boys again and I’d probably never see my dog again.

Pam stayed behind to take care of the alpacas and get them moved, and to get the house ready to sell. Since I left, she’s cleaned, packed, loaded alpacas, found the dog a new home, held a huge garage sale, painted until she can’t hold a roller – and much more. We’re moving to Huntsville because Pam is from this area and her family is here. This past month has been tough, because I’ve been in Huntsville staying with her father, seeing her family. She has been stuck in Oregon with alpacas and a house.

The alpacas left earlier this month for a fiber farm in California. Sugar Bear has a new home and she seems to be settling in. The moving truck has been loaded and it’s on the way. Pam has loaded up the van and she’s on the road – although we don’t know how far she’ll get today with all the snow in the passes. I can go ahead and post because she’s not alone in Oregon any more.

This post is a big thanks to the friends who have helped Pam while I’ve been gone. To all who helped, thank you. I also need to thank my employer for making my transfer happen. It is indeed a blessing to arrive in a strange city with job and benefits intact.

Those tears about the boys leaving – completely real. Pam was on one end of the phone and I was on the other. Neither one of us could talk or hear because we were too busy crying. I just wish I could have been there to help load my boys. Parting from the boys was really hard. It was like I left them twice – once when I drove out that driveway and again when Pam called me and said that Sindre was looking out the window as the trailer drove away.

The dog is also gone. I’m going to miss her, but I’m glad I don’t have to share an apartment with her. I’m really pleased with her new home – I think her new owners are a really good fit for her personality. Still, I’ll really miss scratching her ears.

That talk about the yarn being unavailable – it’s true. The yarn and I weren’t in the same state. I brought a little bit of yarn and my crochet stuff with me, but the spinning wheel and the fiber didn’t fit in the car.

You didn’t really think we’d pack our digital camera, did you? Of course we didn’t. Pam’s been using it to take pictures for me. It’s not packed, but I can’t show you pictures of the hat because the camera is 2700 miles away.

If there is a bright side in all this chaos, it’s that I was able to visit the girls a couple weeks ago. Georgia nibbled my cheek and promptly put her head back in the alfalfa. Chloe recognized me and came to see me as did Jubilee. Anna also came to greet me. I pulled some burrs from Cailin’s fleece and she was unimpressed with the treatment. The one that surprised me, however, was Ipo Nani. Ipo hung out near me the whole time I was in her pasture. She’s been scared of us ever since we handled her so much with the hurt foot last winter, but she came right up to me when I visited her. I always thought there was a sweet and social girl hiding under that fear and it looks like the change in scenery has allowed her sweet side to come out. It was really good to see my girls and I enjoyed the visit. I look forward to visiting them again with Pam.

Finally, Pam is on the road. I have an apartment waiting. We’ll settle in and I might even have time for spinning again.