Alpacas? Zeb and Eider Duck Go to the Alpaca Show

Here we are.

Our first Alpaca Show

Ready to go to our first Alpaca Show.   We are in Denver at the National Western Complex.   This is where Denver hosts the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo.   Let’s see some alpacas.

Group of alpacas watching us

There are lots of alpaca at this show.   These alpaca are watching us.   Some judging already took place here.

This white alpaca has several ribbons

This white alpaca has ribbons.   Alpaca is from Alpacas de la Mancha in Calhan, Colorado.   The brown ones are good.

Tall brown alpacas

We love these guys.   Here is a blue ribbon winner.

First place ribbon here

Our new friend.   In the next area we found these smaller alpaca.

Smaller, recently sheared, and really long necks

They have recently been sheared.   The alpaca wool is really soft.   The necks look really long without the extra wool.   Eider Duck likes this white alpaca.

Eider with white alpacas

And he likes Eider.   Zeb likes these alpacas with lots of wool still on them.

Zeb with alpacas

But we really like all of them.   One more alpaca photo.

This one likes us. Like many a band prevents any nipping.

This white one, like many alpaca here at the show, has the harness or bands around the mouth.   No nipping here.   So many items are made from alpaca wool.

Alpaca products for sale

We will show you several booths with items for sale.

Even alpaca items for Christmas

Even holiday sets.  Great choices.   Alright, we can sit on this alpaca.

We are on this alpaca

No worries about nipping or biting.   And more items for sale.

All so soft

The vendors were all very nice and have so many things to sell and show us.

Great variety

Last photo.   Here we are with a live alpaca.

Posing with alpaca and alpaca owners

The owners of the alpaca are holding us and we love these animals.   We hope you visit alpacas soon.   They were really nice to us.

Advertisement

Arvada Harvest Festival

My first parade.  I, Zeb the Duck and Soapy Smith Duck went to the Harvest Festival in Arvada, Colorado on Saturday.  We watched a parade. Not just any parade, but the Arvada Harvest Festival parade is the 2nd longest continuing parade in the State of Colorado.  There were 35,000 to 40,000 spectators and over 7,000 participants.  We watched for over an hour and it was not finished yet.  This is the marching band for Arvada High School.

Arvada High School Marching Band

Arvada High School Marching Band

Many schools participated in the parade. Here are kids on Big Wheels.

Big Wheels

Big Wheels

Many participants gave candy to children and information cards to adults.   This train is great.

A train in the parade

A train in the parade

But no ducks riding today. This young man is in kindergarten.

Our future

Our future

He will be in the high school graduating class of 2027.   The Model A Ford Club has really old cars and

Model A Fords

Model A Fords

they are in really good condition. I liked this tractor.

We love tractors!

We love tractors!

Betsy Ross is sewing the first flag of the United States of America.

Betsy Ross

Betsy Ross

Many military veteran groups were in the parade. This is the U.S. Marines.

U.S. Marines

U.S. Marines

We saw veteran groups, including those with the Purple Heart, the Viet Nam veterans and submarine veterans. We enjoyed the gymnastic groups, the animal clinic, the Arvada hockey group and the martial arts group. Parades are great!

Then we went to the festival. We watched the small humans in the water spheres.

Ducks not allowed in this water

Ducks not allowed in this water

Must be hard to stand up in there. Noah’s Ark Petting Zoo let humans go in the area to pet animals.

They like the hay

They like the hay

Animal food was also available to feed them. Another area had alpacas.

Young alpacas

Young alpacas

They are almost 4 months old and adorable. A military group explained the changes in military equipment from the Civil War to the present.

Changes in military equipment

Changes in military equipment

Mom saw the booth for Palisade Peaches (from Western Colorado orchards). She stopped for pie, but bought an ice cream sundae with warm peach topping. Yummy!

So good with Colorado peaches

So good with Colorado peaches

Look at this girl. She teaches at Rock Star Pole Fitness in Arvada.

Rock Star Pole Fitness

Rock Star Pole Fitness

This looks difficult, but fun! And, this festival was fun, but also educational.

Ready to begin spelling bee

Ready to begin spelling bee

There is a spelling bee. I hope you are enjoying festivals this year.

FESTIVAL OF SCARECROWS

WOW!  I saw so many scarecrows Saturday.  I didn’t even know what a scarecrow was a few days ago.

I am on a scarecrow

I am on a scarecrow

Olde Arvada had scarecrows all over Olde Arvada Square Saturday. IMG_4356 IMG_4359I learned that scarecrows could be placed in fields to scare the crows away from the fields.  The ones I saw were so cute.  Not at all scary.

Guess the crows didn’t think the scarecrows were scary either.  There was a man walking around with a straw hat and a crow on his shoulder.  Here he is judging the pumpkin pie eating contest.

He has a crow on his shoulder

He has a crow on his shoulder

Contestants cannot use hands to eat.  Quite a messy event.

Pumpkins were on the ground, pumpkins were decorated for HalloweenIMG_4365IMG_4381 and there was a contest for best pumpkin dish.  Ducks were not allowed to judge the food.  Too bad.  It all looked delicious.

Gunnysacks were available for races.  This was new to me.  Kids, and parents, stand in a gunnysack and try to run.

Getting a little help

Getting a little help

Looked crazy, but everybody seemed to be having fun.  As I attend more festivals I am sure I will see more of these games.  Remember, I was only born this summer.

A tractor pulled a hay wagon and the kids and parents could ride on the hay wagon.

This looks fun

This looks fun

We even saw a few alpacas.  The alpacas, similar to llamas, were adorable.  A mom and a young alpaca posed for pictures.

Baby alpaca watching me

Baby alpaca watching me

Mom alpaca had her head in straw

Mom alpaca had her head in straw

They sure have long necks.

Alpaca.  Long neck and so sweet

Alpaca. Long neck and so sweet

Lots of booths at the festival.  Many selling souvenirs and many selling food and beverages.  The pulled pork sure smelled good.  They had mom’s favorite kettle corn booth.  I enjoyed it also.

Barney the Dinosaur

The parade begins

The parade begins

led the parade of children (and adults) in costumes.

I love butterflies

I love butterflies

This was so much fun.  So many costumes.  Mom said this was for Halloween.  I have never experienced Halloween, but I am looking forward to it.  I hope you were there Saturday.  It was a great annual festival.

Festival of Scarecrows

Festival of Scarecrows