Palmerston North, New Zealand

Erilyn, my host in Palmerston north lives on 3 1/2 acres with her own mini farm with a fruit orchard, flock of sheep and a clutch of "chooks". One of the first things I wanted to do the next morning was to meet Erilyn's sheep.

What a beautiful face.

This is my friend Casper, who I think was ready to come home with me,  doesn't he look like he's smiling?

Erilyn, who has been spinning yarn since she was 19, gave me this gorgeous huge skein of yarn that is a blend of alpaca and romney wool. What an incredible gift, I will treasure it. Next, to decide whether to dye it or not and then what color if I do.

These are Erilyn's "chooks", they didn't like to hold still for photos from people they didn't know.

Erilyn told me about her neighbor who raises alpacas, I love alpacas! so she took me over for a visit before the workshop on Sunday.

This is a one week old suri alpaca, its fur felt and looked just like silk.

What a face! such character. Also a suri, you can see the way the hair hangs in silky strands.

A lovely Peruvian alpaca.

How can you not fall in love with those faces?!

He also had a few black and white dairy cows. I saw a lot of these in New Zealand.

Grazing alpaca.

Later in the day Erilyn drove me up into the hills above Palmerston North to see the lovely view.

A goat tied to a fence by the road.

Farmed deer for venison.

Then back at the house, a cute little hedgehog wandering across the yard for an early evening stroll. I was amazed that I could get quite close to it.

A fiery sunset to end the day.