Jim on February 6th, 2012

We estimate approximately 400 friends, new and old, came for the 2nd Annual Winter Outing at Diastole Alpaca Farm on January 28th. We would like to thank everyone that attended and a special thanks to our friends from Brandon Hills Vineyard, Pilot Mountain Llamas, Knit-Picky Yarns and LinCrest Angus. Ann Harbury was at the register [...]

Continue reading about Thanks to all for a Great Winter Outing

Jim on January 23rd, 2012

The weatherman is predicting a great day for our Second Annual Winter Outing here at the farm. Our friends are ready and we expect a great turn out again this year for all. Once again, Brandon Hills Vineyard will be here with their award winning wines for a wine tasting, Ann Potter of Pilot Mountain [...]

Continue reading about Winter Outing this Saturday – 10:00 until 5:00

January 28th is fast approaching. I just hope the mild weather will be around for our 2012 Winter Outing. We were very fortunate last year for our Fleece and Wine Tasting Day to have great winter weather. Diastole will be offering a selection of rovings from our alpacas for spinners that were processed by Zeilinger [...]

Continue reading about Winter Outing 2012 Just Three Weeks Away, January 28th – 10:00 until 4:00

Jim on November 25th, 2011

We are receiving frequent shipments from our good friends at LaNart of beautiful Peruvian alpaca scarves, throws, hats, gloves and the ever popular alpaca socks. Their new line of socks for this year, Pioneer, have been a very big seller. Give us a call as we are still trying to figure out selling via the [...]

Continue reading about Christmas Gifts!

Jim on November 19th, 2011

Our 2011 Fleece and Wine Tasting Day was a big success as so many of our friends and customers, old and new, had a great day at the farm. We were very lucky with the weather this past January. Everyone left with a smile on their face and assured us they would return. January 28 is [...]

Continue reading about 2012 Fleece and Wine Tasting Has Expanded

Sandy on November 13th, 2011

In case you missed it last Sunday the paper wrote a very nice article about our lovely protege, Erica, and her senior project, our alpaca farm. She did an excellent job of presenting the farm to her classmates and teachers. Maeve, our party girl alpaca, put on a fun show by nosing into everything, nibbling [...]

Continue reading about Winston Salem Journal article about Diastole

Sandy on October 21st, 2011

What good news! We entered 7 fleeces at SAFF, the Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair. It is an annual event held in Asheville, NC dedicated to the promotion of the fiber arts, fiber animals and products. We won four first places, two seconds and one third. Hooray! I will update with the names of our furry [...]

Continue reading about Blue ribbons today for our fleeces at SAFF!

Sandy on October 13th, 2011

Libby is our only husky right now. She is a healthy girl but she had a growth on her head that was removed by the vet. yesterday. She did fine and will be fine from that, I am happy to write. Libby is retired now, age 10, but she had a lovely career as an [...]

Continue reading about A Poem for Libby, with thanks

Sandy on September 6th, 2011

Lena, one of two of our Siberian husky dogs, died August 10, 2011. She was 11.8 years old. She was fine on Sunday, her usual sassy self. She was a very vocal girl as are many husky dogs. Monday morning she had trouble getting up. Jim helped her outside and when she came in she [...]

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Sandy on April 22nd, 2011

We sheared 23 alpacas last week and their apppearance continues to surprise me. They look so different without that full fleece. We learn something new with every shearing (with every day, in fact). We were able to “groom” them a bit this year using scrub brushers to remove obvious debris. I know of some farms [...]

Continue reading about Shearing is done and all is well