The Walworthians: Normandy and Indigo
The Walworthians
A collection of telephone interviews published in the Wayne County STAR Newspaper and Wayne County MAIL Newspaper, 1994-209
by Kate Chamberlin
Normandy and Indigo
It took a bit of nagging, er, ah, I mean, encouragement, but my husband has finished the patio extension and we can invite friends and family over for picnic suppers all summer long. It’s like a lovely, little courtyard…what’s that you say? Summer is over? It’s winter already?
Where did the time go? But, that would explain why we have put up our Christmas lights, the reverse painting on glass angel picture and have the dancing Santa on the credenza, not to mention all the Christmas carols on the radio! I wonder what’s new on the Keymel’s Christmas tree farm?
Normandy and Indigo are two baby Alpacas that were born on the Keymel’s Christmas Tree Farm this year. They, with two grown female Alpacas, are just four of the reasons Jessie and Roger are busier than ever in their “retirement”.
“When we got the two adult, females,” Jessies said. “They’d been shorn and were pregnant. Normandy was so named because he was born on D-Day. Indigo was born at the time of the Blue Moon at the end of July.”
In October, several of the alpaca farms in our area, hold open houses, so Cornucopia will learn more about the things that can be done with the colorful alpaca fibers in the fall.
Roger and Jessie have kept in touch with their relatives from Scotland and enjoyed entertaining them this fall by touring the Finger Lakes area.
Their annual newsletter announces: “The trees are trimmed, the tractors are ready to be gassed up and all the supplies have been ordered. The wet weather this year made the weeds hard to deal with but did not adversely affect the trees. We have a large selection of Fraser, and Douglas Firs.”
As usual, they can drill your tree for your special holder, but they also shake and wrap them for easier handling. Greens are available to customers who like to make their own wreaths and decorations. If you want to order a wreath or kissing ball, it’s best to phone or e-mail your order ahead of time.
If the weather is good on weekends, Whisper, a sweetheart of a pony, will be there for the little ones to ride. The main feature and fun, though, is riding the hay-wagon up the hill, back into the trees to choose your own perfect Christmas tree.
2019 Up-Date: The Christmas tree farm is growing well, as is the alpaca ranch. As you drive by, though, you’ll notice that there are a lot more alpacas. If another rancher needs a vacation or goes on an extended business trip, their alpacas come to visit the Keymels.