A Birthday Celebration With Some Very Fluffy Alpacas

The week included a birthday, which we decided to celebrate with an alpaca theme. We found a local place with a whole herd of them, all hanging out in a dusty pen under the bright June sun. They were curious and got right up close to the fence. The alpacas came in all different colors—white, brown, black—and some looked a little funny with their fresh summer haircuts, all skinny necks and fluffy heads.

The theme, of course, continued with the food. There was a bright yellow cake topped with two little alpaca figures and green cacti, which we set up on a table right there by the enclosure. I also had a pink llama cupcake on a matching paper plate. It was a simple, fun way to celebrate outdoors, with the real things milling around just a few feet away.

The day ended quietly back at home. The sun went down over the hills, leaving these bright, saturated orange clouds behind. It was a nice, calm end to a day that was mostly about cake and very soft animals.