Camels find home miles away from the desert

Deidra Carson has a thing for camels.

That’s right, the humped nomads of the deserts and proverbial symbol of Arabian scenes are what fires up a passion within Carson’s very being.

Carson’s house is full of camel figurines, including an entire herd of leather ones. A 2-foot by 3-foot display rug has — no surprise — a camel on it. There is an Arabian tent surrounded by nativity camels and the walls are full of ornate frames with paintings depicting a variety of camels. A wooden chair in the living room is accented with a camel-themed pillow on it.

The collection is all for personal entertainment, and not for any sort of financial gain, said Carson, who works as an animal groomer at Jimni’s Pampered Pets on North Meridian. “I like the expressions on their faces,” she said. “They’re just fun.”

And unusual.

Sure, folks often collect figurines of penguins, elephants and hippos, but camels are a bit out of the mainstream in the collecting world, admits Carson, who has been amassing camel-related items for the past 12 years.

On reflection, and pressed by an inquisitive visitor, Carson believes the camels are a connection with her passion for belly dancing and her love of palm trees, which she said are the keys to her happiness. Camels just fit in to the whole sunny scene, she said.

Like many collectors, Carson lets friends and family know about her passion, meaning it’s easy for them to give her something as a gift. She also stays on the hunt for a new prizes to add to the collection. “I’m always on the lookout for unusual camels,” she said. Nativity scenes are a prime area to find camels, she said.

Carson loves the “majestic look” of camels. But aren’t camels mean, cranky beasts? Carson quickly comes to their defense. Carson loves the “majestic look” of camels.

But aren’t camels mean, cranky beasts?

Carson quickly comes to their defense.

“OK, they do spit, but I don’t think they’re mean,” she said. “And they’re quite smart.”

Carson’s husband, Casey, takes the collection in stride.

“I can’t complain about her camels because not one of them costs what one of my fly rods does,” he said. Most of the 50 or so camel items range in cost from $15 to $50.

Casey said his wife has long liked camels and desert-themed items. “When we got married, she registered for palm trees,” he said.

Of course, there are not too many palm trees or dromedaries (one-humped camels) or Bactrian (two-humped) camels around south-central Kansas, for that matter.

Carson, however, does visit the camels at the Sedgwick County Zoo whenever she has a chance, and she loves to see them at area Renaissance Fairs.

And while zoning regulations and neighbors would likely object, Carson really wouldn’t mind having a live camel of her own.

“Well, at least I wouldn’t have to mow the yard,” she said with a laugh.