A fence free day

Firstly, sorry no blog last night after a day full of fencing (as well as the everyday jobs) I was too tired for blogging, and as for Paul & I going setting up as pro's Barbara it would end up in divorce or murder before long!

The fencing with the help of Dave (again, thanks Dave) is coming along nicely, the girls next field is now almost secure, the gate need hanging and the short bars at the end of the stock fencing need cutting.  This week I need to finish putting in the second nails on the cross bars and the staples in the stock fencing ready for the girls to move at the weekend all being well.  I did mean to take the camera out with us but failed I'm afraid.

After we'd finished fencing for the day Paul carried down a big bit of caravan mark one on the tractor which this morning we cut, crushed or snapped into small enough pieces to get into the car!  I did one tip run this afternoon so two more to go.

We have been moving hay bales about this afternoon, the boys needed a new bale as did the girls so we had a game of shuffle.  Everyone now has hay again.  In fact the boys got an extra ration tonight as they got the left overs from the littlies bale so they were quite chuffed.

Talking of littlies I'm pleased to report that Minimus's leg is now almost completely healed.  He has a big bald patch and a lumpy knee but hopefully in time the bump will go down and the fleece will soon grow again.  I'm now thinking about having him castrated as he's taken to living with the weanlings.  I'm just not sure......

Spike, knock, strighten, knock...... one post done

We were up at the crack of dawn as we had a fencing job on this morning and a trip out this afternoon.  We'd just finished the feeding rounds when Dave arrived to help, we all had other things to do this afternoon so we knew we needed to crack on!

I managed, well I say I, he was actually following Paul's instructions at the time, to knock Dave off his feet.  Luckily he was ok and I didn't actually knock him it was more he lost his balance, note to Dave try stabilisers tomorrow.

After Dave left we managed to finish knocking the posts for the girls field before we left.  That leaves the gate, crossbars and netting tomorrow before we move in to the next field.

This afternoon we went to look at some land, as I didn't ask for permission to talk about it I'd better say no more than that, but it's all rather exciting.

Happy birthday Ursula

I can't believe Ursula is 5 today, happy birthday Ursh!

Paul fell in love with Ursula when we went to look at some girls who had just come in from Chile.  I had my eye on a grey girl (Kate) but Paul loved this big buddle of fluff named Ursula who was born in quarintine to Mary.  We ended up coming away having purchased Kate and Mary and little Ursula.

Urusla was three and a half months old when she arrived and was full of mischief, here is is a few days after she arrived looking like butter wouldn't melt in her mouth; don't be fooled!

We hadn't even had her 48 hours when she tried to strangle herself.  We didn't have many alpacas back then and stored some hay in the girls shelter and somehow, even to this day I haven't worked out how, Urusla managed to get her head inside the baler twine on a full bale of hay!  So when I went out to feed I found her attached to the bales looking all confused.  Thankfully she was none the worse for her ordeal and certainly didn't learn from it.

She would steal your hat, pinch the food tub or anything else you happened to leave unattended for more than a few minutes.  She is still partial to walking off with your gloves, a trait she passed on to her son Pearson.

She has to be one of our nosest alpacas and even now mature and pregnant thinks nothing to charging half way across the field to stick her nose into whatever you are doing.

Her first cria Pearson (sired by Golden Guinea) is just as friendly as his mum, he has actually been sold and will be heading off to Scotland soon.  She is currently pregnant to Gianmarco's Masterpeice (white) so it will be interesting to see what colour she produces this year.

These final two photo's were taken at Ursula's birthday party this morning shortly after her turnip and carrot treat (which she had to share with her mum Mary).

Sunbathing creatures

I thought I would keep the words brief tonight and share a few pictures, unfortunately I wasn't quick enough to catch a photo of the stoat that ran across the yard and down our drive this morning.  He was lovely, but far too fast for me!

I did manage to snap one of the skylarks that was singing to me whilst I was feeding the littlies and the boys this morning.

Talking of littlies how could I resist sharing this one of sibling love, Minimus and Piccolina who are inseparable no matter if they are in the shed or not!  I caught they sunbathing together whilst I was driving round on the flail mower.

And finally, oh to be a farm cat at Barnacre, Smudge and Izzie catching a few rays.  Tilly was asleep in my bed but don't tell Paul.

Dirt magnets

Another busy day here on the hill, so nothing new there then! 

This morning I had a visit from the local constabulary about an ongoing matter, I'll say no more than that in case it ends up in court.  Mia (the pet sheep) spotted the bright livery on the police car as soon as it pulled off the main road; she never misses the opportunity to get throw a gate.  Luckily she is heavily in lamb and moving slowly so he was able to get up our drive before she got down on to the track to follow him.

All the alpacas have been enjoying the recent good weather and are looking much cleaner than they have, with the exception of most of the weanlings who are dirt magnets.  I think Angelica's fleece is totally destroyed, I don't think even I will be able to hand spin any of that.  She is a Legend of Spartacus daughter and has masses and masses of superfine fleece which is why it is attracting so much hay and debris.

Minimus is obviously feeling much better following his bad leg, for the first time tonight I had to pursue him round the field after tea.  He is usually waiting to come back into the barn.  His knee is looking much better but there is still a tiny little opening so I am taking no chances and he's in the shed with his friends.

Despite me cleaning out the chickens I only got 2 eggs today - that's one less than normal; thanks ladies!  Hopefully they are building up to mass production tomorrow.

Squeeze chicken squeeze

With the mornings getting lighter I was up bright and early this morning, it might also have had something to do with the fact that Paul had to get up first - not something he likes doing so he always makes sure everyone knows he's up.  He did bring me a cup of tea though so I won't complain too much!

As part of the morning feeding process this morning I have put Hannah (sheep) back out, she is now better and happy enjoying the grass again - after a little encouragement to leave the conform of the shed.  A big bucket of feed was called for to walk her out of the yard.

Her shed companion is still in situe, I'm not very optimistic that her outcome will be so happy I'm afraid, but I'm not giving up on her just yet.

I cleaned the hens out early and told them that I expected lots of eggs to show their appreciation.  There were no extra eggs, just the usual three, however one was enormous.  As promised to all twitter followers here's the rather painful looking huge egg!

The next photo is especially for Judy who wanted some house photo's and an update.

As you can see the house is almost finished now, there are just a few minor things to be completed and a permanent solution to the water situation to resolve.  I will take a few indoor shots for you tomorrow; assuming I remember before it gets dark!

Is the clock ticking faster?

I can't believe it's nearly bedtime again - where do the days go?!

After sheep wrestling yesterday even I didn't want to get up this morning but when you have mouths to feed and animals relying on you there is not choice so it was up at sunrise as usual.  My poor little legs were feeling the pain from Wesley's horns yesterday, I certainly have some bruises to show for my troubles.

The ewes all seem happy on their fresh grass, we have moved them down onto the lower half ready for lambing.  They have a few weeks to go yet but some are looking rather large.  Our pet sheep will lamb first (towards the end of the month), my money is on Ebony being first.  She is enormous and only having one so I'm just hoping it's not too big, she usually has whoppers.

On the alpaca front Lualeni is due 6 weeks today based on her previous gestation and her sister Oonagh four days later so it will soon be all go on the birthing front.  Time to get the birthing bucket all sorted, more on that another night.

Day of rest; when?!

We have had an exceptionally busy day today, this morning we had a farm walk and talk booked.  The weather was great as were the visitors.  The alpacas always enjoy having visitors, here we have Gabby, Ursula, Oonagh and Geena being fed by Sian and Darren.

Meketaten was her usually show off self taking full advantage of some new admirers.  I do enjoy having a rummage in her fleece it is fantastic.

This afternoon we have been on sheep moving and vaccinating duties, all the pregnant girls needed their Heptivac injection and we have moved them on to the bottom half now that they are getting closer to lambing.  They should be much easier to keep an eye on down there and the grass is also nicer.

Carol and Dave came over to help us gather them up and dose them.  Once we got them through the first gate they moved quite nicely along the fence line and into the small (well we thought it was small) paddock so we could dose everyone.

They were rather naughty in there and took some rounding up, by the time we finished we were all worn out.  I have a number of bruises already from various horns and Wesley (the tup) managed to knock me completely off my feet - that hurt.  I didn't cry or swear; but I came close!

On the rounding up Paul took this photo from the top of the hill, it's not the best quality as it's on his blackberry but it gives you an idea of the space these ewes have.