Today we completed the first of our field shelters so Golden Guinea now has a house; hopefully he will like it and put it to good use. One down five to go!
The girls are munching their way through their current paddock, so we will move them onto fresh pasture tomorrow before the next band of rain and thunder arrives.
Finally my gorgeous niece has arrived this evening (with my brother and his wife obviously!) so tomorrow I will introduce her to the alpacas; I'm sure Hughie will love her!!
Friday, 29 August 2008
Thursday, 28 August 2008
A trip to Purston Alpacas
Sorry for the lack of blog yesterday, but we were far too tired to turn the machine on last night having completed a 548 mile round trip. The long awaited day had arrived when we could go and collect our animals from David Barnett, down at Purston following their blue tongue vaccinations (we are still in a free zone up here).
All went according to plan and they seem to have settled in, I'll tell you more about them in the next few days. Golden Guinea our new brown stud has taken to Northumberland folk already, this morning he introduced himself to the workmen who are converting the barn across the road, not to mention Alan our farmer friend and our resident chickens! Hopefully he will be as taken with Ursula tomorrow when he gets to meet her and the the Barnacre girls.
We have been to the sawmill again today to purchase further supplies for field shelter building - Paul just loves having a week off work!!
All went according to plan and they seem to have settled in, I'll tell you more about them in the next few days. Golden Guinea our new brown stud has taken to Northumberland folk already, this morning he introduced himself to the workmen who are converting the barn across the road, not to mention Alan our farmer friend and our resident chickens! Hopefully he will be as taken with Ursula tomorrow when he gets to meet her and the the Barnacre girls.
We have been to the sawmill again today to purchase further supplies for field shelter building - Paul just loves having a week off work!!
Tuesday, 26 August 2008
Extremely uniform, advance fleece type. Very attractive fleece!
These were the comments from the judge at yesterday's Hope Fleece show for Legend of Spartacus who came first in his class, and was awarded Reserve Champion (being pipped at the post for Supreme Champion by half a point).
Little Miss Irraquoy came second to Legend in the Intermediate class and our grey girl Kate came third in her class. We were very pleased with the results and the very complimentary comments received from the judge.
Moving on, we have had visitors again today. It is always a pleasure to show keen people around the farm and talk alpaca to them.
Little Miss Irraquoy came second to Legend in the Intermediate class and our grey girl Kate came third in her class. We were very pleased with the results and the very complimentary comments received from the judge.
Moving on, we have had visitors again today. It is always a pleasure to show keen people around the farm and talk alpaca to them.
Monday, 25 August 2008
The Dyke Neuk Show
Yesterday was another chance for Hughie and Loki to meet their public, their presence had been requested at the local Dyke Neuk Show. The weather was fantastic which certainly brought in the crowds, the place was packed.
Hughie did his usual and insisted on greeting everyone who came near and hum loudly at those trying to walk by without paying him any attention. He really is a character that you can't help but love, everyone always passes comment about him. Loki was also allowing a select few to stroke him, his much more selective than Hughie!
It was nice to spend the day talking to lots of people about alpacas, there were a few people who had met the boys before and others who were very keen to keep alpacas. It is nice to be able to educate a few people too who are adamant that they are llama's.
My cucumber also won third place in the cucumber section of the vegetable show - growing it in alpaca manure obviously did it some good!!!
Hughie did his usual and insisted on greeting everyone who came near and hum loudly at those trying to walk by without paying him any attention. He really is a character that you can't help but love, everyone always passes comment about him. Loki was also allowing a select few to stroke him, his much more selective than Hughie!
It was nice to spend the day talking to lots of people about alpacas, there were a few people who had met the boys before and others who were very keen to keep alpacas. It is nice to be able to educate a few people too who are adamant that they are llama's.
My cucumber also won third place in the cucumber section of the vegetable show - growing it in alpaca manure obviously did it some good!!!
Saturday, 23 August 2008
We're building again
Following the arrival our our stud boys, and the further division of our land, we are in need of some additional shelters. So we decided to have a go at building a few smaller ones, for the boys initially, ourselves. This afternoon was the beginning of attempt number one, and so far so good.
We have begun in what will be Golden Guinea's paddock so we didn't have any help whilst we were establishing the best method of construction. Gianmarco's Masterpiece spent the whole time watching over the fence humming advice. I think he agreed with the way we were doing it!
Marky is in a good mood today, he got to have another 'go' with Duchess who hadn't ovulated following her mating last week. You may recall I did say she wasn't her usual co-operative self, she obviously knew the timing wasn't right. Today she had sat down and was waiting for her man before he had even got near the mating pen let alone in it! Hopefully that means she will ovulate this time and hopefully hold a pregnancy.
We have begun in what will be Golden Guinea's paddock so we didn't have any help whilst we were establishing the best method of construction. Gianmarco's Masterpiece spent the whole time watching over the fence humming advice. I think he agreed with the way we were doing it!
Marky is in a good mood today, he got to have another 'go' with Duchess who hadn't ovulated following her mating last week. You may recall I did say she wasn't her usual co-operative self, she obviously knew the timing wasn't right. Today she had sat down and was waiting for her man before he had even got near the mating pen let alone in it! Hopefully that means she will ovulate this time and hopefully hold a pregnancy.
Friday, 22 August 2008
Hughie gives chase
I think Hughie has been watching the Olympics, and fancied breaking Ussain Bolt's new world record this morning. There was a fox in the neighbouring field, with four sets of eyes and ears glued on it. Legend & Gianmarco ran to the top of their paddock with Hughie and Loki along side in their paddock, then came the action!
The fox (quite clearly not very old) made the BIG mistake of entering Hughie & Loki's paddock, Loki stood and watched whilst Hughie sped off like a bolt of lightening after it. The grass is quite long in the middle of the boys field and I had long since lost sight of the beastie but Hughie hadn't, twisting and turning from left to right, backwards and forwards. Eventually the fox managed to find it's way into the sheep field and legged it as fast as it could whilst Hughie looked most disgruntled and ran back up to me to tell me he'd tried to get it.
The fox (quite clearly not very old) made the BIG mistake of entering Hughie & Loki's paddock, Loki stood and watched whilst Hughie sped off like a bolt of lightening after it. The grass is quite long in the middle of the boys field and I had long since lost sight of the beastie but Hughie hadn't, twisting and turning from left to right, backwards and forwards. Eventually the fox managed to find it's way into the sheep field and legged it as fast as it could whilst Hughie looked most disgruntled and ran back up to me to tell me he'd tried to get it.
Thursday, 21 August 2008
Much of the same
Today has been a case of finishing off jobs I'd already started, first on the list was to deliver the fleeces I'd skirted ready for the Hope show.
Then it was back to the ear rings; wet felting is such a time consuming process. The new designs do look good though, even if I do say so myself. Check out the online shop in a day or two when I've been able to take some photographs.
Short and sweet tonight, but not much else has been happening.
Then it was back to the ear rings; wet felting is such a time consuming process. The new designs do look good though, even if I do say so myself. Check out the online shop in a day or two when I've been able to take some photographs.
Short and sweet tonight, but not much else has been happening.
Wednesday, 20 August 2008
New faces at breakfast
This morning everyone was in for a treat, one of Paul's work colleagues Sam bought her nieces Chloe and Ebony over to meet the alpacas so they had the pleasure of feeding everyone. Imala took full advantage of the situation and ate more than her fair share before it reached the troughs!
As you would expect Hughie loved seeing new faces and the girls enjoyed him to, even Loki hung around to say hello. Ebony got to meet Ebony the lamb, not forgetting all the others, Mia was pleased new visitors had arrived because it meant she got breakfast, which is something she doesn't get at this time of the year when there is so much grass.
This evening we did a spot more halter work with Legend and Marky who were both very good, panic over for the show (she says with fingers crossed)!
Gaussian's mid week weigh in went well too, he'd put on half a kilo despite hardly taking any bottle all week. He's obviously getting something from somewhere.
As you would expect Hughie loved seeing new faces and the girls enjoyed him to, even Loki hung around to say hello. Ebony got to meet Ebony the lamb, not forgetting all the others, Mia was pleased new visitors had arrived because it meant she got breakfast, which is something she doesn't get at this time of the year when there is so much grass.
This evening we did a spot more halter work with Legend and Marky who were both very good, panic over for the show (she says with fingers crossed)!
Gaussian's mid week weigh in went well too, he'd put on half a kilo despite hardly taking any bottle all week. He's obviously getting something from somewhere.
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