Shame

It's a shame but the weather forecast was right - today heavy rain and winds.  I had hoped that after the glorious weather we had for the last few days it might continue for 1 more day.

It has been great for all those outdoor jobs and I had hoped to take the camera out today and capture some nice clean alpacas - but we don't have any clean ones now!!!

Sid has done more chain harrowing and put the road brush on the back of the tractor to clean the lane which had suffered recently due it flooding a few weeks ago leaving mud and debris on the road.

We had help on Friday to feed the animals - not sure Sid thought it was help though.  Holly and Jessica were here for the day while Mum had to go on a course for her work.

Pete came back in the week and loaded up his trailer with Ambrose, Prince & Ben who have now gone to their new home in Milton Keynes.

Calm at last

I'm very glad to say that the awful wind of the last week has at last subsided.  It seems so quiet now, a very frosty and foggy morning but the sun is peeping through.

We were very fortunate and although we had the raging wind - no rain.  The ground is amazingly dry so Mr Toad took the opportunity at the weekend to get out the little red ferrari (a very old basic red tractor to you and me!) and chain harrow some of the paddocks.  He had to hang onto the steering wheel though because of the wind - his tractor does not have a 'house' on it like my little green goddess, problem is my green goddess is sick and the mechanic is too busy to repair it!!!!!

Welcome visitors at the weekend were Pete and Steve who braved the winds for a wander among the alpacas, we look forward to seeing Pete again later in the week.

Scriptwriter is looking across at the girls and hoping for a visit, unfortunately it will only be for spit offs at the moment to check how pregnancies are going.

Still here

Sorry blogs are few and far between, but all is well.

The alpacas are well and ..... dirty!!!! 

It seems strange to think of all that lovely white fleece they produce when they have been shorn looking at them now.  Mike Banks rang this week to confirm shearing again this year, we were very pleased with Sam and Shannon who he sent to us last year - even though Mike is very slow on actually confirming that he is coming on the date that was booked months in advance, but a superb job done.

They have all had a good check over and vaccinations are all up to date - We have two males who are now reaching maturity - Toad Hall Cool Troy and Toad Hall King of Diamonds.  Both superb white males who will make excellent herd sires.  We also have Wellground Scriptwriter so unfortunately one has to be sold.  We have decided to part with Troy who is by champion 'Cambridge Ice Cool Lad'.  He has a lovely character and a brilliant white fleece so he has been added to our for sale list with our wethers.  He will make a superb addition to any herd.

What a chore today - the Great British Bird Watch - I have to give up 1 hour to sit and count the birds - can I cope I ask myself.  There are three feeding stations around the house, which are all full so in between sewing buttons on our latest garments knitted by June I am recording the different birds. Unfortunately not so many thrushes or wrens this year, they really suffered in the cold weather, we also found a barn owl who succumbed to the cold.

Resolutions?????

I am not one for making New Year Resolutions - however - I really, really promise not to moan when it gets too HOT (well not much anyway).  This cold spell will stay in my mind for a long time, several nights with temperatures  down to minus 18/19 and days with a maximum of minus 12 took its toll.  As well as the River Severn freezing our central heating did too!!  The log burner warms the whole house so all internal doors are open and the central heating comes on at night when the fire goes out - well usually it does.  Overnight last Saturday the bedroom radiator froze and didn't we know it.  Thankfully the thaw arrived on Monday and all was resolved very easily.

The thaw came too early for son Matthew who went off to Snowdonia on Christmas Day with his tent to do a weeks climbing which had to be abandoned on Monday as it was not safe.

The Alpacas are well and enjoying the sight of the grass again which was very nice as we had a lovely couple visit yesterday who are thinking of owning a couple of these special animals.  We look forward to their next visit.

Thank you to everyone who does a blog - they are a great source of information and also fun.  We all have our ups and downs and sharing each others knowledge, dreams and aspirations always puts life into perspective, and Thank You to everyone who reads this blog - it is a pleasure to share our Alpaca Adventure.

So enjoy this evening, whether you are going to a party with friends, spending time with your family or celebrating with a loved one and look forward to the year ahead.

Best Wishes for 2011



On the Mend

Unfortunately I have had pneumonia so Christmas preparations came to a standstill, however things are now looking up so Christmas will hopefully happen this weekend, albeit quietly.

We are in the same position as most people, freezing temperatures, lots of snow and bad roads.  Last weekend temperatures went down to -19 overnight and 'rose' to -10 degrees in the day.  I am fortunate in that I have remained inside in the warm and Sid has faced the challenges - admirably.

The Alpacas look well and as soon as the hay is delivered they are there before it is in the feeders.

The dogs haven't ventured too far

Meanwhile the birds enjoy the Christmas tree in the Day time and we do at night.

Lastly, a picture taken many years of Lisa's first pony who died recently aged 40 years.  Magpie was a gem and well known locally.  She gave many children enormous pleasure.

Thank you to the many people who have sent us Christmas wishes, unfortunately not all cards have been sent or presents bought but nevertheless

WE WISH YOU THE VERY BEST CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY, HEALTHY 2011

Christmas gift suggestions: To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect." (Oren Arnold)

Cold - but better than most

We seemed to have been very fortunate and missed most of the terrible weather that has swept the country.  Our thoughts are with those who are having so much difficulty doing the everyday tasks.

Last Sunday we woke to a very hard frost of -11 degrees which didn't improve much throughout the day.  We only had about an inch of snow in the week, it's been cold and we have had to take water to the animals as the water troughs are all frozen and of course extra feed is needed by all.  Today started at -7 degrees and stayed below freezing all day, even though the sun was lovely and bright.

Wellground Scriptwriter looking through the fence at Toad Hall Blue Ember and Toad Hall Skye Blue. 

Skye Blue is the eldest of our three cria born this year, Brittania is doing well and still being bottle fed as Cambridge Bluebell has very little milk and as for Jolly Ruffo  -- Well!!!  He is a just so - different!!!  He looks wonderful and he is very entertaining - he loves he snow and frost and thinks all the others should too.

Knitwear sales have soared and we have met some lovely people recently who have come to purchase some of our home produced garments.  June's knitting needles are red hot in her race to keep up with demand.

The birds have moved towards the house even more as they know there is a ready supply of food here as the feeders are kept well stocked.  The buzzard and sparrow hawk are now a bit close for the goldfinches and tits comfort but no easy meals for them from the garden yet I am glad to say.

Pheasants seemed to have moved in despite trying to send them on their way (or they'll go in the pot!).

Quiet Blog - Busy Time

Well October came and went and I never made it to the blog.   Life has been pretty hectic at Toad Hall since our last post.

Things didn't go according to plan for daughter Lisa following the birth of Jessica as she had a return spell in hospital so grand parenting duties to the fore but she is improving now so hopefully she will be fighting fit before too long.

My email address was hacked into and my password changed so lots of hassle to sort that out and the hard drive on the computer crashed so eventually I got round to sorting that out.

Anyway enough of woe - others have more to cope with, the alpacas are all fit and well.  Jolly Ruffo is certainly a lively lad, a credit to 'Wellground Scriptwriter' - I think all the other alpacas wonder what has hit them.  He is growing into a superb young chap - some photos of the animals next time.  They have all been injected, body scored, nails trimmed and bonnets coiffured!  Paddocks topped and edges strimmed - phew just more poovering to do.

Sid has managed a few hours on the barn - he has improvised instead of getting a lift to enable him to put up more of the roof!!!!

Start by parking the lorry underneath where the steel is required and lean the steel against the lorry.

Up the ladder and hoist up the steel

Walk along the lorry with required piece

Fix in place as required - easy really.

He says he takes Health & Safety seariously but wearing a fluorescent vest wouldn't be very beneficial - after all you do wear vests underneath your shirt don't you!!!!

Enough said!!