Behind the Times

Well once again it is nearly a month since I did a blog, but lots is happening albeit mainly routine.

I attended the first meeting of the new Central region this week which was held at Wychbold.  The meeting was well attended and it looks hopeful for an exciting future.  It was great to meet other breeders and then find out that they are in fact quite close.  Well done to those who initiated the group and put in all the hard work.

The weather is glorious, however (there is always a 'but' so I will use a different word!!!)  we missed all the rain recently.  It seemed to circle around us.  At the time we thought great, now everything and everyone is desperate for some rain - hopefully it won't all come at once and will wait until after the Bank Holiday weekend and before the Royal Wedding.
There is blossom everywhere and last night we were treated to Cuckoo song.

The Alpacas are well - I think the girls in particular are looking forward to being shorn at the end of May.  Our first cria is due at the end of this month.  That will be from 'Toad Hall Ice Gem' who was our first born here at Toad Hall.  She produced a lovely male by EP Cambridge Samson last time, Gem is by Cambridge Ice Cool Lad and has wonderful dense fleece.

We have decided to add Gem's offspring, Toad Hall Storm to our sales list together with Toad Hall Sunrise as we have 'Wellground Scriptwriter'  as our stud male and 'Toad Hall King of Diamonds' will be working soon.
Toad Hall Storm, Toad Hall Sunrise and Toad Hall Cool Troy are all from excellent blood lines and will be an asset to any herd.

Toad Hall Storm enjoying the grass before it gets too hot

Toad Hall Cool Troy just has to see whats going on

Toad Hall King of Diamonds takes a cursory look

Thankful

Thankful for a lot of things but especially for the part of the world we live in.  The disater in Japan, fighting in Libya and general shortcomings around the world make us realise how lucky we are.  Indeed we are very fortunate in this part of the country as we seem to have been very fortunate with the weather whereas other parts of the country have snow, wind or rain.  This week has been beautiful, those of you who have watched the horse racing from Cheltenham on the television will be aware that the weather in this area has been gorgeous.  A time when you look across the paddocks and wonder is that alpaca alright - of course it is - just sunbathing. 

We have been making the most of it and hoping it is not the calm before the storm.

When the paddock duties were finished for today it was time to have a go at the flower border followed by a well earned cup of tea. 



Phew!!

Another busy few days.  The week was mainly overcast and cold but we have had a lovely weekend - cold nights and a glorious couple of days.  The alpacas certainly look content.

This weekend we had a visit from Helen & Dave who brought a lovely young female to visit 'Wellground Scriptwriter'.  They were very quick to take advantage of our special 'Mad March offer' of reduced priced mating.  Scriptwriter looked very pleased with himself today.

Wellground Scriptwriter - he is scheduled for a bonnet trim this week.

Helen & Dave also took away their new purchase - 'Toad Hall Britannia' is joining their growing herd.  Despite Britannia's difficult start in life she looks well and has a lovely fleece, I know she will be well looked after.

Unfortunately I didn't have the camera to hand when Britannia left but here is our gorgeous Toad Hall Jolly Ruffo who is a superb youngster.

All is well with the world

Well for the moment that is.The sun is shinning, the grass is growing, the snowdrops and crocus are out but most important of all - the animals are all well.

This is 'Toad Hall King of Diamonds',

Known as Barnaby at home, he will be coming in to work this year and I think he will produce some stunning offspring.

This is 'Toad Hall Cool Troy'

Troy is on our 'for sale' list.  He is the same age as Barnaby and is therefore also ready to start work this year so unfortunately we could not keep both.  Troy is by Ice Cool Lad and has a lovely bright fleece.

Today is special as we have a family get together and the children are coming to lunch.  Last week I had an unexpected stay in the cardiology ward at Worcester Royal Hospital and following an angiogram was given the all clear to go home last weekend.  So an easy week and a catch up with everyone today - Antony has just rung to say he has made a chocolate cake filled with cream - all that cholesterol!!!  Never Mind.

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.