Back to Normal

Well as normal as we are that is! Hopefully the gremlins have now gone for good and we can catch up.

Today was spent putting fresh straw in the field shelters and filling the hay racks, all the alpacas looked very contented as they sat on their fresh bedding looking out at the rain.

We have been very lucky weather wise - there has been lots of wind and rain but we have escaped the worst of it and no damage experienced I am glad to say.

It was a year last weekend since we moved into our home and when we were both ill it really took the pressure off as we could look out of the window and see all the paddocks.

Before we both succumbed to the gremlins we had taken a trip to the Welsh borders to get two new acquisitions - not Alpacas but more chickens. We collected two Blue Cochin to add to the menagerie, this makes the seventh group of chickens to be dealt with daily!!!

The Gremlins got us!!

Unfortunately both Sid and I have been confined inside this week. Sid has had swine flu and I have got bronchitis so we had to call in reinforcements (Antony our son) to do the feeding and stock checking as we locked out the world.

Over the worst now so onward and upward.

Back next week when life has returned to normal (we hope).

Pat

Purrfick!!!!!!!!

We have been busy over the last couple of weeks trying to get the urgent jobs done before the weather turned.


Firstly we un-planted the garden! Different I know but as soon as were able to in the Spring we managed to plant a small area with some summer flowers and our roses which we transplanted from our previous abode. We were lucky enough to have use of 'Ken the Kubota' so just before the rains we managed to remove the plants and get the ground into better shape ready to restock.
We are now prepared for the cold too. I managed to finish installing the wood burner on Saturday. Hopefully this is the last of the major works before we start building the Alpaca barn in the Spring (but perhaps our Alpacas will be like those on Countryfile last night and will decide to give birth in good weather between 8am and 2pm - it hasn't happened yet!!!)

A welcoming site to come home to!

Crafty cria

We have thought for some time that Gem was not feeding Charlie that well as he spent a lot of time with Chan and his mum Hiccup - today our thoughts were confirmed. Hiccup is feeding two cria. Right in front of the window this morning were the two of them feeding together. Chan, Hiccup's own cria stands closer to her with Charlie farther away.

This brings me on to another subject especially relevant to this time of year - feeding. We feed Camelibra and hay ad lib during the summer, also we feed speedi beet to nursing mothers and we have also fed bruised oats. We feed lucerne when we don't have good quality hay. The grass has been good this year, with plenty of it but as it deteriorates we need to think of winter feeding.

At the Royal Show we purchased a bucket mineral lick but none of them seem to have used it, we also bought a vitamin drench which we have not used as yet. All our animals look well so we want to keep them that way without overfeeding (or spending unnecessarily). After reading recent blogs associated with vitamin problems we do not want to overdo unnecessary additives but also want to make sure our animals don't miss out. The cria will have their monthly vitamin injection during the winter
We would love your comments/suggestions on feeding.

Making the most of a fine day was grand daughter Holly - enjoying her swing in the oak tree.

Pain then Reward

Pain for 'Wellground Scriptwriter' that is but good news for us. Princess rejected his advances so hopefully next September we will have a young Scripwriter running around. To console him he was introduced to Atlantic Hope who certainly didn't reject his advances. Princess is a solid white and Hope is a dark fawn so we may have a variety next year. Hope's last cria was by the wonderful 'Samson' and is a solid white with a wonderful fleece - hopefully a herd sire of the future.

The other ladies and young males had a routine maintenance session of toe nail clipping and health checks.

We had rain today which has freshened things up. Although we needed the rain it has been wonderful to be able to get on with a variety of jobs and not make a mess, but autumn has well and truly arrived with the onset of the early nights but it has meant some wonderful sunsets.

Groundworks

The weather has certainly been a boost for us. Earlier in the year we had plans of what we hoped to achieve this year and that seemed out of reach as the poor 'summer' came. Thanks to a wonderful September we have managed to catch up and do a great deal.

Last weekend I managed to get the soil in place ready to be levelled.

A busy week on the 'proper job' of working on lorries and feed barriers and I thought our luck would run out but thankfully this weekend I manged to level it out with the aid of 'Donald the digger'.We had to put our home well off the ground in accordance with our planning requirements but now with the area around gradually returning to normal it is beginning to look like a proper 'plot'. Pat had a day out at David Austin roses for her birthday and has come back with a big wish list and ideas.

The work continues...........

Wellground Scriptwriter goes on his Honeymoon

Yes, today Wellground Scriptwriter (Vernon) had his first introduction at Toad Hall. He had a liason with ARU Cambridge Princess who was very receptive to his advances.

It is a major step forward in our breeding programme - he has wonderful blood lines. He was sired by EP Cambridge Commish Lad ( a son of Jolimont Commisario). His dam was sired by the famous NWA Ltd Ruffo. We will just have to wait and see if the union is successful.

Otherwise, another lovely day. More groundworks done - hopefully all the major work will be done before the weather breaks and we won't have to put up with another winter of mud, mud, mud. (But we wouldn't change our minds and leave here!!!)