Brown to Black

Weather is a bit unpredictable here.  Just set off to tackle the docks and stingers in the back paddock and the heavens opened - now the sun is shining.  I have decided o give up and write this instead as we have sheep jobs tonight and I don't want to start off wet!  Cria are all doing well although Lina's little one is still a bit weedy.

 

Apart from Lina's cria and Cassie's they are all much more independent now.

So far only one has a name so I will have to work on that!  This is Cassie's who looks down her nose at the others and hides behind her Mum having sudden crazy dashes round after the others and then charging back to mum if it all gets too rough

The strangest, though, is my little brown one from Zara.

I don't think he is - brown I mean - Patou Mark says the amniotic fluid stains them and if you part his fleece it certainly is black.  Reddingvale told me that but I thought he was having a laugh!

Bit of a catch up

I have been reminded that it is a long time since I have written a blog and so am about to remedy the situation!  Three weeks ago I decided to seriously do something about my bad tummy, general lethargy, bloatedness and weight.  I am pretty active and it seemed odd that I was just piling on weight and feeling sort of unwell so after a it of internet diagnosis I decided I needed to give up caffeine and just possibly I might have some sort of food intolerance.  I found a diet that seemed to make a bit of sense (not complete sense as I am still struggling with the concept of being able to eat anything with a face or that comes from something with a face but not at the same time as something that comes from the ground - ground things come in a separate meal - but I can have an egg salad - I think).  Anyway, week one nearly killed me with splitting headaches and crampy spasms in my legs BUT I have not had a single stomach pain (well a tiny bit after I had some mustard).  I am not allowed to eat any processed food at all which might well be a very good thing.  The headaches have also gone - and I have lost some weight (you probably wouldn't notice but the scales say so!).  I now have to gradually introduce things (not mustard) and see what happens.

Anyway,  you probably did not want to know all that so back to the animals.  The cria are doing well.  Lina's little one is still a it weedy but he is very lively - I struggled on a decent picture of him as he hides behind his mum, Lina, when anyone is around.

It has been difficult to get any decent pictures with the amount of rain but this is Cassie's very sweet little girl

I really wanted a good one of The Slink's little suri girl but she is a flighty madam and the only one with a name so far - meet Flossie! - didn't manage to get her head but she has got one!

They have all had their first Lambivac now and after using some orbenin the fly problems on a couple of the eyes have healed.

Knitting has been in overdrive due to depletion of stock so today I finished off a scarf and pair of gloves - well, ends need to be sewn in still.  Next up is a suri wrap, flower hat and designing a shawl.  I am also working on felting but that is going so badly I will leave a report on that until another day!

Sheep are ticking along nicely apart from two who have bad feet and I am trying to work my way up to culling a couple that really should go due to mastitis in the past - not sure I will ever manage it!

Ellingham and Ringwood Show - plus cria!

Ellingham and Ringwood Show on Saturday which meant an exceedingly early start - at least we were not taking any alpacas so that lessened the stress!  I did have Zara due to birth but had the help of the lovely Tractor Boy who took his duties very seriously and must have checked her constantly!

We took the knitwear and had a fabulous day - best ever on sales.  The suri scarves and gloves went straight away, gloves sold very well - even a large blanket type thing which I thought was not a seller on such a hot day.

I think everyone enjoyed themselves despite how hot it was.  Most of the photos were on the phone and they don't come out well on the blog so this is the only decent camera one I have.

It was nice to have so many people interested in the alpacas, talking to breeders and liking the alpaca products.  Sam and Kristy came along and were a real help - couldn't have done the stall without them!  Kristy had her first go in the ring taking one of the colour champions round along with Carl and Sam - so a good day!

 

Luckily Zara didn't produce but first thing the next day - out he came.  I confess I would have liked a girl but there you go and he is a lovely curious little chap whom I presume is dark brown but I am not too good on colours.  All the photos that follow are of wet cria so not lovely and fluffy as it has rained today.

And here is Belinda's!

A  weird colour but really lovely!

 

Lina proved to be a bit of a monster as we had to move her and the cria to bring her in with the other Mums and babies.  Normally I would just pick up the cria and Mum would follow but Lina is a very protective mother and petrified you are going to kidnap her baby.  The first attempt led to copious spitting, weeing, foot stamping and charging.  We did manage as Carl said he would put her on a halter and lead her while I carried the cria.  I told him she was not halter trained but he went ahead regardless and it did go okay despite much screeching and spitting!  She is now settled and has decided she loves me which is almost as bad as her screeching!  She rushes over, ears back and then - once she has ensured her baby is next to her - stands and lets me touch the cria and stroke her neck.  One peculiar alpaca!

So two random cria photos to end