SNOWMASS STUDS
For a brief time we have all 4 of the Snowmass boys here - they are just so gorgeous and make such an impressive sight in the field altogether. After a busy time driving about collecting them and then working them, I put them all out in their field and just enjoyed watching them sort out who was going to be the boss... Quetzalcoatl thinks he is - but judging from the amount of green gunge on him he may be mistaken... I stayed on the other side of the fence out the way! Once they'd settled down I just spent ages taking pics of them but digital cameras are just so annoying aren't they - get it focussed, push the button - nothing happens - moment gone - click - takes the shot - out of focus - out of shot! Anyway I did get a few good ones ....
OPEN DAY SUCCESS
Our Open Day was a huge success... the weather was perfect and everything looked great. We had between 400 and 500 visitors - with a constant stream of traffic up the lane. We had so many lovely compliments on the farm and on our animals. Loads of serious enquiries and some sales for the future. We sold lots of fleece, yarn and knitted things and a huge amount of tea and cake.
The spinning ladies were brilliant, as were all my volunteer helpers who were either stewards on the gates talking about the animals to everyone, running the shop, or doing the teas - thank you very much guys - we couldn't have done it without you! The pacas were impeccably behaved of course - I can't imagine what they must have thought of all the people in their paddocks .. they were very bemused by the pushchairs.
My biggest thanks goes to my dear husband Peter who has worked so hard getting the farm looking so lovely and making sure that there was hardly a paca-poo left for anyone to step in, but mostly for putting up with me in my pre-open day stressed state! I woke in the night worrying that no-one would come!
Here are some pics of the day..... hope those in them don't mind!! Now I'm off for a takeaway and a very large G&T!!!
The spinning ladies were brilliant, as were all my volunteer helpers who were either stewards on the gates talking about the animals to everyone, running the shop, or doing the teas - thank you very much guys - we couldn't have done it without you! The pacas were impeccably behaved of course - I can't imagine what they must have thought of all the people in their paddocks .. they were very bemused by the pushchairs.
My biggest thanks goes to my dear husband Peter who has worked so hard getting the farm looking so lovely and making sure that there was hardly a paca-poo left for anyone to step in, but mostly for putting up with me in my pre-open day stressed state! I woke in the night worrying that no-one would come!
Here are some pics of the day..... hope those in them don't mind!! Now I'm off for a takeaway and a very large G&T!!!
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| Crowds round the spinning tent |
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| Beginning of the farm walk |
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| Just couldn't believe how many cars! |
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| Peter looking very happy - maybe it's 'cos he's taking the money! |
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| I thought I said no pics of me! |
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| Kids taking a real interest in the weaving |
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| What are all these people doing in our field? |
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| That's close enough! |
LAST CRIA FOR THE YEAR
Yesterday Goldie had her cria - a very easy birth, but no sign of any milk. So a bottle of colostrum and a dollop of kickstart was gratefully accepted by the cria who was a bit weeny and needed the oomph, whilst Goldie had a shot of oxytocin ... just an hour later and the milk bar was open and the cria got stuck in. When you see him next to his sparkly white chums he is a definite light fawn.
So the tally on this years crop - 8 girls and 11 boys - and I have to say we are very happy with our Snowmass breedings and can't wait for the next lot in a years time!
Tomorrow the gazebos go up for the Open Day - I just hope it's not going to be too windy...
So the tally on this years crop - 8 girls and 11 boys - and I have to say we are very happy with our Snowmass breedings and can't wait for the next lot in a years time!
Tomorrow the gazebos go up for the Open Day - I just hope it's not going to be too windy...
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| Goldie & Goliath |
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| Seeing Double |
CANDY'S OP AND ANOTHER BOY
We have been treating little Candy for a few weeks for a nasty eye infection - at first we thought we were winning but by the end of last week it was clear that the eye was no longer viable and that she'd be better off without it, she had already adjusted to having no sight in it anyway. So Friday afternoon Andrew our Vet operated on her on our old kitchen table in the stable yard. I have to say I wouldn't volunteer to hold an alpaca's head still for that one again! Amazingly within half an hour of the operation she was bouncing round the stable and in the morning galloped round the field and jumped for joy. She's a gorgeous female, one of my favourites, she's been so brave and is such a good patient and is very beautiful, especially if viewed on her left!
Yesterday Akela had her cria by Snowmass Incan King - he looks just like him and I have called him Amaru. We seem to have more than our fair share of boys here, lets hope Goldie, who is our last female to birth will give us a girl to finish our birthing season....
Yesterday Akela had her cria by Snowmass Incan King - he looks just like him and I have called him Amaru. We seem to have more than our fair share of boys here, lets hope Goldie, who is our last female to birth will give us a girl to finish our birthing season....
ROMSEY SHOW
I'm trying hard to knuckle down to the paperwork needed for the Romsey Show ... not much left to organise at the moment, the hard work will be needed in the couple of days leading up to the show putting all the penning up. Any help offered with that would be very much appreciated ..... The entries close on 14th August and as usual folk seem to be leaving it to the last minute to get their entries in - so come on everybody get them in now please... it would be a shame to miss out, we can only take 150 altogether and this is a great opportunity to show off your animals to the public, they need only have an inch of fleece being a short fleece show and it's a great venue.
TWO NEW BOYS
We have two new little boys, sired by Snowmass Invincibly Elite and they are both gorgeous... the first to appear was from BonBon and was a textbook birth, but rather rapid, which must have been painful judging by her foul language and attempts to squash his head with her foot! Luckily I was there and after a few minutes the motherly instinct kicked in and she stood beautifully whilst he got straight up and got stuck into the milk bar. We have called him Baylee.
The next to arrive was from one of the maidens, Medusa, and she took her time ... as she'd been in first stage for 3/4 hours I thought it best to check her out properly and discovered she hadn't dilated much at all so gave her a bit of a sweep and after another half an hour or so she birthed easily to another little white chap... he was less lively, a bit dysmature, and took a little while to get to his feet. A bottle of goats colostrum got him going and he was running around the field in the evening.
Both mums are very proud of their new sons and I have to say I am very pleased with them too - even though they are boys!
The next to arrive was from one of the maidens, Medusa, and she took her time ... as she'd been in first stage for 3/4 hours I thought it best to check her out properly and discovered she hadn't dilated much at all so gave her a bit of a sweep and after another half an hour or so she birthed easily to another little white chap... he was less lively, a bit dysmature, and took a little while to get to his feet. A bottle of goats colostrum got him going and he was running around the field in the evening.
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| Medusa and Midlington |
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| Midlington |
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| BonBon & Baylee |
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| BonBon & Baylee |
UPDATE
Not been very good with the blogging lately .. just haven't had the chance. Anyway we have had another cria since Aglaia, last week from Bonita, started with a leg back, but then by the time we got organised to catch her to give her assistance, she'd sorted it out. However, after that she didn't seem to have any further contractions and as she had done this before I decided to give her a hand and I gently pulled her cria into the world - a gorgeous white boy - who she then promptly walked away from! So out with the lines and the penning and within less than a minute she realised that the wriggly bundle on the floor was her baby and not the lines and after another couple of minutes we couldn't get near him because she was so protective...! Keeping to the naming theme of starting with the first letter of the mum and maybe the sound, he is Bond - James Bond (well it amuses me anyway!).
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| Bonita and Bond |
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| Agrippina and Aglaia |
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| Aglaia, Mystery and Bond |
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| Bond and Adele |
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