Bad Hair Day !.......Im off on my Holidays !!!.....

A new line in Alpaca wigs !!!!!.............fancy a toupee !!

Glamorous......as usual !!......trying to catch up on the jobs.......

View down to the farm.....after an evening walk.....with the dogs.....

The girls........resting, enjoying the sunny days....

Holly.......captured....out one night last week....looking for her tea !!.....

Firstly I must apologise to my regular readers....I have been neglecting my blogging duties !

I have been taking it easy over the past couple of weeks, due to my back injury, however the weather has been glorious....and those jobs....are niggling.

I have had a busy few days lately and have been wearing numerous.....'Jill of all trades'.....hats ! I have been developing a new line in Alpaca products, ..........you can see the result on my model.....its aptly named....'the last of the Mohican's'.

Somehow I don't think that there will be a great demand....for it.

My parents are up at the moment.....they will be here next week, holding the fort ! I have an appointment....with a little holiday....!! I haven't had a holiday in about 12 years....so its well overdue.....in fact.....I'm sure its going to be a 'well grand' time !!

The alpacas are fine, enjoying the lovely weather.....and taking life easy......as they enter the last couple of months of their pregnancies.

So I have been extra busy, trying to catch up on those jobs, I couldn't do last week ! Today I have been doing a spot of muck-spreading....as its that time of year again. Tonight I have managed to spread the muck heap.......so when I return, I only have the barn to muck out and that to spread....then I shall be up to date.....

So........I won't be blogging next week.....I'm on holiday ! !!!!..... Just have to get on the right plane !.......or else I might end up....somewhere exotic !!

Lastly.....Congratulations....to the Royal Couple, William and Catherine......on their marriage.....what a wonderful day......and here's wishing them many happy years together.......

Taking it easy !.........

Zakhura ............

Zerquo ..........

The older boys.....on the left.....and the younger boys....on the right......soon to be together !

Zullulah....sitting by the feed bucket !!.....

Well not much is happening here......still trying to take it easy......!!

The weather has been wonderful and the alpacas are enjoying the freedom of being turned out for the.......summer !!

We have more Swallows that have arrived over the past week, so its lovely being out and about and hearing them...tweeting as they pass by.

I have had no more nasty....unusual chicken surprises...!!

The girls are approaching the 270 days.....and providing we have no complications, those little ones should be arriving sometime in June !! Its a lovely exciting time....just watching them and wondering, especially for me..what colours.....and whether they might be boys or girls.......and the time just ticks on......I have had no babies..for nearly 2 years here....due to the re-setting of the birthing times, from Autumn...to hopefully now early summer.

We are in the slow lane at the moment......enjoying the nice weather and just taking it easy......

Then, when the time is right....it will be a case of.....catching up.....with those....jobs ! on the 'To Do' list .........

What an awful shock.......then surprise !!

What a shock ...in the chicken house !! Phew...thankfully....she's ok !..... Zienna has her breakfast.....in bed !....and Tremona this morning.... The girls....this morning..... After their breakfast......funny how the two older girls are peeping round the corner..!! Yesterday....I got such a surprise...and a shock ! It was not alpaca related....but what an awful shock...then it quickly turned into an amusing situation !! I went down to let the chickens...out...and I had noticed that they have been laying somewhere else..over the past couple of days...! I had had a good look round and failed to find the new spot...so anyway, back to the morning...I went into the chicken house, put the light on...and had an awful thought as I saw something in the plastic bag...of sawdust that I had in the chicken house..! Oh...no ! I thought, there was a hen in there......had she suffocated ...what an awful surprise..! I carefully opened the bag and to my relief...she was alive....thankfully...I peeled the bag back...and she was sitting there as happy as you like ! then I thought...she was sitting on some eggs...and had gone broody ! My next dilemma...what do I do...and exactly how long had she been there ! I'm sure she hadn't been there long...I hummed and harred about what to do...I lifted her up and counted the eggs....9 ! I lifted her off...then went to get a container to put the eggs in...and when I returned..she had sat back on the eggs....I then decided to let them out...and leave her....sitting ! So I went round to open the outside door... When I returned.....she had gone...and there were 10 eggs...there...so decision made ! I think she had got in there to lay...and I decided to take the eggs away...I checked one and they had only been there a day or two ! so that was ok ! I must admit....I got an awful shock...then I was happily pleased...and had a laugh about it ! So I have found the new....laying spot...and it has been removed.... Hens...are mad ! and I think it helps if you are a bit....strange yourself !.. Anyway, back to alpacas.....and breakfast with the girls....this morning !

Supper-time with the Boys !!.....

Especially for Zeto's fan club !!.....

Zanubis....Zeuss and Zerquo tonight.....

Zanubis, Zeto and Duke.....these three younger boys are friends......

Zanubis is now nearly three.....he hopefully will be a Daddy soon !!

Duke and Zeto, tonight having their tea !!......

It has been a lovely couple of days here, the weather has been quite sunny although windy at times.

I have turned the alpacas out for the time being, as their fleece is quite long now and they were beginning to get hot ! especially now the weather has improved.

So tonight at suppertime...I decided to take some photos..of the boys having their tea !!

I have been trying to take things easy for a few days....as I have strained my back....so I'm just doing the necessary, unfortunately..there is quite a bit of necessary !

I have been wearing a heat pad, that you stick on your clothes and its great, so it is definitely easing the back ache at the moment.

Both of the horses are now turned back out, and touching wood, they seem to be ok ! I am keeping a close eye on them for the moment, but I'm hoping that things have settled down with them, its my turn now...

So now ............I'm on box rest !!

The Swallows are Here !!!......Yipee

The girls out yesterday .......

Follow my leader......Duke and Zeto !!..... keep in step !!

Zakhura.....the field isnt .....big enough !!

Up bright and early this morning ....only to be greeted with a wonderful surprise...

As I looked out of the window.....after checking the alpacas had survived their first night out, which they had...obviously !!

I noticed a little bird....now.....not just any little bird, it caught my eye as I looked over towards the barn......

It was a Swallow......!!!! Yipee...... I just love to see these little birds arrive back here for the start of the summer-time....

So its official.......even the Swallows are coming in....on the better weather.....I have counted two this morning.....they look like the young ones hatched here last year......

Marvellous !!

Just lifts your spirit a bit ......Roll on the Summer !!

Fantastic !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Holly....out tonight...looking for her tea !!....

Duke ...coming to see me !...and Zeto....today....

Holly, having her supper......peanuts, bananas, sultanas, meal worms.....and hedgehog nuts !!

Taco & Sunny lying down, a couple of days ago......on the mend now......

Duke & Zeto.....out today, enjoying the sun-shine !

As usual, I have had a busy couple of days.....lately !

The weather has been lovely here also, lets hope that it continues.....well into September !!!!

Ok, well for at least a few more days...anyway ! I have collected another bale of silage for my Highland Cows....to tide them over till the grass makes a spurt and decides to grow....

I was out in the garden today, doing a spot of gardening as it was so nice. Then I decided to take a couple of photos of the 'Baby Boys'....Zeto and Duke, I trimmed their 'top-nots' today so they can now see where they are going !

It was late tonight when I got finished...and I nearly forgot to feed Holly ! It was about 9.15pm and just about dark..when I dropped her feed into her enclosure....I could see what looked to be like a rock...there....well I know that there are no rocks in her area...so I thought it must be her.....out ...looking for her supper.....I got a stick and gave it a nudge to see...and it was her....as it was nearly dark....I couldn't see her properly...but I decided to take some photos..with my phone...and when the flash went off.....you could see her......she looks great to say, she is just out of hibernation......hope you enjoy the photos.....!!

Finally......all the alpacas are staying out tonight...as it was a lovely evening...and it was far too nice to bring them in for bed-time......I hope that their first night out......goes well......when they are turned out for the summer....I do miss them.....but I will be checking them over tomorrow........to make sure....they all survived.......ok !!

The horses are on the mend...I think...Im hoping that maybe all being well after the weekend, if the weather stays nice....they can be turned back out with the others.....

Busy, Busy, Busy !!

Zonda....caught between Norris....and Zeuss !! ....

He's behind you !......

View from the hill, looking down to the farm....

Just finished.......job's a goodin !

Well after my last blog.....some of the jobs have been done and crossed off the 'to do list'.

The fields have been harrowed and taped off, ready for the summer grass to grow and the haymaking to start .....all over again !!

After I had harrowed the hill field the other day....it was time to tape it off....I took the dogs over for a walk with me, now Zonda is usually always in the way ! today was no exception !

Zeuss always is fascinated with her and follows her round the field......and then there is Norris...who decided to sniff her nose....then stick the nut on her.....!! Obviously a sheep greeting !

The girls are getting slightly larger and its only just over two months till, we are hoping to see new arrivals here at Zanzibah. If all goes to plan....we should have between 5 and 7 babies this year !

Meanwhile there is still lots to do.....so I'd better get on ...and get started !

Its a nice sunny day here again today.....Spring has definitely sprung...after all Holly has nudged her way out and the temperature is on the rise .......so summer is on the way !!

Something is Stirring at the Bottom of the Garden !

Holly......has been out !!.......and survived the winter !

Some of the flowers in the garden......

I bet you didn't know there were Penguins....in Scotland !!

There is a pussy cat in my tea !!........

The garden......a sniff of Springtime, with the Daffodils !

It has been a lovely couple of days, over the weekend.

A mixture of sunshine and scattered showers.....the temperature has been gradually rising and there has been something stirring at the bottom of the garden !

Holly the Hedgehog...has been out to sniff the Spring time. I noticed today that I thought the straw at the entrance to her house had been disturbed, I had a good look round her little enclosure and I found signs of activity !

So Spring is definitely here....Holly has survived the winter and she is wakening from her hibernation. Isn't nature marvellous, I rang my mam today to give her the good news...as we were all wondering if she would winter ok !

I took a few photos of the flowers in the garden today, the Daffodils certainly give a wonderful boost of colour at this time of year.

I have had an eventful weekend, with the usual mix of trials and tribulations ! At the moment I have two lame horses.....one with a lamanitis flare up and the other has an occurrence of an abscess.....both are in box rest at the moment....locked in the barn....for company, as one will not stay in alone !

I have also been busy with some Alpaca Fleece sales.......just goes to show ...there is a demand for this luxury fibre.....

I have strained my shoulder tonight....trying to move a large bale of straw alone.....I think I have torn a muscle in it...so I am typing with limited movement.....I'm hoping that it will ease for tomorrow.....or else I will need......looking after !!

The tractor was briefly broken for all of 24hrs.....I was intending to harrow a field..ready for spring....I had attached various attachments...climbed into and out of the tractor to get into the desired field.....and was all set to enjoy an evening of harrowing.....

Only to discover....the front loader was creeping up when I was driving up the hill to get to the field......I pulled the lever to stop it.....and it broke off......in my hand.......and the loader continued to maximum lift....!! I couldn't harrow the field like this...so I took it to the mechanics to be repaired.....and it is now fixed.....and back home....today....

So that looks like a job for another day......weather pending !

Maybe ......at this rate ....I will need box rest.....or a little holiday !!

Its getting a busy time of year.......and you need your equipment to work.....I have lots of jobs on the 'to do list' .......just need to do them !!

Oh..well tomorrow's another day......