What a Wonderful Day !! .... who ordered the Gymnastics !!

What a lovely Day !!.......in excellent company !!

Rosemary, Carl and Minstrel......

Trienza is checking out Rosemary's hat......

Glamour Girls......and the alpacas......

What a wonderful day.....we have had today here at Zanzibah Alpacas.......apart from the stumbling gymnast who arrived just after lunch !!....

Today I had a visit from Carl and Rosemary from Westhill Alpacas...all the way from Dorset ! They arrived with gifts and well wishes from far afield..... they have been up north on a little holiday.....having a bit of a buss-mans holiday...... in Scotland.

To make the day the sun came out to play...and we had a lovely warm afternoon considering the weather lately. We chatted alpaca and had a hearty bowl of soup.....topped off with a nice cuppa tea....then it was out to meet the main attractions....the alpacas.

We firstly visited the 'Baby Boys' ....ok...then Zeto and Duke, who were out in their little paddock grazing happily......we decided to take a closer look at them and I made quite an impression of some tumbling act that the local circus would be proud of....I don't think I shall be making the Gymnastic team some time soon. I took hold of Zeto....who is normally quite quiet....however today..he decided to take off......I was determined to hang on....and unfortunately I had not taken into account the one substance .....mud...I began to Mud-Ski.....down the field....still hanging on to Zeto......I was sliding and stumbling out of control....I was becoming.....more and more.....unsteady..... Zeto was gaining speed and I was loosing the battle to hang on to my alpaca !

I was having a You've Been Framed moment.........I knew I was not going to regain my composure....and before I knew it I was tumbling....Head over Heels........and landed unceremoniously.....flat on my back in the mud !......I even lost my hat....in the high speed tumble !.......What a demonstration.......on How....NOT to Do it !

We all had a good laugh.....I did notice that neither Rosemary nor Carl....rushed to my assistance !.....I think they were in shock.....and didn't quite know how to react....whether to laugh or not !....I quickly got up an composed my-self......we then did the sensible thing and collected the boys into the corner......and caught them properly !

After my foolish ordeal...we visited the adult boys...who were remarkably well behaved...and all came over to see us......we then went to see the girls......and just for a change Minstrel stole the show....she was on her best behaviour........

I decided to get my own...back..and have a little sit on Minstrel.......she loves a cuddle ....on her terms.......she only tolerates you when she wants...to....

It was then time to go back into the house....have a look at some of the knit-ware I have made.....a quick spinning lesson....cup of tea....and then it was time to leave......

All in all....a wonderful day...with lots of good chit-chat....and lots of laughter.....

I think I was the star attraction....... closely followed by the alpacas....

Guess Who !........swept off my Feet !!!!

Recognise....that nose !!.......any one fancy a Kiss !!

Zeto and Duke......today...slightly dirty !!

Norris..........wide load !!

Duke.........and Zeto..........what a greeting !!

It has been quite quiet here over the past week or so, however today as usual it has been a grey damp day.

Although it hasn't been a sunny day I decided to take some photos of the 'Baby Boys' !! Ok, I know that both of these are nearly two this year....but until the new babies...start to arrive in June....these are still my babies !!

As you can see....someone had a big nosey.....nose....and can't resist a nose nuzzle and kiss....and I just went closer to take some photos......can you Guess Who !! recognise that nose !.......any one....

Apart from this lovely greeting, that really does put a smile on your face....on the dampest of days, it has been quite a miserable week...we a re currently in a state of Mud-tastic...here at the moment...and it makes you wonder if the place will ever dry up.

Tonight .....I was literally swept off my feet.....very unexpected indeed.....the culprit was NORRIS !!.....he was so keen to get out to where he gets his night-time feed......just one problem....he was wider than I had allowed and he literally......swept me along with him in his dash to get his tea.......! Cor Blimey.....he's a big lad....and I just couldn't get out of the way....thankfully I stayed on my feet ! I think I would have been trampled by my pet sheep...then of course....the alpacas....who were also waiting on the other side of the gate....

Norris...needs a wide load notice !.....I need to give him more room, in future....or I fear I might just end up on the floor !

It was just all the excitement....for his tea....I just got carried away......in the moment !!

House Guest ... and a wet foot..!!

Zaninni....looking at my little house guest !!....Ozzy

The boys...on their way out....this week...

The girls...enjoying the sunnier days this week..

Mutual admiration.....Norris and Zerquo....having a moment over the hay !

My little house guest.....Ozzy...is causing quite a stir among the alpacas !!

We have had a mixture of weather over the last week....from snowy showers to sun-shine and some things in between.

I have had a delivery of alpaca feed this will last me into the summer, I had to change the Daisy the digger's bucket over to the pallet forks....this makes life much easier.....for unloading the pallet from the lorry. I usually meet the driver up the track next to my neighbours...but this time...the driver forgot to ring and he ended up outside the door. He soon realised the reason, why I meet them when he tried to turn round. I have limited turning space for the large lorries and it took quite a few attempts to get round to leave.

But we managed...its always nice to have your feed in for the next couple of months....especially if the weather decides to snow again......I am prepared.

I had a good laugh at the girls tonight...as they all decided to have a run around and a good old Pronk in the fields..before bed-time......they really do lift your spirits, its lovely to see your animals happy and also in high spirits ! They had a good run round for ages...and I think that they can smell Spring is in the air !

Earlier this week the alpacas had a day inside as the weather was so nasty.....no one wanted to venture out...so it was a day in for them all.....after that we have had much better days and on Wednesday we had a lovely sunny day.......its always nice to see the sun shine.

I have a little house guest over this weekend.....Ozzy is here for a little holiday, he is causing quite a stir with the alpacas.....they know he's different and follow us on our walks.....

I still have lots of mud around the barn and the gate ways......I think every one has this problem at this time of the year....and the mess.....where the feed lorry was turning is...just that a mess !....

I have noticed a hole in my new wellies....I only got these in September last year....and they have split in one of the grooves......on the leg.....I found this out when I stood in the ditch the other day to clear a blockage....and yes....my welly filled up with water.....!!!

Not a good look.....to wear for the rest of the day...a squelching foot !!!

I have Snow-Drops in the garden ....I love to see these lovely little flowers.......just nudging up in the garden and reminding you that Spring is on the way....

Soon the Daffodils.....and roll on the Spring......lets hope no more snow....for now till then....!

Satisfied Customers !!

The girls.....out its freezing cold here at the moment !

More of the white stuff !......the girls grazing...

Ever get the feeling you world....is getting smaller....before your very eyes !!

Very little has been happening here over the past few days...apart from the usual....at this time of year......I think every-one is looking forward to the promise of Spring !

It has been bitterly cold here today with a biting wind, infact we have had the odd flurry of snow as forecast by the weather men......there is a nasty rumour that we are going to get more like the last.....I hope not !

As I type the wind is howling outside and there has never been a better time to batten down the hatches and sit festering infront of the fire ! I hate it when the wind is this strong, can't help wondering what you might wake up to in the morning.....

Changing the subject slightly, some readers will remember I posted off a parcel to Portugal, last week. Well I received a very nice email today, thanking me for the wonderful fleece and its nice to know that I have some happy customers, infact a mention of more may be required, after they have used up the first batch. Its also reassuring to know that the parcel arrived safe 'n' sound.

I guess you could almost say....'Were going Global' .......maybe slightly exaggerated !!

I don't think World Domination.....will be this year.....but we can dream big !! I might have to increase my herd at this rate.....now does this mean......I shall have another excuse to keep all my this years....Babies.....!!!!!!

We are in demand......all be it in a micro-climate....kinda way !!!

Zanzibah Land...is growing....!! a little bit of quality....goes a long long way !!

Roll on June.....can't wait to see the new babies bouncing round in the fields.