Ticking along nicely !!

Growing up faast...

Here comes.....trouble !!

Zirrianna..... & Zimushka !

Life here is ticking along nicely....apart from the weather that is....!

The babies are growing up fast, learning to be quite confident around people. This is one of the main reasons, I decide to bring them in every evening. I believe this helps with building confident alpacas around people, especially for the future when you need to handle them to do routine husbandry tasks and obviously for the odd....alpaca moment.

A certain favourite of many visitors...who likes to steal the show, Minstrel is in a happy pleasant mood lately....however this can change like the weather...at the drop of a hat....so you just have to make the most of it.

Talking about the weather......after re-checking the computer.....again and again, waiting for forever and a day.....its looking like, after a sprinkle of the wet stuff...on Tuesday...we are forecast....a reasonable week....as I type this anyway !

So this might mean one thing....yes.....getting the other field cut, for ideally hay, however if the weather is not as good as forecast.....then nice quality haylage will be more than sufficient !

So, there might be a good chance.....I'm going to risk it....for next week...I shall be re-checking the computer again tomorrow.......just to make sure, before I ring the contractors....and give the go-ahead.....!

Its a risky business....especially as the days are getting shorter, the dew is more heavy in the mornings...and well I guess, Autumn is definitely knocking on the door.......ideally haymaking should be a summer time job.......summer-time......I ask myself.....when was that !!

Apart from this...pending job.....there are a few exciting things hopefully happening.....for one my parents are coming to visit next weekend....and well.....there are a few other little surprises...but I can't say anymore of that.....those who know....well.....will know, what I'm rambling about...those who don't know....will just have to wait and see.....!!

But I'm slightly excited to say the least !! oh...and its not an animal addition...!

Some work.......and more Play !!

Cristina, Anna....with Zirrius.....Minstrel and Zadi~Blanca !!

Just caught Anna....trying to smuggle Zirrius in her pocket !! .......Nice Hat Anna !!

De ja vou.....the flooded barn ..and me.....mucking out again !!

Cristina, giving Minstrel a stroke......and a certain little pest...trying to steal the limelight ! With Anna and Zadi~Blanca.....looking on ....

Yesterday I had a bit of a De ja vou moment......I'm sure it was just the other day...I had mucked out the barn.....

Oh ...yes then we had the torrential rain.....and we got flooded.....and the barn was under about 4" of water.....

So I on Saturday I had the barn to totally re clean......we are back to nice and clean.....and it is still drying out in places.....but the alpacas have nice clean dry bedding again.

Today I had visitors......Dave and Cristina came over to meet....us all......!!

The alpacas we on their best behaviour and we were surrounded and greeted by both boys and girls.....but I think once again Minstrel stole the show.....she was closely followed by Zirrius.....who was a first class delicious........nuissance.....!

I've only got a limited amount of photos.......I forgot to take the camera out...for our first visit....then remembered......later for the second visit.....then I was far too busy trying to teach Zirrius how to behave....with visitors...that I nearly forgot....

I also had to do a security check....before my guests left....as I was sure they were thinking of hiding Minstrel in the back of their pick-up...and I just caught Anna....trying to smuggle out Zirrius....

You have to extra vigilant......I'm sure the thought crossed both of their....minds !!

We had a great afternoon......eating lots of biscuits....and cakes......and a extra special cup of 'Ringtons'.....tea !!.....

The time just flew ......there was lots of alpaca chatter....and I think I could safely say...we all had a great day !!

Happy to Help !!....

Upper Mill Alpaca Farm's lovely new arrival !!

Meet the gang.......the new baby and his mum.....

Today I had the pleasure in meeting some new alpaca owners......Upper Mill Farm Alpacas, just outside Turriff......which actually is about 20 mins from me !

I read an article on the Accidental Smallholder website from some new excited alpaca owners....who had their first cria born yesterday.

I managed to make a comment, and to cut a long story short, ended up going to see them and help them find out what sex their new arrival was. My friend Anna came with me to help just incase the new mum was over protective.

We found the new location with no problems....and what a wonderful location, I was met by Dave who was waiting for us.....we were quickly introduced to the all the lovely animals and the alpacas.

What a beautiful setting and the alpacas were lovely, very contented we quickly saw the new arrival....what a beautiful brown cria......

I managed to catch mum, and then Anna and Dave held her, whilst I had a quick check of the baby.....I managed to find out that they had a beautiful baby Boy, he was slightly premature, his ears were very slightly floppy and after close inspection he had no baby teeth.....never the less....he was all there and very healthy indeed....

Its marvellous to have your first alpaca baby....you never forget your first baby and they are always very special.....

I have found out that the new baby has been named Rufus, he has had his first Lambivac injection and he will get another one within 4 weeks......

So on Sunday, I am returning the pleasure....Dave and Christina are coming to visit us here at Zanzibah Alpacas......so I'm sure we will have lots of alpaca chatter......

N is for 'Nibbles'.....D is for 'Delicious'!

Zirrius...he is so cheeky !!....

Zimushka.....she is a Munchkin !!...

Poor.....Zoretah..trying to have a snooze !.....and being pestered by Zirrius !!

Zimushka....is checking the puddle out !!.....

Zoretah under Zirrius....with Zadi~Blanca.....joining in the fun !!

Im sure that I'm not the only one that have strange pet names.......for my crias ! over the years.....

They are usually formed around their personalities.....and strangely enough...one special little fella....has two, pet names.....this year !

I'm sure by now...you have guessed, he is Zirrius.....the only boy born here this year. Out of five babies....we have four girls and one little boy.

You just can help yourself from giving him a cuddle.....he comes to greet you across the field...and because he's a typical boy...loves to pester anyone in the vicinity....usually ending up playing....'wheelbarrows'.......on the others...

He is Delicious..with a capital 'D'....and he is so cheeky..he likes a little....nibble....so 'N' is for Nibbles...
Its great to have these fantastic babies.....around, part of the pleasure....I can just watch them for hours.....playing chase in the field...and enjoying life......definitely give you the 'feel good factor'.

I would defy anybody...to spend a little time with them not to feel.....just great after wards !!

Oh...What a night !....

The boys back in the barn....and tasting the new hay !

The Nick Nacks.....

The girls...are slightly wetter than...hoped...as the rain is coming in the doors!!

Outside.....its horrendous !!

The boys have had a horrendous night...out...shivering and soaked...but there in now !!

What a night we have had.....

The weather has turned for the worst and I think we are now getting the rain and winds that most of the rest of the country have experienced over the past week.

The poor boys have had a night of it......and were soaked right through.

Not only do we have horrendous weather, I have woken up with a cold !

So its a case of feeling completely under the weather......I have brought the boys in, the barn is proving very useful.....indeed.

The girls did have a nice clean, dry barn, last night ! This has been short lived....as the rain is battering off the gable end of the barn....and running down the wall, onto the big doors...and its running in the barn....so, unfortunately the nice dry barn now had a bit of a water feature running through.....most of the floor is soaked...and the girls, have found a dryer end...to huddle into.....

I can feel another job on the list....I need to build a canopy....over the doors..for this kind of weather...to stop the rain bleaching in !

Apart from that.....once again the fires on and I'm feeling a bit sorry for myself....and I have

a..........runny nose !! ............and a dripping window !!

No Rest for the Wicked !!

Nosey !!...

Zanubis ....

Another job...crossed off the list....

So much so for a day off.....

Today, I decided to crack on and muck the barn out. It has needed done for a little while.

Although I use the tractor...thankfully it does most of the heavy lifting. I still have to take down the divides....move one or two large gates....and move several pallets...which I use for partitions.....this usually takes a couple of hours...by the time I put all the muck tines on and open.....several gates....close several gates...to stop the horses escaping...and then....I have to clean the barn out.....and put it all back together...then bed them all up....

I started at 1pm and I have been on all afternoon, I have just finished at 5pm.....It takes ages to tie...and untie all the binder twine.....

So tonight I have a nice clean barn, I know the alpacas will appreciate it when they come in. The weather has been much cooler today, mind you we haven't had the torrential rain yet !

Now I have this job crossed off the list....I think I'm up to date, so I can have a bit of a rest.

Just keeping one eye on the weather.....how come the forecasts...always get the cloud/rain right, but never seem to have the same accuracy with the sunshine !!

The nights are getting much darker.....so much quicker.....which can only mean one thing.....the seasons are changing.....and it won't be long till my lovely little Swallow friends leave me once again, for warmer climes....!!

I have the fire on tonight, as it is cooler this evening......I'm off for a nice long hot shower......I think I deserve it !!

Done...and Dusted !

What a wonderful sight !!......(for me anyway)

The Nick Nacks....are growing up very nicely !!

My lovely two Wyandottes.....and Norris...

Some of the bales...waiting to be wrapped.... can you spot Slinky !!

Tonight the quest to get some haylage is....done for the time being.

Last night I had to help bring the remainder of the haylage up to the barn to get wrapped....it was dark by the time we got finished so I couldn't take a photo of the finished stack.

So this morning, when I let the alpacas out....I managed to take a photo for the blog.

I am really quite pleased with the end result, however I shall not know exactly what its like till I open them around 10 to 14 weeks time....then if it has been a success ...then I shall really know.

In the meantime....we are forecast some of the horrible weather that most of the UK has been getting......the high winds and the rain over the weekend.

Yesterday morning before I went out to move the hay...I managed to do a bit of spinning, this has been washed and dried...and it is now a little ball of wool...which will make its way down to the GWR Yarn Show........

I have also been keeping a close eye on Zakhura and Zirrianna...after their injections.....I think that Zakhura looks happier already.....and Zirrianna looks fine, but it was a case of having to treat both of them.

Both will have another injection 10 days after their first one.

I have relocated the muck spreader tonight, to make some extra space in preparation for mucking out the barn. I shall be doing this sometime soon....as I will have to tidy up the barn as I will have to make extra room for the next pending hay crop and the straw for the winter.

Tonight......my back is aching....for a change !!