AD Up and About, and other New Arrivals

Arctic Dream is dry now, and up and feeding, mum Azzura is very attentive.

He is still figuring out the feeding thing!!

Other new arrivals today are, from the left, Yolanda and son Yuri and Midsummer.  They have joined the gang in the long paddock for the moment, Midsummer will be part of the road paddock gang from tomorrow... but this seemed easier for tonight.
PS: It turns out that the alpaca on the right is Medallion, not Midsummer - by the time the mistake had been discovered, I had grown quite attached to her, so instead of swapping them over, Midsummer is coming 'as well' and Medallion will be staying :)

New Arrival

Came home this afternoon to find Azzura in labour, didnt have to wait too long before her son arrived, but he is quite a big cria and he took quite a bit of effort from her to deliver.  He is white with blue/grey spots and we think we'll call him Arctic Dream.  His dad is Top Class, who is a bay, so the colour was unexpected, but very pleasant surprise!

Roast Pork

Fatty couldnt have been more pleased the other evening when I decided to cook roast pork.  Sitting on top of the oven tower - best seat in the house!

Llama Packing Workshop

Yesterday I attended a llama packing workshop run by Mark Brindley from Victoria.  It was a great day, learnt heaps!!

This is little Forest Gump, a four month old, bottle fed baby who is 3/4 llama, 1/4 alpaca.  He was born with bent legs and had to be in calipers to help straighten and strengthen his legs.  He is a dear little chap and charmed everyone.

His owner Nils is a real soft touch, and when Forest showed an interest in his raspberry muffin, Nils shared it with him.  Yes, Forest got the lion's share!!

Our tutor was very knowledgeable and very experienced and explained all the different types of saddle, how to put the saddle on, and load the panniers.

Archer was a star pupil, and although he'd never had a saddle on before he took to it like a duck to water.

Grooming prior to putting the saddle on so there are no burrs or grass seeds to rub on the llama's skin.

Illaria's llamas and the horse from next door watched the proceedings with great interest.

Tanya is a spinner, who very recently feel under the spell of llamas, now a committed llama lover :)

Berry Poultry Auction Weekend

Another journey to the coast, this time quilts, ducks and chooks on board, just for a change - not!!

The dinner worked out really well, started with nibblies and moved onto some brilliant meat cooked on the barbie by Brad and salads and dessert!!!

Shayne's newly acquired geese Bubble and Squeak provided the entertainment!!

Once again I enjoyed the wonderful and generous hospitality of Shayne and Brad and stayed over Sunday night as well before tackling the drive home :)

Shayne's garden is full of gorgeous roses and the heady scent of mass planting of gardenias - delightful!

Another nice thing about the weekend was catching up with Tarquinn and Freddie who are in the pink of health and eating the lushest grass in all the land!!  Shayne is doing a brilliant job of keeping Freddie's eyes free of fleece with regular trimming, he's not 'blind Freddie' any more!!

Birthday, Mothers Club and the crias

Today is my birthday, and these are the glubs that my sister Kath knitted for me - cool, eh?  2ply cotton silk blend, so should be nice and warm when (if?) the weather ever cools down.

Mothers club meeting in the shade, rest time for the crias.

This is Casper, he is not just cute, he's also very clever... well mostly!  He has worked out getting around the half fence, gates and paths through the yards.  He is as fast as lightning, and if you think you'll be catching him in the paddock any time soon, you'd better get your skates on.

Making me look like I lied about him being smart... attempting to eat the bowl instead of the breakfast!

Narcissus' little boy has a name now - he's Nanook :)  Took the colour card with me this morning, he's definitely dark fawn.  He has quite a few black hairs intermingled with the fawn on his head and ears, makes them look a bit darker.  He is a lot easier to catch than Casper, and quite likes a cuddle.

Azzura has a little over 3 weeks to go, and she's as big as a house!!  Feeling confident there's a baby in that belly this time!  She is feeling very maternal and seems to like to sit with the crias when their mothers will allow it!

Cushla, Casper, Narcissus and Son

They are all just too cute to be true, Cushla is really taken with the newest arrival and was licking him... until Narcissus saw her and told her to cease and desist, immediately, if not sooner!!  LOL!!  Even Azzura has come to greet the newest arrival and sat down so close to him that I thought it was going to end in tears!!

Cushla is doing a good job of raising Casper, and he is growing before our eyes!!

Black Narcissus' Turn

I had to go out this morning, and I checked Narcissus before I left... dont think its going to be today, I said, and drove off, leaving her resting under the pine trees.  When I got back she was still there, and next to her was a medium fawn baby.  Clever girl!!  He doesnt have a name yet, so put your thinking cap on it, it has to start with 'n'.  He is standing in these photos because I picked him up to spray his cord with iodine spray, but he's up under his own steam now, and has been suckling, so he's off to a good start :)

Alpaca Show - Goulburn

Yesterday I went to the Goulburn Show to watch the alpacas being judged, in particular the Lavender Park blacks :)  Ruth took Maeve and Caden, this is Caden in the ring:

He was awarded second prize in his class, the judge citing the browning of the tips of his fleece cf the first place getter.

 An enjoyable day, and learnt heaps from the judges explanations, especially about the fleece category, which was judged on Friday.