Good Things and Bad Things

When I started farming someone said to me, you've got to remember if you're going to have livestock, there's going to be dead stock.  I knew it was true but it was not easy to accept.  We had a terrible week recently when we lost Azzura's 2 1/2 week old cria Arctic Dreamer, it was a terrible blow to us all.  The vets tried everything they could, but couldnt save him, and I returned his lifeless body to his mother to help her come to terms with his passing.  She guarded his body for 2 days before she finally got up and began to walk away.

Before the crows could get him I took his little body and buried it.  This meant not only digging a hole, but collecting a quarry's worth of rocks to put on the grave to prevent it from being disturbed.  Hazel loved the ride to the rock pile.

And then the trouble started.

Hazel did not want anything but herself in the wheelbarrow.

Finally the job was done and we can all start to move on, a very sad time for us all, and many tears shed, hopefully next year we can do better and Azzura will have a new cria.

Hazel, Kiki and the TV

Hazel is having lots of fun here on the farm, and she loves spending time with Kiki - they take it in turns to be too rough with each other!!  I am very pleased that Kiki is being very patient and not even slightly aggressive in her treatment of and with Hazel, couldnt ask for a better natured dog.

Hazel likes to spend time naming body parts, here she helps Kiki with 'mouth'!!

Hazel is also enjoying feeding the chooks, here in the modern pen

Not much time to watch TV, but when there is a down time, its a good way to spend the time.

 Kiki enjoys watching too!!

A visit to Apu Royalla

Its taken me much longer than it should have, but today I went to visit Apu Royalla to see the lovely cria that will be coming to Mt Tanga when they are yearlings :)

They look gorgeous in the photos, but even better in the flesh!

My first good look at them as they come into the yards for food treats :)  From the left Machu Picchu, her daughter Aymara, Tikal and his mum Ara.

Ara, Aymara and Tikal.

Aymara, has her mother's good looks and soft expression.

And this is Grandma, Bella, enjoying her role and her retirement.

 Lorraine and Ara share a quiet word.

Machu Picchu.

 Tikal is still a little shy, but has lovely markings and lots of fleece, and gives super cuddles.

The publicity shot!

Lorraine's garden is looking good, she told me the name of this rose, but I've forgotten it already - lovely though :)