After the fog, out came the sun

This morning began with a thick fog, which cleared to beautiful clear sunshine.

Lead and halter class this morning went well :)  The Jester is still the star pupil, once his circuit is complete he likes to rest his chin on the rail while I remove the halter - very cute!

Yuri probably has the furthest to go to be fully trained.  The rain last week has given him a distinctly grubby appearance!

Misty only likes to participate under her own rules, but this morning, after an email from the hugely talented Marj, I went back to the beginning with Misty and got good results :)

Noisette looks quite fetching her in halter, and she getting much better about having it put on, but she doesnt like you to use it to lead her around... not part of her plan, improving slowly, but still a way to go!

Up at yards Azzura is looking well and happy.

There's a bit of dithering going on, Trinket and co have headed off, but there is a big gang of stragglers!!

Jemma, doing well in the road paddock even though there arent treats for breakfast, lunch and tea!!

Michelle is doing well too, she doesnt look very round or fat, so while I'm hoping she's pregnant, I'm not expecting it!!

Midsummer - in mid winter!!

The fawn girls, Midsummer, Yolanda (at the back), Nellie Melba (middle front) and Medallion (Midsummer's look-a-like!), I've been doing a little research and I think they'll all be going to our grey boy Bracken next season in the hope of black cria!!  This time round Nellie and Yolanda have been mated to whites, and Medallion and Midsummer have been mated to our black boy, Alba - roll on 2014!!

Orchid, demonstrating the economy size 'sulk'!!  LOL!!  Not sure who she had the argument with, but they definitely won!!

Pearl, looking gorgeous, even with dust on her nose!!

More milling of stragglers!

This is Vynka, she's not black, but I am very fond of her, she is a gentle soul and very friendly, especially if you might have llama lollies in your pocket.  Vynka and Tiana Rose (front left in the above photo) are both due to pop in November, so 2013 is not without merit!!  LOL!!

Back in the home paddock, Cushla seemed to be in need of some of the cooling effects that can be achieved by dipping  your feet in the water trough.  Even though the sun was shining I cannot believe this was warranted even for a black alpaca - surely you cant over heat when the temperature is still in single figures Cushie?

Cushla's son Casper, who is a little sweetie, very calm and quiet like his mother.

 Missy Moo and her mum, Myriah enjoying an intimate moment, which is really nice to see as mostly Myriah seems a bit over the mothering thing!

Kids in the sun, Missy Moo, Nanook and Casper

 Nanook is very curious and seems endlessly fancinated by the camera.  He has a dark wishbone of colour across his nose, a nod to his black mother?  He's going to be quite a big lad, like her, and is enjoying life and the general rough and tumble of home paddock life.

Story Time

While Hazel was staying with us, she liked to have the night-time story time sitting up in our bed, with the 'bird' pillow in place and right behind her, pull up the covers and commence reading!!

This weekend I made her a bird pillow slip, so the tradition can continue, now that she's back home :)

White Browed Babblers

Have had a group of white browed babblers in the garden, they are supposed to be gregarious, but anyone with a camera is not on their 'list', so this photo is not mine, but shows you what I'm looking at!!

I'll keep following them around in the hope of being able to post my own photo shortly!

Birds, Dogs and Llamas

Kiki has had a poorly shoulder for a few weeks now, soft tissue damage they think.  She's at her 'maximum' weight according to the vet so we're going to trim her down a bit... she says blithely, like it will be easy!! but that's the aim and hopefully the shoulder will heal..... meantime she enjoying some heat therapy in front of the fire!!

There have been a pair of Australasian Grebes on the dam lately, when I took the camera with me could only spy one, if the mate has gone broody on a nest I hope they've chosen a very good spot, because the foxes around here are so thick on the ground it's tough to put a pin between them!!

Yesterday I went to visit Betty and her llamas - was scheduled to visit Apu Royalla as well, but pulled out because it was wet here... but it wasnt wet there, so should have gone!!  Never mind, next trip.  Meantime I got to catch up with some of Betty's newest arrivals and some old favourites.

Cassanova, father of Tikal

A little girl called Black Velvet who is the blackest llama I've ever seen.... and seriously cute.

This personable little lad is Pericles, a delightful little boy with heaps of charm.

I've forgotten this young girl's name, but coveted her hugely!!

This is the lovely Saladin, he is Aymara's father.  A very striking spotty llama with a lovely temperament.

The aptly named Silver Moon:

A less than flattering photo of the very lovely Sugar and Spice, she has some leg issues after a difficult birth, but is doing well and is very friendly and affectionate, cant help but like her :)

Betty also has Romney Marsh sheep, this is her ram, who is built like the proverbial brick out house, he's a rock!!

Enrichment Activities

Today I took a couple of barrow loads of 'mulch' from under the 3 big gum trees near the back gate - no visible dent in the amount as a result - but some very happy chooks.

The moderns wasted no time getting started on the job of levelling their pile.

Bigger chooks, bigger pile!!

Nigel viewed his role as largely supervisory.