Alba & Bracken 1: Fox 0

Now that's more like it team, dead foxes, not harassed echidnas is what I like to see :)

The winning team coming in to collect their reward, extra serve of brekkie!!

And back at the ranch

Bracken is very pleased to have some company.  He and Alba are getting on very well, they come over all Pinky and Perky!!

Alba, just up from a sleep in the sunshine and in the hay!!

These days Bracken is always looking to see where the girls are!!  He's a year younger than Alba, but he's pretty much sorted the world out as far as S-E-X goes!!!  Lets hope he's able to tell his older friend what interesting things girls can be!!

Shearing - Before and After

They look so different now!!  Hard to 'see' who is who!!

Carter and Totem, before and after:

Everybody having brekky before shearing, it was booked for 2pm so I thought it would be safe to feed them early, as it was we started at 12.30, but it all worked out OK.

And this morning:

Orchid said she'd rather 'pass' on the whole shearing thing, and jumped out of the 'to be shorn' yard and into the 'done and free to go yard'.... but she got caught and brought back, she was not best pleased :(

Joeley, before and after:

Bracken looks the most changed, he had such a lot of fleece! Our shearer was Ian Elkins, and helper was his son Michael, they were a very professional and efficient team.

Sweet Pea, before - with Noisette and 'on the table':

Rest time after shearing - tough day for us all, but fortunately its over quickly.

Pearl was first, looking a bit funny with newly applied zinc cream on her nose.

Introducing Accapacca Bracken

Today Jim and Connie Styles delivered our new boy Accapacca Bracken who is a lovely little medium grey boy.  On paper he belongs to me, but in real life he's Freya's foray into the world of alpacas, she's hoping to make a good return on her investment by pimping him out once he's certified :)  He has rose grey tips but is medium grey underneath and has a very long fleece already!

Here with Joeley with the rest of the gang, she managed to plant a kick while I was taking pics!! to get me back for this morning's halter training sesh I suspect!

Bracken with Freddie - both will benefit from shearing!!

Joeley - butter wouldnt melt in her microwave!!

Lead and halter star - Maggie May

Alpaca 'young ones' chatting to the llama studs Carter and Totem

Carter this afternoon - looking very elegant :)  Hope he gets a brother or sister very soon, Jim and Connie think Sweet Pea is behaving exactly like a girl who will pop tomorrow - hope they're right :)