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.

New Comers, Updates and Let Downs

This weekend we welcomed Collette to our herd, she settled in almost immediately and this morning was in the yards at brekky time - smart girl!!

She looks quite like a feminine version of Alba, but will have to wait to see what their cria might look like because Collette's first will be to Callisto.

In the background you can see Namoi, definitely looking more dark brown than black!

Trying to take pics of Collette where she did not look like a deer in the headlights was made more difficult by Joeley wanting to photobomb every shot!!

Myriah and Missy Moo are doing well; yesterday was marking day and cant say Missy Moo was too impressed with her new ear jewellery much at all!!

A little disappointed that Myriah and Phoebe failed spit off tests yesterday, and as its getting too cold and too late now, we will have to wait for spring for the next opportunity to mate these girls; probably not a bad thing as my herd is very autumn drop heavy and the spring group could have a few more numbers..... 2 is a small group!!  LOL!!

Trailers and Newbies

We have a new canopy for the trailer :)  It makes for much swisher transport for the alpacas.  I picked it up yesterday.  Just need to teach them to jump up into the trailer, not that lifting their front legs and giving the hind quarters a heave-ho doesnt work, it's just not a job for one person!

Immediately I put the new acquisition to good use.  This is Myriah and her daughter Missy Moo.  Myriah is a half sister to Narcissus, and while not as big as Narcissus, she's not a teeny alpaca by any means!  She's registered as dark brown, but I think she's more medium/light brown, her Dad was black with black behind him, so I'm hoping she'll give us a black, or at least dark coloured cria, fingers crossed, mated this morning to our black boy Alba.

Myriah's mother is a suri, and while she is an huacaya, I think her hair do has definite suri 'influences', maybe it was just the rain last night!

Missy Moo fits in very well with this crop of cria, being very forward in the eating department, and already trying museli :)

Nanook and Casper are quite pleased with their new playmate, even though she's a girl, and a month younger than them, they seem to be all getting along fine :)  I think she's nearly the same height as Casper, though not as filled out yet.

Why do I like black animals, they are so hard to photograph, this is Casper who is such a cutie, and very laid back like his mother Cushla.