Paddock Shuffle

Yesterday was a busy day, we moved some of the animals into the new paddock across the road.  It needs to have the access road fenced off, and some yards and then be divided up into smaller paddocks.... but for the moment, its one great big paddock with a LOT of grass in it.  It is great to be able to see llamas (and alpacas and sheep) in a big chunk of our property that until now we havent been able to use.

 BeetleBub, Red Riding Hood and Gracie in exploring mode.

We meet Mareebah while we were out checking for small gums that will need tree guards if they are to make it fully grown trees.

It didnt take them long to find the dam, and though a sunny day, it wasnt much past mild on the temperature scale, none-the-less some of them went in for a swim!!

Jemma is a big fan of a little swim:

New Arrivals

Today I drove to Wilton to the home of Painted Persian Sheep to collect our new ram lambs, Lynley and Barnaby - AKA, the Inspectors.

All the sheep were keen to say hello!!

This is Barnaby's mother Autumn - she's a Persian sheep, his father is a Damara.

And this is Lynley's mother Suzi (Dorper), who wasnt keen to step back for a proper photo!!

And his father Abraham.

And his (full) sister... from last season, whose name I've forgotten.

Long trip home, but we made it.  Milly, Molly and Mandy were greeted enthusiastically by the boys, who made no nasty comments about their new (basin) haircuts which they got yesterday along with 'nether region' trim courtesy of Reids Flat shearer Cliff - who was very patient with fidgety lambs!!

The whole gang wanted to meet the new bugs!!

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Especially Red Riding Hood!!

Lambkins and Crias

Nothing cuter than lambs and crias, here they are today enjoying the sunshine :)

Jade is 14 months old now, past the cute cria stage but still a sweetie and a favourite.

Jemima is such a funny girl, she loves skitting about, running and pig rooting all over the shop!  LOL!!

Lambs heading out to do some exploring:

Whatchya'll doin'?

We're checking out the yards!!

Nope, not me, not guilty, wasn't even there!!  LOL!!

Llamas, Ody chillaxing:

And Mehitabel, in her Maybelline pose!

Rapunzel and her mum, Red Riding Hood:

Tibbs and Voodoo are very interested in the lambs, although Tibbs is not keen to get as close as Voodoo!

Our youngest cria Wolfgang is thriving and his light bright blue eyes mean you cannot help but look at him!

Sunshine, Sun Dragons and Sleeping

Beautiful sunny days at the moment, and cool nights, good for sleeping... but I'd rather TC didn't sleep when we're in lead and halter class!  It takes a lot longer to train calm quiet animals like TC if they choose to lie down rather than walk!!  The rowdy, boisterous, bucking, rearing ones are actually easier I find!!

One of 3 sun dragons regularly seen in the yards.  I have seen a llama step on one, and it just waited till she moved on.  And I've seen the mad Myriah take exception to their presence and try to stamp them out of existence, but mostly they seem to get out of the way and live to sun themselves another day.

Some of the girls in the Creek Paddock:

Aymara:

Misty:

Noisette:

 Heavily pregnant Orchid, very much looking forward to this cria, hope it is the same temperament as previous cria, Lucien - repeat mating:

Also looking rotund, Paris:

Due March 1, if she can hold out that long, Pearl:

 Sevanah, always wants to be first, but not always sure where we're supposed to be going.... sometimes more trouble than help!

Disappointingly Sweet Pea was a late slip, start waiting all over again, a Totem cria this time we hope.

Sweet, quiet and friendly little TC:

Trinket, in the pink, and generally behaving well lately... for a change!

Vevina, looks to be faking for a second time... not impressed!

Wia, looking good, Manrico baby on board :)

In the Home Paddock, Myriah's son, Monty, little cutie:

Voodoo Love, with Monty behind:

Red Riding Hood, who was a bit stand-offish at first, but is now very calm and quite forward :)

RRH's daughter, Rapunzel and Michelle's daughter Mareebah are as thick as thieves, mostly together and often a long way from either of their mothers.  Rapunzel is lovely and easy going and her halter training is going really well.  Mareebah is more like her mother and she is not fond of co-operating, though she knows very well what she's been asked to do.... just more time and we'll get there!!  She's not as stubborn as her half-sister Misty.. but close!!

New Bugs and Cria Updates

First the bad news - sadly we didn't get to choose a name for Medallion's cria because barely a day after she was born, she died, very sad :(

But the good news is that meantime Rapunzel and Voodoo are doing very well :)  Rapunzel is doing quite well with her lead and halter training, had her second 'turn' at a halter this afternoon, but she is very much a mummy's girl!  Here she is with mum Red Riding Hood (post brekkie nap time):

And Vynka caught mid-blink with Voodoo :)

Sevanah has come to stay for a while, to see if we can convince her that motherhood is a good thing, the biggest hurdle will be getting her to submit to a boy to achieve that... she's not best pleased!!  She is a very pretty girl, with a very people friendly disposition and we are pleased to have her company :)