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.

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!!

Unhappy Much?

First morning of no Hazel in the house, and Kiki cant even see the point of getting out of bed!!  At 7am I decided she'd sulked enough and hauled her out, she's dragging herself through the morning, but is plainly missing her little bud.

Fearless Echidna Hunters and Computer Settings

This evening I heard the members of the weanlings and mums and older bubs paddock making alarm calls, then I saw them forming a possie and realised they were trying to see off an intruder... went to investigate, this is what I found!!

An echidna!!

The formidable 'guard' team!!  LOL!!

Heading back to the house after the echidna sighting, lots of excitement!

Hazel is a big fan of the bouncy chair, and having crawled into it, with my keyboard set about 'fixing' my computer settings, dont know that the static 'thing' happening with her hair was any help.  When I found her she'd started installing Messenger and set iTunes going and was rocking on... the next big thing in IT is a'coming... hope yous are ready!!

All too soon its over, and time to go home

Today was the Debleu family's last day on the farm, Lindy enjoyed a ride on the quad bike, Hazel had fun with the chickens and ducks, a few laps of the garden and a long soak in the bath and Antoine had time to chill-ax before it was time to head off to the airport.  They havent even been gone an hour and I've found the first thing left behind - Lindy's camera!!  That will take some careful packing!!

On her recent trip to Melbourne, Hazel received a birthday present from Great Uncle Phil and Great Auntie Leonie, she was very pleased with it when she unwrapped it :)

And today she modelled it for us :)

Here in Tyra Banks mode!!

Autumn is here and Winter is definitely coming

Yesterday morning as I rode out the gate and down the road I met a herd of Angus cows coming the other way!  I moved off the road and let them pass and asked my neighbours where they were headed with this mob - just the other side of your place they said.  A little later, I noticed that the alpacas were all staring in the same direction, and when a cow moo-ed very loudly they gave an alarm call.  I took my camera and went down to see how they were coping with new animals in the next paddock... turns out they were all just coming to see how I was doing!!

Maggie hoped I brought llama lollies AND the camera, but unfortunately I just had the camera.

All along the creek the leaves are turning yellow, the mornings are chilly and winter is definitely coming.

 Misty has just been weaned and is in the morning lead and halter training group, she's doing well, but is quite strong willed and not included to indulge my wants ahead of her own!

A little more of the autumn colour - this is the Nashi Pear tree in the orchard - very speccy against the blue sky :)

Happy Days

Hazel is pleased that Mummy and Daddy have been using the wheelbarrow for its 'proper' use - ferrying Hazel about the orchard!!  Kiki is pleased to supervise activities as usual!!

And here's one of Arctic Dreamer, in happier days - miss him :(

This year Florence, one of our modern game bantams, has thrown her heart and soul into moulting with outrageous results, when she gets her new feathers she'll surely look amazing good, because now...

While she's been here Lindy has been making clothes for Hazel, here Hazel models an ambitious jumpsuit and carries it off beautifully!

Yep, winter is definitely on its way, the sunsets are getting more speccy, the trees are loosing their leaves and the mornings are definitely getting a bit chilly!!