Dolce Died

Our little lamb Dolce, crashed overnight, rallied yesterday morning, and by lunch time we thought we'd rounded the corner, but she crashed again yesterday afternoon and we were powerless to stop her slipping away.... very sad :(

Kiki and the Blue Wrens, Freya and Ninja and new bug Dolce

Kiki spends a lot of time chasing birds, red brow finches, sparrows, blue wrens, they all need to be seen off, mostly the birds hide in the trees, which Kiki thinks is just not fair!!

When they arent being harrassed by Kiki, the blue wrens spend a heap of time knocking themselves out on the mirrors on the car!!  Not that bright!!

Wonders will never cease, Skinny and Kiki in the same bed!!  To be fair, it is Kiki's bed, and Skinny is almost never out of it!!

Today I went to Canberra to do a little shopping, it was nice to catch up with Freya and meet Ninja.  Rubbish shot of Freya, but the cat looks good!!

A better shot of the 2 of them, Ninja is a big purr bag, but plainly loves Freya more than the rest of us!!

And when I got home, I found a lamb in the laundry.  Apparently the neighbours had found her beside her dead mother and thought their kooky neighbour (me) might like to try to save her.  They phoned, spoke to Eddy, who took her in.  She's had a rough start, but is very keen to get on in the world, wish Dolce luck, she'll need it.  Now set up in the laundry with towels and heater!!

Out and About

Yesterday I went to visit my friend Ruth from Lavender Park Alpacas.  I went to enjoy a coffee, and a good natter but also to meet LP Ezariah who is a lovely blue black boy, looking for a new home and some girls to entertain!!  I was very pleased to meet him, quiet and good mannered, lovely dense fleece, with good crimp and lustre, and a good size, yep, pretty taken with him :)

To be fair, Ruth did offer to clean him up for the photo sesh, but I opted for 'paddock condition'.

I met his Mum, I've previously met his Dad (Brocky) and I also met his little brother.

His little brother is a very forward little guy!!

And mum is a sweet girl.

Back to work today,not nearly as much fun!!

Cold Starts and Llama Mock Trials

We've had a few very cold starts to the day, and when this happens there is a delay in the delivery of fresh water for the morning - the ducks are not appreciative!!!

On Sunday the NSW Branch of the Llama Association held a Mock Trial (Packing) for llamas at Roogulli (the landscape winning property of Chris and Jennie Curtis) in Bywong.  I had a borrowed llama - Llama Magic Salt and Pepper, who behaved very well, especially considering he'd had no packing  specific training.  He allowed me to fit the saddle and he passed all the obstacle assessments.  Well done S&P, you're a champ!!

I took a few pics as we got started, but after that it was all a bit too engrossing and my camera lay idle!!  Even a jumper or towel laid across their backs is good prep for youngsters that are intended for packing.  Tanya's little guys walked the course and did the obstacles without a saddle :)

Mark Brindley from the Vic Branch was good enough to come for the day and reinforce the 'drill' we learnt at the last workshop.  The weather was perfect and it was a super day, after walking the 4km course and passing all the assigned tasks we enjoyed lunch in the sun and then took the llamas on another walk up the road, just for good measure.

This is Salt and Pepper before we got started... little did he know!!  LOL!!

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!