Scarlett - Rose, the Garden, Llamas at Nowra and Minto the Wonder Dog

Not so much colour in the garden at present, so I am pleased to have these little perennials that pop up and perform every year:

And even though if you asked me I'd say I'm not a fan of geraniums, these guys are adding a welcome splash of colour:

Even the leaves are looking good:

In the veggie patch we are preparing to havest the Marina de Chioggio pumpkins :)

A trip to Nowra on the weekend, Minto's time is nearly up.  Here is getting comfy on the couch with her huge baby bulge!!

Xena, the one winged rescue goose, continues to care for and very robustly protect her adopted family of Call ducklings

Equally vigilant and protective is this tag team of Muscovey mums with 'their' ducklings:

Another stay with Shayne and Brad meant that I also got to catch up with Tikal and Tarquinn.  Tikal is doing so well,and filling out nicely, he was first to front up at the fence in the hope of 'treats'.

Tarquinn is ever the handsome lad:

Cambewarra Mountain road was closed for roadworks, so I headed off for Canberra via Nerriga.  The Oallen Ford crossing was following swiftly and looking very picturesque.

In Canberra I was greeted by Rocky, Dan's dog, he looks quite fierce, but is very friendly and obedient.

Got to spend time with Freya and Scarlett-Rose who is much more animated and smiling like crazy - except when I get the camera out!!

A full on photo sesh is very tiring... going going ....

Gone.....

But earlier:

Weekend In Transit

First stop Nowra, quilts to deliver :)  Stayed with Shayne and Brad and as always had a lovely time.  Got to catch up with Tarquinn and Tikal.  Here seen eagerly awaiting the arrival of their brekky.

Tikal is enjoying his new home and new friend Tarquinn.  He is steadily eating his way to a fuller figure too!!

They are both very handsome boys :)

Shayne has some interesting chooks, as ever, including this one, who for reasons unknown has not grown any feathers on its head and looks for all the world like a vulture chick!!

And this lavender millefluer pullet who has the prettiest colouring I've ever seen.

Shayne's one wing rescue goose has adopted a clutch of call ducklings and when I say clutch, I mean every duckling in the grow out pen!!  She is doing a fine job of mothering them.  Surprised it has worked so well as they are not young ducklings, but they have taken to her as much as she has taken to them :)

Zena is recovering well from her operation and seems very happy in her new environment.

Next stop Canberra and a visit with Scarlett-Rose, granmotherly treat this visit was bathing the baby :)  Which was apparently very tiring, as this turned into the biggest yawn!!

When I arrived she was sleeping, but a couple of gentle bumps to the bassinet and et voila she was awake!!  LOL!!

She is a darling little baby :)

Home via Alpaca Magic Open Day, the wind was playing havoc with this girl's 'do'!!

Forest Gump called in for a visit.

Dozens of visitors walked around the paddock in amongst the llamas and alpacas who took it all in their stride, including Lla Traviata:

There were plenty of young crias for the crowds to see:

Lla Tina:

 Lla Toison:

And this gorgeous spotty girl, who had too much fleece for me to be able to see her name.

The mini donkeys also drew a crowd... including some inquisitive llamas!!

 This is Tuscany Rose (bottom), we have her mother here at Maison Mauve, she looks a lot like her, Tiana Rose (top).

New Bugs, Sun Bathing and Fat Ladies

Aymara is settling in well, sensible enough to be in the shade today.  She's not certain she wants to be part of the main group and spends a lot of time with 2 old biddies up in the back corner... politically probably not the best advised move she could make.

Tikal is settling in well too, and seems to be making some much more politically astute decisions than his cousin Aymara.  He's learnt that staying about 1m from Azzura affords him the protection of her high rank, so nobody will approach him, without being close enough to incur her displeasure.  He is starting to fill out nicely and look a little less like a gangly teenager.

Morse thinks the weather is perfect for sun bathing.

And is not inclined to stir even if I am prowling about with a camera.... serious sleeping to be done!

Myriah, always hopeful that I have treats about my person.  She has one of the most over developed kick reflexes of all time and I need to be careful where I put myself in relation to her!!

Orchid is another girl who is constantly on the lookout for more treats, she's earned the nick name Orky Porky!  She wastes no opportunity to at least ask if I've got some!

Except when she and her enormous baby belly are doing beached whale impersonations in the dust bath.  She's due 20 Feb :)

Pearl is looking good, and we're very much looking forward to her cria in March.

 Her daughter Phoebe, recently mated to our black boy Alba, have to wait till next year for that cria :(

 This morning Yolanda tucked in heartily to her brekky, so I thought, must be tomorrow, better weather for it then anyway.... and went off to finish feeding the ducks and chickens.  While my back was turned she got on with the job and presented us with a white male cria we've named Yves.

Yves and Yolanda:

Legs are not just painted on, work fine :)