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!!

Catching Up the next bit

Bianca is a lovely little cria, pretty, charming, inquisitive and always seems 'happy'.

Yes, she thinks her yellow ear tapes look pretty fetching too!

On Sunday I came home to discover that Narcissus had given birth to our first 'home grown' cria, a first cria for dad Alba - a black female - good job!!  We've called her Nefertiti and she's doing very well :)

Monday saw the early arrival of (Black) Pearl's cria, a blue black male, who we initially named Prince Charming, but have since re-named Jack Sparrow.  He is a Kok son, and quite lovely :)

The biggest belly competition!  Winner in the alpaca class is Fresian, due on March 14

And in the llama class, its Trinket, due on March 15

Lucien is growing well, coming along with lead and halter class and generally throwing his weight around with the younger and lighter crias!!

Here he meets Uncle Totem (left) and dad Carter (right).

Prize for 'most likely to be faking' goes to Vevina, pretty sure there is no cria - except in her head!  Disappointed about that, but can't change it.

A second waterlily for the season - really enjoyed it :)

Getting cooler and Supervision

The days are getting cooler, and we've had to put the heater on sometimes.  And no, I'm not the soft touch who put the old quilt on the floor in front of the heater for the dog!

Even those jobs devoid entirely of glamour - such as cleaning up the poo pile - will draw a crowd it seems.  From the left Joeley, Phoebe, Maggie and Vevina take front row spots to see what I'm doing!!  As I left to take the first barrow load to the garden, I distinctly said 'no more additions required' which seems to have translated to 'not enough poo here, add more at will'.   The gardening book says 'well rotted' manure, not still warm!!

Comings and Goings

Last Sunday we said good bye to Wia and hello to Namoi and Vevina.  We were unable to meet Wia's exacting standards in a mate and hope we'll do better with the new girls.  Namoi is listed as black but registered as dark brown.  I think she's a very dark, dark brown, she's been mated to a rose grey, and we're hoping she's pregnant, will do a spit off test in a couple of weeks to find out.  Vevina is black and has been mated to a black suri (heterozygous) so 50/50 chance of huacaya offspring.  The new girls are settling in well, and learning the drill, they have both come into the yards of their own accord on the last two mornings :) and seem very keen on the museli we serve for brekky!!

Wia

Namoi (left) and Vevina (right)

 Vevina (left) and Namoi (right)

And again

 Here are some of the other coloured girls at Currabungla:

I was really taken with the grey girl with the dark face, havent seen this colour combo before

John and Penny thought lambing finished 3 weeks ago, but these 2 ewes pulled a fast one and presented them with lambs only a couple of days ago.

Alan and Aleisha are visiting.  Al showing his usual reticence for being photographed!

Kiki is enjoying the extra company, here helping Aleisha with our game of Querkel.

The days are getting cooler and Kiki thinks there is only one thing better than being on the couch with a pillow and a doona...

And that's being on the couch with a pillow and a doona AND Aleisha!!  I will be checking her bags when she leaves tomorrow to make sure Kiki is not concealed within!!

Halter training continues for youngsters, Jester is a star pupil, very friendly and improving daily on the lead.

Noisette is coming along.

She usually enjoys a cuddle, but here it looks more like a cruggle (cuddle x struggle)

Misty - who found the presence of the trailer in the adjoining yard very 

interesting!!!

Yuri is doing the separation from his mother Yolanda tough, and she's not faring much better.  They spend a lot of time mmmm-ing to each other across the plantation that now separates them.  Weaning is not a cria's favourite time!!