Japanese Spitz, Early Morning at Mt Tanga and the Maternity Paddock

Last night I attended a committee meeting at the home of Diane Bulpit, she has 2 very lovely Japanese Spitz dogs, Yuki and Koda.

They were very pleased to be allowed to join us for the meeting.....

This is Yuki

And this is Koda

....but it turned out to be less exciting than they hoped!!

Prior to the meeting we had dinner at the Bowning Pub, which was delicious, and I can thoroughly recommend the pork belly with wilted asian greens, mash and gravy, yum :)

This morning, the moon is still up, and most of the alpacas and llamas are yet to get up for the day.

Not so in the maternity paddock, where Pearl and Narcissus are up and about.  Narcissus has our first Bracken cria on board, hoping for a grey girl - fingers crossed.

Pearl is huge!!  She is not due until March 1st, but last time went 18 days early.  She was mated to Alba, who is black and not a very large alpaca.  At her current rate of growth I am expecting her to give birth to an adult sized alpaca, or twins!! I have never seen a girl this big prior to due date!

Scarlett Rose and Sunglasses

Sunday, so it must be time to visit Freya, Dan and Scarlett Rose.  Freya was busy making 'stuff' to decorate her classroom for today's start with 25 new pre-primary kids - quite daunting, but I'm sure she'll do well.

Meantime Scarlett was in fine form, chatty and cheerful as ever... and always after glasses!!:

The new game is 'ta', a game of give and take and very fast hands!  Scarlett gets everything, and you get to keep nothing.... all good!  LOL!!

Another favourite - 'mummy is going to eat you all up'!!  LOL!!

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!!

A visit to Lavender Park

Yesterday I visited my friend Ruth King of Lavender Park Alpacas.  Had a lovely time meeting and cuddling the crias and meeting the mums.  This is the lovely Jaelea:

And this is Ruth with the delightful Zena, who not only has an excellent fleece, but also a gorgeous temperament.  Could have taken her home, no worries, but apparently that's true of everyone who has met her.... but she's NFS!

Babies, Oliver left (first cria for our boy LP Ezariah) and the very promising Zanthe right.

Oliver with milky moustache:

I was very pleased this one already had a halter fitted, because catch and hold could have been tricky!

Ruth's garden was looking wonderful, flowers and lushness everywhere :)  The aquilegas were stunning, masses of blooms:

And the dahlias flashy:

But the roses were the show stoppers, just fantastic, from big blousey doubles to the old fashioned singles: