Tiberius of Rome and the Home Paddock Girls

Sometime between last Tuesday lunchtime and 10am the following day, Tiberius (of Rome)'s mother, Tiana Rose, died.  She would have been 17 years old in mid April, so I'm not ruling out old age, but could have been a snake bite.  Either way Tibby is on his own.  It took a little while and quite a bit of effort but he is now taking the bottle well, and this morning, rather than waiting till the whole group came into the yards I went out into the paddock.  Bottle in hand, and with a 'Yo, Tibbs, Brekky' I sought him out, and he quickly downed 500ml - good job little guy!  Later in the yards he was hoping there would be more.... he now follows me around mmmm-ing on the off chance I have a bottle of yummy formula milk squirrelled about my person, LOL!!  He is very cute, just wish he had been a girl!

There are 10 girls in the home paddock at present, Pearl has had her cria, and little Portia is thriving.

But there are 9 girls to go, and they are looking, well frankly, fat!  This is Yolanda who is being treated for lumpy jaw... yet again :(  She responds well to treatment thank goodness, but definitely does not enjoy the 50ml sub cutaneous injections of sodide that are required to deal with his problem.  She is due Mar 12 to our grey boy Bracken.

Collette often looks like a deer in the headlights, her daughter Chianti is more friendly and interactive, so I am very much looking forward to this cria, also due Mar 12 to Bracken.

Cushla has the most modest bulge, but she usually has small and dainty cria, think this one will be the same, due to our black boy Alba Mar 18

Little Fresian is sporting an enormous bulge, she's nearly as wide as she is deep.  Due Mar 19 to Alba, wishing and hoping for her first female cria.

Joeley is also enormous, due Mar 18 to Bracken.

Misty only joined the home paddock group yesterday.  I was hoping she wasn't pregnant, but her widening girth means that I am playing safe and she's had pre-birthing shots and been brought in... just in case.  If it arrives... her cria will be the result of an un-authorised mating!!

Here she is sunbathing in front of the shearing shed, looking for all the world like a beached whale!!

Narcissus was due yesterday - to Bracken - I have tapped my foot and pointed at my watch to remind her that she usually 'goes' bang on schedule!

Not to be left out in the placings for beached whale impersonations is Orchid, she's due Mar 15 to Carter - she went early last time, so keeping a close eye on her.

Even standing doesn't make the bulge look small!!

Last, but not least, is Paris, who is due to Minstrel (a grey stud male standing at Accapacca Alpacas) on Mar 18

Gunning Show and a Bathroom Visitor

Yesterday was Gunning Show and my very first time at showing alpacas.  I was very nervous taking the first animal into the ring, but got the hang of it quickly enough and I have to say, thoroughly enjoyed myself :)  Definitely hooked!  My new boy Sampson got a first in his class, so a very successful as well as enjoyable outing.  Many thanks to Jim Styles for all his help in getting the animals to show, getting them set up, packed up afterwards and transport home, thanks also to Ruth King for letting me take the lovely Zeena into the ring for a little more practise, and congrats to her boy Denby on his well won first place.  Foolishly I didn't take any pics :(

And now for something completely different, still animals though....

This morning I straightened the hand towel after drying my hands.... and in the folds I found a micro bat.  Now safely removed to the great outdoors!!  Not a great pic, but you get the gist...

Looking to the Sky

We've got clouds, and we've had a rainbow.... but what we need is some rain!!

Of course, after I put the camera away, and got on with chores, the rainbow got better and brighter... but this will have to suffice, chores take precedence!

LLamas, Alpacas and Pigs!!

Yesterday I delivered some ducks to Goulburn, and then had lunch with the lovely Shayne Earley and Sarah Eccles at the Astor Hotel.  Good food and good company, makes delivering ducks a pleasure!!  LOL!!

On the way home I stopped off at Accapacca Lodge and said hello to Bentley.  He was looking lovely and as personable as ever.  Here with alpaca stud Minstrel.

And here, with his pal Ferrari and the alpaca boys.

Closer to home I spied a new sign on a farm gate.... looking up the drive I could see a half grown black sow... and yeah, nah, I don't need to open that gate!

Cruising in Canberra

Yesterday I went for a cruise on Lake Burley Griffin with Freya, Scarlett and Dan.  It was a pleasant ride around the lake and our captain was determined to tell us EVERY fact about the buildings and their history!  Scarlett was as entertained by the other people on the boat as the scenery.... and undoubtedly the best part of the trip for her was sharing a little of her Dad's ice-cream!

Baby tasted pretty good as well... apparently

Afterwards there was time for a play on the foreshore:

When I got home I discovered that Pearl had given birth to a blue black female cria - result :)  Eddy had been able to spray the baby's cord with Betadine, but by the time I got home Pearl was in her more usual hyper-protective mode, and I was not allowed to get too close!  We've named the baby Portia.

Our Glad...

Years later my lovely dark gladioli are still in pots, and not part of the mass planting I've planned... but still... looking gorgeous :) despite unattractive metal fence for background! Looking very bright here in the early morning sunshine.

Sunday with Scarlett at Lake Burley Griffin

Scarlett was very happy and chatty again this weekend. 

And in the mood for dancing!

No thanks Mummy, I don't need any help!

Even better with a new dance partner:

We took a stroll around the park at Lake Burley Griffin

At first Scarlett was not too keen on the idea, but she soon settled back and enjoyed the ride, she was a bit tired after all the dancing!!

Lots to see, the National Library:

They turned the fountain on for us:

Black Mountain Tower, more commonly known as Our Mountain Tower:

Flag above the new Parliament House as seen from below Commonwealth Avenue:

There was lots of bird life, a young Currawong loitering in the garden, stepped into the shadows as we got closer:

Ibis:

Lots of galahs:

Purple Swamp Hen, such huge feet!