Small, but perfectly formed

I've been watching Black Narcissus closely as she is due to give birth tomorrow (or thereabouts) and have just keep been keeping a good eye on Cushla - making sure she's eating well etc, so it came as a surprise this morning when she presented us with her new born son!  He's quite small, but looks to be a full term baby, erect ears and good straight legs.  Cushla's choice of birthing spots - the dust bath - maybe less than ideal, but perfect weather, warm and still.

I should have realised something was 'up' when Cushla was slow to come to the shed for after brekky treats and didnt stay long or eat anything.  An hour later Casper was here!!

 He's up and about now, appears to have had a feed and is a source of great curiosity for the 3 other crias in the paddock.  Hopefully Black Narcissus delivers an age appropriate play mate shortly!!

A trip to Alpaca Magic

Today we took Nellie to Alpaca Magic for a mating with Manfredo - all went well.  Loading Nellie into the trailer was physcially demanding, but we got her in there!!

We brought Tiana Rose and Vynka Lee home with us, so Nellie had company for the return journey.  Both of these girls are pregnant, Tiana Rose was in quite nervous state when we got home, so I hope she hasnt pulled the plug on the cria - only time will tell.

Had a nice time chatting to llamas and alpacas and donkey foals - so very very cute and cuddly!!

In the young boys paddock I tracked down Midsummer's last cria, a boy who is the colour of blueberry yoghurt, with a few raspberries thrown in for good measure, a really pretty colour.

I was so busy looking at and photographing the alpaca boys that I didnt notice I drawn quite a crowd of llamas behind me!!

 The boy on the left, at the front, bears a strong resemblance to Freddie, wonder if he is also a Manfredo son.

Crias are so cute!!  The little dark girl in the middle is Jessie's and a bit pre-mature, ears are taped to make them straight, but legs and pasterns look good :)

Jessie (left) is a very protective mum.  Tiana Rose on the right.

Pedro - Corner Paddock at Brekky time

Pedro has settled in well, he is sharing his paddock with JayJay and Cleo, who for the most part give him a wide berth, but at least he can see other llamas every day!!  He is such a magnificent animal!  Here he is enjoying his brekky, nom nom nom :)

JayJay and Cleo keep a watchful eye on Pedro's every move!

The many faces of Kiki

Some days she's fierce, others she's a bloody destructive  little pooh pooh head, and sometimes she's quite small and vulnerable, like today!

Pedro's first day on the job

Hardly been here 24 hours and Pedro is hard at work!  JayJay was supposed to be pregnant to Carter, but plainly she was bluffing!

Next he tried to chat up Trinket, but she flatly and firmly refused to entertain his advances, and he ended up with a face full of spit, hence his sulky saggy bottom lip expression.  Even so you can see he is a devilishly handsome fella!

He looks very much at home in landscape.

Eddy rigged up and filled the new water trough under Peter's watchful eye.

New llamas!!

Today, little Misty arrived, she was born in November, same as Noisette, so I hope they will become good friends.  Misty is as cute as a button!

Misty arrived with her mum Michelle and her dad Pedro.  Misty and Michelle are in the home paddock and had to be read the house rules by Fresian, who laid it on pretty thick!!

But a good lesson is a fast lesson, and Misty and Michelle seem quite at home already.

Pedro is in the corner paddock, and hasnt figured out that all food and human contact will be at this end of the paddock, not the far end where he is hovering at present.  He is a stunning boy, a gentle giant, looking forward to spending some time with him, he is an experienced pack llama.  Hopefully will be able to call him in tomorrow with food!!  Pics then ;-D

Rain - Now We're Talking and a Quilt

Finally, after only getting dribs and drabs we're getting some real rain, tanks are filling, dams are filling and animals are getting wet!!

Not sure if you can see it, but up there on the ridge line is one very wet sheep!

This is a sampler quilt made by Louise Omrod, I love the colours and the layout - lovely work, will enjoy quilting this one :)