Ruminations

2006

This has been an active year here at the farm. In June, Liza needed assistance with her first birth. Tommy's leg was flexed back and he was stuck! Dr. Wendy Hartman rushed out and got him out. A week later, Mumsie had a trouble free birth during a heat wave. But... Little Neo got limp in the heat... very worrisome. Dr. Wendy explained that his temperature regulation needed to adjust and after a few days he was up and frolicing. Merlin was not proving potent yet with Tiona, so Tiona, Mumsie (with Neo in tow) were sent out for breeding. I went with a mobile breeding for Liza. In July, toenail trimming time came. (Ask me how I lost a contact, broke my watch, and almost cut my thumb off due to an equipment malfunction!) In August, DP's father came up for sale and suddenly it came about that I had bought him! I'm excited that he is a proven male, with a recessive bay black gene, my most favorite crimp, and density, good teeth and straight conformation, AND that I am told he is well behaved at toenail trimming time (my least favorite chore!).

Oct 18, 2006

The end of October is coming and I will be saying goodbye to my Schmoozy face Merlin. He is going back to NJ with his co-owner, who just loves him, so he will be well taken care of. I'm disappointed that he wasn't successful in impregnating Tiona, and I'm feeling like throwing caution to the wind and trying him in with little Velvet. She seems to be constantly flirting with him.

*Update - 10/22/06 - Merlin made Velvet his woman, and since then she has been spitting off. 10/29/06 - Merlin went back to NJ, and Velvet is pining...


February, 2007

I ask you... Does this sweet boy look like a "hay beast" to you?

The owner of Neo's dad Armani described him this way when she saw this picture. I have to say, I was a fiend all year keeping the hay in containers or off the ground. Then, when the icey winds blew from the northwest, I felt sorry for DP who was kicked out the barn in the normal course of male domination/ subordination. A little hay went on the ground outside. Then, everyone on the other side of the fence was jealous of DP's hay, and the record breaking cold came. I admit then I really broke down. The hay is now everywhere. Alpacas wallowing in it, lounging, cushing, rolling, sleeping. Alpacas contentedly cushing outside in their feather beds in the middle of a subzero night...

 


 
September, 2007

Well, it turns out the the evening after I entered the above post, we had a major fire at the farmhouse. For those of you who've experienced major upheavel, you can sympathize. But, I am pleased to say the house is being rebuilt, better than ever. The alpacas are thriving. They were never affected, and continue to laze about in their comfy barn and frolic in the pasture. After 3 trouble free births in June, Valentino was bred to all 4 open girls (lucky devil!) and proved that he sure has stamina.. And, we are in the process of adding some new fencing so that the existing pasture is utilized better.

 


February, 2008

Sabre says... I love Jean... The alpacas are packing on the pounds (of hay), except when the snow clears and they are out picking any bit of green they can find. Iris, one of the 2 new girls, has turned out to be the most food motivated .. even topping Mumsie. She will bang at the gate to get in as the grain is being put down. Her half sister Coral is a kiss queen, but nobody can top Sabre. Even Neo is coming around to whole face to face thing. Little Zan looks very foreign somehow, and we have decided he is aptly named. All in all, everyone is healthy and seems happy. They are in their element in their winter fluff!

For more pictures of Jean's last day, go to the slideshow.


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Endless Mountains Alpacas
RR 2 Box 30W
New Milford, PA 18834