OUR SMALL HERD

Our original four boys came from Ardo Alpacas in Aberdeenshire. We are not alpaca breeders and have our boys purely as pets. Our experience is that you don't need to be a breeder and that a 'batchelor herd' can give much pleasure to the owner. We have 5 acres including our big garden and grazing for the boys, 15 miles north of Inverness, Scotland. I spin, knit, felt and crochet with the fleece from the boys.

Clicking!!

Just a reminder that clicking on (most) of the photos will show them greatly enlarged.

Friday 24 December 2010

Christmas greetings to our dear reader!!

The boys send their festive greetings to all blog pals.
Couldn't resist sending this shot of Wee Eck sorting out his bit of swede! 
And finally (just before Rudolph appears) .............this was taken at 8.10am on Tuesday.  Note the full moon still in the sky.  Every morning this week has been the same, bitterly cold with the moon still glowing.     'Outa here - have a great Christmas.  Later,  'gators! 

Saturday 18 December 2010

Can we have more hay please, Mister?

When the thaw set in last weekend we took the opportunity of moving the boys down to the lower paddocks where the steading and field shelter are deeper and the boys can get right out of the weather if they want to.  There was little snow on the ground when this was taken but the frost was severe and the boys kept filling up on hay.  When the steading door is opened the boys put on their most appealing looks to get more hay. Front to back we have Rufus  at the front, then Fyta, Faro, Gaucho on the left, Wee Eck, Gully, Fergus and Fidget.
Beware  -  intruder!  Fyta knows that the hay is stored in the steading and when Robbie's back is turned decides to sneak in and grab a mouthful!  Rufus is the lookout!
Our two white boys, Fergus (R) and Fidget.  These days they are more of a dirty grey than white!  Like the other boys, they like to lie or roll on the ground.  Lately with the severe overnight frosts they like nothing better than to lie outside getting covered in frost and when they stand up there are melted body shapes on the ground.
Wee Eck (Echo) giving a typical toothy smile whilst eating his hay.  We keep the open steading clear of straw but it soon fills up with unused hay and the boys seem to like lying on the bare floor.  The other field shelter close by has thick straw on the floor and the boys decide which one to use - if at all.   Democracy in action!
Peek-a-boo, Faro!  Being the guard, Faro always wants to know what is going on.  If  I go into a steading or shelter, he will follow to see what is happening.  Thats what he's up to here.
And finally..........more necklaces, some pure alpaca fleece and others mixed with Marino which I've been making whilst sheltering from the wintry weather.