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.

Saturday, 1 January 2011

Happy New Year to everyone - best wishes for 2011.

Some mornings at this time of year, the light is really beautiful.  This was taken on Boxing Day at 8.15am, and the 'light show' lasted for about 10minutes whilst the boys were enjoying their breakfast haylage.  This is looking in a south easterly direction, over the hill to Loch Ness, then over the Grampian Mountains and beyond.
'Beefy Boy' Fergus looking to add to the poo pile as the 'light show' ends and daylight breaks.
Left to right, Fyta, Fergus and Fidget, 3 of our original 4 boys who have been together for  nearly 5 years.  They know each other well but that does not stop them having a bit of 'argy-bargy' when it comes to sorting out bed-spaces in the shelter and invading each other's personal space!  Fyta and Fergus are avoiding eye contact, heads in the air and spitting/snorting/grunting in the air as warnings to each other.
Two minutes later, male egos satisfied, they settle down to chew the cud.  If you magnify this shot you will see Fergus has a droopy lower lip as a result of his spitting.  The inside of the shelter shows that the boys are quite happy to try to build a poo pile in the middle area - but they have no chance with Robbie carrying out his regular 'poop patrol' duties !  Several minutes after this photo was taken, Rufus came along with a look which said, "Move over the bed a bit"....... 
And then there were 4!
And finally.........Christmastime TV has to be viewed sparingly in our opinion, so for something completely different from the normal pastimes of spinning, knitting and crotcheting we got stuck into a 1000 piece jigsaw.  It just got bigger and bigger, starting on the jig saw mat, moved to the bigger coffee table then ended up on a large piece of chipboard on the kitchen table - should have checked the dimensions before we started!  It took our spare time over 3 days to complete, we took the photo, then broke it up and put it back in the box.  What was that all about, eh?!
This is 'sair heed' day in this part of the world following last night's celebrations - hope your 'heed' isn't too 'sair' today.  Enjoy!
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6 comments:

  1. Anonymous1 January 2011 at 16:31

    Happy 2011 to you too! I love puzzels! Never did a round one before. That one looks like it's pretty hard, with all the samll girls and similar colors!! Good Job! Your skies are just beautiful!! How nice to see those pretty colors day after day!! The boys look nice and healthy! They are funny about their space! lol...debbie

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  2. Unknown1 January 2011 at 17:10

    1000 piece jigsaw...that's enough to give ya a 'sair heed' alone Shirley.

    Hope 2011 is good to you both and your boys :))

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  3. Apple Vale Alpacas1 January 2011 at 18:00

    All the best for 2011 to you both - there's nae sair heed here, beginning to learn after all these years at last! Joy (grew up in Glasgow) says: " dae yae want yer heed in yer hons tae play with?" as a playful threat, (I hope!).

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  4. Shirley1 January 2011 at 19:32

    Dave & Joy, Ma heeds aye in ma hons - gonnae no gees a tellin' aff! Ah the best fur 2011. Robbie (Shirley's from Norfolk where they speak about Turkeys and sprouts - no heeds!!)

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  5. Zanzibah Alpacas1 January 2011 at 23:52

    Happy New Year !! to you and your lovely Boys .....beautiful photos...and its nice to get the sleeping arrangements....sorted before dark .....What a jig-saw quest !...then back in the box !!...why ?...thats enough to give any body a sair head !!........Jayne

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  6. Anonymous3 January 2011 at 23:02

    Happy New Year to you and the boys -hope to see you soon - Sandy and Lorna
    Love the pictures

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