Cold - but sunny

Whilst many of you will have been affected by the snow in some parts of the country, we have escaped (so far) with only a dusting - but it's forecast for tomorrow!  It has been bitterly cold, day and night so the boys' thick fleece has been working overtime.  This is Fidget standing with the others waiting for a feed.

Being intelligent animals we've found during winters that the alpacas get bored when there is snow on the ground covering their grass.  They can mill around nibbling at what they can find but you can tell by their faces and actions that they want the landscape colour to change from white back to green!  Here they are hanging around the gate waiting for the human with their bowls of supplement.

There is a favoured rolling patch in one corner of the paddock and shortly before this picture was taken, Rufus (white face) had been lying on it quite happily - you can still see the dust on his nose.  Along comes Wee Eck (right) who wants the rolling space so he reverses into Rufus who has to get up and move.  Clever really because it means that if any spitting starts Wee Eck gets it in the bum instead of in the face!  He does this reversing thing and pushing with his backside quite a lot.  Gaucho is on the left of the picture.

Shortly afterwards, Eck is down followed by Fergus at the rear.  Fyta is in front with Gully at the rear.  No sign of Rufus as he has cleared off letting Eck get on with it!

Faro at the front, standing side on to the human, 'guarding' his pals!

We never seem to have the camera available for classic shots but here is Hunkey Dunkey on the perch with the Blackrock with the Bluebell and Light Sussex behind.  Shortly before this (and causing Robbie to run to the house for the camera), Hunkey had been standing on the perch with the Blackrock completely under his outstretched right wing with just her beak poking out from under the protection.  It really looked like he was protecting her - instead of her trying to steal his heat!

And finally...........we have had some beautiful afternoons during this week with warm sunshine, despite everything being frozen - including the sanded track down to Tigh Mhor.  This shot looks west to Strath Glass and Glen Strathfarrar and taken from the edge of the new house site.  Stay warm everywhere - have a good week!