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.

Sunday 8 December 2013

Stormy - but the show goes on!

Fergus looks less than happy on the morning after the storm!  We had powerful gales here all through Wednesday night accompanied by lightening, and most of Thursday was grim.  We lost our electricity for around 12 hours, but apart from that we suffered no real damage.  Plenty of large girth trees have been blown over in the area and we were left with a covering of snow for a couple of days.  We kept wondering how the boys were faring during the darkness and storm and at daybreak they were moving around the paddock in a group - a sign that they were not too impressed!  Normally in high winds they get close to the hedge and lie low so I suppose thats what they did. We lost electricity again today for a couple of hours and 4 Scottish & Southern Electricity vehicles have just gone racing up the nearby hill, so clearly they are still having problems.
As usual things are one big yawn for Fyta.  You'll see that 'himself' clears some grass for the boys when there is a covering of snow otherwise they just get bored with the white stuff!
Gully is always up for a photo!
Not much grass in this paddock to keep them amused!
Sugar beet time again and the boys love it when grass is hard to find.
 We had been invited to give an alpaca talk on Friday to the Senior Citizens Association in nearby Beauly.  The after-effects of the storm didn't put 10 hardy souls off coming although parts of the town were still without electricity from Wed night!  The ladies were a lovely audience and we had plenty of laughs and interesting questions and the promise of a visit from them to see the boys - when the electricity comes back on and the weather gets better!  Thanks for your hospitality ladies - lovely to meet you all.
And finally...........Fergus - "No callers today, thank you, I'm resting after the storm!"

5 comments:

  1. Just love the alpaca circle ! Fergus looks snug hiding in the shelter and the alpaca evening looks like it went down a storm (excuse the pun).... with a brave turn-out .... glad you all survived the nasty weather with no real damage .... Jayne

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  2. We suffered a loss of the field shelter in Barrabus's field up the hill and our neighbours lost two big trees. He was not impressed when the snow hit. He is currently in with the chickens using the hay shed as a shelter (with all the hay he can eat) but a lot happier.....Graham, Ruilick Alpacas.

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  3. Hi Graham & Kirsty, Glad that you are all OK after that wild couple of days - your field shelter is probably in the Moray Firth! Bet that B is enjoying bedding down with the chickens surrounded by all that fodder! Hope your girls and cria are OK too. Shirley & Robbie

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  4. The hazards of being in such an exposed spot. Females and Cria all fine. Graham & Kirsty

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