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 3 June 2018

Wow - it's been hot!

This has been a week of lying about for the boys, preferably near the water trays.   We've had excellent weather and experienced none of the thunderstorms or downpours that have been so common elsewhere.  But it's been hot!!
The heat does take its toll on the boys and it is still several weeks before shearing.  So frequent use of the hose is called for.  Fidget (front) spends long periods lying in the water trays as can be seen by his wet chin and undercarriage.  Faro (left) prefers to be close to the water trough into which he dunks his head from time to time!
This week has also been a time of mega-grass cutting across all the paddocks and garden.  The boys are totally unconcerned by the noise of the tractor mower, strimmers or hand mowers around them.
Fidget (right) has his feet in the tray and all the boys hang around the humans hoping that the hose will be brought out once again - it was!
And here are a couple of happy bunnies in the sand pit, Fyta (left) and Fergus trying to stay cool.  It's quite common for three of the boys to be in the pit at the same time and very occasionally, all four.
And finally......................all the young apple trees are covered in blossom this year, no late frosts for a change so we are hoping for a good harvest later.

4 comments:

  1. Hi Shirley, good to catch up and see that you anad the boys are all well, enjoying the warm weather.

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  2. Hi Dave, Hope you and Joy are well and that your beasties are all in good order. Very few people seem to blog these days - they must use social media - and that's a pity. Hope you have a great summer. Regards. Shirley & Robbie

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  3. Glad to see someone else is having to do the alpacas work for them! It's hard for us to keep up at the moment as everything is rampant and the alpacas just can't keep up with the paddock grass! Must post one day soon, trouble is...the longer I leave it, the easier it becomes to leave it even longer!!
    Love to you both and your boys too! Hope you have a beautiful dry shearing day and look forward to photos of the boys without their coats on!
    xxx

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  4. Hi Judy, You must be feeling better - look forward to your next post! Our shearing day is not until 9th July so it's later this year. The boys will be pleased to get their coats off for sure this year. Take care of yourself. Shirley x

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