Further north for a visit.

Monday dawned windy and cold as we headed about an hour's drive north to see Alison and Brendan at Seafield Alpacas in Portmahomack, Ross-shire. This is always a joy, not only to see friends but to see Alison's very photogenic herd.  This is Flynn, what a lovely looking boy!

Alison with her boys, from the left Chocolate, Echo ('Wee Eck'), Flynn, Merlin (front) and Gully (rear). The boys have acres of grass to roam in on the croft and they make full use of it.

Eck asking me why I'm wearing a heavy jacket when he is nice and cosy against the chill wind in his fleecy coat! He's a lovely boy with curls all over his face.

Flynn again with Chocolate behind.  They really are handsome boys with very long, fine eyelashes.  It was a lovely visit to see you and the boys, Alison & Brendan, and thank you for your hospitality.

Back home the week has been mainly windy, quite chilly with an occasional glimpse of the sun.  This is Fergus, taking it easy.

Not too far away are Fyta (left) and Faro, also 'chilling out' and enjoying the daffodils which are flowering everywhere.

And finally.............I love the colour that the flowering currant has at this time of year and it's a big attraction for the bees which are now around.

Lovely sunshine!

We've had some nice, sunny spells this week although the wind still has a 'bite' to it.  Faro is enjoying this moment in the sun.

Fergus sees the human approaching with the carrots in a lower paddock so runs to meet him.   Food is the only thing which will make Fergus run!

Fyta - the cheeky chappie - fancies some carrots too and is not scared to get up close to the human and the camera.

Fergus (front) with his mouth full, Faro and Fyta enjoy their carrots in the sunshine.

Whilst all three boys enjoy the sun, Fyta is the one who always sunbathes, lying with his belly facing the sun.  This long range shot shows him lying down being watched over by his pal, Faro.

Another day in the sun and another chance to sunbathe for Fyta whilst the other two boys carry on grazing.

And finally............. some of the fruit growing areas of the garden are showing some progress in the sun.  The rhubarb in front is coming on now, the black currant bushes behind are showing leaves, there are strawberry plants to the left and a gooseberry bush, with brambles (black berries) growing along the fence line on the right. The greatly increased hours of sunlight are doing wonders.

Wet and windy

Here's an interesting shot of Faro, taken from a lower paddock on a wet and windy afternoon this week, with rainbows appearing frequently.  Fyta is lying on the ground but his head can be seen behind Faro, peering at the photographer!

The three amigos - Faro (left), Fyta and Fergus.  We've had plenty of sleet showers this week but no snow to speak of although there is plenty on the hills beyond.

Fergus (left) and Fyta, chewing the cud and having a rest.  Our boys never lie close to each other, except when they are in the shelters, when they are outside they always keep a distance from each other.

Fyta - a lovely alpaca with a laid-back attitude to life,  Why should he worry, he's got his pal Faro to look out for him!

Taken today, Fergus like the other boys has had a good soaking over the past few days during miserable weather.  Today's sunshine will give them a chance to dry out.

Spring is on it's way and this Tree Peony (Paeonia) is already bursting it's buds to reveal the flower heads which should open in May or June.

And finally...........this is the top of the south facing gable end of our house and there are normally 3 House Martin's nests at the very top under the eaves.  They are usually damaged by winter storms but last week the gales brought down all the nests so there will be considerable re-building going on when the Martins return in late April.  Sadly one of the nests had the bodies of 4 young Martins within but we don't know the reason for this.  Something may have happened to the parents, or possibly it is was a late brood just before migration time last Autumn and they were deserted, but it was sad to see.

Dropping temperatures this week.

Faro (left), Fergus and Fyta behind, on the lookout for titbits as usual.  There must be carrots somewhere! The boys have been having their Verm-X granules in their feed this week.

Happy bunnies!  The threatening skies behind the boys hold hail and sleet which has been falling regularly this week.

The boss of everything he surveys!  Faro overlooking the veg plots and Keder greenhouse with Fergus and Fyta in the background.

Last week I couldn't up-load the photos of the boys enjoying themselves rolling in the dust as the Grumpy Gardener was cleaning our their shelter.

Here's another photo of the activities which the boys really enjoy.  They become covered in dust then they stay out in the pouring rain and the dust washes off - perhaps this is a way of cleaning their fleece, who knows?

And finally..............the first couple of bright green shoots of the Giant Himalayan Lily (Cardiocrinum Giganteum) have started to appear, the main one is in the middle of last year's dead plant and the other is below it in the photo. The stem which grows to over 8 feet tall is a hollow tube and the remainder of last year's dead stem can be seen.  The plant dies back completely over winter then the new main stem starts it's remarkable growth which supports large trumpet-like flowers in the summer.

Just a normal week.

Fergus, looking like the bonnie boy that he is!  Look at the length of his eye lashes on the left of the picture.  He looks remarkably dry after the amount of rain we've had this week.

Faro - the boss - looking relaxed but definitely interested to know what the photographer is up to, and not too keen about the camera!

When the Grumpy Gardener goes into the field shelter with a barrow, the boys know that something is happening!  In fact they were being moved to another shelter which causes them to go 'ballistic', rolling about and having plenty of fun.  Unfortunately I'm unable to upload the photo I took of all this hilarity!

However, the boys never lose that sense of being alert to any dangers - in this case they are watching three horses in the adjoining field galloping around their paddocks, so no threat.

And finally............taken this morning at carrot feeding time.  Fyta can't wait to get at his favourite tit-bits, but Fergus looks a bit disgruntled!