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 26 July 2020

Lazy, summer days.

We've had a range of weather this week, not all of it 'summery' with rain, mist and high winds.  The boys have been spending time in the shelter, either when it is very hot or when there are Midges about which they don't like.  This is Fyta having upset all the hay buckets - again -  he likes picking up the purple bucket and carrying it off!
Faro, with Fyta at the rear, just keeping an eye on the activities of the photographer - as always!
Fergus, usually quite laid back about life generally, takes time out in the sand-pit, which he loves to do.
All three boys in their shelter.
Another day, and a hot one, so the boys take to the sand pit to relax.  They look quite contented, don't they?
Taken this afternoon as they wait the arrival of the daily feed - Fergus in front, Faro behind and Fyta at the rear.
And finally.............this season's growth on the Gunnera plant.  The leaves are all as big as golf umbrellas and work perfectly to gather water when it rains.

Sunday 19 July 2020

The boys enjoying summer.

The sheep in an adjoining field are always of interest to the boys - here is Faro giving them the 'once over!'
Fyta can be very playful - here he is playing 'Peek-a-boo' with the Grumpy Gardener in the field shelter.
Fyta also always takes a close interest in the contents of barrows!  Faro doesn't share the same interest so carries on grazing in the background.
Fergus having a wee lie down in the shelter.  He is not as energetic as the other two boys and enjoys nothing more than lying down and chewing the cud!
A very hot day and all the boys hit the sand pit!  Fergus remains alert whilst Faro and Fyta get their heads down.
This photo shows the flowers at the top of the very tall Giant Himalayan Lily in the garden with Faro and Fergus behind in an adjoining paddock.  The Lily is now almost ten feet tall and it's grown all of that size since Spring when it is at ground level as a shoot.  Amazing!
And finally............here in Scotland during this pandemic, wearing a 'face covering' in shops is mandatory so nothing wrong with promoting Llamas and Alpacas at the same time!  Stay safe wherever you are reading this blog.

Sunday 12 July 2020

The boys and the garden.

A bag of hay is held up by the human and shortly after this photos was taken, Fergus starts to munch the hay straight away.
However, when offered the same hay Fyta decides to rub his nose and face in it and play with it before eating it!
Faro stands apart, keeping an eye on the other two boys, the hay - and the human.  Faro does like his hay but prefers to eat it from the hay bucket in the field shelter.
A nice photo of Fergus munching the grass! 
One of the boys' paddocks is next to the veg garden but they don't seem to be interested in any of the 'goodies' on the other side of the fence.  Fyta and Fergus are seen here.
Looking through the Ligularia flowers at Faro on the other side of the fence.
This shot of the 3 boys in the paddock next to the garden was taken yesterday evening as the sun began to set.  The field shelter in this paddock has been cleaned out and the boys use the shelter in the adjoining paddock.
And finally..............this season's growth on the Giant Himalayan Lily (Cardiocrinum Giganteum) now standing at nearly 10 feet tall!  There are two stems with unopened flowers on top.  Hopefully, in the next couple of days the flowers will open in the sunshine - photos next week!

Sunday 5 July 2020

The weekly photo mix.

Fyta loves water! He likes to stand in the water tray for long periods soaking his feet then usually ends up lying down in it.
The boys had a change of field shelter again this week and the usual melee ensued with all of them taking a turn to roll about.
Faro, in one of his 'aloof' poses - tail up, ears back, not looking directly at the human although watching closely at what he is doing.
Another day and an argument in the shelter between Fyta (left) and Fergus who has his head up in the 'ready-to-spit' stance if Fyta comes into his 'personal space!'  On this occasion Fyta is ignoring Fergus but that is not always the case and the pair will often have arguments.
Yet another dreary morning with mist and rain, it has been like this for most of the past week, and the boys are ready for some carrots.  Here they are waiting for the humans to serve up the 'goodies!'
This photo was meant to show the very big, black cloud before it poured with rain, but it does not appear to have captured that.  However, it does show Faro in front with Fyta looking out of the shelter.
And finally...............Delphiniums from the garden in two different colour shades with a 'humble bumble' on the middle flower.