Visitors

We had a great visit yesterday from John McKenzie and his mother Dorothy who have 4 alpaca boys (Jake, William, Luke & Joel) at their farm in Dingwall.  We had plenty of entertainment firstly watching Gaucho throwing a turnip around the paddock as he tried to eat it, then later, Fergus removing my hat whilst I bent down (that's his party-trick!)  We spent plenty of time discussing alpaca things and we haltered our boys in the catch-pen and clipped Fergus's and Fidget's nails.  We managed short 'walkies' but Gaucho continues to be the boy with the least enthusiasm for being led, although is fine having the halter fitted.  Gully had some more cream rubbed on the dry skin on his forelegs and they all had their daily treat of apples as the photo shows.  We have also received the result of the dung samples from the Vet lab and were pleased that no worm or liver fluke treatment is necessary.  We will repeat the test in the Spring and continue with the monthly dose of Verm-X granules.

Sheepish neighbours

One of our crofting neighbours has put some sheep into one of our fields adjoining the boys' paddock.  He does this from time to time and it certainly helps to keep the grass down.  This influx of woolly animals has created a lot of interest from the boys who have given up using their field shelters and now camp out at night near the fence line!  The photo shows them watching what the sheep are up to.  During the past week we have delivered a pooled dung sample to the Vet lab in Inverness and they will carry out a test for worm and liver fluke.  Depending on the result, we will treat the boys accordingly.  Six months ago following the last dung sample test, no treatment was required.  We give them monthly Vermex granules which is a herbal wormer.  Fergus, Gully and Fyta now appear in the Alba Yarns new web site (http://www.knitnaturelle.com/) on the home and gallery pages and we're grateful to Joyce and Gary Thompson, our ex-neighbours who run the sites, for giving the boys their international exposure!

Nails and things

We put the boys into the catch pen yesterday and trimmed Gully's fringe.  Alpacas are not too keen on having their heads touched so getting the fringe clipped, especially when the fleece is wet, is not easy!  He also has a long term dry skin problem so I rubbed udder cream on his ears and between his front legs.  He was as good as gold whilst this was done.  The two white boys, Fergus and Fidget, had one or two nails each trimmed, and they also put up with it!  The nails of white alpacas seem to grow quicker than coloured animals, and other alpaca owners have also found this.  We always halter the boys in the catch pen as this gets them used to being handled, and we end our session with a wee walk - in Fyta's case this was a very wee walk!  After a couple of yards he refused to budge, spreading his rear legs in the A shape and making it quite clear that he was not in the mood for walkies.  Ah well, maybe next time!

Dyeing

Last weekend I attended a one day course run by Gill at Artisan Threads.  I took along 500g of spun alpaca fleece which were dyed using natural dyes.  As a result I am hoping to dye more fleece at home soon. I have also wound and labelled balls of Fidget's fleece(see pictures left). We have heard from Marjory Tait who previously visited our boys with her parents and who all enjoyed the meeting!  Marjory has two terrific web sites (Keltickatz & Keltickraft - see links)  and the art work and items she produces are great.

The boys are all well and enjoying getting soaking wet then rolling on the ground and becoming covered in mud!  Not a pretty sight for any visitors.  Gully's fringe is growing quite long as it was not fully trimmed when he was sheared so next time they are in the catch pen, it will be haircut time for him!

The Highland Guild of Spinners and Weavers

This weekend I attended the Guild's 'Small Felted Jewellery' one day course run by Isobel MacCallum Scott ( see Naturally Sheepish link)and the picture shows the ear-rings I made. I learnt how to make felt balls from Merino tops and hope to use the technique with alpaca fleece. We were also shown how to make necklaces and felted circles.

Our alpacas continue to settle down well with each other and the two new boys, Gully and Gaucho are now fully integrated in the herd. We haltered them at the weekend and Fidget and Fergus had their nails trimmed - and they were very well behaved (for a change!)

Visits

This weekend we visited friends Carole & John in Haddington, East Lothian to see their herd of alpacas - 21 in total - boys, girls and lovely cria. We were also able to see the excellent garments and items produced by Carole from her animals and sold on her Cairndinnis web site. We then crossed to Crianlarich, Perthshire to visit Ian and Debbie who have 4 boys roaming on their 6 acres around their Ewich House, set amidst dramatic Highland scenery. Home then via spectacular Glencoe on a glorious Autumn day to take some photos of sister in law Sheila wearing my crotcheted alpaca hat and scarf from Fyta's and Ardo Hamish's fleece.

Felting

On Sat 26th Sept I attended a felt making class held by the Highland Feltmakers Group, in Dingwall. I made a flat piece of felt from marino tops. I've been experimenting with felting the boys' fleece and was able to pick up some tips at this group.