Views from the top of the ladder!

We've had excellent weather during the past week with T shirts much in evidence - up until today when it's been very windy with rain.  The good weather gave the Grumpy Gardener a chance to get cracking on the annual 'short back and sides' of the various hedges. The boys have been keeping an eye on him whilst taking it easy in the sun with Rufus doing a spot of sun bathing.

The view from the top of the ladder, overlooking a field shelter roof.  Fyta (left) Faro and Fidget are relaxing whilst the human cuts, snips and sweats!

Gully is interested in the orchard ladder!  This very long hedge is predominantly Leylandii so some of the boys have enjoyed the occasional small bit of greenery to chew on. We keep the main cuttings away from them but we're sure that  a small bit to chew on won't harm them - it hasn't done in previous years of hedge cutting.

A movement on the track leading to the paddocks means the herd start to show an interest.  Faro is in front, tail up as usual and the others gather around.

Even Fidget has decided to stop chomping on the grass and have a look.

Wee Eck in front and Gully now want to have a look at what is coming down the track.

And finally..............the intruder is revealed - it's 'Cupcake' our neighbour's friendly cat out on another rabbit hunt!  Other wildlife seen this week around the place have been a red squirrel scarpering around the walls and roof joists of a field shelter, two red legged Partridges wandering up the track and flocks of Fieldfares stripping the berries from the Rowan trees.  The flocks are later in arriving this year and smaller in number so we wonder if it's got anything to do with the mild weather and the fact that there are so many berries on the trees everywhere this year?

A mild Autumn so far.

As mentioned in last week's blog, the boys were ready for a bit of fresh grass so we let them into an adjoining paddock on Monday.  The first couple of days on new grass usually means that they are not too bothered about eating their daily supplement but here they are making an effort to clean out their bowls!  Faro is standing in front of the gate and he in particular is difficult to convince about eating his supplement for a couple of days after a change of grass.  

Nothing quite like polishing up the teeth after a meal is there?  "Hey Fergus, stop chewing the strainer!"

"Who - me, boss?"

Fyta (left) and Fidget enjoying their hay. Fidget in particular likes to knock over the hay bucket then sit in front of it picking out individual pieces of hay to chew.  It's a hard life!

The PRV (Poop Recovery Vehicle) has arrived and the boys gather around in awe at the Grumpy Gardener's skill at keeping their paddocks clean - but think that he should get a life and a new hobby!

The barking of a neighbour's dogs gets the full attention of the herd.  Fyta is in front, then Fergus, Faro and Rufus at the gate.

And finally................there is still a little bit of colour in the garden, some of it coming from this Clematis Tangutika.  When the yellow flowers are gone they are replaced by the lovely feathery heads. The weather remains mild here and the leaves are now all changing colour.

The Sunday Post

Gully is always up for having his picture taken!  Now that the temperature has dropped he's a much happier 'paca as there are not so many flying beasties around to bother him.

Here is the herd facing 'the threat' - our neighbour's ginger Tom-cat walking down the track and at least a couple of hundred yards away! Faro is in the middle of the group with his tail up - he's already seen and discounted the cat and thinks it is the human with the camera that needs watching instead.

Faro again.  We're pleased that at last the deposits of 'dumplings' are now changing to something more solid, described as a bit like 'hand grenades' according to one of our blogging friends!

Just like his pal Gully, Gaucho likes to pose for the camera.

The 'munch bunch' - Rufus (left) Fyta and Fidget at the rear.  We penned the boys earlier this week and trimmed the nails of Fergus and Fidget our white boys as last time they were done was the beginning of July when James Dixon the shearer visited. Fergus was less than impressed by the procedure and Fidget decided to 'cush' rather than have this front feet touched although his rear nails were done.

Thursday saw us in Marybank giving a talk to around 50 members of Club 55 in the village hall.  Unfortunately only part of the audience could be fitted into the photo but it was a lovely visit with plenty of interesting questions to answer.  The event was finished off with a lovely bowl of soup - thank you ladies, and hope that some of you can find time to come and meet the boys.

And finally...........this photo was taken this morning and is of the boys lining up at the gate thinking that it's about time they were on fresh grass in the adjoining paddock.  I've mentioned before that they instinctively know when it's time to be moved - deep joy tomorrow then  guys!  The blog title comes from the fact that the first edition of Scotland's Sunday Post newspaper was published 100 years ago today - just a few years more than this Sunday post has been blogged.

Cud(ly) boys

First thing in the mornings there is usually a cud chewing session going on in the field shelters until the human arrives to do the 'poop patrol.'   This is the signal for the herd to follow him to see what he is getting up to.  Fergus is leading, followed by Fyta then Faro.

Fyta is a lovely natured alpaca but also a real scrounger and bowl licker at feed times!  He often stores food in one cheek and will stand for ages just chewing.

We have to keep an eye on Gaucho near over hanging bush branches.  He likes to nibble the grass at the paddock edges and if there are any overhanging branches and leaves he gets up on his rear legs and pulls them down.

This is the strange lying position which Gully often adopts with his rear legs sticking out.  He and Gaucho are the only ones who do this.  Rufus and Wee Eck are lying close to him, happily chewing the cud.

Keeping his own company as usual but enjoying his cud is Fidget. A long chewing period will result in him frothing at the mouth!

From this position you can see how the boys scatter themselves about the paddock. On the right is Fyta who has decided to add to the pile already in the barrow!    "Every little helps" as they say!

And finally................four very nice Chinese tourists dropped by during the week when they saw the boys in the paddock.  They all spoke excellent English, we had plenty of laughs but I still couldn't convince them to give up their jobs, buy Tigh Mhor and live in the Highlands!  The two ladies had great fun trying on the various hats I have knitted with the boys' fleece and all four have promised to return next time they are in Scotland.  Looks like these Man U fans get everywhere!

Carrots and Brambles

First thing in the morning the boys are usually a bit sleepy-eyed and not in a rush to go anywhere or do anything.  Gully is deciding whether to venture out or stay in the shelter at 8.00am on Tuesday. 

Being a deaf boy means that Wee Eck tends to follow the herd - if they get up then so does he, but if they have a long lie, then so does he too.  There has been quite a bit of sun bathing going on this week again and Eck frequently gets left on his own lying in the sun, oblivious to the fact that the herd has moved.  Big panics until he catches up with them again!

We had a lovely visit on Fri evening from friends David, Evelyn and daughter Annie who was delighted with the boys but keen to watch where she put her feet on the ground - just in case of stepping on something!  Here she is feeding carrots to Faro whilst Fergus and Fyta look on.

And Fergus and Fyta are also fed their carrots too.   Gaucho is in the background.

There are plenty of Brambles (Blackberries) around at present and most of the boys like them.  Fyta (left) and Fergus in particular are very keen on them as are Gully and Fidget who can be seen looking on intently in the background.

Still plenty of midgies and other flying beasties around in the mild weather.   Just look at this beast which landed on the letter box - bet the postie was less then impressed!

And finally...........Brock the Badger is back again, creating mayhem on the fence line.  Thankfully our chickens are re-homed so he won't present a threat to them any longer.  Wonder if the boys are able to hear his nocturnal diggings on the other side of the hedge?

An Indian summer?

We've certainly had gorgeous weather all of this week, misty in the mornings then when it clears mid morning and the sun comes out - phew!  The Grumpy Gardener had consigned his shorts to the clothes cupboard during the last two weeks of August which were particularly cold thinking that that was the end of summer.  However, this week the shorts are back out and being worn again!  The boys have spent the best part of the week just lazing about whilst the humans refresh their water troughs three times daily!  Fidget loves to lie in the longer grass at the edge of the paddock.

Faro on the left with his shadow, Wee Eck!  We've noticed that Eck will often follow one particular boy around for some time.  Faro isn't bothered at all by this and gets on fine with Eck but others, like Fergus and Fidget do not like being followed around and having their space invaded so there will always be groaning and spitting!

Faro again with Fergus lying in the long grass at the edge of the paddock.  The boys have been on their Verm-X granules all this week and not all of them enjoy the taste.  Gully tips his bowl over to try and get rid of them.  Others like Fergus don't bother - if it's in their bowl it must be food - end of story!  Faro is still depositing 'dumplings' so clearly the pro-biotic didn't change anything but he is still eating well.

With the misty mornings then the sunshine, come the midgies and other flying beasties which Gully (left) and Fyta do not like at all.  They go running into the field shelter when the beasties are around and one day this week they spent most of the day just lying in the doorway.  Relief comes when the sun goes down.

Rufus joins them in the shelter, he is also none too fond of flying and biting thingies!

Gaucho smiles, "I'm not bovvered am I?"

Wall Germander looking great at this time of year.  We cut it right back after flowering and the following year it grows back again, more colourful than some heathers.

And finally...........last year we had no apples or plums.  This year lots of plums, apples and other soft fruit so plenty of jam made with spare in the freezer.

Ballet, coos and apples!

Don't try this at home!  Looking like he is practicing his 'Swan Lake' ballet moves Fyta gets at an itch on his back.  These guys can contort and reach places other animals can't!

We moved the boys into the bottom paddocks this week so there was much  'deep joy' and jumping around on the new grass.  The chickens have gone from the adjoining hen run now having been re-homed a couple of weeks ago.  Wendy of Woodleigh Lodge Alpacas who now has Dunkey and the other chickens reports that they have settled down well and giving her sufficient eggs for her endless baking!

A couple of bruisers at feed time, hoping for some more!  Gaucho is on the left with Fergus.

Rufus in front with Wee Eck just behind him.

And just for Judi at LGM - Faro in front of his pals. No great change in Faro Judi, still depositing 'dumplings' even though we recently tried a pro-biotic to see if that would settle his 'movements', but not so far.

These Highland ladies and their calves are next door to us in the neighbouring farm and attract the attention of alpacas and passing tourists alike.  For such big beasts these Highland mothers are very attentive towards their off-spring, continually licking and preening them.

And finally................some Autumn colours.  Last year after we moved house we planted some new apple trees as the Tigh Mhor orchard is some distance away.  This tree is a Norfolk Royal (M26 strain) and has done very well in it's first year.  Tigh Mhor has still not sold, the property market is still depressed here - anybody looking to move to the Highlands?