Making faces - and a giant Lily!

I'm never sure whether Fidget (front) is pulling faces when his photo is taken but he always manages to put on an open-mouthed look!  Behind him on the skyline is Faro, tail up as usual.  We've had lots of rain again this week so the boys have enjoyed rolling about and getting dirty.

See what I mean - Fidget at it again!  Of course he is chewing as usual, and if it's not grass or hay, it's the cud which is getting masticated.

Faro, much better than he was this time last week but still not 100%.  He's still looking a bit thinner than usual, he's grazing well now but turning his nose up at his daily supplement most afternoons.

Feed time yesterday afternoon with Fyta (left), Fergus (centre) and Fidget.  Faro is in the distance having walked away from his bowl without even trying his feed.

Those of you who have followed this blog over the years may remember the Cardiocrinum Giganteum (Giant Himalyan Lily) which we planted and which grew to over 8 feet in height before displaying it's 'trumpet' flowers.  In the intervening years it has only grown to about two feet each year so we moved it to the new house a couple of years ago to see how it would fare.  Although it has grown to just under six feet this year it has now put on a splendid display of blooms, accompanied by a heavy scent.

And finally............a close up of those trumpets which only appear every few years!

All about Faro - again!

No sign of good summer weather here yet, plenty of rain and gales for a couple of days so not a lot happening - until Friday that was.  We noticed during the day that Faro didn't seem to be his usual self, he was lying down more than usual and was only grazing occasionally.  This photo of him with his three pals was taken in the early morning and at that stage his tail was still up, a usual sign when humans are around.  We penned the boys, gave Faro a mineral drench and sprayed them all because of the amount of flies around.

By early afternoon he had gone down and was not getting up.  We thought that his feed might give him the incentive to get up but as the photo shows, he was not interested. A phone call was made to the Vet and Hamish and student arrived shortly afterwards.  We expected that with 4 humans around him Faro might try to get up or try to spit - no chance, he just lay there - so this was serious.  Hamish took his temperature (lower than normal), checked him over, took a blood sample then gave him a series of injections (B12, antibiotics etc) and Faro hardly flinched or made a sound.  We were instructed to get as much water into him as possible and we agreed to wait, keep a close eye on him and wait for the injections to take effect.

In the next few hours he moved position only once and we gave him repeated water drenches, most of which he accepted.  Interestingly, for most of the day the other 3 boys stayed near him and when the vet was here it was scary how they came close to watch what was going on. After the above picture was taken they all came around him and laid down a few feet away.  We are quite certain that they realised that Faro was unwell, and whilst they did not touch him or go to him directly, they were always in the close vicinity - not something they do all the time.  Heavy overnight rain was forecast so we coaxed Faro to his feet and he walked slowly to the nearby shelter and lay down for the night.

The humans were up before 4.00am, peering through the gloom from the house and we could see that Faro was on his feet and walking around!  By early morning he was walking short distances then lying down, and often with his pal Fyta close by!  Since then he has slowly got back to routine, grazing normally, chewing the cud occasionally, toileting normally and looking generally much better.  Phew - this boy is a worry sometimes, so we now await the result of the blood test from the vet.

As well as all this excitement, this was the week for the boys' routine dozes of Verm -X granules in their feed.  Not that Fergus here notices anything different in his feed - it all gets 'hoovered' up in double quick time!

Elsewhere around the place, this little fella is enjoying his time in the garden, darting around the plants and doing what rabbits do - dig holes!  The grumpy gardener has given his orders to our neighbour's two visiting cats to "Git the bunny critter or your milk ration is halved!"  Mmm!

And finally..............we are really pleased with the progress of this Gunnera which we planted in the boggy area 2 years ago. 

A quiet week

Fyta likes to follow the human around each morning as he carries out a 'poop patrol!'  He's a lovely boy, (Fyta I mean, not the human!) with a very playful nature.

Fidget is enjoying life without his fleecy coat.  He enjoys lying on the damp grass and doing a bit of sunbathing - when the sun comes out.

Sergeant Faro, always on duty stands to attention and checks out the humans.

All four of the boys enjoy the rough paddock where we keep the grass long for them.  It is getting a bit too long now though and will have to be topped.

We had a lovely visit today from Judith and Dave, on holiday in the area and considering alpacas as pets when they return to New Zealand next year.  The boys enjoyed some carrots and were pretty well behaved - even Fergus and Fyta used the water tray to show to the visitors.  Good luck with your 'paca plans when you get to New Zealand folks - nice to have met you.

And finally................the grumpy gardener has obviously had plenty of Thyme on his hands recently!

Tigh Mhor no more!

Like most people in UK we've experienced some interesting weather in the past week - everything from thunder and lightening and torrential rain to blistering heat for a couple of days.  During the week or so following shearing we're aware that the boys always seem to be a little more sensitive to touch etc when their fleece is removed.  They've spent many hours during daylight, all 4 in a field shelter sheltering either from the downpours or the heat of the sun.  They also seem sensitive to flying beasties too so lying in a field shelter with a dark roof probably helps to keep them at bay.  This is Fergus, looking slick this morning and struggling to get himself awake! 

As the human distributes the hay to the various buckets, Fyta (front) and Fergus decide to help themselves to supplies!

Faro breakfasts properly by using the hay buckets.

Not to be outdone, Fergus joins Faro for a bucketful!

And in the next paddock Fidget sits amongst the clover and buttercups enjoying the moment, on his own, just as he likes it.  We penned the boys during the week when we saw flies massing on a black spot on Fidget's back and gave the area a soaking in Maggot oil.  We know the dangers of fly-strike on animals so are always watchful at this time of year when they've lost the protection of their thick fleece.

 Down in the Steading it was 'fly the nest' day on Wednesday for these two young Swallows as Mum and Dad circled outside calling them and encouraging them to take to the wing.

And finally................'Tigh Mhor' sold and changed ownership on Friday to Sharon and Dave who will be lovely neighbours.  We'll still call our 4 boys 'Tigh Mhor Alpacas' as they are mostly in the same paddocks with our new house.  A last look at the Red Hot Pokers and Day Lillies just before the house was handed over. 

Shearing time.

Saturday was scheduled for shearing but Friday continued in the wet theme we have been experiencing here for weeks, so the four boys had to be penned to keep them as dry as possible. Fyta (front) and Fidget wait their turn for a short back and sides!

For a short period on Saturday the rain stopped and the sun came out and James and Noah give Faro the beauty treatment! Faro looks as if he is smiling but it is really a grimace, although he and his pals have all been through this procedure many times before.

Whilst James oils his blades Fyta suffers the indignity of Noah pulling back his lips and checking his teeth.

Fergus gets a clap and told he is a "Good boy" have been penned all night and just having had his lovely top knot trimmed.

James and Noah visited 9 'paca owners in Inverness and Ross Shires yesterday and by the early evening it was the turn of our old pals Gaucho, Gully, Wee Eck and Rufus to get sheared.  Here they all are awaiting the trim at Alison & Brendan's croft. Our thanks once again to James and Noah - Team Bravoshear did an excellent job, despite the 'ify' weather.

And finally..............this Celmisia Spectablis is thriving in the damp and occasionally sunny conditions.  A heat wave is promised for the coming week - that will make a nice change!

Pike & 'paca

A study in concentration! Fyta (left) with Fidget keeping an eye on a movement on the other side of the fence.

It's 'Pike' (or 'Pikey' to his pals) named after a Dad's Army character on one of his rabbit and mouse missions from his home with our nearby neighbours. He's not a bit scared of the boys. 

Pikey giving them a loud 'hisssss' which sent the two boys running!

After sharpening his claws on the fence-post he moved off to try and find an alpaca-free area where he could hunt in peace.  Take a bow, Pikey!

The two boys joined up with Faro and Fergus who is out of shot with a look on his face which said, "Relax, it's only a moggie!"

And finally............a lovely display of flowering Cotoneaster along the garden wall.

'Pacarabbitponies!

Different cameras and phones being used this week for the blog so hope the images are not too blurred.  The temperature went up considerably for a couple of days midweek, then dropped like a stone on Saturday!  The water trays were much used during the hot spell, Fidget is in the background soaking in one tray and Fyta is hogging the nearer tray!  Fergus is lying next to Fyta just waiting for an opportunity to get into the tray when he moves!

Same photo of Fyta and Fergus but from a different angle showing Faro using the water trough next to them.

If there is one thing that Faro likes on a hot day it is cold water brushed under his chin and on top of his nose - and the Grumpy Gardener is happy to oblige!  Faro also has a habit in the heat of 'dunking' his top knot in either the tray or the trough with the result that the water runs off over his nose and face.

Mid-week saw the tractor mower getting used to top the grass on the boys' toileting areas where the grass grows thick and long if left unattended.  Faro (left) and Fyta are in the foreground.  We also took a trip up to Easter Ross to see friends Alison and Brendan who now have the four boys Gully, Gaucho, Rufus and Wee Eck.  All are in good form and are now awaiting the shearer in a couple of weeks.  Unfortunately the couple of photos we took of the visit appear to have been lost in cyber space so we can't show them.

A funny thing happened early on Friday morning as Robbie went to feed and water the boys.  We have lots of rabbits around this year and one in particular has taken a fancy to being near the boys.  Robbie was amazed to see Fergus lying in the sand pit with the rabbit lying on the middle of his back.  No camera handy, just an 'old boy's' mobile phone to grab a quick photo, but unfortunately it is not very clear.

Robbie wanted to get closer for another photo but a delivery van suddenly arrived at the gate.  The rabbit got off Fergus's back and sat under his neck as can be seen above.  A second later and Fergus looked down at the rabbit and their noses touched - now that would have been a good photo!

And finally.............we said a sad farewell yesterday to wee Otis the Shetland pony and his big pal Eric the pony.  Julia (left), Liam and mum Kerry came to collect them at the end of their holiday with us.  We've enjoyed their company as they are a couple of characters and so different in nature to the alpacas.