Lazy days.

Even though the weather has been mild this week the boys still enjoy their hay, both in buckets and also on the ground. Here are Fergus (left), Faro and Fyta having their breakfast hay when during the winter months they used to enjoy their breakfast haylage.

So where was Fidget when the other three boys were eating hay?   In the adjoining paddock, doing his own thing near the water trough and water tray.  Fidget also likes hay but he seems to prefer it later in the day.

After breakfast it's time to wander off to another paddock for a bit of grazing, a bit of sun-bathing or maybe just a snooze.  What a life eh?

We've had some hot weather too this week and as soon as the boys hear the hose filing the water containers they want a spray.  The Grumpy Gardener is giving their 'undercarriages' a hosing down here (he's the one with the sun being reflected off the bald patch!)

Faro with his legs, neck and underside dripping wet before he runs off to roll in the dusty field shelter!

Fyta, also dripping wet, likes to push the other boys out of the way so that he can get wet.  He also rolls in the dust afterwards then normally he and Faro start 'pronking' through the paddocks.

And finally................the Gunnera is coming back to life after the whole winter sleep.  We were also pleased to see the House Martins and Swallows returning last week so they are late in arriving this year.  They are already re-building their nests from last year which are normally used by House Sparrows during the winter - much to the annoyance of the ejected and complaining Sparrows!

Break out the water tray!

Faro - looking macho and keeping an eye on the photographer.  It's been a week of sunshine and wind - but no rain to speak of.

By mid week the boys were getting hot so we got one of the water trays out for them.  Fyta is always first to lie in the water followed by Fergus.  Faro only lies in the water tray when he gets really hot, but he loves being sprayed any time.

Fyta tends to get into the tray and refuse to move, much to Fergus's frustration as he tried to nudge him out of the tray.

Tired of waiting for the tray, Fergus decides to 'dunk' his feet into the water trough and so the drinking water gets muddy - another replenishment job for the ever Grumpy Gardener!

Eventually of course, Fyta does decide to get out of the tray to be quickly replaced by Fergus.  Fyta then runs into the field shelter  and rolls around, covering himself in dust.

And where is Fidget when all this water fun is going on?  He's in the same paddock, not far away but doing his own thing lying in the sand pit.  We had a ton of sand delivered this week and it was put into the sand-pit because they enjoy it so much.  Not spoiled at all are they, these boys?

And finally................not content with lying in the water tray, Fyta now wants to drink straight out of the watering cans.  He's waiting here in the hope that when the hose gets turned on, that he'll get sprayed.

Spring has sprung at last!

The grass is beginning to grow again, the weather has been reasonable and dry, all of which pleases the boys!  Fyta looks like he's asleep on his feet here!

Depending on his mood, Fergus can take (or leave) a pat on the bum and being told that he's a "Good Boy!" The expression on his face says, "One pat's enough please, Mum!"

Fyta (left) and Faro, best of friends and never far from each other's company - the veg garden is behind them with the new Keder greenhouse.

Fidget, on his own quite happily and doing his own thing.  He likes to walk on the stones at the entrance to the paddock and often goes there.  With soft pads on their feet, one would think that the 'pacas would avoid stony places if possible, but they really seem to enjoy the rough surfaces.

And finally.................these 'Drumstick Primrose' Primulas have self seeded all around the garden and are showing lots of colour.  There are some white ones amongst them but this is the predominant colour.

New week - new Keder!

Faro - captivated by our neighbour's cat!  The boys are all very wary of cats - must be the way they move and makes them look like a potential predator.

A mixed week of weather, some days beautiful whilst others were cold and wet.  This was taken first thing in the morning, with the sun just rising and the drizzle falling.  The boys are lying down near the field shelter, enjoying their breakfast hay, lower middle of the picture.

Our friend Sue came north from deepest Wiltshire to visit last weekend.  Fergus, front is trying to impress the ladies by being macho and chasing away Fyta who might be stealing the carrots.

In reality, he's a big softy and will put up with large amounts of petting and cuddling when he's in the right frame of mind!

From the left Faro, Fergus, Fyta and Fidget enjoying the sun but also having to put up with a strong breeze blowing.

And finally...............the Grumpy Gardener is a happy chappie because he finished all the ground preparation in the veg garden on Thursday and the new Keder greenhouse arrived and was erected by the fitters on Friday.  He's still got some work to do around it for drainage but I'm looking forward already to some juicy tomatoes!

Getting back to normal.

Faro looks a bit fed up with the damp weather at the beginning of the week.  Thankfully all the snow of the previous week is a distant memory and the boys are able to graze.

Fyta (left) and Fergus enjoy their share of the carrots on offer.  All the boys enjoy the carrots but Fidget can take them or leave them sometimes!

All four boys are pleased to graze after the snow but the quality of the grass is at it's worst at this time of year with the new grass only now coming through.  A few more days of sunshine will do wonders for growth.

By the end of the week, temperatures had risen considerably and there was plenty of opportunity for sunbathing by the boys.

Fyta looks like he's stamping on worms in this photo! 

Is this a headless alpaca?  No, it's just Fergus with his head down but showing off a 'generous' rear end and plenty of fleece!

And finally................ a nice photo of a trio of attentive alpacas - from the left, Fyta, Fidget and Fergus.

Last week's snow!

The final picture on last week's blog showed lovely weather conditions on Easter Sunday - but overnight there was a change and this was taken on Easter Monday!  Fyta (left) and Fergus look a bit confused by the return of winter weather.

I'm not sure which one of the boys slept outside on Sunday night but there was no mistaking where he had been lying when he moved in the morning!

Back to using the snow shovel again, the Grumpy Gardener cleared some snow so that the boys can have their haylage.

Tuesday morning and more snow had fallen again during Monday night. Faro (left) and Fyta wait for the snow shovel to be used again!

Inside the field shelter and looking out onto the snow.  The boys used the shelter most of Tuesday because it snowed all day long.

Fidget  looking perfectly relaxed once the snow is cleared and quite happy because he has haylage to chew!

Wednesday morning and more snow had fallen during Tuesday night.  This created lovely wintery scenes - this one looking down onto the veg garden.  Incredibly, by Thursday most of this snow had melted and by Friday it was completely gone.  We are hoping that that really is the last of the snow and that higher temperatures will bring on the Spring growth.

And finally................Rabbitz - taken on Easter Monday, she always fancied herself as an Easter bunny but hadn't reckoned on the snow.

Frosty nights and a trip up North.

A few pics of the boys, one evening this week, just as the sun was going down.  This is Fergus in the shadows.

Faro - always keeping an eye on the humans. We've had a lot of overnight frosts during this week so the boys have mainly slept outside under the stars.

Fyta, big pal of Faro and now sporting many grey hairs amongst the black of his rear quarters!  It's an age thing!

Fidget, Fergus, Fyta and Faro just as the suns dips behind the hills. Another frosty night in store!

Midweek and we drove north to see Alison and Brendan of Seafield Alpacas, Portmahomack - and to relieve them of several bales of excellent hay which they had harvested last year.  Their boys look terrific in their fleecy coats at present, from the left: Chocolate, Flynn, Echo, Merlin and Gully.

Gully was out of the frame for this shot of Choclate (left) Merlin, Flynn and Echo at the rear.  They are a lovely bunch of boys and they enjoyed eating their carrots shortly after the photo session.  Thanks for the lovely visit Alison & Brendan - your hay is being well received by the boys at Tigh Mhor Alpacas!

And finally.................taken about 8.30am today, on a frosty Easter Sunday as the boys enjoy their breakfast haylage in the warm sunshine.  Still plenty of snow on the hills however.  We wish all blog readers a very happy and peaceful Easter.