None Stop Alpaca Chatter!

I have been intending to write a blog all week, but time just seems to have run away from me. I have been busy; keeping the alpacas in to keep them warm and dry, bedding them down with lots of straw, making up buckets of sugar beet...all ready from the storm and gale force winds...I apologise to those in the South..but it has been a none event here...maybe tomorrow...as I have left them out tonight! 

That is not to say that we have had dry weather. Last Friday Andi (owner of a couple of lovely females on agistement here) flew in from Switzerland, to be greeted by the usual rain, wind and mud. We still managed a bit of a fleece rummage, before we all caught up with Stuart and Jean (Velvet Hall Alpacas) down at the Fox and Pheasant on the Friday night; then paid a visit to Amanda (Florens Alpacas) and Kathryn (Nero Black Alpacas) on Saturday. Full on Alpaca or what?

On Sunday morning we had a delivery to make, as three of our pregnant females were going to their new home just 20 minutes away. Bozedown Bonita and Bozedown Blanche were two of our first females to come to Beck Brow, and have done us well. They are now both 11years old and still produce some of the best cria weight gains in our herd. They were joined by Ardo Jet, as a black female was on the wish list. I was amazed to see quite how quickly they settled (lots of grass and a lovely purpose built shelter helped) and were eating out of their new owners hands within half an hour. It will be lovely for the girls to be made so special within a small herd. The girls are now known as Eden Alpacas and Gemma (aged 12... I think...hope that's right Gemma) has started writing a blog: www.edenalpacas.blogspot.com.

Well, the entries for the BAS National show are now closed, as our maximum numbers have now been reached. There will be an all junior team from Beck Brow, some are not looking as good as they did a couple of months ago but it is always useful to get feedback (especially as I am an apprentice judge). We now just need to get everyone's entries in for the NWAG Show in Carlisle now (we have 100 already). I have entered lots of our weanlings just for fun, I am sure that they will have mixed success but we are supporting the show (in fact I think... if you are weaned... you are going!)

I have not managed a single decent photo of late. It's either raining or if it isn't, I am too busy to spend the time....

                       

                           

              Beck Brow Crafter (St Patrick) refused to lift his head despite my chicken impersonations!

                             

                           

                   Beck Brow Victoria's Secret our first ever Appaloosa (she has grey/gold spots all over)

                                           

And another Goldmine Cria from down under...yes it is a different one they just look very alike!

Amanda and I had an afternoon of A, D & E and cria weighing. we have now introduced haylage for the weanlings to try to get some weight on them...roll on spring...pleeeeease. Tomorrow we have Angela and Ian visiting, who have recently purchase their foundation herd from us...we are just waiting for Miss La-Di-Da (who is looking a little stunner) to reach weaning weight.

I have that Friday night feeling...not sure why that is as we work 7-days a week...might be that I am about to make scallop and samphire risotto served with a lightly smoked salmon fillet and a glass of rather nice white...right must go!