Another year has been and gone and I have now officially been an alpaca keeper for 3 years and my little herd has increased from 5 to 9. I think its probably one of the best decisions I’ve made, they are such lovely gentle creatures, not that clever but bags of personality and all very different.
Christmas has also finished which means of course it’s time for the alpacas Christmas treat – a discarded Christmas tree or two. Many thanks to those who have delivered or offered a tree – they really have been gratefully received.
I would just like to say, that although you may be able to see the boys in the background looking sad they did eventually get their own tree but just like children, they still wanted the girls tree because it was better than theirs – in their imagination, although not helped by what looks like a smirk plastered across Coca’s face.
They are still happily munching through a helping of pumpkin and apple every morning with breakfast, although the apples are now very nearly gone and I can’t believe how long the windfalls lasted. The grass is still relatively good but not much of it but the hay is going down well which means, so far, I haven’t really needed to buy any additional food so they are proving quite economical to run so far this winter. That said I do have an open bag of short cut grass in the food room and as I was feeding the girls I left the door open only to turn around to find Jester’s head fully in the bag making contented munching noises! It’s got to be said he did try the “who me” look after I caught him, but he didn’t appreciate it was quite obvious with the amount of food and a green tinge all round his muzzle!
It was also Vitamin D time for the herd and quite amazingly we seem to have got it down to a fine art – this is the first time that not a single drop got spat back at anyone or generally smeared around a face. Bonus.
I have also finally sent off the next batch of floof to be processed, and I am really looking forward to getting it back as it will include the first shearing from Inti, this should be some of the softest best quality yarn I have had so I am really looking forward to making something with it. I have really enjoyed weaving scarves and fabric with my first batch of spun floof, most of my creations this year were presents for friends and family this Christmas and I am happy to report everyone seemed to appreciate their gifts. I also had 1 commission this year which was lovely as weaving is still relatively new to me, but all parties were happy with the result and proceeds are going to charity so it’s a win win.
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