I woke this morning to a cold cup of tea and beautiful blue skies. It seems Stu couldn't wake me up before he left for work (plastering at a neighbour's house).
We've had so much rain lately it was great to get outside without my hair going frizzy. After a morning of gardening and tidying I took a break - sitting on the upturned canoe, with a view of the hills, while the 'pacas were grazing in front of me. At the same time a buzzard landed 20 feet away and two RAF jets flew past. Wales is ridiculous. There's just too much to take in sometimes. The hens have decided to lay their eggs in the Alpaca shelter. Because clearly it's actually a bloody huge hen coop. Of course, this new plan of theirs backfires (every effin' day) - they lay their eggs....then the 'pacas come into the shelter for a mid-morning snooze and roll. On the eggs. So we've not had an omelette for a while now. I'm still on 'paca 'stomach watch'. Minky (brown one) looks like she's getting bigger. And she's really hollowed behind the hips. So whilst I do think she's pregnant...we could have months to wait. It's probably best that she doesn't give birth until around April next year. If we do get the bad winter that the locals are predicting then we might end up with a Cria snuggled up in the utility room, with Mollie, to keep warm. And about keeping warm... I've Googled Alpaca coats. So that's coats for Alpacas rather than a coat made out of Alpaca wool. I feel they're going to need something extra to keep warm. Their fleece isn't growing fast enough (they were probably sheared too late in the year) so I don't think they will have enough fleece for wintry rain and snow. In order to buy the correct size 'paca coat I need to measure the girls...from the base of their neck to tip of their tail. This won't be easy as, whilst they are very relaxed while I sit nearby and chat to them, they still move away if I get too close. The plan is to buy a farm hurdle which we can use to close the shelter - keeping them in a confined space...just while we measure them (and have a sneaky feel of tums). We're also going to need the hurdle when it comes to training with the halter and leads, checking feet and dosing with the various meds they need. Hint of the day: Don't stand near a 'paca when she sneezes. Today's photos..
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As I'm sure I mentioned...we're replacing the fence at the back of our property (along the boundary with next door).
There're a few reasons why we are doing this. But mainly: the existing fence is in a state and rotting, we want some privacy from the holiday visitors (who enter next door property to the rear) and mainly because I won't go out at the back at the moment if the next door owners are there. If you have been following our Wales updates you will know that we don't have the best relationship with them. Since we moved in we have had countless 'disagreements'. So, of course, when I emailed them a week ago (out of courtesy) to let them know that we will be erecting a fence I was bound to get a negative response. It arrived this afternoon. Worded very politely. But the basis of their reply is... 'No. We don't want you to build a fence. It will create a corridor effect to our back door (which is our main entrance). It will create security issues. We would like the fence to be the same height and style as it is now. We will check planning. We suggest meeting at the end of the month. And we hope you have found lovely names for your Alpacas'. I am yet to pen my response...but I guess it will go something like:
And, if you know me well, you'll know that I won't write any of the bottom half of that list. Mainly because we have no right to say any of that. What they do in their property (within reason) is none of our business. But I can think it. In other news:
Anyway...I must do that plan. Today's photo...the beginnings of the fence (which is below the maximum 2m height).
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DebbieMe, my life, my family and my travels Archives
November 2022
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