A New Addition to the Farm

The herd was all excited when they saw my parents pull up with their green trailer. They know that means something exciting is happening!  Bootiful got a front row spot to the show.

It's a new girl! Brady and Tiny were there as part of the welcoming committee.

 My parents spent the weekend in Virginia at the Breeder's Edge Alpaca Auction. Remember back a few years ago when I went with them and won Blue? If you missed it you can read about it here "Once in a Blue Moon".  This year they didn't win Bingo, but did win an alpaca by bidding on her. 

She is GORGEOUS! She is a fourteen month old medium rose gray female. Her official name is FDA Bisturi's Royal Rose Blush. She is from Flying Dutchman Alpacas in Oregon. She was owned by Amanda VandenBosch and if you know anything about the alpaca industry you will know that Amanda is a very well know alpaca judge.  

She is hanging out in quarantine with L.E. and Jatoba. Two of the worlds sweetest alpacas.

She is going to need a farm name. We usually pass around a few names until one sticks. I am calling her "Polyanna" until they decide on her real name. My sisters and I watched that movie a million times as kids and I've wanted an alpaca named Polyanna so I could yell "Polllllyyyyyaaaaannnnnaaaaa!" Just like they do in the movie. I am sure they won't call her that, but until they find a name that sticks I'm calling her that.

Jatoba is in charge of passing on her sweetness onto the new girl. L.E. just does what ever Jatoba does :) 

 The little boys think she is just beautiful. They are strutting their stuff and she is loving the attention.  Do you see Mr. Bates on the left? They will get to go to the shows together this Fall and Spring. Maybe somewhere down the road they'll have a romantic date.

Well that is enough for Polyanna right now. Don't you like that name :) 

The babies are getting so big! The three little ones will soon have even littler ones to play with soon. The Fall crias due dates are quickly approaching! I can't wait to see what else Smoke Ring has cooked up.

Maybe another Bootiful?

And just in case you snuck a peek in the picture before Tiny is sporting his new sweater I knitted and designed for him. I'll have more on that for the yarn along. But Blue said he wanted to be in this post too :) 

Tiny is still miserable from his tonsil surgery! Getting anything done is just about impossible for me, but I'm glad I got this post together!!! Hopefully I'll be back on a more regular schedule soon.

Morning Farm Chores

 

Yes I am pretty sure Blue is the coolest alpaca in the world.  I was helping my parents out this morning with some farm chores. My dad was adding stone dust in front of the boys shed and we moved some floor matts around.

 

Smoke Ring made sure my father was doing everything right.

 

 

"Hey guys come check this out."

 

 

Awan, Blue and Kigo came over for further inspection.

 

Blue is very pleased with his upgraded digs. No more dirt and nice level stone dust. What more can an alpaca wish for?!

 

I also swung by the girls to see how they were doing. Miss Jatoba had a clover in her mouth and it just made her look even cuter than normal. She is so sweet. She came over and gave me a kiss and didn't drop the clover. She is so fancy.

 

Mr. Bates, Aponi, Jatoba, Francesa and Swag were kind enough to all stop and look at the camera for me.  I am loving that their fleeces are coming back in.  It looks like the weather is going to be cooling off soon! We are ready to get rid of this humidity.

 

 

I saw this pretty purple flower growing in the field and I couldn't resist taking a picture. 

Happy September!

Testing 1 2 3

I have been having an issue with my RAW files. But after a few YouTube videos I think I worked out the kinks. Here is a test post because I am finding my pictures look slightly different on my editing program than on my Blog. So I took a few random pictures tonight.  I think I'm back in action...  hopefully.

 

I asked Brady to look at the camera and smile for me. This is what I got. He laughed so hard after seeing the picture I thought he was going to pee his pants.

 

I had to stop by my parents house tonight to pick something up. Blue's fleece was laying out so I took a picture of it.

 

I wasn't sure if I was going to enter it into a completion or just process it into yarn.  For now I am just enjoying showing it off. I can't wait to breed him and hopefully get some more gray alpacas! 

Vauneesee's fleece was out too. It is going to the fiber mill tomorrow. Can you say cardigan :)

 



Mr. Bates is one of the newest additions to the farm. He was born a few months ago and I can't believe how big he is getting.

Remember little Swag who couldn't walk when he was born. Look at him now! You never would have known he had a problem.

 

Yes that cup was filled with water and Tiny tossed it right at me. Tiny.... ugg.

Okay I hope my test went well.  I wasn't too happy about not being able to upload my RAW pictures.   But hopefully now I'm back on track and you can expect more fun pictures in the near future.



 

Keeping the Crimp Cool

Blue said he has felt left out on my Blog lately. So I snapped a few pictures at the farm this morning. It has been very hot. Thankfully us humans have good working air conditioners. It isn't so easy for the alpacas. My mom has been very busy hosing down the herd and keeping them cool. She makes sure they have fresh water and electrolytes.  The alpacas are very grateful for her hard work.

 

Look how happy Smoke Ring looks.

Smoke Ring is their top herdsire. He has some impressive crimp.

 

Little Swag was keeping cool in the shed by the fans.

 

Anna is due in a few weeks. I stopped for a few minutes to watch the baby kicking around in her belly.  It is so cool to watch.

 

 

The rest of the herd is making the best of the heat by grazing, then finding some shade, then hanging out in the sprinklers, and then hanging out by the fans.

 

It is supposed to cool down Sunday so we are really looking forward to that!

Scavenger Hunt Sunday 5/20

 

 Three

 

Hand

 

Fence

 

 

Cuddly

 

 

Sign

 

A sign of Spring!

 

 

Joining with Ashley's Scavenger Hunt Sunday

 

 

Day 18: Something New

Thank you for all your wonderful comments from my last post. I love to see all the support for knitting and fiber arts out there. I guess I was bitter because I had to agree with her just to end the conversation.  I feel much better now :)

 

On with the 31 Day Photo Challenge

 

Day 18: Something New

 

A new cria was born this morning at the farm!

 

We named him Mr. Bates. Yes like Mr. Bates from Downton Abbey.

 

 

The welcoming committee came over to say hi.

 

Swag is very happy to have a new buddy. My mom said he spent the morning right next to Maggie looking at her rear like he was waiting for his new friend.

 

 

He was up and walking so fast! After the ordeal with Swag and the splints and the not walking, nursing.... it was so nice to see him up and about so fast. 

It didn't take him long to find the milk bar. Woo hoo all on his own.

 

My sister brought him in to get weighed. His mom Maggie is doing a great job so far.

 

And in other news Swag is running around the field like crazy. Isn't he so cute.

 

Oh and Blue said I don't blog about him enough so here are some pictures of him.

 

 

Sheering day is quickly approaching and I can't wait to have his fiber! It will be the first time I will have his fleece and I can't wait to turn it into yarn.  Oh what will I knit?