After spending all day at the ranch yesterday, I was pretty tired last night. And, I wanted to collect my thoughts before I wrote about my day.
I'm very glad the Alpacas are now wearing their bathing suits instead of their winter coats, because it was 92 degrees in the shade. Rick has sprinklers throughout the fields to keep everyone cool when necessary. Oh yes, the sprinklers were on yesterday. It's funny to watch, as the Alpacas can hear the water coming through the hose before it ever reaches the sprinkler. They all start heading toward the sprinkler and try their best to hog it from each other. I've learned, in the heat, as long as you keep their bellies cool, they are fine. In between "sprinklings", some of them will "bucket dance". They have buckets on the ground full of water for drinking. A few will put their two front legs in the bucket to cool off. Fred enjoys bucket dancing so much that he tends to knock over his bucket.
It was too warm to do any breeding today. Instead, we haltered up Otieno and Dewey to go to their new home. A family in Villa Park had bought them for pets. For little boys, they were pretty good being haltered and walked to the show pen to wait for their new owners to arrive.
Figures, Felix just gets used to two of his new roommates, and now they are leaving. It sure is hard to say good-bye to those little guys. I remember when each of them were born, and I've watched them grow over the past 6 months. I know they will have a great home and get oodles of love and attention. But, it still will be hard not seeing their little faces when I go to the ranch.
The family came in the early afternoon and they seem like very nice people.
Another cria also went to a new home today. Carmella was in labor when I arrived at the ranch. The overwhelming excitement at witnessing the birth turned to extreme sadness when the cria finally arrived and was not breathing. Carmella had a hard labor and what normally takes about 30 minutes expanded to a few hours. Rick called Dr. Thatcher and she was on her way when the cria finally appeared. Apparently, the cria had taken it's first breath too early and filled it's lungs with fluid. Rick did everything possible to drain the lungs and get air into them. It was too late. So, this little boy also went to a new home today called Alpaca Heaven. Rick allowed Carmella time to process what had happened and to grieve. Yes, this was very hard to experience, yet I must be prepared for when the day comes I have my own ranch. It also reinforced in me how loving, sensitive and compassionate Rick is with the animals and how grateful I am to have him and Pati as my mentors and friends.
Once saying good-bye to 3 crias was over, I needed some joy. Thankfully, Felix is back to his old self and was anxious to go for a walk. We walked all around the ranch and I took him into some new places. Today he walked into the big barn, which is full of hay, bags of fiber and machinery. Kinda close quarters. No problem! He even walked up a few steps. I wanted to see if I could get him to step into the horse trailor, but couldn't figure out how to open the door. Next time.
He was super today and let me love all over him. Thanks, Felix, I needed that.
Just before leaving, I went out into the main field for photos. I was able to get a few, which I've posted. I FINALLY got a full body shot of Star, but not without her best friend and constant companion, Meg Ryan. They are inseparable! I, then, helped with treats (don't tell the Alpacas, but their treats are actually vitamins). Every day, at about 6PM, all the girls and the crias get a few buckets of treats. They are small pellets that are spread on the ground. I swear they all have little clocks in their tummies, as they know exactly what time to line up at the fence. Sometimes, Princess will eat some out of my hand, and I can count on Manda Smith and Marquita eating out of the bucket. Piggies!
Next weekend we will move ALPHA away from mom to Boy's Town with Felix. He'll be 6 months old May 4th and is starting to act like a boy (if you know what I mean). It will be sad to take him away from his "childhood" friends, but it also means he is maturing and on the road to being a herdsire someday. Actually, he will reunite with some of his old friends, Felix, Landis, Shaq and Harrison. The only one in that field he doesn't know is Ares. Oops! I almost forgot about Flash and Storm. They are two beautiful future Suri herdesires. ALPHA should get along well with them, as they are both very sweet boys.
MAYBE....Star will want a "date" with Mo next weekend. Keep your fingers crossed....
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Toe Nail Clipping & IGG Lesson
Since I was so tired both nights after shearing, I didn't write about it until last night. So, now I need to catch up with my ranch visit report for yesterday.
I arrived at All American Alpacas at about 10AM, as usual. It had rained pretty hard the day before and I was so concerned about the Alpacas not having their "coats" on. Rick said they did pretty well, as they all huddle together to stay warm and dry. Each field has a covered feed area and trees, which would also protect them from some of the rain. And. sure enough, the day after shearing (Friday morning) "Summer" delivered a beautiful little girl. I guess the cria wondered what all the comotion was on Thursday when her mom was being shorn, and decided to come out and see. Because of the weather, she was wearing a little purple "cria coat" and looked so cute! She is very active and social for being only a day old. During the day, Rick allowed the rest of the herd in main field to come to the nursery and visit. Summer had no problem with all the other dams and crias sniffing and checking out her new baby. The cria didn't seem to mind either. At one day old, she was even trying to eat hay. Go girl! She is also a "Fred Baby" (Snowmass Jericho's Conquistador) and looks alot like my ALPHA.
We were going to attempt some breeding today, but waited until Dr. Thatcher had come to check out Summer and her new cria. Mom and baby got a clean bill of health. YES! Dr. Thatcher takes a small blood sample from the cria for two reasons (1. for ARI registration, and 2. for IGG testing). Before she arrived, Rick let me help him clip Summer's toenails. That was a first for me. It was, actually, rather easy (thanks to Summer being cooperative). Because of the rain, her toenails were softer and easier to cut. Rick put a halter on her and I held her close with the lead and let her lean against me. The front feet are done by pulling the leg back, bending the knee and clipping from underneath. It looked like Rick was using pruning shears. The rear feet are done by just lifting the leg and clipping from the top. Rick told me Alpacas have a membrane in their toenails much like dogs have, so you don't want to clip too far down. Wow, Summer; a new hairdo, new cria and pedicure all in a 48 hour period.
By the time Dr. Thatcher left, Susan & Joe (Summer's owners) arrived to see their new cria. I think they were very pleased and took lots of photos. While they were there, we tried to breed Mo (Show Me The Money) to one of their Alpacas "Gwen", and my "Star". Neither of the girls were "in the mood". Rick said maidens can be that way. Plus, with the shearing, then rain, I'm sure they had other things on their mind. Maybe next week.
I spent some quality time with Felix, but didn't walk him today. He's been a little standoffish since the shearing. Although he wasn't his old lovey dovey self, he did let me give him kisses and rub his neck. Aside from shearing, he also has new "roommates". A few of the male crias were weaned at the time of shearing and are now in the field with Felix, Storm, Flash and Ares. The new additions are Shaq, Dewey, Otieno, Landis and Harrison. I figured I'd give Felix some time to adjust before taking him out (which I'll do next weekend). Shaq is a major lovebug and will be a welcome addition to any ranch looking for a pet Alpaca.
Aside from learning how to trim toe nails, Rick also showed me how to test IGG. I don't know the "medical" terminology for the initials, but do know it is a test of the cria's immune system. Dr. Thatcher draws a small vile of blood, which is used for the IGG testing, after two drops of the blood are put on a card for DNA testing at ARI to register the cria. Rick has the equipment to spin the blood vile and separate the serum from the blood. He then takes a very, teeny tiny, glass, straw looking thing and draws up a teensy amount of the serum. It is then dropped onto something that looks similar to a petrie dish, with green gel all around and little pin prick holes with numbers. One dish can be used for several tests. In fact, the dish he was using had ALPHA's results on it. After 24 hours, the circle expands and is then measured to determine the IGG level.
I did get a chance to go out in the fields and take a few photos. The sun was out by then, and after the day and night of rain, the Alpacas were more interested in laying in the sun or checking out everyone's haircut than to hold still for the camera. With a few, it was hard to tell who they were without their clothes on!
When everyone was meeting the new cria in the nursery, "Dusty Rose" came over to the fence for kisses. She's is a major lovebug and gives you kisses and lets you rub her neck. She stuck her entire little nose and mouth through the chain link fence to kiss me. Not only did she kiss me, but she was sucking on my lips, big time! Rick thinks she liked the taste of my lipstick. How cute is that?
Yes, another great day at the ranch....
I arrived at All American Alpacas at about 10AM, as usual. It had rained pretty hard the day before and I was so concerned about the Alpacas not having their "coats" on. Rick said they did pretty well, as they all huddle together to stay warm and dry. Each field has a covered feed area and trees, which would also protect them from some of the rain. And. sure enough, the day after shearing (Friday morning) "Summer" delivered a beautiful little girl. I guess the cria wondered what all the comotion was on Thursday when her mom was being shorn, and decided to come out and see. Because of the weather, she was wearing a little purple "cria coat" and looked so cute! She is very active and social for being only a day old. During the day, Rick allowed the rest of the herd in main field to come to the nursery and visit. Summer had no problem with all the other dams and crias sniffing and checking out her new baby. The cria didn't seem to mind either. At one day old, she was even trying to eat hay. Go girl! She is also a "Fred Baby" (Snowmass Jericho's Conquistador) and looks alot like my ALPHA.
We were going to attempt some breeding today, but waited until Dr. Thatcher had come to check out Summer and her new cria. Mom and baby got a clean bill of health. YES! Dr. Thatcher takes a small blood sample from the cria for two reasons (1. for ARI registration, and 2. for IGG testing). Before she arrived, Rick let me help him clip Summer's toenails. That was a first for me. It was, actually, rather easy (thanks to Summer being cooperative). Because of the rain, her toenails were softer and easier to cut. Rick put a halter on her and I held her close with the lead and let her lean against me. The front feet are done by pulling the leg back, bending the knee and clipping from underneath. It looked like Rick was using pruning shears. The rear feet are done by just lifting the leg and clipping from the top. Rick told me Alpacas have a membrane in their toenails much like dogs have, so you don't want to clip too far down. Wow, Summer; a new hairdo, new cria and pedicure all in a 48 hour period.
By the time Dr. Thatcher left, Susan & Joe (Summer's owners) arrived to see their new cria. I think they were very pleased and took lots of photos. While they were there, we tried to breed Mo (Show Me The Money) to one of their Alpacas "Gwen", and my "Star". Neither of the girls were "in the mood". Rick said maidens can be that way. Plus, with the shearing, then rain, I'm sure they had other things on their mind. Maybe next week.
I spent some quality time with Felix, but didn't walk him today. He's been a little standoffish since the shearing. Although he wasn't his old lovey dovey self, he did let me give him kisses and rub his neck. Aside from shearing, he also has new "roommates". A few of the male crias were weaned at the time of shearing and are now in the field with Felix, Storm, Flash and Ares. The new additions are Shaq, Dewey, Otieno, Landis and Harrison. I figured I'd give Felix some time to adjust before taking him out (which I'll do next weekend). Shaq is a major lovebug and will be a welcome addition to any ranch looking for a pet Alpaca.
Aside from learning how to trim toe nails, Rick also showed me how to test IGG. I don't know the "medical" terminology for the initials, but do know it is a test of the cria's immune system. Dr. Thatcher draws a small vile of blood, which is used for the IGG testing, after two drops of the blood are put on a card for DNA testing at ARI to register the cria. Rick has the equipment to spin the blood vile and separate the serum from the blood. He then takes a very, teeny tiny, glass, straw looking thing and draws up a teensy amount of the serum. It is then dropped onto something that looks similar to a petrie dish, with green gel all around and little pin prick holes with numbers. One dish can be used for several tests. In fact, the dish he was using had ALPHA's results on it. After 24 hours, the circle expands and is then measured to determine the IGG level.
I did get a chance to go out in the fields and take a few photos. The sun was out by then, and after the day and night of rain, the Alpacas were more interested in laying in the sun or checking out everyone's haircut than to hold still for the camera. With a few, it was hard to tell who they were without their clothes on!
When everyone was meeting the new cria in the nursery, "Dusty Rose" came over to the fence for kisses. She's is a major lovebug and gives you kisses and lets you rub her neck. She stuck her entire little nose and mouth through the chain link fence to kiss me. Not only did she kiss me, but she was sucking on my lips, big time! Rick thinks she liked the taste of my lipstick. How cute is that?
Yes, another great day at the ranch....
Saturday, April 21, 2007
My First Alpaca Shearing
Wednesday and Thursday, April 18 & 19, was Alpaca and Llama shearing at All American Alpacas. Rick & Pati have a Shearer (is that what you call someone who shears Alpacas? - I'm not sure and didn't think to ask). Anyway, "Ken" lives in New Zealand and comes to the U.S. every Spring and shears Alpacas and Llamas up and down the west coast. He has a ranch in New Zealand with oodles of sheep and a few Alpacas. I had been told he can shear an Alpaca in about ten minutes, but didn't quite believe it until I saw it myself. His lady friend Knowles (may not be spelled correctly, and if so, my apology) accompanied him and helped with the shearing process. She is amazing, as well. Now, I need to set the stage:
The barn has a door on each side. One side is the main field, the other side is an enclosed area usually used for breeding. Beyond that area is another gate that leads to the nursery. The nursery is quite large and is not only used for newborn crias and dams, but for the herd to come and "hang out" by the house. Inside the barn, there is a screen door that separates the area between the barn doors from a storage area. The shearing took place in the barn.
What is required for shearing? Large clear plastic trash bags, index cards, black marker, small sandwich bags, shears (provided by Ken), broom, trash cans, lots of paper towels and willing human volunteers. What is required after shearing? Beer, Ben Gay, Beer, Jacuzzi, Beer, Hot Shower/Bath, Ben Gay and Beer. You may substitute beer with the spirit of your choice. :)
It all begins with several Alpacas being herded into the enclosed area outside the barn. Ken determines by the condition of his shear blade which animals to do when (consistancy of fiber varies greatly). Once an Alpaca has been coaxed into the barn, the fun begins. You start by wrapping your arm around the neck and grasping one ear in your hand. Why? Should the Alpaca act up, you twist the ear, which should make them stop. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Depending on the animal, a second person (and sometimes a third person or a fourth person), may need to put pressure on the withers and the hind quarters to keep the Alpaca from bucking. Sometimes, the Alpaca may need to be layed down if they are too unruly standing up. Unlike America's Dirtiest Jobs video, Ken does not secure the Alpaca to a board or "hog tie" their legs. All Alpaca control is done (or should I say "attempted") by humans.
One person prepares the bags for the fiber. The index cards and marker are for writing the animal's name and whether the bag contains "firsts" or "seconds". The card is placed in each large clear trash bag (which is how it is sent to the fiber mill). The sandwich bag is for fiber samples. The first area shorn on the Alpaca is the blanket (their back and sides), which are "firsts". The neck is shorn next, then the legs and tail, which are "seconds". That is not a hard and fast rule. Some Alpaca fiber is so magnificent, the entire body is "firsts". Or, with an older Alpaca, the entire body might be "seconds". Or, it could be thrown away. Whether or not the fiber is worth saving, all Alpacas should be shorn once a year. How would you like to wear a thick fur coat all summer in Southern California? Once the shearing is complete, the Alpaca is sent out the door that leads to the main field. Next!
You must realize that of the 90+ Alpacas that were shorn, most are pregnant females and crias. To quote Rick, "some crias come in kicking and screaming like little boys getting their first haircut". Yep. Good comparison. The dams range anywhere from standing and chewing their cud like nothing is happening, to giving the warning call, growling, howling, bucking and spitting. Did you wonder many paragraphs above why we needed plenty of paper towels? It's important to keep the shearing area clean of spit, urine and excrement as to not contaminate the fiber. My girl (ALPHA's dam), Princess, projected from every oriface and yelled the whole time. ALPHA was pretty good, as was Vanilla Sundae, Star and Felix.
All in all, most of the Alpacas did pretty well being shorn. The herdsires were especially good, which surprised me. I expected them to be the "macho dudes" and raise all kinds of cain. Nope. Yet, even with the Alpacas that were not a major problem, controlling them during the process is still very hard work. They are strong. Trying to hold their neck and head steady, and keep their feet on the ground, creates muscles! Pati and Rick got nailed against the wall a few times when an Alpaca bucked.
Ken is absolutely amazing with not only his speed, but the quality of his work. Yes, they now look like little space aliens, but they are beautiful. Shearing is like unwrapping a present. You get to see the true color and conformation. They look so sleek, clean and fresh.
I was at the ranch today and the brief moment of discomfort they all experienced a few days ago has not effected them one bit. Well, other than it rained last night. I believe all of us that helped with the shearing will be feeling the effects alot longer than the Alpacas. Yet, I wouldn't have missed this experience for the world. And, yes, I will be there next year to help.
Oops, forgot to mention the Llamas. Rose and Lillith LOVED being shorn! They were "short-tied" in a smaller, enclosed area of the barn and stood there with their lips quivering (not the scared or cold kind of quiver, but the "ecstacy" kind) and their tails wagging the whole time.
I've posted a few photos of my naked babies, ALPHA and Vanilla Sundae. I wasn't able to get any good ones today of Princess, Star and Felix. Next time....
The barn has a door on each side. One side is the main field, the other side is an enclosed area usually used for breeding. Beyond that area is another gate that leads to the nursery. The nursery is quite large and is not only used for newborn crias and dams, but for the herd to come and "hang out" by the house. Inside the barn, there is a screen door that separates the area between the barn doors from a storage area. The shearing took place in the barn.
What is required for shearing? Large clear plastic trash bags, index cards, black marker, small sandwich bags, shears (provided by Ken), broom, trash cans, lots of paper towels and willing human volunteers. What is required after shearing? Beer, Ben Gay, Beer, Jacuzzi, Beer, Hot Shower/Bath, Ben Gay and Beer. You may substitute beer with the spirit of your choice. :)
It all begins with several Alpacas being herded into the enclosed area outside the barn. Ken determines by the condition of his shear blade which animals to do when (consistancy of fiber varies greatly). Once an Alpaca has been coaxed into the barn, the fun begins. You start by wrapping your arm around the neck and grasping one ear in your hand. Why? Should the Alpaca act up, you twist the ear, which should make them stop. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Depending on the animal, a second person (and sometimes a third person or a fourth person), may need to put pressure on the withers and the hind quarters to keep the Alpaca from bucking. Sometimes, the Alpaca may need to be layed down if they are too unruly standing up. Unlike America's Dirtiest Jobs video, Ken does not secure the Alpaca to a board or "hog tie" their legs. All Alpaca control is done (or should I say "attempted") by humans.
One person prepares the bags for the fiber. The index cards and marker are for writing the animal's name and whether the bag contains "firsts" or "seconds". The card is placed in each large clear trash bag (which is how it is sent to the fiber mill). The sandwich bag is for fiber samples. The first area shorn on the Alpaca is the blanket (their back and sides), which are "firsts". The neck is shorn next, then the legs and tail, which are "seconds". That is not a hard and fast rule. Some Alpaca fiber is so magnificent, the entire body is "firsts". Or, with an older Alpaca, the entire body might be "seconds". Or, it could be thrown away. Whether or not the fiber is worth saving, all Alpacas should be shorn once a year. How would you like to wear a thick fur coat all summer in Southern California? Once the shearing is complete, the Alpaca is sent out the door that leads to the main field. Next!
You must realize that of the 90+ Alpacas that were shorn, most are pregnant females and crias. To quote Rick, "some crias come in kicking and screaming like little boys getting their first haircut". Yep. Good comparison. The dams range anywhere from standing and chewing their cud like nothing is happening, to giving the warning call, growling, howling, bucking and spitting. Did you wonder many paragraphs above why we needed plenty of paper towels? It's important to keep the shearing area clean of spit, urine and excrement as to not contaminate the fiber. My girl (ALPHA's dam), Princess, projected from every oriface and yelled the whole time. ALPHA was pretty good, as was Vanilla Sundae, Star and Felix.
All in all, most of the Alpacas did pretty well being shorn. The herdsires were especially good, which surprised me. I expected them to be the "macho dudes" and raise all kinds of cain. Nope. Yet, even with the Alpacas that were not a major problem, controlling them during the process is still very hard work. They are strong. Trying to hold their neck and head steady, and keep their feet on the ground, creates muscles! Pati and Rick got nailed against the wall a few times when an Alpaca bucked.
Ken is absolutely amazing with not only his speed, but the quality of his work. Yes, they now look like little space aliens, but they are beautiful. Shearing is like unwrapping a present. You get to see the true color and conformation. They look so sleek, clean and fresh.
I was at the ranch today and the brief moment of discomfort they all experienced a few days ago has not effected them one bit. Well, other than it rained last night. I believe all of us that helped with the shearing will be feeling the effects alot longer than the Alpacas. Yet, I wouldn't have missed this experience for the world. And, yes, I will be there next year to help.
Oops, forgot to mention the Llamas. Rose and Lillith LOVED being shorn! They were "short-tied" in a smaller, enclosed area of the barn and stood there with their lips quivering (not the scared or cold kind of quiver, but the "ecstacy" kind) and their tails wagging the whole time.
I've posted a few photos of my naked babies, ALPHA and Vanilla Sundae. I wasn't able to get any good ones today of Princess, Star and Felix. Next time....
Sunday, April 15, 2007
A New Experience
Today I went out to the ranch a little later than usual. It was a dreary, cold day, with rain clouds threatening to open up at any time. When I arrived, Rick told me he was going to Morongo Valley to pick up Mooney and asked if I'd like to come along for the ride. Since I have never visited another Alpaca ranch, I was thrilled at the opportunity. The real "plus" was he told me they were shearing today (something else I've never seen - but will experience on April 18 & 19th).
We arrived at Absolute Alpacas and were greeted by several friendly puppies. When we walked in the gate, some Alpacas had already been shorn and truly looked like space aliens! A few very young crias had been shorn, as well, and were wearing little cria coats. They looked so cute! It was amazing to see how long and skinny their necks look when not covered with fiber. I met the owners, Jennifer & Travis, who were very nice and hospitable. I also had the chance to watch a cria being shorn. The technique used was to lay them down on a mat and secure their front and back legs, while someone held their head. The cria didn't seem to mind too much and wasn't putting up a fuss. I've already been warned by Rick that they don't all act that way. He told me, last year, Princess gave the warning call during the whole shearing.
Rick took me to see Chewbacca, the herdsire Mooney had come to meet. What a good looking guy! In the field next to him were some other Alpacas, and a darling little cria. She (?) appeared quite friendly, and stuck her little nose through the chain link fence. Well, to me that meant she must want a kiss. I leaned over to kiss her on her little nose, and POOPH, she "air spit" right in my face. No yukky stuff, just a great blast of air. What a little tease!
We loaded up Mooney and fought Sunday traffic, and rain, back to Murrieta. She seemed very happy to be home. When Rick released her into the field, all the Alpacas had to come and greet her. I'm sure she had stories to tell them about her adventures with Chewbacca and her new friends at Absolute Alpacas.
Since it was cold and rainy, I didn't walk Felix today. But, I did go down to Boy's Town to see him and give him hugs and kisses. As soon as he saw me, he walked to the gate. When I put my arm around his neck and kissed him, he started clucking. He's done that before. Rick says that's a good thing. It's a cute little sound. I spent some time with him in his field, loving all over him, which he didn't seem to mind one bit. I am crazy about that little guy!
I didn't go out in the fields with the girls (and ALPHA) today because of the weather. It was much more comfortable to sit in the sun room with Rick and watch them, while he answered my plethora of questions about the business. While we were sitting there, Rick spotted a coyote in the hills across the road from his property. All the Alpacas spotted it about the same time. He never got close, but instead took off in the other direction. Smart coyote, as Rose & Lillith wouldn't have let him come anywhere near the ranch.
My next big adventure will be April 18th and 19th. That is shearing time at All American Alpacas. Oh yes, I will be there both days, all day. In fact, I'm closing my office on Thursday so my employees (Diane Risberg & Molly Porterfield) can come and help, as well. I'm really looking forward to it, as are they. Yet, it's going to be such a shock to see Princess, ALPHA, Vanilla Sundae, Felix and Star without their winter coats. It will also be exciting to see their true size and color underneath all the fiber. Vanilla Sundae, Felix and Star are real "poooffy" now. Not for long....
We arrived at Absolute Alpacas and were greeted by several friendly puppies. When we walked in the gate, some Alpacas had already been shorn and truly looked like space aliens! A few very young crias had been shorn, as well, and were wearing little cria coats. They looked so cute! It was amazing to see how long and skinny their necks look when not covered with fiber. I met the owners, Jennifer & Travis, who were very nice and hospitable. I also had the chance to watch a cria being shorn. The technique used was to lay them down on a mat and secure their front and back legs, while someone held their head. The cria didn't seem to mind too much and wasn't putting up a fuss. I've already been warned by Rick that they don't all act that way. He told me, last year, Princess gave the warning call during the whole shearing.
Rick took me to see Chewbacca, the herdsire Mooney had come to meet. What a good looking guy! In the field next to him were some other Alpacas, and a darling little cria. She (?) appeared quite friendly, and stuck her little nose through the chain link fence. Well, to me that meant she must want a kiss. I leaned over to kiss her on her little nose, and POOPH, she "air spit" right in my face. No yukky stuff, just a great blast of air. What a little tease!
We loaded up Mooney and fought Sunday traffic, and rain, back to Murrieta. She seemed very happy to be home. When Rick released her into the field, all the Alpacas had to come and greet her. I'm sure she had stories to tell them about her adventures with Chewbacca and her new friends at Absolute Alpacas.
Since it was cold and rainy, I didn't walk Felix today. But, I did go down to Boy's Town to see him and give him hugs and kisses. As soon as he saw me, he walked to the gate. When I put my arm around his neck and kissed him, he started clucking. He's done that before. Rick says that's a good thing. It's a cute little sound. I spent some time with him in his field, loving all over him, which he didn't seem to mind one bit. I am crazy about that little guy!
I didn't go out in the fields with the girls (and ALPHA) today because of the weather. It was much more comfortable to sit in the sun room with Rick and watch them, while he answered my plethora of questions about the business. While we were sitting there, Rick spotted a coyote in the hills across the road from his property. All the Alpacas spotted it about the same time. He never got close, but instead took off in the other direction. Smart coyote, as Rose & Lillith wouldn't have let him come anywhere near the ranch.
My next big adventure will be April 18th and 19th. That is shearing time at All American Alpacas. Oh yes, I will be there both days, all day. In fact, I'm closing my office on Thursday so my employees (Diane Risberg & Molly Porterfield) can come and help, as well. I'm really looking forward to it, as are they. Yet, it's going to be such a shock to see Princess, ALPHA, Vanilla Sundae, Felix and Star without their winter coats. It will also be exciting to see their true size and color underneath all the fiber. Vanilla Sundae, Felix and Star are real "poooffy" now. Not for long....
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Easter At The Ranch
I am so grateful to have the opportunity to visit All American Alpacas on a weekly basis to see my Alpacas, as well as all the others. Rick & Pati have approximately 75 Alpacas (and 2 wonderful Llamas, "Lillith & Rose"). As time goes by, I have learned most of their names and personalities. Many have become my "friends" and I cherish the time I can spend with them.
On Easter, I arrived about 10AM. It was a dreary day with a light drizzle. The Alpacas seemed to enjoy the cool weather. I was hoping the Easter Bunny would bring a cria or two, as Carmella and Summer are ready to pop! No such luck. Pati made a very nice Easter lunch, complete with wine, and we sat and talked for awhile before she had to go to work.
Before I go any further, I should probably describe my Alpacas, as I will be writing about them often:
Princess - my first dam, and mom to my first cria "ALPHA". Princess is an 8 1/2 year old, medium fawn, Huacaya. She has been bred, again, to Snowmass Jericho's Conquistador (lovingly known as "Fred"), and expecting 11/3/07. She and Fred did so well with ALPHA, I'm anxious to see what they produce this year.
ALPHA - my first cria. ALPHA is a 5 month old, light brown, Huacaya. His sire is Snowmass Jericho's Conquistador (Fred). Rick & Pati say he has all the qualities of a junior herdsire. His fiber is dense and crimpy, his conformation perfect, and his color very uniform.
Vanilla Sundae - my first maiden. Vanilla is a 9 month old, beige/medium fawn, Huacaya. Her dam is Carmel Sunday, whose grandsire is Pperuvian Leon. Vanilla's sire is Vivace, who was sired by Ppperuvian El Moustachio with Peruvian Hemingway as his grandsire. What an impressive family tree! Most of her body is beige, with a significant medium fawn spot on her bottom. To me, it looks like she's wearing a thong :) She is quite mature for her age and could possibly be bred as soon as her first birthday the end of June 2007.
Felix - my first pet male. Felix is a 7 month old, white, Huacaya. Although he is a good looking little man, Rick & Pati say his fiber isn't herdsire quality. He's my little love bug. He'll let you rub his neck and give him kisses. And, he has the cutest face you've ever seen! I've been halter training him once a week for about 5 weeks. I'd like to train him as a therapy animal and use him for public relations for the Alpaca industry. He has the perfect personality for it.
Smokin' Antoinette "Star" - my second maiden. Star is a 19 month old, light brown, Huacaya with a striking blonde streak in her topknot and a blonde star on her nose. Her dam is Antoinette of Bolivia, and sire is Smokin' Antonio. She's being bred to "Show Me The Money" (lovingly known as "Mo"), which should produce a magnificent cria. "Mo's" sire is Royal Fawn and half brother is Dom Lucillio. Mega-champions in those genes!
One more very important inclusion: Rick & Pati Horn are my mentors. They own All American Alpacas in Murrieta, CA. They have sold me all my Alpacas, board and care for them, teach me the business, and let me come out and play on a regular basis.
Now that you know the cast...on to my Easter story:
While Pati was preparing lunch, I haltered Felix to show her what he could do. Over the past few weeks, I've walked him all over the 5 acres, and introduced him to walking on concrete, rocks, walking through small spaces and in to enclosed areas. Since Pati is usually at work when I'm there, she hadn't seen his accomplishments. When I walked him on their patio and had him look through the sliding glass door that leads to their dining room, Pati opened the door. To my surprise, Felix walked right in the house! He walked through the dining room, into the living room and right next to the fireplace (which had a fire going). Nothing seemed to scare him. He seemed perfectly "at home". When he started eyeing a box of donuts on the kitchen counter, Rick scooted him back outside :) I really feel he is beginning to trust me, and knows I won't put him in harms way. He is really connecting with me, which brings me more joy that you can imagine.
In about a month, ALPHA will be weaned and join Felix in Boy's Town. Felix should make a great companion.
I always finish up my ranch visit by taking photos out in the field. I love to go in to the field and sit down on the ground. I usually sit by the feeder and inch closer and closer until I can get a good close up. Today, when I walked into the field, several of the Alpacas ran up to me. So, I sat on the ground in the middle of the field and was surrounded by my wonderful friends. Star actually came up and started chewing on my jeans. Then, she started sniffing my head and before I knew it, I was able to give her a kiss right on her nose. That was a first. Meg Ryan tried to untie my shoelaces. ALPHA actually got close enough for me to get some good, close photos. He's famous for dropping his ears when he sees the camera. Today, he actually let me get some shots with his ears up. He is sure a good looking little man! I got some good shots of Fantasia, Bianca, Vanilla Sundae, Percy, Star, ALPHA and Otie. Rick came out with his camera and got some great photos, as well. Soon they'll be posted on this site.
The Easter Bunny may not have brought any crias today, but it was still a very memorable holiday.
On Easter, I arrived about 10AM. It was a dreary day with a light drizzle. The Alpacas seemed to enjoy the cool weather. I was hoping the Easter Bunny would bring a cria or two, as Carmella and Summer are ready to pop! No such luck. Pati made a very nice Easter lunch, complete with wine, and we sat and talked for awhile before she had to go to work.
Before I go any further, I should probably describe my Alpacas, as I will be writing about them often:
Princess - my first dam, and mom to my first cria "ALPHA". Princess is an 8 1/2 year old, medium fawn, Huacaya. She has been bred, again, to Snowmass Jericho's Conquistador (lovingly known as "Fred"), and expecting 11/3/07. She and Fred did so well with ALPHA, I'm anxious to see what they produce this year.
ALPHA - my first cria. ALPHA is a 5 month old, light brown, Huacaya. His sire is Snowmass Jericho's Conquistador (Fred). Rick & Pati say he has all the qualities of a junior herdsire. His fiber is dense and crimpy, his conformation perfect, and his color very uniform.
Vanilla Sundae - my first maiden. Vanilla is a 9 month old, beige/medium fawn, Huacaya. Her dam is Carmel Sunday, whose grandsire is Pperuvian Leon. Vanilla's sire is Vivace, who was sired by Ppperuvian El Moustachio with Peruvian Hemingway as his grandsire. What an impressive family tree! Most of her body is beige, with a significant medium fawn spot on her bottom. To me, it looks like she's wearing a thong :) She is quite mature for her age and could possibly be bred as soon as her first birthday the end of June 2007.
Felix - my first pet male. Felix is a 7 month old, white, Huacaya. Although he is a good looking little man, Rick & Pati say his fiber isn't herdsire quality. He's my little love bug. He'll let you rub his neck and give him kisses. And, he has the cutest face you've ever seen! I've been halter training him once a week for about 5 weeks. I'd like to train him as a therapy animal and use him for public relations for the Alpaca industry. He has the perfect personality for it.
Smokin' Antoinette "Star" - my second maiden. Star is a 19 month old, light brown, Huacaya with a striking blonde streak in her topknot and a blonde star on her nose. Her dam is Antoinette of Bolivia, and sire is Smokin' Antonio. She's being bred to "Show Me The Money" (lovingly known as "Mo"), which should produce a magnificent cria. "Mo's" sire is Royal Fawn and half brother is Dom Lucillio. Mega-champions in those genes!
One more very important inclusion: Rick & Pati Horn are my mentors. They own All American Alpacas in Murrieta, CA. They have sold me all my Alpacas, board and care for them, teach me the business, and let me come out and play on a regular basis.
Now that you know the cast...on to my Easter story:
While Pati was preparing lunch, I haltered Felix to show her what he could do. Over the past few weeks, I've walked him all over the 5 acres, and introduced him to walking on concrete, rocks, walking through small spaces and in to enclosed areas. Since Pati is usually at work when I'm there, she hadn't seen his accomplishments. When I walked him on their patio and had him look through the sliding glass door that leads to their dining room, Pati opened the door. To my surprise, Felix walked right in the house! He walked through the dining room, into the living room and right next to the fireplace (which had a fire going). Nothing seemed to scare him. He seemed perfectly "at home". When he started eyeing a box of donuts on the kitchen counter, Rick scooted him back outside :) I really feel he is beginning to trust me, and knows I won't put him in harms way. He is really connecting with me, which brings me more joy that you can imagine.
In about a month, ALPHA will be weaned and join Felix in Boy's Town. Felix should make a great companion.
I always finish up my ranch visit by taking photos out in the field. I love to go in to the field and sit down on the ground. I usually sit by the feeder and inch closer and closer until I can get a good close up. Today, when I walked into the field, several of the Alpacas ran up to me. So, I sat on the ground in the middle of the field and was surrounded by my wonderful friends. Star actually came up and started chewing on my jeans. Then, she started sniffing my head and before I knew it, I was able to give her a kiss right on her nose. That was a first. Meg Ryan tried to untie my shoelaces. ALPHA actually got close enough for me to get some good, close photos. He's famous for dropping his ears when he sees the camera. Today, he actually let me get some shots with his ears up. He is sure a good looking little man! I got some good shots of Fantasia, Bianca, Vanilla Sundae, Percy, Star, ALPHA and Otie. Rick came out with his camera and got some great photos, as well. Soon they'll be posted on this site.
The Easter Bunny may not have brought any crias today, but it was still a very memorable holiday.
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