Happy Birthday Felix!

Actually, Felix's 1st birthday is Tuesday, August 7th. I am so proud of him, and so grateful that Pati and Rick gave him to me. After a little spell of not being very friendly or cooperative, he is better than ever. Although most Alpacas have sweet dispositions, they don't care much for being handled. Not my Felix! Again, yesterday, he let me rub him all over and gave me lots of clucking kisses. He walked very well around the ranch, but must stop and eat every piece of hay on the ground, every weed, and nibble on every tree.

Rick and I walked Felix and ALPHA all around the ranch, down into the shed (and in to some small spaces), around and through the big boulders in the front, through the garage, and on to the patio. They both did great. You can tell there is a bond between them, which is so cool as they will be together for a long time to come. We put them in the show pen for awhile, to get them used to new places. There was a branch from one of the Pepper trees in there (which Felix loves, but ALPHA had never experienced before). ALPHA picked up the branch and started eating it. Felix wanted ALPHA to share, which made a cute photo (posted above). We weighed them today. Felix 90.5 pounds, ALPHA 72.6 pounds. ALPHA is 3 months younger than Felix.
Felix is getting very tall, which seems to be normal for a gelding. ALPHA is pretty good about letting you touch him and check his fiber. His spots haven't changed at all. Right now we think he would be considered an Appaloosa in the show ring. He has about 8 silver spots, quite small. Show rules dictate that he has to have at least 6 spots, visible to the naked eye, to be considered Appaloosa. Time will tell. Rick said he'll need to be color checked at his first show to determine what color he is considered "officially". His first show will be in November. No telling what may happen in the next 3 months.

I spent some time in the fields with the moms, soon to be moms, and the crias. Little Patron Gold gets cuter and cuter every week. He actually let me get a hold of him and feel his fiber. He is SO SOFT. He's a pretty personable little guy. He'll walk up pretty close to you or will follow you around the field. Miss Paris Hilton is a tease. She'll stand fairly close and look at you with those big brown eyes. Try to get closer, she takes off. Majik and Lancelot are best buddies and love to neck wrestle. Apollo's fiber is beautiful. Sweety is still a trouble maker (and acts like Patron's big sister). Princess is really starting to look pregnant. She is due in less than 90 days. Her actual due date is November 3rd. But, she went 339 days with ALPHA, so based on that, she may deliver in late October. I'll be in Washington from October 17 to 21, so I hope she waits until I get back. As much as I'd like her to have a little girl this year, if she had another boy like ALPHA, I won't be disappointed. The suspense is killing me. What gender? What color? It still amazes me that you can't base color of cria on the colors of dam and sire. Alpacas are full of surprises. I've started thinking of names, but won't really decide until the cria is born.

Vanilla Sundae is doing great and growing. She's in the center field with mostly youngsters that have been her buddies since they were little. She's still a little too young to be bred, so we'll wait until Mo gets back in the Fall and hopefully breed her in December.

Still don't know if Star and Meg Ryan are pregnant. Rick says they are both very hard to read. He walked Fred by the main field fence and Meg came running up to see him (Star wasn't far behind). So, Rick walked Fred into the "alley" where Meg and Star were, and Meg stood tall and sideways with her tail in the air. Rick said that means "stay away from me". Star did the same thing. I hope that's a good sign. It's still too early to ultrasound them. Time will tell.

Usually, several Alpacas will come up to the nursery during the day and hang out. It's fun to sit on the patio and watch them. Today, all but a few decided to stay in the main field. Was it something we said? :( Or, maybe it was because it was a nice day, with a great breeze, and they just enjoyed sun bathing.

I helped with treats again today. Meg had her head in the bucket, as did, of course, Manda Smith. As hard as I try, I can't get any of the youngsters to eat out of my hand. Princess will. Now, Star eats from my hand, too. How cool is that? Treat time is a great opportunity for Rick to put his hands on the crias and check their fiber for quality and color underneath. Majik is silver underneath the rose gray outercoat.

I can't truly express how much I look forward to going out to the ranch every weekend. I love spending time with all the Alpacas. I may only be "mom" to 5 (soon 6), but I'm "auntie" to all the rest. I love them as if they were my own. And, I am so grateful for all the time Pati and Rick spend with me, teaching me everything I need to know to prepare for the time when I have my own ranch. We have talked about a cooperative ranch, where a few owners would live on the same property and collectively care for the herd. For me, that would be ideal.