Our first new arrival

At 8.50am Inky gave birth to a health, beautiful cria. We are all over excited.

Inky is being wonderful and has introduced her new baby girl to everyone. the other alpacas have all been carefully checking out Inky and her baby and one of the adults (the oldest of the group) made sure the youngsters did not interfere with the new born until she was up and about.

All are in the paddock next to the field so we can keep an eye on everything for a few hours, but so far so good. the weather is warm and not wet, and being born at this time gives baby time to feed dry off and be strong enough to cope with the nght night - clever alpacas.

I just read some of the blogs of note and realise my blogs are so boring at the moment, people really put a lot of effort into them. anyway maybe I will catch up to their standard one day.

Thunderstorm last night after a very heavy (weatherwise) day. the girls decided to sit it out outside! they do not seem to be spooked by anything. needless to say this morning they are soaking and dirty again. Dogs did not bother too much either, living here is chilling everyone out. The hayfever not good though, forgot we not near the sea now so suffering more than before.

The new car saga rolls on. We decided on a volkswagen estate until got told it will be another 6 weeks when it was due this week! So back to the beginning and went to look at a volvo estate again and decided to order, which will be here earlier saving lots of fuel money we hope -very important for us poor smallholders. While test driving the car we came across another lovely place called Doddington Hall - I think. Great farm shop where we stopped for a coffee and ended buying stuff! The hall looks lovely and somewhere to bring relatives when they visit.

this week really going to get cracking on the wildflower business - really excited about it. Also maybe this time next week we will have another little alpaca to add to our herd.

time has whizzed by again. Lots happening. Inky is only one week away from her due date and I keep watching her with binos. It's been amazingly wet and stormy the last few days too so do not want baby alpaca to be born in wet. One of the crias had to have a visit from vet for treatment for something similar to 'mud fever' in horses. She looking OK now, but we had to wash her legs every day so it got us and them a bit more used to handling. Did not even get kicked this time. Also had the grazing field topped again, the rain makes the grass grow quicker than the girls can eat it, plus it will control the thistles! More expense though so need to get cracking on either getting more animals to eat it or change the fences around so it can be cut for hay.

Really starting to formulate some plans for land and development of business with the FWAG man coming out in July and the woodland trust in a week or so.

We have decided we need a tractor now as quite a few things would be easier with one, topping, mowing, carrying stuff etc. So I have asked some friends of mine to advise about what to steer clear of so we can hopefully get a good one, that will not break down too much.

the fleeces we sent for processing should be ready soon, hopefully, and we need to get photos done for the web site and get some things sold.

Daughter returning from Oz next month and soooo looking forward to it. I know she sad to leave but no doubt she will be planning her next trip as soon as she gets back.

Saw an item o n news last night about some rescue ponies that need a home - must try to control myself!!!!!! They were sweet though.