Little Guy has a visitor
Our neighbor (and some-times alpaca sitter) brought is granddaughter over yesterday to see the new alpaca cria.
The approach
As big sis Carley and mom Embrace stand by, Brittany approaches our Little Guy (as we are calling him until he gets a satisfactory name).
Almost there
Embrace is an attentive mom, but not aggressive to people who want to see her cria so long as they move slowly and quietly.
He's so soft
His fiber is incredibly soft. He’s running and playing now, but doesn’t get too far from mom.
There may be a new spinner in the neighborhood!
Learning to spin
As I turned the wheel by hand, Brittany was learning the art of drafting and spinning yarn. She did very well.
Still waiting on Spotsie to have her baby. Not much changing there.
At last. He’s here!
Yesterday was quite the whirlwind.
While doing chores in the morning, I snuck a peek at Embrace’s behind and thought it looked like she could have the baby that day. But when I checked later in the morning, she was either happily eating hay or chewing cud. Labor seemed no where in site! So I went about packing up my stuff for the farmer’s market. I had the truck packed, my tote bins on the front step. I had only to fill hay and water for alpacas, shower and be off to the market.
But that was not to be. As I walked to the barn at about 12:05, I saw Embrace with a little head coming into the world. I called another vendor and told her I would be late to the market. (I called Darryl first!) I quickly swept a spot clean in the barn. I looked outside (about 12:15) to see the front legs. (Relief – that is how it is supposed to be!) I made a mad dash to the house to get the camera and iodine. When I got back outside about 12:20, I saw this:
Just minutes old
He was flailing around in the sand. (How’s that for efficient and expedient!)Carley is quite serious about her role as big sister.
Still in membrane sack
The membrane is off his head and neck, but he’s still covered in what looks like plastic wrap. Alpaca moms do not lick off their babies. The sun heats them up inside the membrane until it gets dry and cracks off or is rubbed off in the dirt. But I scooped him up and took him in the barn.
Getting dry
By about 1:00, I had used the blow dryer and towels to get him partially dry. It takes a long time to dry new alpacas all the way to their skin. Their fiber is already over an inch long.
Almost steady on new legs
By 1:30 or so, he could stand steady enough for me to let go and get a picture. He had been trying to stand pretty much since birth. With a little help, he could stand long enough to make his way to the milk bar and have his first meal – which he thoroughly enjoyed. (He is his Mother’s son!)
Back outside
Shortly after that, around 2:00, he led Embrace out of the barn.
2 hours old!
By about 2:30, he could toddle around in the grass. He was not always graceful – like when he tried to brush his nose on the grass to chase a fly and he totally tipped over!
Darryl came home from work early to keep an eye on them, so I could go to to Farmer Market. I HAD to take the bread – what would I do with 16 loaves of Amish Cinnamon bread??!! I was about an hour late, and had people waiting for the bread! It was a welcoming, though hectic arrival!
Last night, I made sure that Embrace and new baby (he has no name yet) were content, laying down inside the barn. This morning, Embrace, the baby and Carley (see what I meant about the big sis thing?) had spent at least part of the night outside. The little one was a bit chilly, but warmed up quickly in the sun.
It is supposed to be REALLY hot again today, so I need to keep an eye on the little one to be sure he doesn’t overheat. Crias aren’t able to regulate body temp for the first few days. Usually Moms are good at moving them to the right spot – warm or cool – depending on the need. But I like to double check!
To market, to market
I’m getting ready for the first Elk River Farmer’s Market of the year. It is tomorrow. I’m baking Amish Cinnamon Bread (also known as Friendship Bread). I made this last year and it was a usual sell-out. I sure my customers remember! I’ve got 4 batches!
5 small loaves
This is the first batch – packaged and ready to go.
3 medium loaves
This is batch 2, cooling. I added pecans to this batch. Batch 3, with craisins, is in the oven. Batch 4, with raisins, is waiting to be mixed up.
I have a regular assembly line! Since each batch bakes for an hour, I have time between batches to move sprinklers – it needs to rain every other day in the sand – and check on Embrace.
NO – no baby! She seems to have stalled. I thought I saw progress on getting milk in her udder. But there’s been no change for several days. And she takes great exception to me looking ‘under there’! She grunts and if I don’t heed the warning, she will spit at me. Needless to say, I try to view from a distance!
Charlie and Buckwheat’s next home
Yesterday Charlie and Buckwheat were moved to their next home at Glacial Ridge Alpacas. Here they are in the little holding pen that was waiting for them.
Charlie Boy
- Buckwheat
Their first job was to ‘mow’ the lawn inside their little pen! Then they were going to another ride with their new pen mate. Yeah – a ride. Since unfamiliar males tend to be territorial and will fight, these guys need a ‘bonding experience’ before they are put into a common pen. So the plan is put the 3 boys in a trailer and drive them around for awhile – maybe an hour or so. The strange-ness of the trailer and the ride should cause the boys to bond with each other so they will get along better once put in their new pen together. An interesting concept, isn’t it?
Knitting and running
I have been knitting — between trips to the barn to check on Embrace. (no baby yet, doesn’t look like it will be today, either!)
Here is what I knit with that 100% cotton yarn I just bought.
Piles of dish cloths
18 dish cloths at $3.50 each. I used up nearly all the yarn.
Dish cloths
They will go to the Farmer’s Market - which is coming up really soon! If you can, come visit me there! Every Thursday starting June 25, 3-7PM.
And I’m working on these, too.
Mug cozies
On the left is the one I felted. Then, just to see what would happen, I washed it in the dishwasher – mug, cozy and all! Oddly, it sorta stretched out the cozy. Won’t try that again! Then I got the size right with the pink one. I made the second green one – it has a tab and button to secure it on the mug. And there is the golden one still on the needle. I’ll take these to the Market, too. Not sure what to charge – any ideas? I can sell with or without the mug – as I got the mugs at a thrift store.
Tomorrow we start musical stalls! Charlie and Buckwheat are going to Glacial Ridge, where Kathe has her other alpacas boarded. Buckwheat has ‘work’ to do there! That will leave room here for DC to come here to visit Annie. We’ve been breeding Chestina and Vagabond so we will hopefully get crias from Chestina and Annie next spring — a long time to wait.
And lastly, I’ve been listing some yarn on Etsy. My hand painted lace yarn. Go check it out!
Better check on Embrace again!
