Every year, the Thursday before the Ilderton Fair, we participate in the Agricultural Awareness in the class room program. There are 12 presenters introducing grade 3 school children to agricutlure. This is cash crop, chicken, diary, beef, fibre (alpaca, sheep) and many more.

September 12, 2011

Finally I finished skirting this years fibre and we are ready to ship it out for processing. We will focus on duvets, mattress pads, quilt batts and golf socks.

September 9, 2011

I am back at the Strathroy Flea and Farmers Market with my new yarn, rovings, socks and knitwear. The plan is to stay again until about January or until we are sold out again. Come visit our booth and feel these awesome new yarns.  

August 29, 2011

Leo the llama starts to understand the clicker training. Yesterday he was able to associate his halter with 'click and treat' and today he put his nose in that halter as soon as he saw it. Of course I 'clicked and treated' immediately

June 30, 2011

Brooke arrived today. Once again, Dawn delivered that cria within 15 minutes. I had hardly time to fetch the camera in the house.

June 26. 2011

Our first llama cria is born. Her name is Lili, cria of Leo and Leyla. Messed up the pictures, but will redo them.

June 8, 2011

Another cria arrived and once again, without anybody being home. His name - of course - Spot.
 

May 21 / 22 / 23

Shearing weekend. We tried to dry the alpacas out as good as possible. But still, the pastures are water logged, the puddles are deep and muddy and it is raining every day. We got them done, all but 3. Well, next Sunday will be a "breeze", lots of sun and dry pasture!

May 16, 2011

First cria of the year arrived! The pastures are water logged, the puddles are deep and muddy and it rained some more the day she was born. Her name - of course - Rain.

April 12, 2011

We took Rubin, Browny and Joe to the Alpaca Ontario Show in Orangeville last weekend. We entered them in the Youth Obstacle Course just to get and idea where we stand with the training. Joe came in second! We were very pleased with his performance, especially as he was the hardest one to train and the reason why we introduced a training program. He reared, jumped up into the air and landed on his back, when we put the halter on him the first time. That was 2 years ago. It even looked like he was enjoying himself going through the course.

March 20, 2011

Finally the weather is more pleasant for us humans and we took back up our training routine. We reviewed with our five young males level 1 of our training program. They all remembered it very well and we are working on level 2. Rubin is almost there. He comes when our daughter, who seems to have a special bond with him, calls him but nor for me. Might be a personal preference, hence I will not take it personal.

March 15, 2011

We took 3 of our young males to the veterinarian to do the PI test for BVD and micro chip them. We are planning to bring these 3 boys to the Alpaca Ontario Show in Orangeville in April. They will compete in the youth obstacle course and youth showmanship. Now we just have to train them to behave and not to spit at each other in the trailer.

March 8, 2011

The end of this winter is not far! At least the alpacas and ducks seem to be determined to enjoy every ray of sun that comes through the clouds. The female alpacas are leading the procession again. They love to stand on top of the hill and watch the crias chasing each other. Even the old boys venture out once in a while.

February 18, 2011

A few mild days melted a lot of snow and made everything in the barn wet and muddy. This is the disadvantage of having an open barn in the winter. The snow gets blown in and it will take a while to dry up. It does not bother the alpacas. They are in and out of the barn, exploring the few grass patches and jumping in the air out of joy. (This is no joke, they really do!)

February 1, 2011

Getting ready for another presentation about alpacas and our farm. This time at the Metropolitan United Church in London. Click here to have a peek at my presentation.

January 30, 2011

Sunday afternoon and the sun is shining. Perfect time for an alpaca walk.

January 28, 2011

Just an average winter day today. The alpacas have an open barn and on days like this they come out and poke around the pastures. The females are much more active then the males. The males prefer to hang out around the manger. It looks like they are having a beer and talk shop.

January 2, 2011

The new year arrived with rain and mild temperature. We have an open barn, so some of the snow gets blown in and now it is rather wet out there. We are setting our goals for 2011 and are planning the tasks for the new year. One goal is to go back to the Alpaca Ontario show and enter in the Youth Showmanship competition and maybe in the fleece show.

December 14, 2010

There is not much to do in the barn, feed, check water several times a day. I am busy with knitting for my outlet store at the farmers market. This is my third year there and it definitely picked up. My thrum mittens are still my best sellers, followed by work socks.

November 15, 2010

We thought by now we had  every gate, every corner of the pasture and barn secured, so no male can get into the females' pen. Wrong! This morning Petey was in the girls pasture, desperately trying to find a way back into the boys pasture. I am not sure how long he had been in there or if he even realized that he was in the girls pasture. Because when I went out there to herd him back, the girls followed me out of the barn into the pasture and Petey got all excited to see girls up close. I got him back easily and thought maybe one of the gates was a bit low, and that is where he jumped. So I fixed that and let's hope there is no surprise cria 11 1/2 month down the road.

November 10, 2010

Beautiful sunny day, perfect for training alpacas. All the yearlings male completed their level 1 training. So I just did reviews and worked on level 2. Today we worked on touching belly and lift up feet. Rubin and Browny did ok, the others let me touch their belly without trying to spit on me or to kick me. Leo the llama let me put his halter on in the open pasture and we went for a nice walk together.

November 1st, 2010

Nothing out of the ordinary happened lately, everything is in a nice rhythm. Daily farm routine: 8:30 -10:00 feed and water alpacas and scoop out their pens. 10:30 - 12:00 training one group of alpaca, 12:30 - 2:00 website, paperwork, administration. 2:00 - 4:00 knitting and other fibre arts. Before and after - take care of "two legged" kids, housework, shopping etc.

October 20, 2010

I spoke at the Parkhill Area Horiticultural Society meeting about alpaca farming, a new alternative livestock that is spreading steadily through-out Canada. Looking at this new industry through the eyes of a city girl that ended up farming these beautiful gentle animals, learned how to use their fibre and very fertile manure and loves every minute of it.

October 8, 2010

I am back Fridays and Saturdays at the Family Flea and Farmers Market in Strathroy with our products. I didn't get yet the yarns and rovings back from the fibre mill in Quebec but I still have some products from last year and can talk to people, promote the farm and the products.

October 2dn, 2010

I have a booth at the Ilderton Fair to sell our products. A family with a boy about grade 3 came along and he looked at me and said: "I know you. This stuff is from your alpacas and they are like small camels without a hump!" It took me a sec to catch on to that one. He was one of the students we talked to at the Agricultural Awareness day 2 days earlier!

Septembe 30, 2010

We brought Rubin and Rusty to the Agricultural Awareness day of the of the Ilderton Fall Fair. This is a special day where children from various schools from London and surrounding area come in and see real live animals, fruit and vegetable directly from the farms. The students rotate between our stations and we explain them what we are farming. Some are well informed from books already and are excited to see the real thing, but some really have an eye opener when they realize where their food comes from.

August 27, 2010

We lost one of our crias this morning, McGuiness. I found him two days ago in the morning sitting all by himself in the pasture. I did not like that and went out to check on him. He was not able to stand on his own and his back end was very weak. I brought him in the barn, calling around to find some goat milk, as he was not able to stand and nurse. I drove him to the vet every day and we tried for 3 days, but he went from getting better to worse and finally died. We are waiting for test results as there is no obvious reason for this death.

August 11, 2010

We took Leo the llama to town today to expand his training horizon. I just thought I wanted to expose him to some more different environments and sounds before I tackle a longer hike. I had previously received permission from the Conservation Authorities and off we went. He got into the trailer as trained before, but the ride must have scared him terribly. It took him a moment before he decided to get up and out of the trailer. He did excellent on the walk and only refused to get his feet wet in the pond. I was really pleased with him until I tried to load him back into the trailer! He absolutely refused. No way he would go in there again. Well, lots of patience paid out and he made it. It sure was a great experience and lots of fun.

July 26, 2010

Ducks here, ducks there, ducks everywhere. Our muscovy ducklings hedged and there are 14 new ducklings running around. I am always amazed that the cats don't bother them but I guess all of them tried and got a good peck from mother duck. I will publish some pictures shortly. What else am I doing - shovelling manure, cleaning up pastures, reseeding pastures and loveing every minute of it!

July, 5, 2010

Now, as all the crias are born and we are back breeding. I match the males and females based on the fibre they gave us this year.

We also starting up a new intense training program. The goal is to call the alpaca by its name, walk up to him/her in the pasture and put a halter on. Then I want them to obey the commands "follow me, walk on, stand, . foot (for nail trimming).

July 1st, 2010

On our national holdiday number 6 arrived and we named him after John A. MacDolnald. Dawn is his dame. She tried for 3 days on and off to give birth and when it finally happened she was done within 15 minutes. I waited to see if the cria is in the right position, head and feet out, ran in the house to get the camera, wake up the rest of the family to tell them another baby is on the way. I got back to the pasture and there he was already on the ground. (Very sneaky, Dawn!)

June 25, 2010

Number five arrived and this time I was not home. Steve happened to be home and this was the first time he saw a birth from beginning to end. He caught the cria before it fell to the ground, not being sure if otherwise it would hurt itself. Mother and cria bonded well but it looks like McGuiness (father is McDuff) took a special liking to Steve.

June 23, 2010

What is it with these crias this year. We are expecting two more. So now being a little paranoid after Sam's birth I keep checking the pasture many times a day. And good I did. There was a cria in the wrong pasture! June must have squeezed through the gap between gate and fence and was sunning herself in the boys pasture. Sheena, a very attentive mom, did not catch on to it yet, because she could see her baby and didn't realize that there is a fence in-between. Anyway, I caught June, put her back with the girls, June ran over to her mom and I think she must have sucked out all the milk there was in 2 seconds. Anyway, I fixed that fence, it will not happen again.

June 18, 2010

Cria number 4 arrived today and the first time it did not go smooth. The birth did not progress the usual way. I had a closer look and feel and realized both front legs were bent back and crossed over. Ran back to the house, started the internet and googled -"cria birth legs bent". Every page said about the same - you have to get these legs out! Hot water, towels, lubricant and we all rush back to the pasture. Steve and Anna held her steady and she let us help her, I closed my eyes for a better feel, put my hand into the birth canal and started to untwist the legs. I rotated the cria just a little bit so the legs were lined up with the oval opening, got hold of the one knee and gently started to pull that knee. It was moving and I kept pulling. Finally the first leg came straight. The same for the second leg and then just a quick step back and that cria came flushing out real quick. This was the first time we did something like this or even witnessed and assisted birth. I was scared all the way, but determined not to give up and it worked. His name is Sam and mom and Sam are doing great. I do understand now why some of the websites I visit say to keep a bottle of whisky in your medical kit. I sure could have used one after this scary moment, all we had was an ice cold beer.

June 16, 2010

Excitement today. I had a skunk in the live trap. I thought I was after a racoon but maybe it was a skunk all along. Checked on the internet how to remove it best without getting sprayed. Lot of info, but all said "you probably still get sprayed!" So my last search was for a "skunk removal company" and they did a fantastic job. Not enough foreign wild life on the farm. In the afternoon I had a snapping turtle trying to get through the fence into the pasture. Some more research! She probably was on her way to her nesting ground as these guys migrate to the same spot to lay their eggs. She had been pointing north when I found her, so I moved her north, past the pastures and send her on her merry way.

June 15, 2010

Number 3 arrived! Once more Sheena and Black Star had a beautiful girl and this time she is not Sheena's brown colour, this time Black Star's black came through. Her name is June.

June 11, 2010

Second cria of the year is born. A girl, her name is Rosy, for her rosy ears. The mother is Louise. We bought Louise last summer, just to get her and her cria away from the place she was. She had not been shorn, had any shots or toes trimmed in 2 years. She needed it badly. She got her spa treatment and her crias are beautiful. We are meeting more and more backyard alpacas that do not get the proper treatment. Maybe I should offer this as a service. I will have to think about this!

June 6, 2010

Excitement today!. Male llama and alpacas in the girls pasture and blood on Sleet (white male alpaca). How did that happen. They kicked out a heavy board in the pen between the girls and boys pen. Sleet probably scratched himself badly, trying to squeeze through, or got bitten by Leo the llama when he tried to breed with an open girl. Took us a while to sort the boys and girls back into the separate pens. I force-washed and disinfected Sleet's wound and gave him penicillin just in case (he was spitting all the way). Was there any unautherized breeding? We just have to wait and see. (11 1/2 months)!

June 4,2010

Success! I finally was able to integrate Leo the llama with the male alpacas. We tried before and Leo got very aggressive and we were worried he could hurt the much smaller alpacas. For weeks I have been walking Leo along the boys pasture, had him penned right next door to them and it looks like they established their new herd structure through the fence. Leo wanted to be the alpha animal and he is it now. Black Star was retiring anyway and the young males had not established a new permanent order yet. Ideal situation. I walked Leo into the pasture, the alpacas sniffed him, he sniffed them, a few short chases and Leo was patrolling the fence. Exactly the same story as 5 years earlier when Black Star took over the herd. He was very aggressive and we took him away from the herd and penned him separately, right beside the herd. They also must have established their new herd hierarchy through the fence back then. Because when we re-integrated Black Star, there was minimal fighting and he was in charge immediately - patrolling the fence to the girls pasture!

June 3, 2010

I didn't get much farm work done this week besides feeding and watering. At least I was able to skirt a few fleeces. Luise, we bought last fall, had not been shorn last spring. and  I thought I would not be able to do much with her fibre. Her fibre is beautiful. This made me think again that maybe the alpacas with the short staple length could be shorn every two years. I enjoyed shearing and am already missing it. I still keep thinking about different strokes and how to get in a steady rhythm.

May 26, 2010

Our llamas Leyla and Leo are to big for the shearing table and I saw on the internet that you are supposed to be able to shear them standing up. They both needed shearing badly, so today was the day. Leo did not do to bad. He didn't like it, but as I had been working with him to be able to go hiking together, he was used to be touched. I used the sheep shearing scissors and he looked ok at the end. Leyla was a total different story. Also she is easy to lead, touching her back and legs was a different story. I had to put her in the chute and restrain her as much as possible. I was hiding and crouching behind her and she was spitting over her shoulder the whole time. I got her done! The barn has a lot of green spots on the wall, she doesn't talk to me right now, and she looks dreadful. When the kids came home, Anna told me she looks awful - well, I told her never to spit at her hairdresser or she might look the same.

May 24, 2010

Last day of shearing. This time I ran out of oil for the shears. But we finished (with vegetable oil!). Well, I will put it under learning experience. It will not happen again.

May 16, 2010

Shearing again. The thought was to get all sheared Saturday and Sunday. But again not enough combs and cutters. It went much better so. Some look like they got a proper spa treatment.

May 15, 2010

Sad news. Today I lost my first alpaca in 6 years. When I went to the barn this morning Scotty was laying on his side in a huge water puddle. I pulled him outside into the sun, dried him off, but he died right there in my arms. There was no visible reason for any distress, so I brought him to the vet for a post-mortem. Should have the results within a week.

May 9, 2010

Shearing day! I always wanted to learn how to shear myself and this year was the year. How did it go?!? The learning curve is very steep. I did not hurt any alpaca but some do look very rough around the edges. We did not get too many done either as I did not understand how many combs and cutters you need to shear 26 alpacas. Well, there is always another weekend.

May 1, 2010

What a surprise - we had our first baby of the season. Calamity Jane had been ugly, short tempered, cranky and ......, well all these signs. But I am not sure how, when or who. Anyway, it is a beautiful, healthy baby boy. And we are all happy for her. After 6 year of trying (us trying to get her bred), she did it all on her own. Click for a picture.

April, 28, 2010

I am cleaning our the winter pens under very close supervision. The boys are keeping an eye on me, as if they are making sure I only take manure and nothing else. I am training at least 5 of them daily and we are making progress. They are getting less scared when handled. I still have to tie some lose ends for shearing day, but we should get there eventually

Friday, March 19, 2010

Getting ready for shearing season, also called spring. Anyway, we want to shear ourselves this year and I am looking for the equipment. Looks good and I am almost ready to do the purchases and detail planning. Main shearing day will be Mothers Day. Can't think of anything more exciting to do that day then take care of my boys and girls.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

I took Leo, my llama, out for a walk. He is catching on very well. I was able to put the halter on him in his pen without catching him at all. Got his attention with a carrot, told him to stand, held the halter up and was able to slide it on. Great progress.   

Friday, January 6, 2010

Fridays is market day, meaning I "woman" my booth at the Strathroy Flea and Farmers Market. I have my alpaca yarns, rovings, socks and knitwear for sale, knit up new products and chat with customers about knitting, crocheting and of course alpacas.

November 2009

Just a quick update. We purchased 2 more alpacas and a llama at the exotic animal exchange in Kitchener. I am not sure about this place. Anyway, there are two more beautiful crias and they are doing very well. One is a very friendly rose-gray male and he is very adorable. His name is Rubin. The other male is a light brown, a colour we did not have yet. His name is Rusty. The llama we called Leo. At first I thought it was a mistake buying him, but he is coming along fine. 

Satruday, October 3

The summer went far to fast. Here just some quick updates. Lela the llama is doing very well. She is guarding the girls and I am training her to become a trail llama. We added 3 more alpacas to our herd. Luise with two of her daughters, Candy and Browny. Luise and Browny might be pregnant. Browny is very small, so I really hope she is not pregnant. My 2009 production is in (new yarns, rovings and socks) so I moved the fibre studio back to the Family Flee and Farmers Market in Strathroy.  

Sunday, August 16

We have a new baby to take care of! It is a one year old llama and her name is Lela. Right now she behaves like an alpaca, rather shy and keeping her distance. My plan is to gain more experience with llamas and train her to be really approachable. A new project I am all excited about. 

Friday, August 7

Some more Muscovy ducks. Whitewing hatched 7 ducklings and is very protective. She attacked me twice today just because I dared to stare at them. Click here to link to the new Muscovy duck page. 

Saturday, July 11

Number three arrived! Dawn had a beautiful baby boy. And like her mother she waited until I was gone. I did chores till 9:30 and came back with a visitor around 10:30 and there he was, Sir Jackob Storm (born during a thunderstorm).  

Tuesday, June 16

Guess what! I took Anna to a dentist appointment and Sheena had her baby! Once again, it was like she looked at me in the morning and as soon as she was sure we were gone she delivered another beautiful little girl. Lady Elizabeth! 

Tuesday, June 2nd

Lots of excitement today. I was on a day long field trip with Michael's class and we were scheduled back at the school for 5:00 pm. 3:30 I get a phone call from Shirely Miller, our real estate agent, that she had gotten a page that our alpacas are out and running. I am able to get a ride back to the school, hope in the car and fly back to the farm. Anna beat me home by 5 minutes, there is big  truck parked down the road, the driver standing on the road, Anna racing back from the barn, hollering Mummy, Mummy the alpacas are in the field and there is a new born cria in the ditch! Took us a while to sort everything out. Mum and cria are fine. I am ever so great full to the truck driver that alarmed us. Totally missed to ask for his name. If you ever read this - thank you for you help and kindness from the bottom of my heart. Here I am! 

Thursday, May 28

Just a regular day. Hot compresses for Black Star, the fifth muscovy duck is still not sitting on her eggs for good. She seems to enjoy hanging out with the boys. Skirting more fibre. Joe had so far the most fibre and it is beautifully soft. Joe was Sleet's first cria. Sleet sure secured himself another breeding this summer. 

Wednesday, May 27

Putting hot compresses on Black Star's abscesses. Should help draining the rest. He  is so calm when I do it that I think he likes it. Four muscovy ducks are not leaving their nest again. There are lots of ducklings on the horizon! 

Tuesday, May 26

Finally made contact with a new vet. Trailer is ready, we are on the road. The vet cut the abscesses, drains it. Nothing more to worry about! All my worries for nothing! (Do you wonder about the  worries I had about my human babies?!)    

Monday, May 25

I am trying to find a veterinarian for Black Star. I don't like the look of it. Our old vet clinic does not do farm animals no more. Frustrating process. Can't sleep that night. Worried sick about my baby.

Sunday, May 24

Anna and Michael have to learn how to do shots, as Steve will be gone for the week. Just in case we have to do more shots. I can hold the alpaca an they can do the shots. Anna does not feel comfortable at all. Michael is ok. 

Saturday, May 23

We  noticed today that Black Star has two huge abscesses on his back end. Out comes the penicillin. 

May 13 2009

I better start skirting that fibre. Love doing it. 

May 12, 2009

Ok, everything back to normal 

May 11, 2009

The girls are ignoring me. I guess they did not like their haircut yesterday. 

May 10, 2009

Shearing day, all the alpacas got their annual haircut, nails trimmed, teeth looked after and shots for all kind of bugs. A real spa treatment!