Oops, I guess I did it again...
I am back! I am embarrassed that it is November and almost two months since my last post. I have been busy.
Let me begin by saying that the show I wrote about was awesome! It was just four alpacas away from being a Level V show and the fact that it was our (VAOBA's)third show makes that fantastic in my mind.
We had some great volunteers this year as we do every year. I hope that people realize how valuable volunteers are and that these shows are successful or not depending on the volunteers. VAOBA has been blessed with a strong volunteer base.
Our judges were fantastic and rose to the occasion. Two of our halter judges had round about flights in to Roanoke and met up in Detroit the night before the show. They had dinner while we finished up compliance checking and had our exhibitors meeting. One was suffering from a cold and we were very happy he was able to make it. Scary thought at a judge having to cancel...
Anyway, the show is a fading memory now but one I still smile over. I am already looking forward to the next one. That happens to be in April in SC, followed three weeks later by the next one in California...
Meanwhile, we have made some changes around the farm - perhaps I should say we are in the process of making changes. We purchased a new male a couple of months ago and that about tipped the scales on being able to keep the males in the existing shelters and pastures. We are hard at work contructing a shelter in the front of the property along with fencing in a good area for them to play in.
Earlier I blogged about having some lumber milled - well, that is what we are using (mostly) for the walls of the structure. We had a carport delivered and that is what has become the roof and frame. We are behind schedule but hope to have it completed very soon.
Plans are that we start breeding here in December and continue into January. Miss Wise, our black girl, is due in December. She had Dougal on the 11th last December and was bred around 20 days later to Friar Tuck. We are looking forward to this cria, she has assured us it is a girl this time, and are very anxious to see what Tuck contributes. He has density and crimp - his only fault is he's a darn light fawn! Can you tell we like dark colors? :-)
I do believe every female of ours is open and plan to get them all bred this next couple of months. We had a busy spring and by the time we had time it was much too hot and humid. We did have a momentary brain skip and allowed Tuck in with two or three of the females in June... None are really behaving as though they took so hopefully we dodged that bullet. I really don't want May crias and couldn't explain what I was thinking if I had to. I guess it was just that I envisioned a lot of trouble with the males if they were open. I was right, they have had a "randy" year!
We have three alpacas here from Florida agisting. Not sure how long they are staying but it will at least be until early summer I think. We will start weaning the little boy in a week or so - just as soon as we reconfigure where everyone will live. The dam, Holly, is due in April. I hope that she gives her owner a female - just because.
I had word over the weekend that friends decided it was time to get out of the business and have done so. I am sad for them as it is probably a bigger life change than getting into the business - once these critters become a part of your life it is hard to imagine it any other way. The farm where the boarders came from has also sold out. It's bittersweet. Now they have time for relaxation and other pursuits but there is the hole created by the absence of the alpacas. They do have dogs and I believe breed them so it may not be as hard a transition as I expect it is!
Well, time to get to work other than on the computer. Until the next time!
Let me begin by saying that the show I wrote about was awesome! It was just four alpacas away from being a Level V show and the fact that it was our (VAOBA's)third show makes that fantastic in my mind.
We had some great volunteers this year as we do every year. I hope that people realize how valuable volunteers are and that these shows are successful or not depending on the volunteers. VAOBA has been blessed with a strong volunteer base.
Our judges were fantastic and rose to the occasion. Two of our halter judges had round about flights in to Roanoke and met up in Detroit the night before the show. They had dinner while we finished up compliance checking and had our exhibitors meeting. One was suffering from a cold and we were very happy he was able to make it. Scary thought at a judge having to cancel...
Anyway, the show is a fading memory now but one I still smile over. I am already looking forward to the next one. That happens to be in April in SC, followed three weeks later by the next one in California...
Meanwhile, we have made some changes around the farm - perhaps I should say we are in the process of making changes. We purchased a new male a couple of months ago and that about tipped the scales on being able to keep the males in the existing shelters and pastures. We are hard at work contructing a shelter in the front of the property along with fencing in a good area for them to play in.
Earlier I blogged about having some lumber milled - well, that is what we are using (mostly) for the walls of the structure. We had a carport delivered and that is what has become the roof and frame. We are behind schedule but hope to have it completed very soon.
Plans are that we start breeding here in December and continue into January. Miss Wise, our black girl, is due in December. She had Dougal on the 11th last December and was bred around 20 days later to Friar Tuck. We are looking forward to this cria, she has assured us it is a girl this time, and are very anxious to see what Tuck contributes. He has density and crimp - his only fault is he's a darn light fawn! Can you tell we like dark colors? :-)
I do believe every female of ours is open and plan to get them all bred this next couple of months. We had a busy spring and by the time we had time it was much too hot and humid. We did have a momentary brain skip and allowed Tuck in with two or three of the females in June... None are really behaving as though they took so hopefully we dodged that bullet. I really don't want May crias and couldn't explain what I was thinking if I had to. I guess it was just that I envisioned a lot of trouble with the males if they were open. I was right, they have had a "randy" year!
We have three alpacas here from Florida agisting. Not sure how long they are staying but it will at least be until early summer I think. We will start weaning the little boy in a week or so - just as soon as we reconfigure where everyone will live. The dam, Holly, is due in April. I hope that she gives her owner a female - just because.
I had word over the weekend that friends decided it was time to get out of the business and have done so. I am sad for them as it is probably a bigger life change than getting into the business - once these critters become a part of your life it is hard to imagine it any other way. The farm where the boarders came from has also sold out. It's bittersweet. Now they have time for relaxation and other pursuits but there is the hole created by the absence of the alpacas. They do have dogs and I believe breed them so it may not be as hard a transition as I expect it is!
Well, time to get to work other than on the computer. Until the next time!
posted by A of NH at 11:25 AM
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