January 23, 2022
Since these posts, we have updated our web page and so much has happened. Let us summarize for you.
Our sweet little inside doggies, Foxie, Dexter and Chloe, all have crossed the rainbow bridge due to old age and different cancers. Chloe, breast cancer. Foxie, stomach cancer. Dexter, we aren't sure, but we believe stomach cancer and he passed away after eating breakfast one morning. They are all buried on the property near each other in an area that we see every day.
Our beautiful dog, Toby, got out of the pasture somehow like he had done before, when neither my husband nor I were at home. He was hit by a friend right in front of our home. He crossed the road and passed away quickly in front of our fence. This was unexpected and so tragic for us.
Sweet Porshe, Bentley's mother, was a beautiful but very shy alpaca who kept to herself. She contracted diabetes which is unusual in alpacas. After a year of care with our vet and myself, she passed away with her head on my lap and was no longer in any pain. We gave her the best last year of her life that she could have dreamed of, and until the last day she was very, very spoiled.
Our ranch was blessed with the adoption of a surrendered puppy we named Odin. His mother is a great pyrenees and we believe the father may be a (wolf?) and he and Charlie are the best buddies. They guard our place like a team from the heavens.
We have also been blessed with the healthy births of many crias, both planned and a few surprises. We are so grateful for that, grateful beyond measure.
It is true that where. you have livestock, you will also have deadstock. It's part of life, but it's never an easy part of life.
We have also been blessed with many, many ranch visitors who have become regular visitors and friends to both us and our alpacas. We appreciate each of you who help support us and our efforts here. Thank you so much!
May 25, 2018
Our son and daughters and a friend safely arrived to spend Memorial Weekend with us. It wouldn’t be the same without this yearly tradition.
It’s time to get out and do the chores — no doubt everyone will look up at me while I walk to the barn with my own critters following behind me. Foxie, Dexter, Snowflake and Kit Kat.
I usually begin with the “girls” because I’m beginning to be on “bottom” watch. With Tomar Leche’ due in a week, I start the “bottom” watching every morning around 8 am. I’m watching Ariel and Pixie too, as they are both rather large and not due for a few more weeks.
May 3, 2018
Our shearing is behind us. Today we separated the yearlings from their mothers, and tonight they’ll spend their first full night together. Hopefully the fresh hay and extra grain will give them a good distraction tonight.
Tomorrow morning I’ll bring out the little red halters and M will help me restrain Linda and Neal’s three boys and I will work on halter training. Hopefully I can get some work done with Caramel Sundae too.
The fun never ends!
April 2018
We are preparing for our 2018 shearing date. We have a new shearing crew that we are trying this year. Our 25 alpacas, plus two we are boarding, will be done in one morning. We have many awesome volunteers who will help us.
This year we will be giving shots to our alpacas at the same time we shear. How will that go? We will have to report back to you. It’s something new — conquer two herd management items on the same day.
Do you have suggestions of what you would like to do when you schedule your ranch visit? I’d love to hear from you. Please send me suggestions and I’ll see if they can be worked into an activity here.
Thank you for following along with our alpaca adventures!
September 2017
Every day can be a long and winding road on the ranch. You never really know how the day will go, what will happen, and sometimes how to handle it.
This summer was a rough one. Immediately after shearing June 2017, Angela became lame and we lost her and her full-term female cria three days later. A second tragedy occurred July 2017 when two dogs dug under our fence and one of them attacked Dutch Chocolate, who died 2.5 weeks later despite extensive efforts by Doc Jake and M and me.
With regards to these set backs, I must admit I was not and am still not prepared for loss of my livestock. I have heard, however, that I must be prepared for deadstock.
And so it goes.
From June 2016:
Continual efforts need to be focused on my sweet piece of heaven, and it takes time and help. I can’t do a lot of it without a second pair of hands (and sometimes two more pair of hands). I should have had more kids!!!!
Until the weekend, I have to put off the big things.
From earlier posts:
“It took about four months to get Charlie and Toby here. We found them in Ohio (I see you are are asking why Ohio). Looking for the right fit in guardian dogs, we wanted ones that were born and bred to be compatible with alpacas. These boys were.
We first needed to buy the house. Check. We needed to sell our SoJo home and our Camping House. Check.
I needed to retire. Check.
Then the right fence needed to replace the not so sturdy fence.. And, we needed to get the gentlemen here to install it. Check.
Our “girls” (alpacas) were busy with breedings. Once that was completed and their pregnancies confirmed, we drove to Heber to get them. Check.
OH NO! Now the puppies were big puppies, and we couldn’t find a plane to fly them to Utah. Finally found United Pet Safe would fly them on October 31st, but that would be the last day. So frantically we problem-solved. Our breeder drove them to Detroit after we were able to find TWO GIANT crates. One problem: They wouldn’t fly the doggies to Salt Lake City. They would, however, fly them to Denver.
So, we did a Double Dog run to Denver, got them loaded in the truck bed (covered), and drove them to their now Home Sweet Home.”
Check.