Well, as usual, it’s been just plain nuts around here. Yesterday I was looking out the kitchen sink window and scarfing down a perfect peach (there is nothing better than a Colorado Palisade peach—sorry Georgia!) when I saw a hawk swoop down and GRAB LUCY. It took me a split second to get out the door into the backyard, just in time to see Lucy fall out of his talons and scramble for the bushes. Every chicken was screaming and heading for cover and Napoleon was frantically trying to distract the hawk. I ran right at it and it flew away.
Lucy was so far into the bushes I couldn’t get her out, so I just sat in the grass and waited for her to show herself. She finally poked her head out, did a big shake, and headed straight for the protection of the goat shed. Smart girl, Lucy. Should I call you Lucky Lucy? 🙂
That’s one of many barnyard stories I want to share. The animals have been extra fun recently. And I’ve been working like a crazy woman on projects and I can’t wait to show you all the things I’ve done. But hell, why would you want to listen to me talk about my hard work when you can meet…
Hmm. What’s in that trailer? Wait for it…
Meet Junie and Tia 🙂
Junie is on the left, Tia on the right. (And just like Doink, an all-black animal is just about impossible to photograph.)
Story goes like this. A friend sent me a link to a Craigslist post about a free alpaca named Gus. I called about it early last week and the lady, the very odd lady, was ready to give him to me on Saturday. And then she backed out. But in meantime, I made a connection with an alpaca owner who lives less than a mile from our house and she was nice enough to give me a brief alpaca lesson. When she followed up and found out the lady backed out, she offered me a couple of hers.
Tia was born in Peru. Her full name is Dona Alteia.
Junie B is her full name.
They are older girls, part of a herd that I have driven past almost daily for years. How perfect is that?
Their introduction into the barnyard went wonderfully. Everyone gave them some space to get comfortable.
I think Tia is saying, “What’s wrong with your neck…it’s so short!”
Jessie showed her how yummy the grass is.
Tia is the most outgoing of the two. Junie is not sure she likes us yet. We look forward to making her feel at home.
We’ll win you over, Junie!
She’s lovely, isn’t she?
They are very curious about everything and it’s so much fun to watch them explore the barnyard. So much fun, in fact, that I think I’ll head out there right now. I’ll share more later—have a great day everyone!
I’m totally loving these two!
**Shared at (mis)Adventures Monday, Simple Saturdays, From the Farm, Our Simple Homestead and Homestead Hop**
How wonderfully exciting! Alpaca fiber is fantastic. So glad Lucy got away from that hawk – he needs to take his business elsewhere!
Yeah, that hawk needs a new zip code!
How fun!!! Love the alpaca names! Looking forward to finding out how they interact with your other animal friends, and if they make special friends among them!
Me too!
Hi Joan,
So glad that Lucy got away. I let my three little hens out in the morning while I’m doing morning chores, but put them back in if I have to leave sight of them because we’ve had trouble in the past with a very persistent hawk. This hawk was not afraid of people and I even had to get the broom to shoo him three times and he looked at me so annoyed!
Just wanted to ask you if you have a private email. I wanted to share with you some information about your Alpacas. I’ve been in the business for fifteen years and have fifteen head of them at the moment. We were up to eighteen at one point, but haven’t done any breeding for a long time and won’t. I do worry that Alpacas are at risk sometimes these days as many people are and have been trying to “unload” their animals and people who get them haven’t been schooled enough to properly care for them and sometimes have unrealistic ideas about them. I love them as many people do, but they’re not like a cat, dog, horse, etc. It’s my experience that they are very intelligent creatures and can have family relationships throughout the years. They’re very much herd animals and have wonderful fiber that is excellent for use in spinning, knitting, felting, weaving. I remind people that their requirements are different than other livestock and in order to keep them in good health we need to pay very close attention to this. They do not do well with high humidity and heat and we have to make sure that they are shorn in the spring time every year. They need protection from the cold and wet as well. Their fleece does not have lanolin in it, therefore it doesn’t shed the water and they can soak easily to the skin. We deal with meningeal worm here in Michigan and have to give monthly Ivomec injections during the spring to late December months to keep this parasite at bay. It’s not a 100%, but helps most of the time. Some parts of the country are worse than others, but it’s everywhere. I believe that you will make a wonderful Alpaca caretaker and I think you’ll enjoy them too. They’re fun to watch and when they are happy and want to cut up, they have the most beautiful gate which is called pronking. The only way I can describe it is if you remember the cartoon with the skunk, “Peppy LePew” and how he moved along happily. Not sure if that spelling is correct! Anyway, they come off all fours and just bounce so gracefully and can turn on a dime. I’m happy that you got these two girls. They’re both very pretty. Now you’re going to have to learn to spin some of that beautiful fiber! I hope that the farm that you got these girls from will be good mentors and they will always be there to help if needed and to provide the proper information and care for them that they will need. I hope that you will enjoy them as much as I have. Mine are pretty spoiled, but that’s okay. I just do right by them and they give me some awesome fleece and daily companionship. I’m not sure if you can see my email address as this comes through, but drop me a line if you like and I would love to have a conversation with you if you have time and would like to. Blessings to all and tell Lucy to keep one eye on the sky!
I will be in touch soon! The neighbor who owned them has been super helpful and I can call her whenever so I don’t feel totally on my own. I’m learning a lot fast. They have a good vet who knows the unique physiology of alpacas, so I’ve got a nice support group!
My heart stopped when I read the part about the hawk. Good thing you were eating that peach by the window! I am so glad Lucy is okay, and yes, she should be renamed, Lucky Lucy!
Enjoy your new family members! Can’t wait to her more about the Alpacas.
Yeah, that hawk was SCARY. And why do predators always pick my favorite girls? That’s extra mean!
CUTE!!! … .but they need a new barber lol. 😉
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Ha! They’ll need to wait until spring for their new hairdo 🙂
Oh they are GORGEOUS! Alpacas have such lovely faces, I always think – they look so curious, it always makes me smile. They’re good guarding animals too, aren’t they? I’m really looking forward to hearing all about them.
But wait – what about Doink? How is he feeling? Is he worried he may be upstaged??
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I’m looking forward to getting to know them! Doink is happily ignoring them. Nothing upstages that guy 🙂
How exciting is that?! They were meant to be yours. Have fun with your new babies!
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Did I just hear you on NPR this morning? The segment on early morning sounds.
That was me !! 🙂
Super cute – new additions are the best. You must be having a lot of fun watching them explore their new environment.
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Oh, how much fun to have alpacas! I’ve never thought about getting alpacas before. We are happy with our goats so far.
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