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White Hot
9:05 PM | 
Posted by
Jen Pietsch |
Well we are getting right down to it huh? I have been trying to figure out how to write about our next alpaca. I usually gush about how cute and yummy they are right? Well this one isn’t what one would call classically cute or yummy, classic beauties rarely are, so when you read about her, know that I love her at least as much as all of the others. Even though she is usually too busy to notice.
Ember
She is the biggest female we have on the farm and she knows it. Ember stands head and shoulders above all the other girls and well, truth be told, all but one of the boys- and he is her son. When we first moved, anytime I would go out Ember would be right there pretty much in my face. It took me a couple of weeks before I realized that she was not ‘the queen bee’- that as you know is Trina. Ember was on duty.
Ember’s job in the herd is Chief of Security. She probably fell into this because of her size and height We live on an exposed corner. Ember has an obvious height advantage. She can see over anyone’s head to find danger. She is in charge of alerting all alpaca including the boys of any danger headed their way.
When our girl Ember senses danger she stands up tall- very tall, and lets out a warning call. (Beeep Beeep Beeep- which doesn’t sound like it would be a call to action but it is.) All motion in the field stops and all eyes are on Ember. ( I am having a flash of a vision of Ember in a Superman cape with the wind blowing her beautiful hair, while all of the citizens of Orcas Moon look to her to save them) Each pasture group pulls closer together and waits for the next command from the top. Ember takes her job very seriously.
We have no predators that would harm the herd, but our dogs would love to get in there and muck up some trouble. Our neighbor Sherry across the street just got a new service dog and really enjoys taking him out and putting him through his paces. Our other neighbor has a spunky little border collie we call Shep.
On more than one occasion we have had one of our dogs slip into the field. Nothing slips by Ember- she is on alert and heads over to tell those pugs where to go. If walking towards them while looking big doesn’t scare them away. Which usually it doesn’t. (Pug is another name for dumb like a rock) She will try and stomp them. This only serves to make the dogs think she wants to play. Wrong. They then run and chase while the humans chase and yell at the dogs begging for them to stop literally fearing for their little dog lives. Our dogs are fearless and stupid and I hope it doesn’t come to this but if they get stomped by Ember she was just doing her job.
Ember is much more than the job she does- Of all the Mothers we have on the farm- she is possibly the best. She delivered her last cria, Sage Prince, and wouldn’t let us near him- not even to weigh him- he was about 20 pounds- we were weighing on the run so it is approximate.
Milk- She has it, plenty
Discipline- her kids tow the line.
Looks- Hello, have you seen her children? They are a chip right off the old block! She is a classic beauty!
We love Ember.
When is a big thing Minnie?
To start off on the right foot- Minnie is BIG- big, like tall and long legged -- not big like someone you are trying to set up on a date and say 'wow she has a great personality'. Minnie is not that kind of big. Minnie is actually fairly waif like- like a really tall ballet dancer-but fleecy.Minnie is all things happy and good in the alpaca world. She is a little goofy- like a best friend you grew up with. When you come down to the fields she is always interested in what you might be up to. She has a kinda expectant, curious, looking for a little bit of innocent trouble look. If someone was going to pull a prank on someone and then own up to it it would be Minnie.
I was not there when Minnie was born. But looking at her now I find it hard to believe that she was ever- MINI- but I guess it rolls off the tongue better than Longleggity.
Minnie had a baby this year- he was full sized, not at all mini- and he is Minnie's pride and joy. She however gets a little absent minded and leaves him to fend for himself. When she gives a hum he comes a runnin'
One of Minnie's best features is her size and fleece combination. She is big and her fleece is fine- dynamite combo-
Dense = Weight
Fineness = Next to skin softness
Just look at those equations. Can you tell that I have my MBA?
Minnie who is white was bred to Onyx who is black. At our home we like to gamble a bit during cria season. We try to guess the sex and color of the cria. We have given up on the expected arrival date it is hopeless.
I won this year on Minnie!!!!!
It was a no brainer!--I didn't know it was a boy but I had a fifty-fifty chance.
Here are a few photos and you can figure out how I knew
This is Minnie's mom Mickey(sounds like Disneyland huh? I don't really like Disney)
Look over Mickey's eye- what color is that?
Look at Minnie's chin-what color?
Here is Minnie and her yummy same color as the spot on my chin, and above my mom's eye baby!!! Ranger!
Holly- It Ain't Just for Christmas Anymore!
This is not random I just wanted to talk about her today - It is Prada's little bundle of joy- The youngest in the Wu Dynasty- Ho Ho Ho it is
Let's back up.
My kids needed haircuts- Garett was sporting a Justin Bieber- Kahana was hiding fishing gear in his hair and we think maybe a small animal and Luke shaggy dog- couldn't even find his ears- which probably needed cleaning.
In the summer we always look for an excuse for a boat trip to Lopez we usually go to the Barber deVille...and to Farmer Jeff's favorite spot for cinnamon rolls- Holly B's Bakery. Lopez also has the best farmers market.
Well- everything looked good at home with the animals. Manhattan, Prada and Minnie were all due with their babies on the same day and no one looked ready except Manhattan who already had hers the week before.
Off we went on a 3-hour tour- okay maybe a little longer.
We turned the corner to our house and as a reflex (probably from being a teacher or just weird) I counted all the animals- Houston we have an extra.
Where are you taking my baby?
She is the most curious of the bunch of new cria. She loves to run up to you and touch noses and breath you in - this is a singular experience. What is amazing is that she brings here mom Prada along with her. Prada will now eat out of my hand- really not figuratively.
Holly is a pistol. She is always up for fun and trouble. She doesn't care who she plays with she just wants an adventure. We love our Holly- B
Wanna play?
My Blue-Eyed Girl!
Yeah!! I was hoping that totally random selection would work out in my favor! The alpaca of the day is none other than Wanda' s baby girl--
Prada has blue eyes. I will go into the reasons this is not a desirable trait at another time, but what it boils down to is in order for her to almost 100% assuredly have a baby with dark eyes, she needed to be bred to a dark male- as dark as you can get as far back in his heritage as you can get.
We found a crazy handsome award winning black man for her to pass the time with. He lives about three hours away. Prada (the little stick of dynamite) doesn't travel. She was never halter trained because it stresses her out to be handled. She, with the blue eyes was never going to be shown, so why push the issue? Alpacas don't do artificial insemination. This was a problem.
Onyx de MicoAlpacas are induced ovulators. This means introduce them to a male and they will be ready in a couple of days. We bred Prada on day one-three- and seven as it is the protocol I follow. I then wait another three days and do what is called a spit test. This isn't really fun. But it is easier than having her pee on a stick - which doesn't work anyway.
To do a spit test you catch the girl in a catch pen and then bring the haltered male- this doesn't have to be the one she was bred to- and see what happens. If she runs, spits and kicks start knitting those baby booties if not get back in the saddle.
Farmer Jeff decided he was going to assist on this one because Prada is indeed a firecracker! We caught Prada and put her in one of the barn stalls with a gate. We brought in Onyx and stood back to see what the verdict was. Chase, chase, chase (the alpaca, not Jeff and I), orgle, orgle, orgle (again the alpaca not Jeff and I), run, run, run (Prada from Onyx).
I decided that Prada was indeed pregnant- Jeff the armchair farmer - said "But she is not spitting!!!" (when you read that last sentence please use your- I know more than you- annoying inflection- go back and try it again) I assured him that, she was a maiden and maybe a little mixed up but was indeed pregnant. Maiden meaning never having had a baby not a virgin.
As I turned to open the gate to let our new little mother to be out of the stall, she jumped up and landed herself crosswise on the stall divider. She was up there like a car on a cliff teetering back and forth- and couldn't get down. You could have heard a pin drop. Prada looked confused, Jeff wasn't breathing and even I, hard to believe, was speechless.
Jeff was beginning to think that she MAY be pregnant. After we got everyone sorted and settled and looked over- I started to laugh and couldn't stop.
Jeff is no longer involved in breedings. Prada gave us a friendly, beautiful, brown eyed, curious little girl- but she will get her own day!
The Wu
Thank you Jeff for doing a guest post. I am pretty sure Santa Oma has now put you on her bad list for the comment about the brown traveling suit.
Next out of the hat is....
aka- Wanda Woo, Woo Woo, Wooey and the Wooster (good gravy try and page her in a supermarket!)
My first hands on interaction with Wanda was to trim her nails shortly after I arrived on the farm. She wasn't havin' it. It took three people to hold her safely in order to get her nails squared away. She was terrified and so were the three of us.
My next farmer moment stands out so clearly in my mind and no matter how I try I can't ever erase it. It was when I questioned if I had what it took to make the farming work for me.
Labor day morning 2008- my parents were here- I went out early to feed all the animals and much to my horror there was Wanda with a half delivered baby. She was wild eyed and running around. The baby was obviously dead.
We caught her in the catch pen, delivered her baby and all Wanda could do was cry and cry and cry. She looked at her baby and looked at me and back again and cried the most awful, sad and lost cry I have ever heard human or otherwise. Wanda let me hold her, clean her up and sit with her for hours without any fuss. I think she and I both wanted time and quiet company.
I will now stop crying.
Wanda is complex. She loves her girl Prada who was the baby before her lost one. They sleep together every night, even now they have of course let Prada's cria join the slumber party.
Wanda wants so much to be a mom again. When ever the boys walk by she lays down by the fence and tries to tempt them to a breeding- they are more than willing- I can't breed her again the heartbreak is just too much for me.
She is always the first one ready to tend any newborn and will gladly take the older crias down the pasture for a graze and sleep with them in the sun. She is however not a pushover. She doesn't take any sass from those little ones. She is the perfect auntie!!
Wanda with Tinkerbelle's newborn
Oh look here is Wanda with Carmen's baby
Imagine... it's Wanda with Mickey's cria.
Right back at 'ya Wanda!!
Trina Queen Mum
When Jennifer asked me to write about a favorite Alpaca for the 25-days of Christmas series, Miss Trina was the easy choice. Why? She's the Queen Mum, of course!
Trina is the grand matron of the Brown Family; mother to Tinkerbell, Carmen and Brooklyn; grandmother to Rocky, Pipi, Muncho and Valentino. But she is more than that: she is also Leader of the Ladies, Queen of the Herd. As such, she is first to assist new mothers, greet their babies, arbitrate all disputes, and otherwise lead the everyday wanderings and activities of the group. What Trina says goes, and where she goes, the herd goes.
No matter when we look over the fields, Trina is looking back up at us; letting us know she has everything under control, is on the alert for predators, and is ready to lead the herd up for feeding time on the shortest of notice.With her tan curly locks, ankle white 'socks', happy face and pleasant disposition, it is no wonder that she is our farm brochure cover girl.
To be honest and with affection, Trina also reminds me a bit of my mother-in-law Jutta: she is the glue of the family; she always has her fashionable brown travel suit at the ready; she is the Queen Mum; and we love her dearly. She is our Miss Trina!
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In the Sweet Summer Thyme
June 21, 2009
- Fathers Day
- Sisters Birthday
- Longest Day of the Year
- First Day of Summer
- Luke's First Communion and....wait for it...
Up we rose on a beautiful sunny day to get ready for Luke's first first holy communion at Saint Francis here on Orcas.
Oma and Opa were here for the big day and well it was also fathers day!!!
Can you say Barbecue?
Our regular priest was out of town so we had a guest priest- lame. But we had all of our special people around us and there was CAKE!
- Jeff left at 12:00 to be ready to take pictures.
- Jeff took all the car keys with him- leaving us at home with no transportation.
- We tried to call the church at 12:15 when we realized that we weren't going to make it---no Jeff--no keys!
- Sent children down the driveway to catch our friends who usually pass our home on the way to church to catch a ride.
- Our friends pull in
- Jeff pulls in too
- Off we all go to church!
What a bright shining light of summer!!!!
Maddie didn't need any help from this good looking crowd!
Better than any TV show watching the newborn with your Opa!
Getting trained up for show season!
Okay, Okay you want pictures- I get it!
I am working on my picture/problem. Farmer Jeff is home and he will snap a few. I am also going to go back into the older posts and set up a bunch of links for those of you just joining the party. It probably would be nice for the new folks to have alllll the background.
15-Tile-Game
No I don't actually have a photo of the alpaca of the day. But I can spin a yarn about why I don't. I sound a little like a teenager who dented your car and will now try and tell you how it was not their fault.
I just didn't take a picture of him- I didn't think he was staying at our house for long.
Farmer Jeff has a great camera which I don't use-way too complicated to be fun and flexible, and my children left my-indestructible- kinda like one you would give a preschooler- camera with our friend on their last fishing trip. It will come back...they have promised.
I will now describe Chaska- aka-Cha Cha- aka Cha Cha Loco- aka Buckwheat.
Chaska came over with a friend- Cimarron who we owned half of. Long story short, Cimarron passed away and Cha Cha is here to stay (ackkk I am starting to rhyme).
Chaska is from our friends farm Krystal Acres. He is amazing in every way. His fleece is dense his demeanor is gentle and he likes to talk (I love an alpaca that can hold up his end of the conversation). Whenever I go down to feed, scoop or even just to garden near-by there is my buddy Cha Cha hummin' along.
He is out of an fantastic sire- Emerald Farms Rincon Cloud and is a handsome eyeful so I suppose he will make a great cria- we will see if all goes well he and our little Autumn Diva will hear the pitter-patter of little padded feet come summer. If not, I am sure that Chaska is more than willing to give it another go!
Don't lose patience, I am getting to the 15-tile-game title
Today was a HUGE Day for our brown guy. We moved him in with the "big boys".
We- when I say WE, I really mean ME- moved all of the 'pacs around today. Doing this reminds me of doing the 15 tile-game. There are certain animals that shouldn't share a fence line, (big boys and any girls) some that can (little boys and girls, donkey girls and anyone, little boys and anyone) knowing this it is tricky to move all the animals around to avoid who needs to be avoided.
There was a little rumbling at the beginning but I am holding out high high hopes that he fits in and finds his place. If it doesn't work we can do something else.
I got everyone moved and decided to try Chaska with the big boys. He seems happy.
I will get some pictures tomorrow or more likely Sunday. Farmer Jeff is coming home!!!
Jingle Val?
Valentino
If I had known that I was going to be trying to come up with a carol for every animal I would never have started this! Work with me a little
Dashing through the fields.
In a two 'pac all out fight-
It's sometimes quite a fright.
It sometimes lasts all night- hey!
Jingle Val
Jingle Val
Jingle all the way!
He is short and brown but very proud we love him in every way---Hey!
Jingle Val
Jingle Val
Jingle all the way!
Show after show
He got the gate
in every single state--hey!
Jingle Val
Jingle Val
Jingle all the way
He is Carmen's boy
He brings us joy.
He's Kahana's favorite guy- hey!
Jingle Val
Jingle Val
Jingle all the way!
He's from good stock
and we got a shock
when he came our way!
Jingle Val
Jingle Val
Jingle all the way!
My children are now begging me to finish this post so I will stop singing this song.
Good luck with being able to sing it!
Here is the low down on Valentino- from the fleece prospective he is a ten. He will not be bred here on our farm. He is eat out of your hand sweet and the last of what we call the 'big boys'.
I promise that I will never do this again. I will not. Okay, that might be a lie.
Which one is Valentino? The brown fluffy one!
Enjoying the excitement of a show.
In the ring with Kahana and Valentino, both first timers!
Star of Wonder
The boy's name Phoebus \pho(e)-bus\ is of Greek origin, and the meaning of Phoebus is "bright, radiant". The sun god Apollo was also known as Phoebus Apollo, referring to the fact that he brought light.
One of the lights of our farms life is our boy Phoebus- funny name handsome boy.
Here is our boy. Since we moved to Orcas and bought our animals Phoebus and Chaucer- from yesterday- have been together. (look I surprised you, and made a link) Phoebus is gooood looking. He however wouldn't probably be able to tell you that because he often can't see. He has a very stylish head of hair that is in constant need of a trim. He has a full on alpaca afro. The upside of this is he always has his head held high. He looks like quite the man about town.
Phoebus is one of my childs favorite alpacas on the farm. We also call him the ninja. Phoebus can kick in any direction without warning. He doesn't do it on purpose really he just gets startled and kicks out. Have I been on the receiving end of the Ninja? Oh yeah, does it hurt? Oh yeah it smarts quite a bit. My kids think it is a riot when I get a little smack in the leg, me, not so much.
The worst incident of the Ninja kicking was when it was time for yearly vaccinations. (I know get on with it-you can see where this is going) We contain the animals in a catch pen, in this case the three- 'big boys'. Whenever I get all three big boys in a pen I must move quickly. They get all excited and think someone is going to get a breeding- I can count on one hand the number of times this has been the case- breeding that is.
Onward. I was just about to give Chaucer a shot and he decided that he should give Phoebus a little sniff- Bam, I never saw it coming. No Phoebus didn't kick me - just made me vaccinate myself for the year- I am not going to need
my Clostridium Perfringens Types C and D- Tetanus Toxid for the next year!!!
Phoebus in the front with his afro and Chaucer looking ever so much the herdsire he is in the back right! See that handsome guy in distance on the left- you are going to love him!
Anthropomorphism Much?
In the summer they don't get to be up by the house and enjoy the visitors, most of whom came to see the babies. The most the big boys get from the visitor traffic is usually having me point and say- those down there, they are the big boys. Ohhh the 'big boys' visitors say like my big boys are going to jump the fence and run them down. They of course wouldn't dream of such a thing.
So after I finish the 'big "we always get muddy end of the stick" boys' I really will choose randomly. I am kinda random anyway. (Not a news flash for regular readers)
I'll get on with it now. Let's start at the top...of the pecking order that is.
Presenting the biggest of the big:
We all think that Chaucer looks remarkably like George Washington the founder of our country.
What do you think? Can you see the resemblance?
Chaucer is a BIG boy but gentle. Let me give you a little perspective- big is relative- he only weighs just over 200 pounds and I can look him in the eye. He is the father of a number of animals on the farm, Buddy, Manhattan, and our recently passed away Channel. He stamps each of his offspring with the same respectful attitude and demeanor. To see him stand and watch over the girls and rest of the boys on the farm you can really see him being the commander and chief.
Here is a little story about our big white guy. Background first. At around six months we wean the babies and this is how I have been going about it. Girls go in a separate field with a couple of maidens and the boys go with Pendragon a gentle gelding who will show them the ropes and keep them company.
When we weaned the little boys last year it meant that we needed to put our two year old in with the big boys. When Valentino switched fields and joined the big guys he really thought he should be the man in charge. Day after day for weeks Valentino tried to dominate Chaucer. If you saw the two together you would laugh at the entire idea.
Day after day Chaucer held his temper and didn't take Valentino's lack of respect out on him. I would have but I'm spiteful like that.
Thankfully Gentleman Chaucer kept world or pasture peace with the diplomacy and grace absent in many of today's leaders.
I really must get more photos taken. Maybe a new years resolution?
Rockin' around the Christmas Tree!!!
Yes, I am still going at it with the Christmas songs. It may/will become more difficult for you to read, and me to come up with as the month goes on. Sorry for us both.
Harken back to a couple of days ago and Brooklyn and her general lack of desire about nursing. Well, the mother of next 'little boy' is her sister. I could probably stop right here and let you fill in the blanks but I will go on only because I promised an animal a day.
He sounds like he should be a hit man in Queens but he is just a funny little alpacaRocky has been a fighter from the start- hence his name. He is also a little bit of a joke- hence his name.
Rocky joined the world on a fantastic summer day. It was picture perfect for alpaca birthin'- unless you are Tinkerbelle his mother. Tinkerbelle is busy. She is busy, busy, busy contemplating the universe. She is busy in a Zen sort of way. You know lots of watching birds and grass growing and the farmer across the street. Babies? not on the agenda. Birthing is for other alpaca- not her. She is busy.
Wow! Rocky rocked her world! She was not claiming ownership of him, sounds faintly like Brooklyn? She didn't even recognize him? Baby? what Baby? It might have been a classic case of post-traumatic stress or general disregard for her motherly responsibility.
Luckily Rocky is a fighter when it comes to getting what he wants (kinda a spitter too, but I digress). M-I-L-K that's what he wanted. Even if we needed to halter and hold his mom he wasn't giving up until he got what he came for. This is both good and bad. Rocky only liked milk- no grain- no hay- a little grass and a whole lot of milk.
Try and halter-train an animal that can't be bribed with food. Good Luck. Well because I am an amazing animal communicator-or just really lucky getting him to bend to my will, we did get him trained up and sent packing to the shows.
Here is just one more story about my little bunny Rock-a-Mow-Joe. I was getting ready to take him into the show ring, but he didn't feel quite like going so he covered my glasses in- I am trying to think of a funny way to say it but, there just isn't one- Spit. Luckily A.C. was there to rescue me and hold Rocky while I wiped my glasses off- green- yuck.
I turned around to claim him and she too had gotten a faceful of green. A. C. handed Rocky off to my ever so lint free, spit free, always quite put together friend Kris Olson. I quickly went to get him before any more damage was done and ...well...I was tooooo late. Green is NOT Kris's color.
Rocky is a funny little boy! We wouldn't change him for the world.
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