March 28, 2006

It's a dreary day in the neighborhood today... Cloudy - no rain though.

We made some great progress this morning and completed our catch pen off the back of the barn. It is amazing how long it takes to get some things accomplished. This has been in the works since 2004. Life happens though and unless one is working at this full time it isn't that far fetched to expect things will get put on the back burner.

It is very interesting working with our alpaca supervisors! Robin Hood and his merry men, Friar Tuck and The Sheriff, were not locked in the barn yet they stayed in there the entire time we worked out there. We did have the ladies closed in, partly to keep them out of the way but also in the hopes that Whitney would eat her pellets. She didn't. We did let them out after a couple of hours. Then, and only then, did the young "men" decide to go out and play...

The girls had to check out every square inch of the new catch pen. It is probably about 26' by 20'. Chuck would know of course. We have it set up so that each of the barn pens opens to it. We also have ten foot gates off the back of it so the tractor can get in for ground work and to replenish the stone's for the barn floor.

We left gates open today for the ladies and crias. It took all of ten minutes before Archer (5 months) and Kammie (a week and a half) were running in one barn door and out the other.... Just like our kids and grand kids did when they were younger and just like any dog we have ever owned!

Eventually we plan to put some obstacles out in that area and use it as our training pen as well. We should have those completed in the next month since we need some for the Renaissance Faire this year.

Guess that is it for today! Time to catch up with emails....

Until the next time!

Friday, March 24th

Aren't web master's wonderful people? :-D I tried to upload this picture yesterday and ended up with the dreaded little box that we all hate to see. Pam emailed a little while ago to tell me what I did wrong and how to fix it! Thanks Pam!

Of course, being almost computer illiterate, I couldn't figure out how to save the post I wrote yesterday and ended up deleting that along with the little box....

Well, here is our first little girl! She is the most adorable thing! Her fiber looks very nice with all the little curls- Of course it is just as soft as can be.

Her name is Nottingham Hollow's Lady KampBell. Big mouthful for every day; around the farm we will call her Kammie! Had we stuck with the Robin Hood theme, she would have been called Maid Marian. That was the plan but when all was said and done it just didn't fit. So, since her sire is Angus of Argyll, I did a search on Argyll. Fully expected to find a Lady (something) of Argyll. Instead, I found out that the most common surname in Argyllshire is Campbell. Reading that I felt as though I had been hit with a 2X4! The doctor that delivered her is Dr. BJ Campbell! That snagged it. When I discovered this, both Whitney and her cria were at Little Doc's Veterinary Care where Whintey was being treated with uterine flushes for a few days... I really felt a bit awkward naming the baby after just one of our vets... Dr. Karen Baum has been our vet since day one with camelids.... I soon came up with the solution. She would be: Lady KampBell - pronounced Campbell but incorporating Dr. Karen's initials.... So, that's my story and I am sticking to it!

We are recovering and getting back to normal now that the girls are home and reunited with their herd. What a welcome home they received! All of the females and Archer came running to greet us as we walked through the gate. There are some moments in this life that we will never forget. That was one of them! You know the kind of moment I am talking about... The kind that just fill you up with warmth and you know all is right in your world!

Until the next time.....

March 21st - Spring is here!

Well, here it is the first full day of spring 2006! We are celebrating here at Nottingham Hollow as our first female cria was born here on the 18th. I can hardly believe she is already three days old!

This little girl is out of River Rock's Whitney and Thistledown's Angus of Argyll. Angus settled Whitney on the first "date" and this is his first cria. When the sun comes out and I can get some good pictures I will post one of her. She takes after her dam in looks and temperament, but that is a good thing!

The purpose of this blog is for me to be able to give updates whenever the mood strikes! I am not accomplished in html so I have to depend on my friend Pam to update my web site. This is not a problem but I expect that a lot of what I may write here wouldn't really have a home on the web site! My intent is to post at least weekly. Here's hoping I meet that goal!

With spring here so is our busy season! While we do not have any more deliveries due this spring we have a very full calendar with shearing dates, the Spring Fiber Festival, the ABC Show in Maryland, Maryland Sheep & Wool and in eight short weeks the Virginia Renaissance begins its 2006 faire dates! I was at the grocery store yesterday and saw a familiar t-shirt: Yes Virginia, There is a Renaissance! The cast are the lucky ones who get those t-shirts. It's fun to run into folks though!

We will be bringing Robin Hood, Friar Tuck and The Sheriff of Nottingham Hollow this year. The alpacas make a big splash at these events and the other Merchants love it when we draw the crowds to their area by walking the alpacas. Everyone loves the alpacas... If you look at the Events page on our website you can read all about how we are able to justify having them there!

Well, I should probably get back to inputting my expenses for 2005 so that we are able to make a trip to the accountant. I will be back sooner, rather than later! Take care!