Dog days of summer....

It used to be that the dog days of summer were in August. That was when we lived in NH. Now that we are in Virginia, summer is full of 'dog days'. I am not sure where that term originated but I am sure that I have had quite enough of summer already. How many days are we 'into' summer? My point exactly. We have just had over a week of temps in the ninety degree range with heat index' recorded at well over a hundred. Today must be in the high eighties because we can breathe!

The alpacas spend most of the summer in their barn and shelters in front of the fan. It's almost as if a depression settles over them when it gets too hot and humid to do anything but cush! Their only spurts of energy seem to be when it is time for hosing down. Then, everyone comes alive and jockeys for the best spot in front of the hose.

I am happy to say that all of the females are now taking turns drinking from the hose! Even little Lady KampBell tries it out. I think Whitney is a bit frustrated with Kammie because invariably, Kammie insists on nursing just when the water fun begins. This just happened a few minutes ago. I was just about to call the session finished when I heard what sounded like horses galloping up to me. It was Whitney followed by her young one.... I hosed Whitney down really well and she finished by drinking from the hose. Then there was this little milk covered mouth trying to do the same! I helped her along- not sure if she actually took anything in but the milk moustache disappeared!

We are having a big fly issue here this year. It could be my imagination but I really think there is a lot more than usual. I recently started putting out pine shavings over the cleaned up poop piles. Those are pretty economical and it seems to have helped. We also use wood pellets. Those take care of the odor immediately and do break down really well. They just don't seem to have the staying power the shavings do. I have also hung those disgusting fly tapes and the fly traps with the liquid in them. The real fix will be when the cooler weather gets here.... I am already counting the days.

Work is progressing on the front acres. Another couple of good burning days and we will be ready to rent a stump grinder. I am thinking it is probably only a quarter acre that is ready but that is enough to put some seed down and hope what little rain we have been getting will help a pasture begin to get established. It never ceases to amaze me the number of people who get into alpaca farming that start out with wooded land. What were we thinking?

The Renaissance Faire season is now over at the Lake Anna venue. We have one more weekend in the fall and are really looking forward to that. The temps are just too warm here in Virginia. I would do better in February or March! I am considering starting a clothing line to sell at the faires next year. It would be a mix and match peasant line... I already have a vendor interested in carrying it so this may actually come to fruition.

I guess that is it for this time....

Sue

June 1st - All is well...

Let me begin by saying that I do believe I have learned a valuable lesson. One must save one's blog entry prior to publishing. Last week I composed a rather long and informative entry only to have it lost after hitting the publish key. Not a good thing!

Life has been extremely busy lately. The Renaissance Faire started on the third weekend in May and our farm pulled two back to back weekends. We are fortunate enough to have a shaded site at the faire- that really helped us through the Memorial Day weekend with over 700 patrons (Chuck maintains all 900 visited us!) and temperatures in the high 90's. It was a challenge for the humans as well as the alpacas. I had the disadvantage of being ill for the entire weekend. I do look forward to this coming weekend - no faire for us, in garb at least!

On Saturday we will be hosting a meeting here for the LAMAS organization. It is made up of owners of llamas and alpacas. Rumor has it that there is a lot of misconception around each other's camelids. We hope that by sitting down and having show and tell using a couple of our boys we are able to dispel some of the myths surrounding alpacas. The llama folks may have a harder time trying to convince us alpaca people that llama spit isn't all but toxic! :-D Actually, maybe I just need them to convince my llama of that! He still hasn't forgiven me for the haircut I gave him. Truth be told he looks like an egg crate mattress at present - oh the shame of it!

On Sunday we will no doubt succomb to our faire addiction and visit our friends there. It will be enjoyable to do so as patrons. I still have not managed to catch a show in the two years we have been doing this! This weekend the weather is going to be much more forgiving and in the low 80's. There are pictures up on the website already for this season - www.varf.org

Have to cut this short today as there is a house and barn that need desperate attention before the weekend! Hope all are well -

Until the next time!