All cria are wonderful!

08/07/2009 by Rosemary.

As planned we rushed through our jobs last night in order for me to sit down in the field and Carl to tinker.  Unfortunately, Carl picked up the afterbirth and it split, spurting all over him!  Sam then ran over and said,”Mum, have you forgotten you’ve got a church meeting in 10 minutes!”  So that was that!  Normally I say very little at these meetings and this one was no exception but we were talking about the church centenary which was particularly interesting.  At one point the church was derelict and to get married you had to have most of the service in the Village Hall and then be blessed in the ruins.  I rather like the idea of that.  I was christened there (not in the ruins, I’m not that old).  They are going to have an exhibition of old photos so I will have to take Mum’s wedding photos as she was marriedin the church.  They also have photos of the old hill climb car race, back in the fifties I think, and the church may have the steps outside decorated with flowers.  I think that will be marvellous.  I love wild flowers in church.

Most of the day has been lovely - sun, wind, little showers and pleasantly warm.  The alpacas have been very content and I have been pondering on how soon you really know how good or bad a cria is.  Some things you can spot straight away (like old blue eyes).  THAT’S IT!  As I type I know the little one has to be called Frank!  Emily didn’t look particularly wonderful at birth but her fleece has developed.  She definitely did not have crimp (not cramp!) in her topknot at a week but now she has.  Lily (the suri) had the most fantastic ringlet neck from the moment she arrived but the rest has taken time to turn into locks with twist and it seems to be still developing.  Alfie (the other white suri) started just as a ball of fluff but now he has  independent locks but they are much thicker than Lily’s and fan shaped at the base - not as good.  When Spike was born last year we knew very little and were very naive.  We marvelled at the brilliant lustre, totally oblivious to the fact that there was no crimp and very faint fawn patches!  We had a bizarre idea that he would turn a glorious solid white, fuelled by a breeder who told us you could never tell until 6 months.  He’s a brilliant sheep guard though and very easy to handle.  So how soon can you tell?  In what ways does the fleece develop and how does it differ from alpaca to alpaca?  We will be researching and observing!!

It is the village fete soon and Carl is already tossing his wellie in preparation (or that might be temper over the afterbirth incident).  I am on teas and Carl thinks  I need to further hone my washing up skills in preparation (the dishwasher is broken).  It’s just an excuse so he can get in his shed earlier to dream of the Scottish 6 day whilst balancing on his Beamish!!

AND I went down to the village to collect Sam from the bus and they have taken the stand from the signpost and replaced it with a horrible silver post - I hope they are going to paint it.

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