Today was very productive. I was going shopping with my daughters but decided there was too much to do around here.

We removed one of the boards from the center of the alpaca barn. Then we moved the gate from the west side of the shelter to the east side. Now the three big boys, Tinker, Kardigan and Cimarron, have the use of the entire barn but cannot get to the east side of the pasture. I think this will give them more personal space and shelter from the storm that is coming tonight. We also added another wooden panel between the two posts that divided the barn space. Now there are two "stalls" in the barn with more shelter from the wind but there is a big enough opening so the alpacas can move around. They cannot have access to the larger eastside pasture until we solve the barbed wire problem.

In the front yard, formerly the chicken pen, we moved the chicken shelter and refurbished it. We removed the old warped roof and replaced it with 2, 4'x8' plywood panels. This made the roof higher in the front and also made an overhang in the back. It is not as high as Prince and Stewie are used to, and not as big as the alpaca barn, but it is big enough for both of them to cush in and get out of any wind or rain and snow. I placed the chicken boxes under the overhang in the back. It may take the chickens awhile to figure out that is their new space.

Steve also bought some new hooks for gates and to attach buckets to fences. I filled the mineral feeder for the alpacas and gave some sweet licks to the goats also. They must have needed it because they all ate some right away.

We need the rain and snow that is supposed to be coming. I can rest easier now that all the critters have some shelter to keep them warm and dry.