Sunday, February 27, 2011

Wow!  It's Christmas!  Not really but we did wake up to a snow covered landscape!  It was gorgeous and short lived!  Thank goodness!  Actually, I went into panic mode yesterday afternoon when the weatherperson said snow level was going to be down to 3000 feet. We are at 4800 feet.  So I went to our trusty Walmart and bought 3 packages of firewood to supplement the  logs we already have and got a couple bottles of water, just in case.

At 3 am I got up for my usual trip to the bathroom and checked outside.  Nothing, nada, zilch!  No snow, no rain, just wind, wind, wind!  The blasted weatherman got it wrong again.  At 6 am it was a different story.  It was a whiteout!  I couldn't see mountains behind us nor in front of us, just white.  Big white snowflakes were blowing in sideways.  The alpacas were covered and the goats were no where to be seen.  They were hiding in their warm little shelter.  They didn't stick their little noses out until I went out to feed them.  They did not like the white wet stuff at all.  Poor babies!  I know just how they feel.  I was so thankful it was Sunday morning and no one had to drive to work in the horrible conditions.  I could take pictures in my pjs, make myself a strong cup of hot tea and kick back and watch the blizzard from my cozy Arizona room. 

I spent the day prepping my bathroom and painting it.  I had to remove old wall paper which took a couple of days.  I also sanded and taped, then put on 2 coats of soft blue paint.  Steve helped toward the end by painting the last wall and then cleaning up after.  We still need to remove wallpaper over the sink area and paint around the tub.  I would like to get a new vanity to put in there.  We plan to check prices on those at Lowes on Tuesday.  I need new tires on my SUV and we plan on shopping while the tires are being put on.  It will be like having a new bathroom! Ha!

We had another of our "Praise the Lord" sunrises yesterday.  Enjoy!

Thursday, February 24, 2011

We moved the alpacas on Friday and got the goats on Saturday.  At first I thought the alpacas were doing fine but then Prince started chasing and fighting Kardigan.  They ran up and down the pasture and in and out of the shelter and over fallen trees until Kardigan stopped.  Then they would do their alpaca screaming and spitting and neck wrestling until they were both too exhausted to move.  I do not want any animals injured.  I do not want any vet bills.  I noticed the first 2 days that this fighting started right after feeding.  So I decided to move 2 of the feed bins to the other side of the shelter.  Maybe if they were not so close they would not feel the urge to fight for dominance so much.  

It did seem to help some.  Kardigan would eat and then run and hide at the far end of the pasture.  He would stand between the fence and some prickly pear cactus watching Prince.  If Prince came after him, he would run again and hide in the fallen log pile.  Then they seemed to come to a fragile peace.  Moving the feed bins made a difference and maybe Prince got tired as he is about 3 years older than Kardigan.  I also noticed that Kardigan started standing close to Cimarron, sort of to the side and behind him.  Then both of them would raise their heads and start to spit whenever Prince came near.  But Cimarron lit into Kardigan a couple of times too, mostly near a feed bin. 

Today there seems to be a tentative peace going on.  Prince is usually at one end of the pasture by himself and the other three are at the other end.  Kardigan stays close to Cimarron and Stewie follows them or sneaks over to the shelter to get his fill of the food while the rest of them are watching out for Prince.  They all jostle for positions at feeding time.  As if I put more food in one bin than in another!  Ha!  I am glad they seem to have settled down.  I was thinking of things to do to stop the fighting and prvent injuries.  I could isolate Prince, put him back in the front yard or side yard, get him neutered (expensive) or sell him at auction for dog food.  I don't really want to do any of those things.  So I hope they keep the peace.

I also tried to make some more rolags and did a little spinning.  I think I am using the second cuts though because the spinning is not going well.  The yarn keeps breaking. The other thing that is really aggravating is that there is no humidity here.  The wind has been blowing, I mean gale force, for days and it makes the fiber very dry and fly-away and static-y.  I tried using "Static Guard"  but it doesn't help much.  I decided I need to wash some better fleece, preferably from someone's blanket, and try again.

Steve wants to build a straw-bale shelter for the new little goats.  Then I can move them from the front pasture to one next to the barn on the northwest side of the house.  I don't like where they are now cuz I cannot see them easily.  If I move them I will be able to keep a better eye on them and I won't have to go so far to feed them.  They are so cute!  I like to look at them.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Our weather has taken a turn for the cold and wintery.  Blustery winds and snow clouds have colored the last two days but so far, no rain to speak of.  

Steve and I talked and decided that getting more alpacas was not a good idea.  We also decided to try goats one more time.  I found a couple of Nigerian dwarf wethers (neutered males) on Craig's list.  That was on Thursday.  I called on Friday.  The man selling them was so glad to find someone who wanted to keep them on a farm.  Most of the calls he had gotten were from people with "funny accents" he said, who wanted to make dinner out of his little goats.  He was very nice and Steve and I liked the little goats so we brought them home.  They are now in our front pasture and seem to be adjusting well.  They were leaping up on the straw bale and playing games yesterday so I do not think they are very stressed from the move.  They are named "Frankie" and "Georgie".  I think Frankie fits OK but I'm not sure about Georgie.  It doesn't seem to fit this friendly little brown and white fellow.  So we shall see what his personality reveals.  Frankie is black and white and I am not sure that they "wethered" him properly.  He sure exhibits signs of a buck.  He has a beard and he is a little aggressive and not as friendly as the brown and white one.  Neither one of them was properly de-horned.  Frankie looks like a unicorn with one big fat horn and the other one has two little curly-ques on his head.  It doesn't really matter as they are not mean and not big enough to hurt us.  Falkor was big enough to pin Steve up against the fence and his horns were awesome.  Not so with these guys.  

I was so excited to get these new little goats.  I guess I missed my angoras more than I thought.  I am trying to get in touch with a lady who had does for sale.  Maybe I will get a few little girls soon.  

We moved all of the alpacas back together in the pasture behind the house to make room for the little goats out front.  I caught Prince with the help of Steve and the girls.  The halter was too small so I had to wrap the lead around his head like a halter to lead him out back.  We penned Buddy up in the front yard so he would not interfere.  Steve went ahead of me and Prince to open gates and the girls followed behind Stewie so that he would follow me and Prince.  There was much spitting and posturing on the part of all the boys as they had their little reunion.  Prince and Kardigan had a bit of a tussle that involved rearing up and neck wrestling but it did not last long.  Cimarron and Stewie stayed out of the way.  They all did a lot of head raising and spitting the first time I fed them but peace seems to be the norm for now.  I was afraid that they would fight and hurt each other the way Tinker and Prince did before, but, thankfully, they all seem to be glad to be back together and in a bigger pasture.  I am so glad!

My girls were off to the Ren Faire in Apache Junction, AZ this morning.  It is cool for once so they should have a great time.  I plan on getting some of Kardigan's fleece carded into rolags today so that I can spin some tomorrow.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day Y'all! 

We had another gorgeous day in southern Arizona.  It was sunny, breezy and warm, about 70*.  I went to the store and bought balloons and flowers for Valentine's Day which isn't til tomorrow, I know, but we usually have a family dinner on Sundays so I thought we'd have Valentine's Day too.  Turns out my daughter and her son were not feeling well so they did not come.  So, hopefully, they will feel better tomorrow and get their little gifts then.

I did make the appointment with the new alpaca shearer.  He will be coming on April 21 to shear my boys and clip their teeth.  I got a bag of Kardigan's fleece out of the barn today.  I plan on washing it tomorrow and then spinning it into yarn.  A friend has shown some interest in using his fleece.  She knits and crochets but has not worked with alpaca before.  I'm sure she will love it if I can get enough spun for her to make something.  Most skeins you buy in the store are about 250 yards.  It will probably take the whole blanket to make that much yarn.  We shall see.  

I hope the weather is as great tomorrow as it was today as tomorrow is laundry day.  I still hang out clothes outside as often as I can to cut back on the electric bill.  I also have enough eggs again to go get chicken feed at the feed store.  So that is added to my chore list.  Laundry , ironing, feed store, wash fleece, dry fleece and spin.  Sounds like enough to do for one day, don't ya think?

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

We are back to something near normal.  It was a beautiful day here in Southern Arizona today.  Steve figured out where the valve was to turn off the flooding water in the barn.  We were very happy about that as we do not have to turn off the water to the house after all.  Steve is also glad that he can now take his time fixing the pipe and the faucet.  I am glad because now I know where to turn the water on so that I can use my big sink to wash fleeces and fill cat dishes once the problems are fixed.  Thank the Lord for small miracles! Ha!

I finished another muumuu for summer.  Today the girls and I went to Sierra Vista and I got some good bargains at Dillard's.  I found a fuzzy red robe with scottie dogs on it that would be good for a swimsuit cover-up.  It was marked down 70% and when I got it to the register they took another 30% off of that.  I ended up paying $10 for a robe that was originally $50!  I also got too tops marked own from $30 to $8.99 each.  I feel like I've just about got my summer wardrobe complete.  Now if I could just find a swimsuit.... 

I have to make a decision about shearing the alpacas soon.  The sheep shearer I used last year will be here around April 7th.  There is also a new guy who just does alpacas.  He will also trim their teeth which all of mine need done.  I feel some loyalty to Danny because he has been here a couple of times, does a good job and is a nice guy who cares about the comfort of the animals.  The new guy charges less and does the teeth so, well, I don't know.  I guess I will call the new guy tomorrow and see if he can fit my small farm in.  If he cannot, then I guess I can still get Danny.  

I sold some of my eggs to Ed at the Benson feed store.  He used to pay $1/dz, but now he is paying $1.50 a dozen!  I was excited about that and took in 6 dozen.  We did not exchange cash or anything.  He gave me $9 off the cost of a bag of chicken feed.  So I paid $5.50 for the feed instead of the usual $14.50.  I guess I will try to do that every week.  I hate for the eggs to go to waste.  Steve said a guy at work wants some too.  He will have to pay $2/dz though.  I collected 15 eggs today alone.  That is more than the normal 9 or 10 and they really pile up when you get that many on a daily basis.  I also lost a hen.  I guess she got tired of Mr. Washington chasing her all the time.  She literally flew the coop! Ha!  My neighbor said she saw her over at her house the day the pipe broke.  I told her not to worry about it cuz the hen would peck her if she caught her.  She pecked me good the last time she got out.  I've heard the coyotes pretty close lately so I doubt that hen is still around anyway.


I am considering getting a couple more alpacas too.  Steve is not too enthusiastic about that idea.  I found two bred females, a female with a male cria at her side and a herdsire that are boarding at a neighbor's farm.  The lady who owns them is going through a divorce and only wants $5000 for all of them.  One of the females is jet black just like Kardigan and the other one looks a lot like a good match for Stewie.  It would take a lot of work, more fences and more shelters, to prepare to get them.  I'd also have to make payments.  So more decisions!  And more commitment to my business.  More work, more commitment, more money, more vet costs = more alpacas.  How much do I really love alpacas? 

I

Saturday, February 5, 2011

I never thought I would welcome a morning temperature of 30 degrees!  But it sure felt good this morning after several days of teens and 20s.  It even got below zero with the wind chill factor one night this week.  We have had record breaking lows for our part of the country and it is wreaking havoc.   Ft. Huachuca, where Steve works, was pretty much shut down because people were using their heat so much that the base ran out of natural gas.  The same was true of East Tucson and people were moved to shelters.  The City of Benson had a water main break and so many pipes are broken that many people are also without water.   Our daughter has moved in with us until the gas and water can be restored in Benson.  

We also have had problems.  I have a big sink in my barn/kennel that I have never used because I could never get the water to come on in there.  Well, last night when I went out to feed the animals, the sink faucet was busted and water was flooding the barn, running our under the sink and out the back of the barn, water covered the floor and ran out the door and out to the pasture.  We had no idea how to turn it off, mostly because we never had water in there before.  Weird!  Anyway a pipe busted from freezing.  Two neighbors helped out, one with advice and one told us how to turn off the water.  Turns out we had to turn off the water to the house to turn off the water to the barn.  We were afraid to leave it on because it could damage the well pump and afraid to turn it off because of freezing again.  We ended up turning it way down for the night and on a little more this morning so we can flush toilets etc.  Every store in Benson is out of plumbing supplies to fix the broken pipe.  Our neighbor, who is a well driller, said he had been getting calls about every 2 minutes with people needing help with broken pipes.  He said the best thing would be to fix the broken pipe ourselves but if we needed help he probably won't be able to get back to us til Monday at the earliest.  What a mess!

I feel fortunate that we still have electricity, water and heat.  Our heat is electric and we have propane gas for heating the water and cooking.  We are not hooked into the natural gas system or we would be freezing too.  

Stewie was out in the yard yesterday morning when I got up.  It was freezing!  My hands were numb just getting hay to the alpacas.  There was no chance to fill water buckets.  Which is probably why he got out.  All the water buckets were frozen solid the night before.  Water buckets are very heavy so I had Steve empty the ice out and bring the bucket to a working faucet to get the animals some water.  I figure he must've not secured the gate or something.  Anyway, I had to recruit two of my daughters to help me get Stewie back in his pasture.  Alpacas are fast and good at not getting caught.  The girls had to walk behind him and push him toward the pasture gate, while I stood at the gate and kept Prince from escaping too.  Prince also tried to discourage Stewie from going back in the pasture by running toward him whenever he got close to the gate.  Stewie escaped the girls once and they had to start over.  I let Buddy into the pasture with Prince to keep him away from the gate and distract him so Stewie would go back in.  We got him in on the second try.  Thanks to the girls!  I put a bungie cord on the gate now in addition the the hook so hopefully, that won't happen again.

I have been busy sewing myself some summer clothes.  Ha!  It helps to remember that it will get warm again when it is so bitterly cold.  It is amazing too how warm 30-40 degrees feels after only 10-16 degrees.  It's almost like spring! Ha!