Friday, February 24, 2012

Weaving

The farm is a little less busy, so I have turned my attention back to weaving.

Just finished some really yummy feeling 100% alpaca throw rugs, they will keep someone's toes warm in the mornings.

I also picked up a rigid heddle loom that I will dedicate to scarves as it is quite small and will be less abrasive on the delicate alpaca warp yarns.


Also finished off a small wrap, and then felted it for a really unusual look.

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Enough already - Breakout attempt

Yesterday Cocoa Blanca decided if you are not going to come in and feed me then I am going to jump the gate and get to the good food myself.

It all started with the neighbour down the road coming to get his trailer that we fill each week with Manure and waste straw. This was about 330pm, which is a bit early for the evening grain feed and hay top up but close enough with activity in the barn it is time for the herd to come in.

At 430, I was showing so farm visitors the alpacas after they came to buy a used woodstove we had for sale. More activity but no food being served.

Just as they left the neighbour returned with his empty trailer which we then put back in the barn. More activity but now it is 5pm which is when Caroline usually feeds them at this time of year.

I had just finished locking up the big barn doors and was making my way to the feed cans when I turned and saw Cocoa Blanca on two legs with her front leg over the gate and her head sticking through the gateway. She was just about to attempt to leap through before a scared her to retreat.

Nothing like teasing an impatient alpaca to cause an attempted breakout.

Cocoa did get her head in the feed bucket before I made it to the feed troughs. So she did get a little reward for her efforts.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Of Barn Cats and Alpacas

This past week we have had some cold nights, in the -15 to -20c range. Ok, not sooo cold, but it's cold for Nova Scotia.

Each morning and evening at chore time I noticed Tab the cat's food dish was empty and upside down on the barn floor. Hmm, it appears we are helping a stray cat get through a cold spell as Tab never tosses her dish to the floor. No worries, always glad to help a critter in need.

This morning I dutifully picked up the dish and filled it up, then carried on with the chores.

Not 10 minutes later I notice the dish empty and on the floor and no stray cats in sight. Hmmm!
Then I notice one of the alpacas stretching her neck to the back of the shelf where the cat dish usually resides and she appears to be reaching for stray bits of cat food.

This cannot be what it seems! To test my theory, I re-fill the cat dish and hold it out to the mooching alpaca. Sure enough, she looks me right in the eye and takes a big nibble of the cat food.

I cannot say how this gal developed a taste for cat food, nor am I convinced that it's a good thing for alpacas to eat. Her efforts have been thwarted and the cat bowl moved to higher ground.

Alpacas and cats do indeed have similar personalities!