Happy New Year!

Well I never!  Went to Mole Valley for feed this morning and on the way we were bemoaning the sort of people who were getting New Year Honours.  Then I get home to find The Grave Digger features!  And a very worthy holder of a medal for services to Ibberton.  Delighted for him!  Excellent!  Not sure if I should now curtsey wen I meet him or merely bow my head - no doubt he will tell me the appropriate reaction!

Now it is New Year's Eve and here I am sitting by the fire surrounded by cats and planning lambing - no parties for me.  This has not been a bad year at all - obviously, there were down bits - there always are - but here are are a few memories . . .

Now in Italy

Triplets

Pugsly always has cute lambs!
 

Arrival in Italy

Another delivery about to set off

The Wedding - gosh!  Just realised there is a medal bearer there!!

New line in dog coats

Flossie - also in Italy now

Hopefully, cria in the making

Ging appeared and made himself at home

Badger Faced Lamb

New type of hat

The Dorpers

Thankfully nearly finished now!


HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Happy Christmas!

Very windy out there - the polytunnel is on it's last legs and I fear it will not see the morning!  The shopping is done, the presents are wrapped - even the nails are painted (may have to redo them as the Santa appears to have no mouth and I got bored half way doing the snowflakes.

Christmas Eve tomorrow and I wish you all a very happy Christmas - Christmas wishes also from the reindeer alpaca (he had not a clue what was going on and frightened everyone else)

And from one very grumpy sheep!

Italy

It has been a tense weekend as the alpacas went to Italy.  Friday they were checked by the vet - testing had already been done and all results clear so this was just a final check to make sure everyone was fit to travel, which they were.  Then a nervous wait to get the paperwork all signed, stamped and certified.  Carl collected that in the evening then the trailer was set up and halters ready for a deadline of 5.30am to leave.  Not easy loading alpacas in the dark!  However, all went smoothly and we met the transport company in the Sainsbury's petrol station at Verwood.  The petrol station staff were really helpful and I think it made their day seeing five alpacas!  The transport company were wonderful and I have been receiving hourly updates - lovely to track them crossing the channel on Eurostar, travelling across France, through the Mont Blanc tunnel and finally making it to their new home near Lake Iseo in Italy.  They arrived at 4pm English time today.

And here they are at a rest stop by Mont Blanc

Bad part of the weekend is we now have an alpaca visit we must make tomorrow which means I am going to miss the very last visit of the library van.

On show!

New windows in kitchen and end room - which is good.  No curtains or blinds - which is bad!  I have got the blinds and I have the curtains, just not put up yet and I do have to try to remember to at least attempt to brush my hair and dress properly before coming downstairs!!

I spent over an hour at the vets yesterday writing a flock health plan.  Hopefully, it will be helpful and I did learn some things but I am dreading how much that is going to cost me.  Another vet visit tomorrow on top as the alpacas for Italy need their pre movement check and I have a poorly one.  She is a bit of a puzzle as she is constantly straining to go to the toilet - she has been and I think it is wee she is struggling with.  I am treating her for a urinary tract infection and waiting to see what the vet says.  He also has to check poor blind Angelina - the sheep who had her eyes pecked.

Once all that is done I can focus a little more on Christmas.  Cards are now written, but not delivered, although  I have managed to post the ones that needed posting.  Presents need to be bought and wrapped but I do have the crackers and the pickled walnuts.  Turkey needs to be bought and the house needs a good tidy but the tree is up and now has decorations on it.

Last Fete for the year

Ibberton fete today and a lovely fete it was.  Such a lot of work must have gone into the setting up as the barn looked lovely.  Thank you to the GHN for keeping me company and taking the photo!  I have a rather distant look on my face - probably wondering why Carl was taking so long to appear (turned out he could not find the ear tag pliers which he needed to tag one of the alpacas going to Italy - that was his story anyway!)  In the photo you can't see all the other lovely stalls who were there but you can see that I still have not quite mastered the art of setting up a stall!  Despite that, we did well and I have very little left to go into the new year.  Looks like busy knitting times ahead.

December!

I can't believe it but today I put the little wooden advent calender out - December already!  And it has turned bitterly cold outside.  This morning I woke up and thought it had suddenly got extremely mild as I was having a bit of a hot turn but I soon discovered it was because the central heating had turned itself on - not as warm as I thought when I stepped out the door.

The kitchen is making progress but it is very small steps and whether it will be finished before Christmas is debatable.  I think it will mostly be done and that will be good enough!

Last weekend was Alweston Christmas Market which I like doing and we sold very well.  I had to pay a trip to the Flower Lady and beg for more scarves and arm warmers as I have already sold out of the grey and I am in the middle of knitting an ordered pair of arm warmers and scarf.  Hopefully, we will have something left for Ibberton Market but I think it may be a very select amount of items.  The hats with flowers on are all gone and my experimental button fingerless gloves sold - plus the mice are down to about two so once the orders are finished I shall try to do a few more.

Angelina - the ewe who had her eyes pecked by crows - is still with us.  I am not sure whether she has much sight left but she is coping in the orchard with a mate.  I have a lady coming to see her soon who does things with herbs which all sounds rather exciting and, hopefully, may be of help as there isn't much more the vet can do for her.


And - if you read this GHN I have finally found a DVD player in the roof of the shed but haven't had time to watch the DVD yet - so if you need it back soon let me know at the Library Van!  Last Library Van soon which I think is a dreadful shame.

Eye problems

First Christmas Market done - next one this Saturday.  Christmas Markets feel like another world at the moment as I am not yet in a Christmas mood.  Still feels like November to me!!

We have been dealing with a ewe who had her eyes pecked by crows and I first suspected she might have gone blind  However, today the vet looked at her and thinks she might have some sight in one eye so she is on a lot of antibiotics and is having her eyes rinsed out with camomile tea and we are hoping for the best.  She is living at the house for the time being with my pet sheep (who is very laid back) and I am hoping for the best.  She is the one standing up.  I have had her from a lamb and she is called Angelina Jolie!

Wasps at this time of year?!

The dog has been in the wars this week.  Poor Amber was stung by a wasp and spent the first evening after it happened hiding under her blanket and shaking.  The sting was inside her mouth so she couldn't even manage her dinner.  Day 2 and she made it onto Carl's seat.  Day 3 and she was back to her normal grumpy self!

 

We have some new alpacas here at the moment - but not for long as they are, hopefully, on their way to Italy next month.  All the testing and paperwork starts next week which will probably upset them a bit but at the moment they are fine - if a little confused as to where they are!

 

Saturday is my first Christmas Market.  Not sure how this one will go and have to do it on my own as Carl is out but I have been there before, Abbey Primary School in Sherborne, so a least I know where I am going!

Super Fast?

Well - not sure what the future holds here!  I am changing broadband supplier and it is being installed as I type so a sudden cessation of this post will not mean total disaster has struck - I hope.  We have been with BT for years but it is slow, expensive and they are not helpful so I have taken the plunge.  I have heard good things about Wessex Internet and now have fingers crossed that it will be as promised.  Apparently, the signal goes via a satellite dish and arrives at a much faster speed via Woolland Hill.  At first I thought it would be expensive due to a £500 installation fee but it turns out that the council will pay that as broadband is slow here.  I currently have a gentleman roaming on my roof with two very interested cats watching him - and, on the subject of cats, Little Wee the tabby cat has a strange love of toast!  Now the cold weather is here a slice of toast at night is very welcome - if I can actually get any after the cat has mewed until she is given some!  So far she is equally keen on hot buttered, toast with Philadelphia cheese and toast and jam!  Not sure she should have too much of it though!

Still knitting!

And still I am knitting!  I had the baby hats and bootees sorted - just a few sets as they are not usually best sellers - and now they are sold so I have to attempt some more.  I am not complaining really!

 

The ram, Leaf, has now marked everyone except Best Scottie - he is due to come out next Wednesday so I am willing her on.  Last year she didn't have a lamb so technically her days should be numbered but I really don't want to see her go so everything is crossed here. 

 

I am also hoping that some of the alpacas are pregnant.  Most were mated but I am a bit concerned that they do not all act as if they were pregnant.  I was asked to take some to the Christmas Fair in Ibberton but all the not mated ones (apart from the crazy ones on the hill) have now gone so it may not be possible as I don't want to risk stressing the - hopefully - pregnant ones.

 

 

A visit to the Equine hospital

Not the best of weeks.  We had a phone all earlier in the week to say one of the alpacas we look after wasn't well and the vet wanted him to go to the Equine hospital at Liphook.  We took him there with a companion and, despite lots of tests, they couldn't really find what was wrong with him and he was put to sleep.  Another dash over at night to collect his companion, Honey and return her to the herd.  They are doing a post mortem and, hopefully, will have some answers,  Honey was not impressed with her trip out but was very pleased to get home. 

Today, Sam helped me with the sheep as, despite how late in  the year it is, there are still flies around and I was horrified to find a few maggots on one ewe last week.  We have been lucky avoiding fly strike this year but it looks like we still need to be vigilant.  Fly strike is about the worst thing with sheep but it is amazing how quickly they can recover.

Cats on tables

I have just realised how long it is since the last post - seeing the Ibberton carpenter at work hoisting his little flag in the driveway just reminded me!  I have been alternating between knitting ready for Christmas markets, trying to create order in a half completed house, sourcing alpacas and dealing with sheep feet.  The knitting is going reasonably well but as soon as I get near my target stock level something sells and I have to knit more.  I am not complaining - just hope the sales don't suddenly dry up at Christmas!!

The house now has a carpet in the lounge which is wonderful but does mean I am frequently hovering as I am so afraid we will ruin it.  The cats are the main issue but Cruella now has a little deck chair which she appears to love and the ginger stray girl/boy has taken to sleeping on an old piece of carpet on the kitchen table which is not hygienic and will have to come to an end once the kitchen is complete but keeps him/her happy for now.

I have, hopefully, another delivery of alpacas to Italy next month but am trying to source another four who are suitable and that is quite a struggle - particularly with the language barrier.  Apparently, whilst describing the characteristics of a stud male alpaca, I got my Italian a bit muddled and told the client last week that I enjoyed sex, particularly if it was with a black - which caused her to have hysterics!

The damp and warmth is causing havoc with the sheep feet and I have had one with maggots which is foul.  Luckily, she was caught in time and is fine now but I am having to be extra vigilant with the limpers - of whom there seem to be a never ending stream!

Leaf is starting to stir

I have not been sitting here doing nothing I can assure you!  Knitting is taking over my life a bit preparing for Christmas which does seem a way away still but isn't!  I am on a complicated reversible scarf and find after a bit I have to stop or it all goes wrong so it is taking rather longer than hoped for.

At least the weather is behaving itself a little more and the ram, Leaf, is getting going with far more enthusiasm.  Kane and Walnut have come out from their groups for a few weeks as the ewes were just not ready so I am sadly going to have yet another drawn out lambing.

This weekend saw us driving around viewing alpacas as I have a client in Italy after a group of girls.  I think I have found some that are suitable but now waiting to get transport quotes to make it all come together.  Hopefully, if it does there is another order for 20 more next spring - although where I am going to find them is another matter!

Apples and grumpy men

Bit gloomy today although the sun did appear to be making an effort this afternoon.  Sadly, this did not appear to cheer up the decorators who may have had a bit of a falling out!  The alpacas are happy every time I go near them as they always think there are apples on the way.  There usually are as I have a bumper crop and there is no way we can eat even a small quantity of them.

Not much can be said for the greenhouse which is having a fallow year with two lonely tomato plants and a cat in it - stray ginger has taken up residence in there.

We have the decorators in!

Nearly October and it is still warm!  We have the Decorating Lads in at the moment painting the lounge which is taking a while as they are very meticulous and we are having all the pine painted white.  I have spent the last week with no carpet and all the furniture piled up around me - also no curtains so a good job the road is not too busy!

The lambs have settled into the Grave Diggers field and pester The Flower Lady when she is trying to pick blackberrys.  Nice to have them there as I can pop over and sit with them after tea - some of them like a bit of a cuddle!

Carl is doing some welding on Saturday, as the Aunt has broken her cattle crush and it is Tb testing on Monday, and then it is time to check over a couple of limping sheep.  Feet are causing me a bit of a problem this year.

And still waiting for Sam's wedding photos which seem to be taking forever.

A slow start

Getting a bit irregular with the posting again, I am afraid!  Trying hard to get knitting up together in preparation for Christmas markets which, I know, seems a long way away but when your knitting is a little on the slow side one has to prepare quite a way in advance!

The tups have now gone in with the ewes but it has been a very slow start, probably due to the weather which is far too hot for this time of year.  Leaf, the older Southdown, is doing his best.  He wanders round curling his lip and sniffing at bottoms but then he gets hot and has to have a little sleep - he has managed four out of thirty so far.  Kane, the Dorper ram, is working for the first time and is keen but the girls keep hiding in the shed to get away from the heat so he has managed one out of sixteen.  And then there is Walnut!   Walnut is a pedigree Southdown ram and it is his first time - he started well but the girls were not ready and now he appears to have given up and just wants to go back with his best mate Kane.  There is a slight question over his sexual preferences!!  I am about to go and see the Grave digger to see if a possible solution can be found!

Here is good, reliable old Leaf in action!

More blood and a crook

I am currently suffering as I have, yet again, toothache.  On top of that I have just managed to slice the side of my finger with my new ceramic knife whilst making Carl's sandwiches!  Not  a good day, except that Mother did give me my great, great grandfather's crook which is a wonderful piece of history.  He was a shepherd who lived in Shillingstone.

And here is the crook - which is the same one as in the photo.  A lovely bit of history!

Five new ladies

It hasn't been exactly a relaxing Bank Holiday weekend - but it has been fun.  Friday night we stayed up far too late as Carl went to the Steam Engine Rally with the Tractor Boys whilst I knitted for all I was worth - not the best of plans as it was an early start on Saturday to drive to Devon to look at some sheep.  I went with the idea of purchasing four but ended up with five very nice two tooth Suffolk Mules.  They were from the father of a lady I met on the internet and such a lovely man - very caring with his sheep and with a fantastic sheep dog.  Here they are, the new girls!

Sunday saw me in the Methodist Chapel whilst Carl made a concerted attempt to catch up with finishing the worktop in the kitchen, a job which took most of the day and meant fish and chips for tea.  Then today was sheep moving day along with checking feet, giving the Heptovac injections and spraying against flies.  Sheep are now ready for the ram in a few weeks - can't believe it is nearly that time again! 

My crown slipped

This evening I have toothache - well more of a jaw ache.   Had a wobbly tooth, went to the dentist and he said it wasn't a real tooth but a crown that was wobbling. Went back yesterday for him to prise it out and recement it in, which he did. Now it hurts big time and I have a headache. Carl has gone off to the Steam Engine Rally with the Tractor boys and left me to suck on food with the working side of my mouth. Never mind tomorrow I am going to Devon - hopefully, to make a little purchase of four Suffolk Mules to add to the flock.  It is a long way to go but I couldn't find anything I wanted nearer.

The kitchen is very slowly making progress and I am hoping this weekend will see the rest of the worktop attached and, possibly the cooker hood erected.  Carl says it is y fault it is taking so long as I keep getting distracted by sheep - which is probably true!

Blood and lounging

So much to do today but Carl had the day off and we decided it was about time we just forgot everything and had a day out - so we went to Gillingham and Shaftesbury show which was lovely although very hot!  We were on the look out for the Gravedigger who was stewarding cattle but couldn't see him.  Did see lots of sheep and bought ourselves a very nice tile with a drawing of a sheep on it for the kitchen.

And, talking of drawing, I have the most beautiful new logo for the sheep side of things - not ready to reveal it yet but it is stunning!

Took the electric down so the sheep in the village could roam the nice bit at the bottom but it took them a couple of days to realise they were allowed down there - very obedient sheep!

This afternoon we were supposed to be doing the sheep checks but didn't have the energy after the show - Carl spent an hour lounging!

 

Mother has been leaping through hedges again and ended up with a shoe full of blood and a trip to the Doctors yesterday to have her wounds cleared out and a tetanus - that might slow her down for a day or two!

Showing sheep

This has been a VERY busy weekend and VERY exciting!  Friday night Carl went over to Ellingham showground to set up for the alpaca show whilst Sam, Kristy and I did last minute sheep preparation and getting everything packed up.  On Saturday we had to leave by 6am so it was up to the hill for 5am to do the hill animals and then time to wake the lambs up to get them in the trailer and off to the show.  Setting up there was difficult as we were torn between lambs, setting up knitting and stewarding alpacas - but, we managed, and what a day!  They were the only Dorper lambs there and they caused a bit of a stir, being the only Dorpers they went in the shortwool class with lots of big texels and other larger breeds alongside badger face and many others.  We didn't really expect to win any rosettes as we didn't know what we were doing and thought we were a bit outclassed - - but we did!  Jeeves, the ram lamb, gained a fourth place out of 10 entries.  Shanice got 7th place out of 18 entries and, best of all, the group of three class saw us getting a third place out of 10 entries!  The photos are a bit blurred I am afraid.

Then, after clearing up (Oh! and a fantastic lot of knitting sales!) we arrived home just after 8pm to get ready for Sunday which saw us motoring down to Chedder to deliver a sold alpaca to a very nice new home.  Bit of sheep moving around in the afternoon and now it is time to sit down!
Library van tomorrow!

Tomato Ketchup

A week since the last post  - and a busy one.  Two sold Dorper lambs delivered to their  new home on Okeford Hill.  A lovely spot with fantastic views - not that they seemed to notice!  The sheep side of the business is having a makeover with a new logo underway - it involves bottoms and is looking rather lovely.  Mick, a young male alpaca has a new home to go to on Sunday where he will be meeting the ladies, eventually, but before that we have Ringwood and Ellingham Show tomorrow.  We are part of the organising team for the alpaca show held there and that involves lots of running round which is going to be even harder this year as we are also taking three lambs to show.  Luckily, Sam and Kristy are going to come along and taking charge of the sheep.  They are all washed as well as I can, halter trained to a certain extent and very noisy!  It was suggested I tried using tomato ketchup to remove grass stains on the lambs but it just seemed to make their legs go pink so they still sport grass stains in places.  I just hope they don't get even dirtier overnight!

Sheep washing

I hope the fete went well.  The weather the day before looked ominous but today was lovely.  We had to go over to Ringwood to get organised in preparation for the Ellingham and Ringwood Show on Saturday.  We have more alpaca exhibitors this year and so more space is required.  Hopefully, we are now all set and rosettes have arrived.  Next Friday evening is final preparations - judges tent, food, catalogues . . . Bit of a busy day I think - and, of course, three Dorper lambs are supposed to be going as well.  Whether they actually get there is another matter because they are terrible on their halters and washing them is very difficult!  We had a trial go at washing this evening and it was not a success - sheep do not like being washed!  I then realised I could not dry them and had nowhere clean to put them and they ended up dirtier than when we started!

Sam's Wedding!

Yesterday - Sam's wedding!  Time has flown and it only seems like yesterday that he was a little boy.  It was a lovely and very natural wedding so here are a few photos.

 

I am sure they will be very happy - every best wish t them both!