Fall, Going, Going, Gone?

So I was highly disappointed early this week when my efforts to finish up outside farm projects were rudely interrupted by the appearance of snow on Wednesday the 26th of October!  We're not talking about a few flakes lazely drifting down.  We're talking about snow all day!

At 2:00 in the afternoon.

At 6:00 p.m. in the evening.

As of today, Friday, we still have snow piles where the snow slid off the barn roof. 
The fall colors were so brief this year and have already disappeared.

The last of the fall colors.

My homage to fall.

Crias napping in the fall sun.

Good bye fall, I'm truly sorry to see you go!

Despite the lack of cooperation from the weather, I managed to start on a project that I have to complete soon.  That is the construction of a creep feeder.  "A what?" you say.  As did Jeff.  A creep feeder is a small enclosed area that only the crias will have access to where they can safely go to eat without worrying about adults stealing their food.  At about two months of age the crias should have access to alpaca crumbles as they slowly start the transition to solid foods.  I purchased two dog kennel panels, created a small corner next to the stall, cut a cria size hole in the stall wall to allow access and began construction of a hay/crumble feeder.  To be continued.

With our friend Ray's help the third stall is now complete with a gate.

Thanks Ray!  It will be very useful come March.

Finally I want to let you know that I have an Etsy account where I am selling my "alpaca goods."  There is a button on the upper side of my blog page that will take you to my Etsy page, Zephyr Alpaca Goods.  I'm offering yarn as of now but will soon have roving available and hopefully other wares.  

Five silky soft natural colored alpaca yarns available on our Etsy shop. 

Roving which is great for hand spinners, felting and crafts.  Available soon on my Etsy account.

The last glimpse of the fall colors.

June Bug and Faith enjoying the last of the nice weather.

"Hey Sting Ray, can I tell you a secret?  Fall is gone!"

The New Crias!

We are happy to report that we have three new crias!  They were all born in September and are doing great! 

Faith and Mom Felicity

Sting Ray and Mom Twizzler

Hannah's Faith was born on 9/13 three weeks early.  Though there were some worrisome moments, like being too weak, and unable to nurse because of it, she is now three weeks old and gorgeous!  To thank friends and family that have helped us on our alpaca journey I've decided to name any Zephyr Hill Farm crias after them.  Faith is named after our daughter Hannah, who assisted us this past spring with our first shearing.  

The last two crias were both born on 9/26!  Sting Ray was born a little before 7:00 a.m. and June Bug at 10:30 a.m.  Nothing like togetherness!  They were both born close to their due dates and had no problems.  All three are gaining weight, active and too cute!  Sting Ray was named after our good friend Ray who has assisted us with the construction of all our barn stalls.  His grandkids call him Sting Ray!  June Bug's intials stand for our son Jeremy and son-in-law, Brad who helped us erect our first fencing last year.  Jeremy also assisted with our shearing this past spring.  Thanks to all of you!  We wouldn't be where we are without your help.

Hannah's Faith

Sting Ray

June Bug with Faith behind her.

Both Faith and June Bug are considered Dark Browns.  Their coloring is so close that their Mama's often have to sniff them to determine one from the other.  Sting Ray's Pinto coloring isn't seen too frequently.  His dominant color is a Medium Fawn, with a little bit of gray around his eye.  He has four white symmetrical socks, a white neck band and a white star and nose.  

Sting Ray and Linus have a meeting.

Thursday we finished our fencing project!  We made a paddock for the boy's outside of the barn by taking away a small section of their pasture.  We added four gates.  One 10 foot gate from the boy's pasture to the back pasture.  A four foot gate from the new boy's paddock to the back pasture.  A lane from the barn to the the second 10 foot gate which allows access to the newly created back "back" pasture.  We divided the "back" pasture in half.  The lane allows access to the back half of the back pasture.  Clear as mud?

Back "back" pasture gate and new fencing.

We have a lane!  Now we can have alpacas sharing the back pasture separately.

The new "lane" looking towards the barn from the back pasture.

The two new gates from the boy's paddock (on the left) and the boy's pasture (on the right).

I'm trying to wrap up fall projects before the weather is no longer accommodating.  I've created a hay feeder in the girls stall which I will enclose to create a cria "creep" feeder.  This will be a cria only area where the crias can come to munch on alpaca crumbles and hay without the adults snarfing it all.  I'll make an opening just the right size for crias to enter but big Momma pacas can't.

New hay feeder

New hay feeder with hay in it!

With the help of our friend Ray, we've created a third stall to house the crias when I wean them in the middle of March (at or about six months).

Just when I think I've checked off one item on my list a new "to do" replaces it.  Sigh.  The work on a farm never ends.  The only troubling part about this is that my obsession to complete my list never gets satisfied.  I love, however, living and working on a farm.  Guess I can trace my farming roots back to my maternal Grandma Vi.  She was always pressing the envelope during her life.  She ended up living on a cattle farm with my step grandfather in Onaway, Michigan the last half of her life.  Thanks Grandma for the farming legacy!

The mist rolling in at sunset.