Barn Done - Check!

Ta Da - A Barn!  Northwest view showing the "Girl's" side and the chicken coop in the front corner.

Northeast view of the Barn - The "Boy's" Side

The Boys and Girls each have an open lean-to area to catch some shade and stay out of the rain.  There is also a door in each lean-to leading into the barn where they will have a large "stall".  Their water will be located in here.  This stall will probably be utilized mostly in the winter.
 
Today, the concrete guys showed up, a few days late, but they were here before 8:00 a.m.  They finished by 3:30.  Of course I forgot to take pictures after the concrete was in.  Tomorrow I will.  Next on the agenda is the excavator.  He needs to come and do his final grade around the exterior of the barn, so we can bring the fencing up to the barn.  After that we can bring home the alpacas!

With the help of our son-in-law, our son, and my folks we have completed 3/4 of the fencing.  The rest can't be done until the excavator does his thing.  Thank you again to my family.  You were all a tremendous help!

This will be the "girls" pasture.

This will be the boy's pasture.

I was pretty intimidated by the fence project.  Now I feel like an ole pro.  It had it's challenges.  Like lifting a 15 pound t-post pounder over a six foot high t-post and literally pounding the steel t-post into the ground for two feet.  That gave my arms a pretty good workout.  Now I'll be walking around with bulging biceps while the rest of my body is sagging.  Ha, time for a new trend.

Before: A tree in the south east pasture needing some cleaning up.

I've spent the last two days, cleaning up overgrown tree scapes.  The two trees are both located in the southeast pasture which I will be using as a rotational pasture.  Meaning when the alpacas have chewed down the pasture they're in I can switch them to this pasture for a few weeks and let the grass grow back in their pasture.  Since I don't have a chain saw, mower or heavy duty weed wacker (I know, what kind of farmer am I?), I used my hand loppers and my landscape shears.  It's been a pain, quite frankly.  Of course, the weather has been hot with an extra helping of humidity.  Ugh, my least favorite kind of weather.  But I got er done!

After:  Isn't she looking slick?

It still needs some lower branches trimmed but that will have to wait for a chain saw.

There still will be things to do in the barn.  The electrician will need to do his magic so we can have lights and electricity.  We will need to enclose the "stalls".  We still need to buy hay and straw.  Oh my gosh, I'm just going to stop now, before I get overwhelmed.



 

Slow Progress

The barn has a roof.  Unless it rains all day tomorrow, Friday is the estimated day of completion for the barn itself.  The concrete still will need to be poured, electric run inside for lights and outlets, stalls erected, and a finally load of dirt deposited in the stalls. The exterior still needs it's final grade. Let me repeat, however, we do have a roof!

Friday

Monday

Tuesday

We've hit a few snags along the way.  The right and left side of the barn are actually lean tos, portions of which we will be enclosing.  When we originally talked with the builder I requested an exterior door located where the red ladder is leaning.  This would lead from the chicken coop into the chicken run.  While we were gone on Friday the crew extended the roof over the lean to.  As you can see it follows the roof line.  Not good.  The barn side walls are 10 feet high.  I assumed the lean to side walls would be around 8 feet.  Imagine my concern on Saturday when I realized I could actually touch the bottom of the outside header in the lean to (just above the red ladder).  For me to be able to do this the height of that wall would have to be well below the 8 foot mark.  Frown.  How can we install an 82" high exterior door there when the wall is only 79" high?  I assumed that the roof line over the lean to would not have as steep a grade as the barn roof for just that reason.  Ha, that's what I get for assuming.  Should have gotten in writing.  Now we will have to have a sliding door made to accommodate the lower wall.  Workable but not what I requested.

Secondly, as I was checking out progress today after the crew left I realized that the portions of the roof over the open areas of lean to are not insulated.  Once again, when we talked with the builder, he said he would insulate the whole roof, in case down the road we wanted to enclose the open lean tos.  Without insulation between the roof and the rafters, condensation will form, enough that it would drip down to the floor below.  Sigh.  At this point the only way I can see a fix is if they remove the portions of roofing lacking the insulation.  A costly time robber.  There is a whole roll of insulation left.  Looks the builder was planning on it being insulated but didn't communicate with his crew.  :-(  Now I have to decide if I want to have them redo the uninsulated roof and slow progress even more.

On a more cheerful note, we have family members (silly people) that have volunteered to assist us with our fence building efforts.  Thank you Brad, Jeremy and my folks!  My goal is to get as much of the outer fencing completed as possible while they're here Wednesday through Friday.  Jeff and I completed two corners (out of 14) on Sunday, before we had to leave. Woo Hoo!  At least we have a feel for the work.  Jeff and I will have to complete the fencing to the barn once the final excavation is complete. 

I'm afraid the arrival of the pacas will end up being pushed back to the 2nd weekend in September.  I feel bad that I won't get it done by the 1st.  I know the owner, Barrie Lynn, whom I've purchased my alpacas from, has a lot on her personal plate right now.  That was the reason she was reducing her herd.  

Daisy May as cute as ever!

I did get to spend Friday morning with Barrie Lynn learning the ins and outs of alpaca management.  Including how to give shots, how to halter train, how to give wormers, how to check if a female is still pregnant.  If she isn't, how to breed!  Unfortunately, two of my girls are not pregnant.  Looks like I will get to breed them first thing when I get them home.  That will be challenging!  This way they will have babies in September of next year.  It was a lot of information to absorb in a short period of time.  Lets just hope I retain some of it!

Hello Girls.  You'll be coming home soon!

 

FINALLY!

 THE

 WAIT IS

OVER !

Progress on the barn at the end of the day today. Yeah!

Progress in other areas.  The porch is 95% complete.  Just waiting on the gutters.  Then I plan on painting the front door to match the red siding.  I already have the paint.

I will also paint the garage door the same red.  I have a shrub and some coral bells to be planted in the alcove below the rounded window.

Linus has a new haircut.

Zoey sleeping hard!

Zoey watching the birds out the window.

Our new bed.

Our bed was made right here in Evart at Artisan Heirlooms, a local woodworking shop located behind The 7th Street Coffee Shop.  The coffee shop owner, Sandy, had the guys in the wood shop collect scrap pieces of wood from various projects.  Then she created a piece of wall art.  Our headboard is a reflection of her creativity.  The first time I saw the wall art in the shop I knew I wanted a headboard made the same way.  Thank you Sandy.

We have our fence materials as of this morning.  The fence building may commence at any time!  We are looking at 19 days to complete the barn and fence. (That includes pouring the barn concrete floor, hooking up the water, completing the electric and completing the final grade around the barn.)  No pressure.
We have rounded up a potential trailer and hauler to help in the transport of the alpacas on the red letter day.  We just need to be done.  Can I have an amen? 

Barn On The Way!

The excavator for our barn rang the door bell last Wednesday, a week early.  I was thrilled.  I was hoping he would at least show up this week but wouldn't have been surprised if he was a week late.  Now, however, we have a properly excavated site on which our pole barn can be built.  It required over 30 loads of fill sand.  Twice what was estimated.  That translates into twice the cost. Sigh.  Every project we have undertaken has cost well beyond what we've expected.  You think we would learn by now.

Linus' scary monsters

About 1/3 of the 30 piles of fill sand!

On a more positive note, I contacted the barn builder this morning and he sounded thrilled that he could put us back in the scheduling rotation.  Hoping we will hear from him this week with the news that he'll start on the barn next week.

Speaking of high costs, I also talked with our fence builder.  His rough estimate was so high I think I actually squealed when he told me.  Looks like we are going to have to go with plan B for our fence.  That's right, a DYI project deluxe!  Perhaps a son-in-law or two and a son  and an older grandchild might be interested in assisting? 

I have made progress on my landscaping endeavors.  I've completely planted and mulched the east side of the house and have the front 2/3 complete.  I can't finish the rest of the front until our front porch post is finished with the stacked stone.  Still waiting.  It is the last small piece of renovation work needing to be completed.

One of 7 hostas I planted in the front.

The lovely "Spirit" hydrangea also planted in the front.

I planted the bulbs for these lilies last fall when we had about 3 inches of snow on the ground.  I wasn't expecting them to make it.  I was wrong.  A coworker from Bed, Bath & Beyond had given me these bulbs along with postcard beautiful pictures of her Lily garden.  I'm so glad they survived.  Thank you Wilma!  I hope as they mature they will be at least a fraction as lovely as your garden.

Wilma's Lily 

 Parting shot.  Usually Jinx (the black cat) avoids Linus at all costs.  Linus tends to be a little too enthusiastic for Jinx.

A rare sight.  Jinx was using Linus for cover.  Never could figure out what spooked him.

 

Look What Errands Will Net You!

Today Jeff and I went to Menards in Big Rapids to pick up a weed wacker and paint for the exterior doors.  Look what we brought home!

Meet Zoey!

This lovely girl was languishing at the Osceola Animal Shelter.  She is around 10 months old and is sweet, friendly, even tempered and courageous!  On the ride home she never made a peep.  She will be a good fit for our household of the rambunctious hell cat ( that would be Linus) and the two cranky old men (that would be Jinx and Moses).  She doesn't seem intimidated by her new surroundings or the boys.  She'll do just fine.

Square Foot Garden success!  Slicing tomatoes, red peppers, and cabbage are looking good along with all my little sprouts.

 My garden appears to be growing.  I've got beets, peas, beans, arugula, kale and leeks poking their little noggins out of the ground.  I always find the miracle of life from seeds so rewarding!

Broccoli, brussel sprouts, pole beans, and cherry tomatoes grow here along with a spot for my cucumbers which I keep forgetting to buy seeds for.

The lavender and strawberry bed.

 I decided to plant my strawberries along the retaining wall.  I figured they would do well if I gave them sufficient nutrient rich soil amongst the pea gravel.  The thought of having to remove all that pea gravel was just too daunting.  At the far end is one plant of lavender I have high hopes for.

Parting shot.

I'm looking forward to having another female in this house of males.  Zoey seems like just the kitty to keep me company.

Progress

"The Maiden Girls"     All photos courtesy of Benchmark Alpacas

We have some babies on the way!  Miss Felicity, our "senior" experienced female (at age 15) is now pregnant.  Twizzler, who we thought was pregnant, changed her mind and has just been rebred.  The three girls you see above, are keeping it a secret.  Their true status can only be accurately determined by an ultrasound.  They, being all unproven females but all beyond the age of 4, may require some shots of estrogen to get them to "cycle" and not think they are pregnant.  The only problem with the shot, is if they are given the shot and they are truly pregnant then they will abort the baby they may have.  Hence the need for the ultrasound before the injection of estrogen.  Hope that makes sense.

Sweet Caroline

Andraya, in the foreground.

Birdie

Sweet Caroline

In other exciting news, in the name of progress, we have contracted with a builder to construct our pole barn.  He is scheduled to start in the beginning of July.  He estimates it will take about 1 1/2 weeks to complete.  In the meantime I had to procure a electrician, and an excavator to level the site and to install the water inside the barn.  After a somewhat frustrating search, I found two likely candidates.  The skilled trades are in short supply in our area and busy, so finding someone who would be willing to do the job and in the time frame needed I had to do some searching.

I have uploaded a rough sketch of the barn that I designed.  It will be simple and measure 50' wide x 32' long.  There will be a 10' wide main aisle, two stall/pens for the alpacas and a chicken coop.  The aisle and coop will have concrete floors.  The rest will be dirt floors.  The roof and siding will be steel.  The roof will be a rustic red and the siding grey.  Both colors coordinate with the house colors, of course.  The two 10 foot lean-tos on the sides will have a roof but no siding.  This will give the aplacas a place for shade in the summer.  The females will be on the right side of the barn and the males on the left.  To the right of the chicken coop will be a 10' x 30' chicken run.

"The Barn"

I am still searching for someone to erect our fencing.  That, too, is proving to be a challenge.
I have two fencing contractors I've been in touch with.  Since I'm not familar with farm fencing I have had to educate myself.  I'm hoping I can utilize a 2" x 4" woven wire fence that will be five feet tall.  The cost may prevent that.  If not I will have to come up with a plan B.  It's all about being flexible, right! 
The 2 x 4 fence will be a small enough opening that the alpacas won't be able to put their cute little heads through the fence holes and get stuck and to prevent predators access to the pasture.  Since the openings are smaller than normal this fencing costs more, of course.  The fencing behind Daisy in the picture below is a 4" x 4".

Daisy Mae

Stay tuned!

Everyone Gets A Hair Cut!

Wednesday of this week our alpacas had their annual hair cut, better known as a shearing.  We left to assist the shearing process at Benchmark Alpacas at 5:45 a.m.  After a few turn arounds at the end of the driveway, because we forgot my boots, the checkbook, Jeff's phone and our minds, we arrived at Benchmark around 8:00 a.m. just in time for the shearing madness to begin.

Barrie Lynn, Benchmark Alpacas' owner, already had a job assignment lined up for me.  I was in charge of recording the weight of the each shorn fleece as the prime cutting and then the total weight with the 2nd and 3rd cuttings added.  The prime cut is the back and the sides.  This would be used for fiber shows and spinning fine yarns for apparel knitting and weaving.  The prime displays the density, luster and softness of the fiber.  The 2nd cutting consists of the neck, chest, and upper legs and could be used for any non apparel applications.  The 3rd cutting is the stomach, face, and lower legs.  It is used for felting and filling as it is the coarsest.

It was fascinating to watch Barrie Lynn and the system she had in place.  She has been in the business for 20 years and is used to handling 150 alpacas.  She was well organized and took into account every procedure that needed to be done, including shots, worming, hoof trimming, teeth filing, and fly spray application.  She had a station for each procedure and each alpaca would "walk the line."

Barrie Lynn at the prepping station prior to the shearing station.

The shearer, Sam, was from New Zealand originally, and had a lovely accent.  He and his assistant have a nomadic life, traveling across the country shearing alpacas and sheep.  Benchmark Alpacas was the only farm in Michigan he was shearing at.  Then they were headed south to Pennsylvania. 

Sam is working on shearing the alpaca's head.  He has already sheared the body and upper legs.

The guys are putting the noose around  Rafael's hind legs.  Then they'll do the front legs prior to gently stretching him out.

I learned a lot Wednesday.  Though I'm afraid not enough for me to do this next year by myself!  I also found alpacas are definitely not aggressive animals.  I knew this but it was nice to see this in action.  They were trussed, clipped and flipped.  Their teeth were filed and their hooves sniped.  I would be just a little disgruntled with all that handling and although they were, expressing their displeasure in various ways, none of those ways posed a danger to anyone handling them.  In order to keep the alpaca stationary while they are being sheared, nooses are slipped over each leg just above the hoof.  Then through a pulley the alpaca is stretched out so it's legs are above their head and behind them while they lay on their belly.  They are immobilized this way and are not thrashing about.  Some alpacas were more accepting then others.  The unhappy ones made a soft screeching sound that didn't let up until they were released from their bonds.  Others screeched and slobbered.  And only one out of 50 got up from her captivity mad enough to spit!  Woo she was an unhappy Missy!  She by the way is the mother of the darling Daisy Mae.  Daisy Mae, in case you don't remember, is the youngest member of our herd, being born 12/13/14.  She is bright eyed, inquisitive and always wearing a smile.

Look at her smile!  This was taken pre-shearing.

Her smile will melt the meanest heart!  That is her Momma to her right, the spitter.

Speaking of getting hair cuts.  Linus got his about three weeks ago.  He is now sporting the lean gangly look.

Linus' new look.

The lean mean vole hunting machine is showing off his "puppy paws!"

Finally a few pics of my square foot garden.  It's coming together.  I've already planted onions and garlic and asparagus (which we won't be able to pick until next summer).  Since I've been warned the frost date here isn't until June 1st I'm impatiently practising patience.

I'm hoping to have the garden fenced when the fencing for the pastures goes in.

She isn't the prettiest garden but she'll get the job done.

The asparagus plot.

Lastly, we are awaiting bids on building our barn.  Since we are trying to get bids during the busiest time of the year it is slow going.  Every time I think about having the alpaca herd here by September 1st I get very anxious. :(  Best to keep busy so I don't have to think about it.