tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67290673061281140682023-11-16T05:23:58.142-08:00Postage Stamp FarmEllen Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05584368538663747817noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729067306128114068.post-16883323362422637252015-06-19T11:05:00.001-07:002015-06-19T11:14:13.722-07:00Getting the Garden in and other miscellany An accomplishful day so far! My handyman Rick helped me truck the
tomato planters over to the patio, and he mucked out the barn, which I
just haven't been able to get to since spring. We also got the broody
hen into a cage with her eggs and got her back into the same corner
where she was in the greenhouse. She pitched a fit at first but when I
went back to check on her she was on the nest. I set her up with shade
and a fan. Phase one. In a day or two I will move the cage to w<span class="text_exposed_show">herever
I figure out I want her to be - probably into the "overflow coop" where
Z's hens spent the winter and where the rabbit (in a cage) is now. If
she does hatch any chicks, it will be a safe place for her to raise
them. Everyone keep their fingers crossed for a successful hatching!</span><br />
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I also shoveled and moved 5 cartloads of composted manure, which I
figure weighed about 100 pounds a load, over to the new garden beds Rick
built last fall and I planted two flats of squash, Spaghetti and
Buttercup. I watered well and mulched it deep with straw and shredded
paper to try to keep down the weeds. Maybe tomorrow I'll rake more straw
out of the second coop to layer it a little thicker on the second
raised bed, but right now I'm pretty much done in! I had wanted to do
the sheet mulching technique I learned in a class this spring, but it
didn't happen this year - too much else going on so the traditional
method will have to do. (Maybe next year.) The spaghetti squash has
little tendrils, so it looks like I need to put up some trellising for
it to climb on.<br />
The veggie plants are now all in the ground. I still
have a few more herbs to get into pots and some flowers to get into the
ground, but I'm close to finishing getting the garden in for the year.
The two grapevines and one of the two blueberry bushes I planted have
sprouted new leaves, so that is encouraging. And to think all of this
came about because I wanted to have alpacas to spin the wool to knit
with, and then decided I had to do something with all the alpaca manure I
was accumulating!</div>
Ellen Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05584368538663747817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729067306128114068.post-41899529017823307592014-11-23T10:58:00.005-08:002015-06-19T11:12:18.674-07:00Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!It was supposed to be that dreadful "wintery mix" but so far, into the afternoon, we have gotten snow. Yay! I had errands planned for Concord but instead will take a snow day. With a day off, work won't force me out onto the roads, at least.<br />
<br />
I'm concentrating on finishing my Christmas knitting. I printed out a December calendar and wrote in which projects will be finished on what date - Ho ho ho! With family Christmas on the 21st this year, I'm sweating it a little.<br />
<br />
<u>Update</u>: if I'd had any clue what kind of a winter we were going to have, I would never had celebrated that November snowfall!<br />
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<br />Ellen Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05584368538663747817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729067306128114068.post-91786064465120504052014-11-23T10:58:00.003-08:002014-11-23T10:58:28.163-08:00Using the pressure canner is getting to be less stressful. Last night I
made and canned Mushroom Barley Vegetable Soup and my anxiety was
one-tenth of what it was the first day I used the canner! A little
anxiety is probably good - I don't want to forget I've got it going! <br />
If I can find the food mill, I want to make applesauce this afternoon.
Reading labels in the grocery store yesterday really brought home how
many additives are in pre-prepared food, many of them from corn, which
is on my allergy list. Even plain old shredded wheat has BHT added,
which is a corn derivative. (And by the way, "organic" can still have
corn in it.) I've probably eaten so many chemicals in my life that
switching to clean eating now isn't going to save me, but if I can
lessen my allergy symptoms, that will make life more pleasant.Ellen Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05584368538663747817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729067306128114068.post-21671274105229166852013-11-27T06:58:00.000-08:002013-11-27T06:58:32.214-08:00Thoughts on "original" design<div class="body forum_post_body">
This is a copy of a Ravelry post I made today, in response to a designer who was worrying about stepping on other people's toes with her designs.<br />
<br />
I’ve noticed the same pattern element in different designer’s socks,
mostly it’s when I’ve already knitted it once and the pattern is “in my
head”. It’s going to happen unless you do something unusual with the
element or the way you combine it with another element.<br />
I made my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/justsox4me/baby-fern">first “original” sock</a> after reading the Charlene Schurch books, <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/sensational-knitted-socks">Sensational Knitted Socks</a> and <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/more-sensational-knitted-socks">More Sensational Knitted Socks</a>, using her plug-and-play method. I then expanded my design style with Cat Bordhi’s <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/new-pathways-for-sock-knitters-book-one">New Pathways for Sock Knitters: Book One</a> and Cookie A’s <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/sock-innovation">Sock Innovation</a>
which both opened my mind to totally new possibilities for the standard
sock. I’ve yet to design anything along those lines, but always enjoy
knitting an unusual combination or construction. <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/steffilinden">Stephanie van der Linden</a> and <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/jeanniefanihi">Jeannie Cartmel</a>
are other designers who have developed constructions that are far
beyond traditional. I’ve only done a little designing myself, because
there are so many clever/beautiful designs out there that I want to
make, and kudos to the people who go to the trouble to actually write up
the instructions, have them test-knitted, etc!<br />
A copyright lawyer once told me that if someone took a trip down a river and
wrote about it, and I took a trip down the same river and also wrote
about it, and it my account happened to be identical to the first story,
there was no infringement, because mine was as original as the first. I
think this applies to using stitch dictionaries as well, the pattern in
the dictionary being the river, and our sock pattern being the tale we
tell.<br />
</div>
Ellen Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05584368538663747817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729067306128114068.post-6200366000036466622013-11-12T08:00:00.000-08:002013-11-12T08:00:52.306-08:00Little things...<span style="font-family: Arial;">We celebrated Mom's 91st birthday yesterday. Her legs were aching, and she was feeling her age, but she seemed to enjoy going our for lunch and the cake afterwards at Havenwood. Louisa, Belle, and Louisa's friend joined us, as well as Gretchen, so it was a nice group. I'll need to get her back to the chiropractor this week.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">No word yet on the pellet stove, so I'm thinking it didn't arrive on Sunday's truck as was hoped. I replaced the battery on the thermostat for the furnace, so it's been coming on a little more consistently, although yesterday it thought it ought to be set on 70, which is way too high for fuel and money conservation, so I had to find the operating manual online and figure out how to reprogram it. What a pain. It's supposed to get cold tonight, down to 20 degrees, so I'll need to bundle up if I'm sitting around this evening.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I hit a great deal at Joann’s yesterday on some decorative
storage boxes. They weren’t marked as being on sale, but they were up along the
back, and they were sunflower designs, so late summer early fall, and I thought
“these must be on clearance” so I took one to the price checker and sure enough,
14.99 on the sticker, 7.99 actual price. So I bought almost all they had – two
large, three medium, and three smaller ones. They are gold and green colors,
which will go in my craft room, and the bigger ones will hold scrapbook pages,
I’m pretty sure, so I can organize my scrapbook supplies in them and either use
them in the closet workspace, or on the bookcase next to the closet. I brought a pegboard from the old house, and
bought a corkboard to put on the inside of the door with my coupon at Joanne’s.
Just need to raise the shelf to desk height and I can put everything in there.
Feels good to be making progress!</span><br />
<br />Ellen Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05584368538663747817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729067306128114068.post-14559546362063342492013-11-09T10:48:00.000-08:002013-11-09T10:48:12.166-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">No, this is not in my house. It is, however, pretty much what's been in my mind for the closet in my craft studio, and I was thrilled to find a picture to inspire me!. I want an area dedicated to scrapbooking, where all the "stuff" can be stored, and hidden, when necessary.The floor of my closet contains the cellar hatch, so I can't put down anything that can't be moved easily. A rolling file cart and a rolling chair should fit the bill. I own both, so it is a matter of laying my hands on them in the storage unit. I also need to move the current shelf, which is knee-high, up to desk height. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My closet extends to the right past the door for almost 18 inches, so on the counter there I can put my Cricut alphabet cartridges in an old VCR tape storage drawer unit, and on top of that, I could put paper files. A strip lamp on the back wall will give me light without taking up counter space, plus I have a floor-standing Ott light that could store in the closet and be put in place over my shoulder when I sit down. The whole closet is about 6 feet wide, so I should have enough work space. Wall pockets/baskets will hold small tools, pens, and tape runner. Oh, hmmm, I have a peg board that I should measure and see if it will fit on the back wall! </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A corkboard or one of those boards with the diagonal ribbons on it could go on the inside of the closet door, which is a single door, about 4 feet wide. Or, maybe the pegboard, though I would be so annoyed if things flew off every time I opened the door!</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The existing top shelf in my closet can store backup supplies. Right now, there is a bookcase just outside the closet, to the right, where I've been putting scrapbooking things, so the albums and other "tidy" looking things could stay there. It will be behind the door when it is open, so I don't want to have something there that I access a lot. I'll
have to figure out where I'll keep my Cricut and SIzzix machines,
because I want them handy, but not in the way. My friend Elizabeth has her Sizzix and dies in decorative storage boxes, which is so nice looking, so maybe they could be on the bookcase that way.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As a former Creative Memories consultant, I own more scrapbooking supplies than is decent, and I'm crazy to think they'll all fit in the closet/bookcase. But this would get me started, and the rest of the stuff could stay in the tubs in storage until I need to use it or move it along.<br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Currently, my jewelry-making supplies are on a bookcase to the left of the closet door, so if I wanted to, I could use the counter in my closet for jewelry-making as well. Oh, the possibilities!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>Ellen Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05584368538663747817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729067306128114068.post-33602884302780555782013-11-09T10:12:00.001-08:002015-06-19T11:13:50.648-07:00<h5 class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3,"tn":"K"}"><span class="userContent">Well,
I needed a piece of wood to knock together a bookcase that I was
assembling but when I went outside to get it, the chickens all came
running, so I did the barn chores and fed everybody, then decided I
needed to figure out if I could make room in the greenhouse for the
rabbit for the winter. So I started organizing the greenhouse, and made
pretty good progress until I needed some screws to put up a shelf over
where the rabbit cage will be, so I really want to do it first. I couldn't
find any screws, so I finished feeding the rabbit, still in the garage,
and actually, yes, remembered to grab the piece of 2x4 that I had
initially intended to get! Now the bookcase, actually an etegere, is
assembled, so I have a place to put some of my dollhouses, which are
stored temporarily - you got it, in the greenhouse! Life is so cyclic!!!</span></span></h5>
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<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3,"tn":"K"}"><span class="userContent">To make a long story short, for anyone who actually reads this, I moved, and I don't think I can possibly catch up on the year and a half since the last post! So, just as a good journaler should, I am picking up right here, right now. If I can figure out how, I will post some of my more significant posts over the recent past from Facebook on here, which will fill in the blanks a little.</span></span></h5>
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Ellen Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05584368538663747817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729067306128114068.post-51587175701957598502012-05-19T13:08:00.000-07:002012-05-19T13:08:26.207-07:00Inch by inch, row by row...Well, the farm has gone on, even though the blogging didn't. I'm just resting today from gardening. I took a couple days off from work to play in the dirt, but it's pretty hot out there today, so I'm slowing down a little. I hope the rain will hold off Monday (my next day off) so I can work on it during the day and do the major finishing.<br />
<br />
I bought almost all the plants I want: tomatoes, peppers, onion sets, squash, and tons of herbs. I also have seeds to go in, but the sun got the best of me today. Maybe Monday! Peas, carrots, beets, lettuce and Swiss chard. I'm also thinking of planting some potatoes, but haven't come across seed
potatoes yet, and there are only 2 sprouting potatoes in my veggie bin!<br />
<br />
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I'm following some guidelines from small space gardening and container gardening books, as well as the square foot techniques. Last year, the garden did better than the first - I'm sure it was the alpaca manure I mixed into the 4'x4' square foot boxes. My pots didn't do as well - this year I got some self-watering pots and planters to see if the thirsty plants like peppers, eggplants and tomatoes will do better. Tho, last year my tomatoes did pretty well, so I don't need a whole lot of improvement on those. The squash are in the 4x4 boxes this year, and I bought material to make a pvc pipe frame to tie the trellis netting to so they can grow upwards, along with the peas and beans. The clamps I got to hold the piping to the side of the boxes aren't the right size, so that little building project is on hold until I feel like cleaning myself up enough to go to the store.<br />
<br />
The herbs are all in hanging pots this year - the books say that letting them get dry challenges them and makes them taste better. Among all of them, I got 4 types of mint and 4 types of basil, which I will dry if I can get my act together! It would be cool to give dried herbs as stocking stuffers this year. Last year I dug up herbs and put them in pots to bring them inside, but life interrupted didn't allow for enough watering, so maybe this year will be better.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin36w5-rZGBHhPn2CoQ5Z5WFeyYms106Rw_1RQP5rnzCxPLY4ZYIJ7TRC1wtQEcGhzBtKwtd7_A29BPOgsstQ6Ih_MvXM3yNeKtV2TawfCbEvj-BQRR-A9fZ6HwNFN1_r-nvVaq8ESgPVf/s1600/IMG00420-20120518-1502%5B1%5D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin36w5-rZGBHhPn2CoQ5Z5WFeyYms106Rw_1RQP5rnzCxPLY4ZYIJ7TRC1wtQEcGhzBtKwtd7_A29BPOgsstQ6Ih_MvXM3yNeKtV2TawfCbEvj-BQRR-A9fZ6HwNFN1_r-nvVaq8ESgPVf/s320/IMG00420-20120518-1502%5B1%5D" width="320" /></a></div>
These are the pots I fixed up yesterday. I did more today, and moved most of them to the garden side of the house. The five pots on the left, tomatoes and rosemary, will stay on the driveway side and get sun til mid-day.<br />
<br />Ellen Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05584368538663747817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729067306128114068.post-71113824806352810732010-03-23T19:01:00.001-07:002010-03-23T19:09:19.263-07:00Spring maybe?Wasn't last week awesome? The hens and alpacas have been out in the big yard, loving the chance to move around after a cramped up winter. My favorite part of the week was spending two hours grooming Coco while sitting in the paddock with the 'pacas. Grimmy was so curious - he loves the rabbits!<br /><br />My visiting Wyandotte hens will be going back to their new home pretty soon, so I got some new hens this week - two Silky/? cross, one white, one black. Also got a Silky/ Frizzle cross, called a Sizzle - must get pics of ther - she's the most interesting looking bird!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifhbPZw_K5mPY4nzeftDhFZS-JCDpq8ES5ocJvWC7ZF09dbRN3L0nVbqKuWmKGuu_5uupLCssNzoMPH1HimqddwtZBOQDqOZLzIPFj6sANm5YYpRaIeMJIMMxtJ5FwYyOIvNV3OijjGSuZ/s1600-h/0322101035.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifhbPZw_K5mPY4nzeftDhFZS-JCDpq8ES5ocJvWC7ZF09dbRN3L0nVbqKuWmKGuu_5uupLCssNzoMPH1HimqddwtZBOQDqOZLzIPFj6sANm5YYpRaIeMJIMMxtJ5FwYyOIvNV3OijjGSuZ/s320/0322101035.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452016496624962578" border="0" /></a>I also found a new angora baby - my only English Angora, and he's a snuggle bug - what a love!Ellen Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05584368538663747817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729067306128114068.post-86141636886519610152010-01-15T18:12:00.000-08:002010-01-15T18:24:43.520-08:00I'm sure gonna miss you, little Guy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOkxROepLy_6DapAdLx_98s1g7UYZoVOUJVhUfxIkbIw9oFI60auPZHCGvBZirCe-oLBPTeL4lON5wSTSdh6wCXwgSpz9ca2zcH3PZ07X5OjmRsD8A1HbQ7RmhTnjNlaEt3bFLdwLljFge/s1600-h/1125090959a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOkxROepLy_6DapAdLx_98s1g7UYZoVOUJVhUfxIkbIw9oFI60auPZHCGvBZirCe-oLBPTeL4lON5wSTSdh6wCXwgSpz9ca2zcH3PZ07X5OjmRsD8A1HbQ7RmhTnjNlaEt3bFLdwLljFge/s320/1125090959a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427157941048367250" border="0" /></a><br />I lost one of my rabbits, Guy Noir, last Sunday, to septicemia. He was a beautiful bunny, part of the first pair I got. I'll miss his snuggly fur and his wiggly nose.Ellen Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05584368538663747817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729067306128114068.post-18055419284489958412009-11-04T21:42:00.000-08:002009-11-04T22:09:49.871-08:00Lions and tigers and bears - oh my!My neighbor told me this morning that her bird feeder was badly damaged and 4 or 5 pounds of seed all consumed sometime during last night. We're thinking it must have been a sizable animal, like a bear! I'm only two houses down, and tonight I made sure that my barn was locked up tight against any nocturnal visitors!<br /><br />My handyman, Rick, has completed a waist-high rack for the rabbit cages to go on in the lower level of the barn, so once I polyurethane it, the bunnies can move to the lower level of the barn with the other critters. They'll be warmer, with 3 sides of the foundation against the ground or the house, and still get sunshine in through the windows on the exposed side. The cages will be easier to clean, since they'll be at an better height for me to reach, plus the droppings will go right through to the ground for raking up. Several of the bunnies are throwing their coats, and I've been plucking off the loose wool for spinning. They all have thick undercoats, so warmth shouldn't be a problem. The bunns are really enjoying the rose hips I've been trimming off the wild roses alongside my driveway!<br /><br />The chickens are all getting along a little better - the reds (NH Reds) still sleep on the alpaca side and the buffs (Buff Orpingtons) on the other side, but there's been less squawking and bullying going on in general. Rick got the nesting boxes half done today, and the buffs were all piled up on the construction for the night when I checked on them. Guess they like it! I gave the hens some cut-up apples this week and they had great fun pecking and tossing the apple pieces in a little chicken soccer game.<br /><br />I'll be getting a third alpaca soon to replace the one I lost - it's a matter of transportation at this point, so I'm just waiting to hear when that will be. The other two are doing well, thank Heavens!<br /><br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwPo1u422F6utuGsOFGO9irfvZAe2pBMrn6HWYND8QAZT3qf0a49e1_KOfizzSYZlmADf_1HZrnGMeEGZ3Isg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Ellen Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05584368538663747817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729067306128114068.post-55404422489603633612009-10-23T19:07:00.000-07:002009-10-23T19:10:28.595-07:00Okay, this has got to stop!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Q56hK8i27fwDWnSkS6jtwnFN9VlOF5aZip7Gsc22SUF35zQ3XrBZkyvkTmy1QbZ0CXFW-NSgxB_EgP-lkhHiubqHc4hbsrY0UAlq7aHqKL79rxDtFo7uILx3vIXs6RDMCEzjfCPqB0Ky/s1600-h/PA040027.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Q56hK8i27fwDWnSkS6jtwnFN9VlOF5aZip7Gsc22SUF35zQ3XrBZkyvkTmy1QbZ0CXFW-NSgxB_EgP-lkhHiubqHc4hbsrY0UAlq7aHqKL79rxDtFo7uILx3vIXs6RDMCEzjfCPqB0Ky/s320/PA040027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395980729162131426" border="0" /></a>Let's see, where to begin. Where did this month go? Do I say that every month?<br /><br />Well, the first weekend of October, I added some more angora rabbits to my flock. Hutchery. Rabbitry. What the heck. Two females, sisters, and their daddy. Daddy is named Cloud, beautiful, soft, light blue-gray bunny wonderfulness. The two sisters are Button, because of the round white spot centered on her nose, and Delia, a beautiful agouti color.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgorOFJ7UC0BrmkekHxvG-GeAOh3JrUZeafs5Ptvqb-uPHxxdvbGE5xg2Wfh96rETHhHTO3g7ITaP5nkBcNxJ-CVxSFMMItTN_Eew0NojX0M1zRVZdy1Qt7xLWF34VFqu8UrCUaEdbQPalS/s1600-h/PA040034.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgorOFJ7UC0BrmkekHxvG-GeAOh3JrUZeafs5Ptvqb-uPHxxdvbGE5xg2Wfh96rETHhHTO3g7ITaP5nkBcNxJ-CVxSFMMItTN_Eew0NojX0M1zRVZdy1Qt7xLWF34VFqu8UrCUaEdbQPalS/s320/PA040034.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395981490583920578" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So the next day I went to buy a BIG bag of rabbit food and there was a swap going on at the local Agway. I totally fell in love with a little female lion-head I named Anya Rose - she's 5 months old and about the size of a guinea pig. She gets along with the two sisters really well, so she's sharing the digs with them, though she might end up eventually being a house rabbit. At this point, I'm spending more time in the barn than in the house, so she has better company out there!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzUBqatxadLSwB_guD5hPPFHVmII3XcD_qxF1ZxjLXMPfhAKQXnIscZydIq6ExwFhxjt1C0HgDEPLwrA3GurVsxDAbLliFDRAd2fLxvkX9bR_bmKxwRpuNAXZvJpjQZ9Nw1KiYpyhxufA/s1600-h/PA040031.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzUBqatxadLSwB_guD5hPPFHVmII3XcD_qxF1ZxjLXMPfhAKQXnIscZydIq6ExwFhxjt1C0HgDEPLwrA3GurVsxDAbLliFDRAd2fLxvkX9bR_bmKxwRpuNAXZvJpjQZ9Nw1KiYpyhxufA/s320/PA040031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395981013960557570" border="0" /></a><br />Last weekend, seven new chickens came to live with me - their owner didn't want to winter them over so I invited them in. The more the merrier! Four hens and three young'uns, gender to be determined. They are Buff Orpingtons, a more golden color than my original three reds. The reds are laying two eggs a day pretty consistently, but I haven't had anything from the Buffs yet. The reds are a little bossy around them, so I've been allowing their tendency to roost in the barn as separate flocks.<br /><br />I also got two new barn cats on Tuesday. My sister and her husband were able to catch two 6-month old feral kittens that were born under their porch, and they are now living in a huge dog kennel in my barn, set up with a litter box and a kitty tower. I'm working on taming them enough to be able to handle them at least a little, then they'll go to the vet for neutering before I set them loose. No pictures yet - they're pretty shy whenever I'm around.Ellen Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05584368538663747817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729067306128114068.post-26634624115613675222009-09-29T17:44:00.000-07:002009-09-29T20:14:19.649-07:00A rough weekI had a hell of a week last week. As I already blogged, on Sunday I got the three alpacas, and my doe rabbit gave birth. On Monday I woke up with a nasty cold, the kind you don't even want to get out of bed for. The little rabbit baby died on Tuesday. On Thursday, I went down to the barn and one of the alpacas was dead! I went back to work that afternoon, my cold having improved, but one of the other nurses came in at 5 so I could get back home to meet the guy with the backhoe for the burial.<br /><br />Saturday I got three laying hens, and have been getting 1-2 nice big brown eggs every morning! The alpacas and hens are getting along fine, so I am feeling a little less stressed, though this morning one of the hens was acting oddly and favoring one leg. Tonight, I was going to put her in a separate cage so she wouldn't have to compete with the others for food etc but she looked better tonight and was eating and drinking with the others. I'll see how she is in the morning I guess.<br /><br />The county extension agent came on Monday to check out my operation to see what might have killed the alpaca - they are susceptible to colic or can die from eating a poisonous plant. I didn't pay for an autopsy so I will never really know, I guess. I need some rain so I can burn the brush pile to eliminate the Yew bushes that are poisonous to alpacas. Maybe Saturday, if the forecast is on target. After that, the field can be reopened with careful monitoring.Ellen Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05584368538663747817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729067306128114068.post-47791679494046124062009-09-22T07:31:00.001-07:002009-09-22T07:31:57.631-07:00Sad newsSadly, my baby bunny did not make it through the night. We will try again in the spring.Ellen Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05584368538663747817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729067306128114068.post-66621268382441257782009-09-21T14:39:00.000-07:002009-09-21T14:43:01.042-07:00New Baby BunnyIn the middle of the alpacas arrival, my angora bunny Coco decided it was time to give birth! She had one little baby, as smooth as silk, and about the size of a mouse. Baby is about the same color as Momma, a deep gray-brown. Mother and baby are resting comfortably...Ellen Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05584368538663747817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729067306128114068.post-3386312074965652842009-09-20T19:44:00.001-07:002009-09-20T19:51:57.967-07:00They're here!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaV1_Jn8T2PV5-ABlHsHycnzBCbhaFmiALfW-LrIIZR0-jngE-Vo-bl-eOP2QRWlHSwSF4oc3csurSvJT4ywaPuQ-NjxBd7c88B4YT6wLLdwewHR0d_6G80HT-FRR2G5Y2yOD08O-cUAEO/s1600-h/sept202009+010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaV1_Jn8T2PV5-ABlHsHycnzBCbhaFmiALfW-LrIIZR0-jngE-Vo-bl-eOP2QRWlHSwSF4oc3csurSvJT4ywaPuQ-NjxBd7c88B4YT6wLLdwewHR0d_6G80HT-FRR2G5Y2yOD08O-cUAEO/s320/sept202009+010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383747374039784114" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEids4zYLW1Tbyt8EwfjfoADQCbkt02efUNxr3396KOlaqwVCV00ztjuIUKiPy-_7lgzMmtXY5vq2tS-VuTUkZ85xpanXbWvtPTLd3zIUasx7BlKuPYMBE5Yygg2_jwp2BGPzVXmYTbFi9ja/s1600-h/sept202009+005.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEids4zYLW1Tbyt8EwfjfoADQCbkt02efUNxr3396KOlaqwVCV00ztjuIUKiPy-_7lgzMmtXY5vq2tS-VuTUkZ85xpanXbWvtPTLd3zIUasx7BlKuPYMBE5Yygg2_jwp2BGPzVXmYTbFi9ja/s320/sept202009+005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383747366591122338" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm87B7BKxp_k7byy1ELaKdqpaysH-TmqQRWXtGhI8YzObeIq3CMOphzWhpx6b9pUl3QtRJTIufAUjBn3mHFWm82uk7VH71duzeNc5-Hh2wrITyKg9yzVeSt_iYyMhUDaBj3ztPbSafrsor/s1600-h/sept202009+004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm87B7BKxp_k7byy1ELaKdqpaysH-TmqQRWXtGhI8YzObeIq3CMOphzWhpx6b9pUl3QtRJTIufAUjBn3mHFWm82uk7VH71duzeNc5-Hh2wrITyKg9yzVeSt_iYyMhUDaBj3ztPbSafrsor/s320/sept202009+004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383747359383671202" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapmkn6hQ4d-7OxgUH6aVYJVNYblPRE_okdvOLZ854tw31wFlNMRNvvDvOlv7DXdhoKA2yP-IeNhLc6wOY2dBDYa21M2CCCCQjeOEGs__MzWie_isBQqKRdgSkJVTAobGuE2HtQwnZcmBq/s1600-h/sept202009+003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapmkn6hQ4d-7OxgUH6aVYJVNYblPRE_okdvOLZ854tw31wFlNMRNvvDvOlv7DXdhoKA2yP-IeNhLc6wOY2dBDYa21M2CCCCQjeOEGs__MzWie_isBQqKRdgSkJVTAobGuE2HtQwnZcmBq/s320/sept202009+003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383747350614599394" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7P-57u16egAItNuHs7V3lRX0TBXE7gwmIHPRXAsMUCtWYKZQZ47l8CpotdrD-HLdywJ6e6f7em6ruAi3mHs3qgd38e8XUjTMAGtAK7ooJtM1TYorzzf1BSnt0nsHBBzM2AZxfCQkXgvAO/s1600-h/sept202009+002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7P-57u16egAItNuHs7V3lRX0TBXE7gwmIHPRXAsMUCtWYKZQZ47l8CpotdrD-HLdywJ6e6f7em6ruAi3mHs3qgd38e8XUjTMAGtAK7ooJtM1TYorzzf1BSnt0nsHBBzM2AZxfCQkXgvAO/s320/sept202009+002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383747340416628466" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzX0UJnk_iPtdy4u8FIHIaUipgHuKUETvuX3DD38kF0I51Es9Nl0LyhgFwOn_IZ3s4g5zZunZCI2coruKUAqp0Q0Z4LRhlvWz33tn0-aS6cvoiuSL5BTfwvuJNMKf7V6hAfPq4aCKoYpwN/s1600-h/sept202009+001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzX0UJnk_iPtdy4u8FIHIaUipgHuKUETvuX3DD38kF0I51Es9Nl0LyhgFwOn_IZ3s4g5zZunZCI2coruKUAqp0Q0Z4LRhlvWz33tn0-aS6cvoiuSL5BTfwvuJNMKf7V6hAfPq4aCKoYpwN/s320/sept202009+001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383746520228851378" border="0" /></a>Ellen Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05584368538663747817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729067306128114068.post-80787209928384562712009-09-18T18:50:00.001-07:002009-09-18T19:01:10.794-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5jfUY2ZTFNe0BQI5AC_8jEZ7LKKN8a5mAczBztS00AIdp7KxMFQvrsHlobGPWRATursSlm_hj-E3klbsz_HiZ91hCE0g05ZHQAOyPSviJ5-tmvYJqZ9vTF6Eg0jjhOjxrhOMVsicnAzc/s1600-h/Boucanier.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 247px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5jfUY2ZTFNe0BQI5AC_8jEZ7LKKN8a5mAczBztS00AIdp7KxMFQvrsHlobGPWRATursSlm_hj-E3klbsz_HiZ91hCE0g05ZHQAOyPSviJ5-tmvYJqZ9vTF6Eg0jjhOjxrhOMVsicnAzc/s320/Boucanier.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382990249896030274" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43Yl8jAszlgmipVivrsyQ5UJLKAehk9qDuq5wmTLQVzWPgDpQO7SyFsju_h0NVKEUSlHbJjgIPhIpw0L4X-G3va0DkjJhEM8QbcmkeCzUYaG5iQiJiRc_WYevxU1tXMjqrveQYmtTwZgL/s1600-h/Grimbergen.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43Yl8jAszlgmipVivrsyQ5UJLKAehk9qDuq5wmTLQVzWPgDpQO7SyFsju_h0NVKEUSlHbJjgIPhIpw0L4X-G3va0DkjJhEM8QbcmkeCzUYaG5iQiJiRc_WYevxU1tXMjqrveQYmtTwZgL/s320/Grimbergen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382990242209138738" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKwCRKWlREV-mEYmLPy58CsjgOcaZOmTqG7NJGahQ7EUs43rI7TQPAe1EPJGO8ZcvXz4ygKU-jUcsLl1b4FFHQYPIYl6PUgAz7mYr1Vz5-MmsTNFql7apNhHbN-5oD0o1SjJYvSzCtZbcm/s1600-h/eqnx+angelus.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 221px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKwCRKWlREV-mEYmLPy58CsjgOcaZOmTqG7NJGahQ7EUs43rI7TQPAe1EPJGO8ZcvXz4ygKU-jUcsLl1b4FFHQYPIYl6PUgAz7mYr1Vz5-MmsTNFql7apNhHbN-5oD0o1SjJYvSzCtZbcm/s320/eqnx+angelus.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382990097896437106" border="0" /></a><br />The alpacas are coming! The alpacas are coming! My barn and field are ready, I just need to arrange their transportation! And get hay - must get hay tomorrow...<br /><br />These are images from the farm's website - will add my own asap!Ellen Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05584368538663747817noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729067306128114068.post-767411741481018482009-09-06T07:35:00.000-07:002009-09-06T07:39:15.229-07:00Dog Daze<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91Oq57Lr0FgWH4zUXxwlHrDKjt0vKUozExUAGiXFc7eLZurvOV6at-HLvr2_oRIRiRoyWDo9w9bsXTf-PVZY9tX89V9u03g-iyI-bGNKr17liPcb1OrutFsqNwZhO7JCaHyOy9Y7x8g3C/s1600-h/Kelsey+and+Khol.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91Oq57Lr0FgWH4zUXxwlHrDKjt0vKUozExUAGiXFc7eLZurvOV6at-HLvr2_oRIRiRoyWDo9w9bsXTf-PVZY9tX89V9u03g-iyI-bGNKr17liPcb1OrutFsqNwZhO7JCaHyOy9Y7x8g3C/s320/Kelsey+and+Khol.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378363265226658226" border="0" /></a><br />Kelsey's enjoying her long walks with Khol every morning and seems to be settling in real well.Ellen Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05584368538663747817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729067306128114068.post-54595687225105316722009-09-04T16:00:00.000-07:002009-09-04T16:15:58.122-07:00Better Late than Never<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFoHR-flSpG4W3c1EzfbRbxBkyTY4lBZoU7-I9gRxnVG8GADVKUEGQa1gmozlLuuDpwfP9XL5AY0t_X_lhziOmerakqqp7fNeCMiFbkKdC3mdpNaEvniwgE8LUPxNDN2JxLYcgPmdn0TRG/s1600-h/d-Kelly.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFoHR-flSpG4W3c1EzfbRbxBkyTY4lBZoU7-I9gRxnVG8GADVKUEGQa1gmozlLuuDpwfP9XL5AY0t_X_lhziOmerakqqp7fNeCMiFbkKdC3mdpNaEvniwgE8LUPxNDN2JxLYcgPmdn0TRG/s320/d-Kelly.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377754479208556914" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Wow, where did the summer go? It seems like it just arrived a couple of weeks ago (literally!)<br /><br />The bunnies are now 6 months old. Coco is still bigger than Guy Noir, but he had a growth spurt in August and has caught up some, size-wise. They've got an exercise yard, in which they enjoy hanging out and munching fresh green grass.<br /><br />The alpacas are still residing in Hopkinton. The fence posts finally went in this week, and the rolls of fencing are here. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!<br /><br />Today I brought home a livestock guardian dog, a lovely Great Pyrenees from the SPCA. </span><span style="font-family:arial;">Sadly, her family couldn't keep her because of their housing situation. </span><span style="font-family:arial;">Her name will be Kelsey. She's 5 years old, with a lovely, gentle disposition. Isn't she beautiful? I only have to photo from the shelter, but hope to get some of Khol and her soon.<br /><br /><br /></span>Ellen Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05584368538663747817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729067306128114068.post-67775954586211517422009-06-06T19:57:00.000-07:002009-06-07T11:16:54.595-07:00Woolly Wabbits<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEUFgsBkfn3h4SwD3bwz4j4AKIqPgb8Aw8GXAbLXeJ2p8mNyw4pWQBNo8EIyFHsdPvvxciWjb7qlbFS11wLkMXJD9Ul1Ortr4B4htZ9ExHaAuVFhLwlaeRI3hU8yDWV9lqNQxhigUq00Ua/s1600-h/Guy+Noir+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEUFgsBkfn3h4SwD3bwz4j4AKIqPgb8Aw8GXAbLXeJ2p8mNyw4pWQBNo8EIyFHsdPvvxciWjb7qlbFS11wLkMXJD9Ul1Ortr4B4htZ9ExHaAuVFhLwlaeRI3hU8yDWV9lqNQxhigUq00Ua/s320/Guy+Noir+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344415121788502546" border="0" /></a><br />Today I attended the Fiber Frolic in Windsor Maine. I was fortunate to be able to stay last night with a friend in the area (all the more money for the event!) I had in mind to check out the angora rabbits and the spinning wheels, so I was able to pass by much of the luscious fiber, yarn, etc to stay focused on my quest.<br /><br />The picture above is a baby pic of my new buck and his brother. No, I don't know which is which! He's a beautiful silvery black, and I've dubbed him "Guy Noir." I also acquired a gorgeous chocolate female I've named "Coco" - they were both born at the end of March/beginning of April and are French/German cross. I'm hoping to breed them when they're old enough. Updated pics ASAP!<br /><br />I also spent some time trying out spinning wheels and ended up with a <a href="http://www.themerlintree.com/the_merlin_tree007.htm">double-treadle HitchHiker</a> from The Merlin Tree in VT . My spinning needs considerable practice, and this portable wheel will give me an opportunity to hang out most anywhere and work on my technique.Ellen Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05584368538663747817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729067306128114068.post-75737716097530268892009-05-23T15:09:00.001-07:002009-05-23T20:02:56.381-07:00Three's CompanyI went with Barbie Tilton last Sunday to deliver four young alpacas to Jeff Bishop's Equinox Farm. They all rode quietly in the back of Barbie's van over the back roads to Hopkinton. I was planning to purchase one of two fiber boys Jeff has, Angelus and Millionaire. Angelus is listed as light fawn, and Millionaire is a beautiful white boy with an incredible coat. No surprise, I couldn't chose, and so now they are both mine. Mr T was one of the boys we took over to Hopkinton, and he and the two older guys were mingling well by the time we left.<br /><br />Barbie has several pregnant girls, and had a new baby that had just been born on Friday. The little one was having trouble getting the knack of suckling, and Barbie was pretty tired from bottle feedings through the nights since. However when we got back to Someday Farm, Dean told us the baby had figured it out while we were gone, and we watched her nurse and then frolic outside with the other Mama Alpacas.<br /><br />Today I staked out where my fence posts will be, and assessed what needs to be done in my ground level barn area where the three boys will be sheltered. I need to drag some junk out of there, rake out the dirt floor, and construct their pen. I need some electricity and ceiling lights, and a water source for when it gets too cold for the outdoor hose. Looks like I'll be making some phone calls this week!Ellen Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05584368538663747817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6729067306128114068.post-37103603212739859792009-05-16T14:59:00.000-07:002009-05-16T15:08:15.163-07:00The Beginning<span style="font-family: arial;">A big week for me. I bought my first alpaca and lost my older dog, a faithful companion for almost 15 years. Smudge and I had been through a lot together, and he was always at my side, or sleeping just inside the door so he couldn't miss my return. I keep watching out that I don't trip over him - it will be hard to get used to him being gone.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">The alpaca enterprise has been ruminating (pun intended) for a couple of years, and was fired up again when I ran into Barbie Tilton of Someday Farm (Canterbury NH) at the NH Sheep and Wool Festival. With her tutelage, I'll be bringing home my first little guys as soon as I get the fence installed!</span>Ellen Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05584368538663747817noreply@blogger.com2