Monday 23 December 2013

Merry Christmas!

I am afraid I haven't been too good at updating the blog this year.  However, this time of year provides a golden opportunity and we would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and Successful 2014
 

Some of the photos we took to make the message... unfortunately we couldn't get all the animals in on the photo... I am thinking maybe we would have been better selecting others!
 One of the wonderful things about Christmas is it provides an opportunity to catch up on some of the animals we have had here that no longer live with us.  We are always delighted to hear from new owners and particularly to receive photos.

The gorgeous Milo (Apple son) and Cosmo (Cally son) - I love these boys!

Holly (a Cally daughter and Cosmos sister!)


Archie (an Apple son) on one of his first walks

Fizz, an Apple daughter

The gorgeous Maddie enjoying being spoilt!

Sophie, a very pretty daughter of Maddies

Rufus (on the left - a Prinzi/Opal son) who went to live with another blue; Otis
 
We are always pleased to hear about how our dogs, cats, alpacas are doing in their new homes and thank their new owners for taking such good care of them.
 
Happy Christmas to you all!

Sunday 24 November 2013

Puppies relocate

The puppies have now left home and I am pleased to report they are doing well.  It is always so lovely to see their new owners enjoying them...

Layla (A. Cameo) chilling out

Archie (A. Tom Putt) showing what he can do

Fizz (A. Katy) snoozing with her new friend

Ronnie (A. Jonagold) clearly exhausted!

Friday 4 October 2013

Puppy porkers

It will be 2 weeks tomorrow since the pups were born and boy are they piling on the pounds!  They have just started opening their eyes over the past couple of days. They are all doing really well. 

They also now have names.  Continuing on from the apple theme...
Girls: Katy and Cameo
Boys: Tom Putt and Jonagold

The names Tom and Katy have special meaning since the pups were born on the day of my good friends son Tom's wedding and his wife is called Katy.




Saturday 28 September 2013

Update

Yet again it has been too long since my last post and a lot has happened in that time.

The kittens are growing up beautifully and have the most amazing characters.  Some have gone to their new homes, some we are looking after for a bit longer for their new owners and a few are yet to find their special forever homes.  We just love having them.


 


 
 
We are delighted to announce the arrival of a beautiful litter of puppies.  4 scrumptious tubby little things.  They more than doubled their weight in the first 5 days so are thriving.  Pomme is being a fabulous mum as always.
 


We have also had the three cria we were expecting this year.

Hawthorn

Hibiscus

Honeysuckle meeting Herby

Sunday 28 July 2013

Meet the kittens

The kittens are getting more playful now and are enjoying a bit more freedom.

Maddies gang are over 5 weeks now:

Maddies boy

Maddies blue tortie point

Maddies blue tortie tabby point

Maddies other tortie point

Maddie's lilac tortie tabby point
and Opal's gang over 4 weeks

Opal's blue boy

Opal's other blue boy

Opal's blue girl

Opal's blue point girl

Opal's seal point boy

Opal's seal point girl

Opal's other seal point girl
I have been pondering names and this lot should have new names very soon!

Monday 24 June 2013

Shear delight

The alpacas were shorn at the weekend.  It is always a great relief to have that task done.  As usual there were a few surprises.  Our Qjori cria are now easier to distinguish... well at least one was who now looks very dark brown/black, the other two are still two peas in a pod.  Our big dark brown girl (sired by Jack) at the back also cut over 5kg of fleece (3.2kg of saddle).


Ginger was not so much of a surprise since we already knew he was gorgeous but an even better colour than I expected and just as handsome without his fleece.  Golden Garland also looks considerably darker without her fleece, she was a very pleasant surprise.


Now we just need the warmer weather so they can make the most of their new haircuts!

Monday 17 June 2013

First babies at Lower Mackham Farm

We are delighted to announce the arrival of half a dozen sweet little colourpoint kittens.  Maddie is being a wonderful mum to them.



Monday 6 May 2013

Fun in the sun

We are all loving this sunnier weather.

The alpacas are full of it

and the dogs enjoy basking
We have a visitor here for a few days, Nettie's sister (Pomme and Cezar's daughter), who is called Patsie.

Patsie

Patsie with her mum and dad (not paying attention!)

Monday 11 March 2013

Crufts 2013

Last Saturday Isla and I travelled to Crufts with Pearl and Nettie.  I was really pleased with how the girls coped with it.  I don't think it is a dog friendly show, particularly since they had to negotiate through the crowded halls in order for me to show them at either end of the venue.  Luckily they managed to without being trodden on too badly or being worried by being enveloped by people.  They both did me proud.  Nettie came 2nd in her Special Puppy Class and Pearl came 2nd in her Special Junior Class, with a substantial entry of 14 quality dogs.

Nettie - photo courtesy and thanks to Sharon Newman

Pearl - photo courtesy and thanks to Claire Stokes

On a much more somber note we are devastated to report the loss of Zar.  We are still working to find out why but it has been tough to come to terms with the loss of such a beautiful boy at such a tender age.  We hope that he will enjoy being free, chasing flies in the sky.

Sunday 24 February 2013

We are back and it's all change for Amiryck!

We have been quiet for a bit on here for a couple of reasons.  Firstly we had a lot going on... and secondly the dire weather we have had for a number of months had made our ground so muddy that it didn't make for good pictures.  Back to the first reason... for some months now we have been "in the process of moving".  As is often the case things didn't go smoothly, we secured a sale and eventually found somewhere to buy, then our sale fell through when the vendors decided they didn't want to relocate from the home counties after all, resulting in us also losing the house we had wanted to buy!  We then found someone else to buy the house and a number of houses later found somewhere else to buy.  The process was fraught with a change of solicitor midway and we finally had exchange and completion on the same week, with a rather long, tense, wait for the keys!

So we have now moved and now we are back online (thanks BT for weeks delay, despite us paying business rates since Richard's job depends on it).  The great news is we LOVE it here!  All the stress and hard work has been worth it.  The two main triggers for our move were to move closer to the children's school and to own the land our alpacas are on.  The children were having long days at school living 45 minutes away (an hour door to door when they went on the bus) and we seemed to spend our weekends ferrying back and forth.  Now we are just over 15 minutes away and what a difference that makes!  We were also very lucky to rent the land behind our house where we were.  This was a wonderful agreement and we were very grateful to be able to do it but we found there was so much we wanted to do with the ground and never knowing the longevity of such agreements it was difficult to invest any more into the land.  We now have acreage of our own and what is more is it isn't covered in mud and the alpacas have plenty of grass to eat.

We have plenty to do and as always will be kept busy but we are so thrilled and relieved to finally be here.

Lower Mackham Farm
The outside/farm cats have settled in well already
The granary and house
The alpacas seem to be loving it here.  The substantially drier ground and greater quantities of grass in their field must be a good thing!

The girls
A few of the girls
The boys
Amiryck Fagus - a real cutey
The boys popped up to say hello to the girls while the dogs sat and waited.  There was a very faint scattering of snow this morning as well
The dogs are also enjoying less mud and the new ground to explore!

We now live on a no through road, which is noticeably quieter!
Waiting to make sure the road is clear 
Being good for dad!
Pearl
Cezar
Now we are here I will try to keep my postings more regular but with so much to do...