Visitors

Milo and Cosmo have come to stay for a week whilst their owners are away.  I decided to have a practice stacking Milo since the last time he did it was over a year ago...not bad

Not a chance with Cosmo...

 Maggie shows him how it's done (her 2nd attempt here!!!)

We have lift off

Today we spent an enjoyable day in the company of fellow wire owners, for a get together.  The day involved Q&A's, training, BBQ and social and raised money for the HWVA welfare fund.

Whilst the dummy launcher was out I decided to give Maggie a go with it.  Richard promised he wouldn't fire the dummy too far...

preparing Maggie

so much for that promise - it went quite some distance!

Maggie was up to the challenge though

Retrieving the dummy with minimal help

what a star

She also performed her first retrieve from water, the first time in water - not bad for a baby!

My sincere thanks to Sharon Newman for capturing the retrieve on camera.

Here's to the next one!

Shear delight!

It is lovely to finally have the animals sheared.  I am not sure the animals would currently agree having become accustomed to being toastily wrapped in fleece!  However, they will be thanking us when the fabulous summer we will surely have finally arrives!  It always takes a bit to get used to who is who when the fleece is gone.  Some of them look better and some just plain strange!

the lovely Amiryck Erinus

Amiryck Eucalyptus

Amiryck Eaglewood

Fern and Ronnie

Fagus and Lu

Amiryck Elderflower - looks like we have rain on the way...

Fagus

The kittens are also doing well

Our latest arrivals some more ducklings :)

Pre-shearing

We have had a busy few days with a family wedding.  Congratulations to Mr and Mrs Mitchell!.  This afternoon proved a good time to wind down afterwards and take some snaps of the alpaca before they lose their fleece!

Chris and Richard with the dogs

Amiryck Cinnamon

Amiryck Elderflower

the new boy Amiryck Fagus

Fagus with his right way round ears - no action necessary!

Amiryck Fern, our lovely Columbus girl

Day 5 for the kittens

We had to make the tough decision today to have one of the kittens put to sleep.  He wasn't putting on weight and was likely to have problems in the future and we didn't want him to suffer.  We had tried what we could but it wasn't to be, unfortunately, one of the downsides of breeding animals.  I am pleased to report the other five are doing well, as is Bella.  I am amazed that at 5 days all some of them are already opening their eyes!

Get together for HWV owners in South West

We are holding a get together for all HWVs and their owners on Sunday 26 June 2011, in Nether Stowey, Somerset. The idea is for it to be an informal gathering with chance to meet other HWV and their owners.

The format will be similar to previously with "activity" followed by a bbq. Suggestions are welcomed for activities to cover.

The proposed timetable of events is:

10:30              assemble.

11:00 - 1:00    activities

1:00 - 3:00      bbq and social

There will be no charge for attendance but people are invited to make a donation towards the HWVA welfare fund.  Please bring food for the bbq.

For further information or to register your interest in coming please contact Richard or Karen: info@amiryck.co.uk

A brown boy

It was lovely to wake up this morning to a newborn cria.  He is a very sweet brown boy.  A real dinky size with an inside out ear but strong and seeming to be doing very well.

Feline Happy!

We have been awaiting the arrival of our first kittens here.  Bella was due on Friday/Saturday but she kept us waiting until today.  We now have 6 beautiful kittens and both mum and kitties seem to be doing fine so far.

Bella waiting

Still waiting...

even Maggie was waiting patiently

first there were four

and then there were 6.  Now time for a doze

The Bath and West show

We have had a busy half term week this week.  Several days were spent camping at the Bath and West show, where we were showing alpacas.  I decided to take Maggie with us since her 2nd vaccination had been a week previous and it was a good place for her to experience lots.  In fact there is so much going on there that I wouldn't have taken a puppy normally but Maggie is so confident that I was sure she would cope.  She was an absolute superstar.  Took all the people, dogs, loud noises etc in her stride.  Slept beautifully in the tent.  Snoozed when I was busy and enjoyed her short occasional ventures around the show (so as not to over exercise her).

Maggie, lying beautifully next to our alpaca pen

The children were also very good and very helpful.  They were in charge of showing our animals so I could concentrate on Inca ones where needed.

Chris with Elmer, who picked up 2nd place

Isla winning the younger junior handling class

Isla with Euci in the junior handling class

... and proving she can do it for real!

Chris winning 2nd place in the junior handling class

It is always great to see friends doing well with their animals.

EP Cambridge's champion Litigator (they also got supreme with Lawbreaker - fabulous!)

The mighty Patou family with Qjori who picked up Reserve Champion Adult Male - some achievement for a brown !

Patou's Reeya picking up first place intermediate brown female - here is the photo you missed Mark!

Amiryck Danica, now owned by Inca Alpaca