Just where does the time go?
Last post we were almost finished with October – so I guess it’s two months since I have done this. Lot’s has gone on.
First of all, The Deputy, Emma & The Sheriff’s son is looking good. He’s up to 37 pounds and seems to have stalled on his weight gain though so we are upping Emma’s food rations and she doesn’t mind that in the least. Started him on SMZ as a preventative and we are setting up the creep feed this weekend as well. If the gaining doesn’t start up will will dig deeper into the bag of tricks.
We have had two more crias join the herd. One is Amerikhan Hero born to Cheyenne and Amerikhan Legend. He’s white but has great fiber… The third this fall was born to Carousel and is a little true black female with white markings. She has been named McKayla by her owner. McKayla and Hero are in cahoots and have avoiding capture down really well. The only time Chuck is able to catch them up for weighing is by tricking them when they are in the barn or when they both jig or jag at the same time and collide! This trio of crias have benefited by the recent mild winter weather and that is a good thing because they have all outgrown the cria coats.
Black Perl and Amerikhan Mischief were tussling the other day and Mischief came up under Perl’s chin with her head and caused an unknown abscess to rupture. Icky. We have her on LA 200 and have been flushing the abscess with Betadine Scrub and water. Poor thing doesn’t want to see me coming lately. Yesterday I managed to fill the space with Neosporin ointment. I am hoping in the scope of things it helped. Will be going out in a little while to assess. Trying to save my boarders a little money and doing the treatment myself if we don’t need to call the vet in. She’s directing me in this so I know I am doing as I should. I have taken a culture but of course the lab is closed today and Monday so it sits in the freezer. If it doesn’t respond really well to treatment between now and then we’ll get a fresh sample and get it cultured. At least we have one preserved if we need it… Of course we don’t know if it is just an abscess caused by a poke from something in the hay, a bad tooth or lumpy jaw…
So that about catches you up on the actual farm happenings.
Show wise the MABA show in November was a really fun show – great people and while everyone would have preferred more alpacas present it did make a level III. Nice venue. Chris & Jess Armstrong were the Event Managers and did an awesome job with the layout I thought. At first I was not sure I would like it but soon found it worked really well.
After the MABA show in November there was Thanksgiving and before I knew it we were brought to the first weekend in December and the VAOBA show! Funny thing dawned on me – on check-in day for MABA the TxOLAN show registration opened and then on check-in day for VAOBA the CABO registration opened. What a coincidence. Anyway, VAOBA’s numbers surprised a lot of us this year. VAOBA has had a show every year since 2006 and this was its third highest number wise. I couldn’t help but think “They’re baack!” With over 500 alpacas in attendance and over 400 of them huacaya we were able to offer Judges Choice this year. Everyone liked that! The new venue was fantastic. I almost cried walking in there for the first time – yes, I am a sap at heart. It was late Thursday afternoon and the sod was down, pens set up and carpet laid. Red carpet – green sod? December show? Yes! It was wonderfully festive just that in itself. Judy Howe and her crew did a great job with setting the show up in its new home!
Now, Christmas weekend is upon us! Season’s Greetings and Best Wishes for a Happy & Prosperous New Year!
Sue, Chuck and the critters large & small…..