Fencing and more snake news

Life is never dull here at adagio alpacas. Yesterday we had a huge scare when we saw an altercation between the goldens and a very unwelcome visitor. The snake had made it into our backyard. There are very few entry points to our backyard and with two golden retrievers and very little cover we really didn't think a snake would venture into the backyard. Silky silly naive me. So I'm feeling rather paranoid. Luckily the goldens are ok. After a rather expensive vet trip the snake bite test came back negative. Either the goldens' thick coats saved them or they had somehow avoided getting bitten. Either way they had me very very worried!  I think I'm going to choose to believe that the snake that was at the front door (that we haven't seen again... Yet...) was the same one or this city turned country girl will want to flee back to the city!

On good notes our magnolia tree is about to bloom.

My husband has been very busily fencing!

We are dividing our front and main paddock up into 3 more manageable paddocks. We found when we were running stock and particularly both alpacas and steers we had difficulty in moving the stick around to rest and/or maintain the paddocks when they were just set up as two, a front and back paddock. Also the very large front paddock was a nightmare to bring stock in for care. So in the 3 years we have been here we have considered the best way to divide the paddocks and finally settled on a lane way and 3 paddocks for the front paddock and at this stage the back paddock will remain as one. We had implemented the lane way, some yards and the first of the paddock splits some time ago but had run out of steam when it came to the final divide. We are nearly there over the last couple of days my husband has been fencing and it should be complete tonight or tomorrow. Very exciting! The above photo is of the progress this morning. Since then all of the posts have been sunk and he has started stringing the wire.

The following photo is the view out my lounge room window, the alpacas and steers are quite sweet all in similar parts of the paddock and the chick is having some sun in its temporary hutch.

Steers and alpacas

It is another stunning spring day here at adagio alpacas. I just can't believe this weather! 

The steers and alpacas seem to be keeping each other company, with Julie playing queen of the castle on top of the bluestone rock pile and the steers sitting back and watching it all. A wild duck has wandered up the lawn as well.

One day we plan to dig up the bluestone rock pile. We have been told that that was where the bluestone building blocks for the region's old courthouse were dumped but I don't know how much truth is in that information. We are curious to know how deep the pile of bluestone really is though! They are rather large old style blocks of stone. It would be nice to use it in a project or sell it onto someone to use for heritage renovations one day.

More teddy bear ears!

Steers again @ adagio

Since our steers have been absent (populating our freezer...) our place has been sadly lacking their presence. The grass has really started to take off with this lovely warm weather and we couldn't believe how empty the place felt without cattle!

The first two steers arrived this afternoon. We decided they slaughtering 3 steers I'm one go was a bit more than we can handle at the moment so we have decided to get 2 steers now and another 2 in 6-8 months time and try to establish a continual rotation. 

They are Galloway steers and are so tiny! I had forgotten how small they are at 8 months old!

And very, very cute!

Light was fading... Will try to get some photos of the teddy bear ears over the next few days!

Scary scary scary scary

I have a phobia of snakes. It's barely spring and we have already seen one! Right outside our front door!!! It was there last year but we thought it had moved on! (We thought a cat had got it.) Sadly no! 

My toddler and I went right past it! 

So terrifying. I'm still shaking. 

Remind me again? 

Why is it I want to live on a farm? 

I have trouble remembering on days like today when I'm even scared of my own front door!!!

Chick outside

It's such a glorious day here at adagio alpacas that we decided that the chick could have a first short stint outside!

Knitted vest finished!

Yay! I've finished the sublime little spencer vest for my friend. Love it! This one definitely needs some blocking. I'm really glad I added an extra 2.5cm to the length hope it will fit new bubby when he arrives! 

Knitted in adagio alpacas silver rose 2012 8 ply yarn.

The dogs can see the chicken in my bathroom!

So far the dogs hasn't even investigated all the chirping inside my bathroom... But they have now seen the chicken through the window and are barking at it... oh dear I'm going to have to be really really careful now!!!

Daffodil season

It's daffodil season! These daffodils came out today and perfect timing as its our wedding anniversary. Much better than a bought bunch!

The wild plums out the back have come out in blossom today as well!

Another sublime little Spencer knitted vest

A good friend of mine is due to have a baby boy in a month do I decided to knit another little Spencer vest in our yarn for her. She lives in the UK so I'm going to have to hurry up and finish it!

I'm pleased to say that the back is done!

The 0-6mths size is so much quicker! Less than 1 ball of yarn even with the added 2.5cm I added into the back measurements.

I've done much better job of this one, my knitting is improving!