Back at it

We just got home last night after 12 marvelous days away in the BVI sailing with the Young clan. Other than a slightly finicky onboard generator, the time afloat was essentially flawless. I still have Kelsey Young’s good natured (and slightly naughty in the best sense of the word) cackle burned into my auditory memory from the time aboard. Back to it now: alpacas, school commutes, homework, morning exersise routines, and all that good stuff! Funny but 10 to 12 days seems to be just the right amount of time away from home. While I may just be rationalizing not being on the boat anymore, I find that I start to get stir-crazy if we are out of our routine for much longer than that. I suppose it didn’t help that I’ve been having trouble finding a good book/series to read that I could really delve into. I’m coming off a six month binge through all 5 books of George R.R, Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire and have had trouble filling that space in my head. Never underestimate the importance of temporary escapism! Nonetheless: all complaints are relative.

Admittedly winter is and has always been a slow time here on the farm, which is the whole reason we can get away for a while without our staff going into full revolt. We came home to find things in a general state of calm, though Cadenza has still thus far refused to have her cria. If  her previous gestation was any guide, we may be waiting a couple of more weeks anyway. In the mean time she is large and in charge, continuing to hold court in the Arena’s warm room. Yes, yes your very special (I mean it) but have your frickin’ baby already!

The entire herd is due later this week for a herd health day and with the weather having been so mild and freaky — the ground is bare, there was more snow on Halloween than there is now — for the past month, it seems increasingly likely that we will be forced to extend our herd wide Ivermectin shots for another go round. It is the arrival of hard frosts and snow that generally signals the end of the meningeal worm threat in our eyes and up to this point we just haven’t seen enough of it to feel safe yet. It’s scheduled to be a toe nail trimming month as well, this normally being the least anticipated herd health session of the entire calendar year, because of the cold. Temperatures aside, If you think I’m missing the blue water, cold beer, and tradewinds now, just wait until Thursday morning when I’m trimming the feet of the first of 250 alpacas! Funny how things have a way of balancing out, no? Penance, I guess…