"Rutherford Hill Farm in the Western North Carolina foothills announces the arrival of Kiko, a male, purebred Huacaya alpaca (shown here with Lynne and his mom). He arrived in the pasture at noon on November 5 weighing 14 lbs. 12 oz. and 22” high at the shoulders. Within 1 hour he was nursing and experimenting with four very long and uncooperative legs.
It was a long wait for Kiko, gestation is supposed to be 11 months but he waited a full 12 months from breeding to landing - the vet attributes the delay to the extreme stress of the freakish summer heat wave and severe drought. During the drought I spent endless time and energy dragging hundreds of feet of hoses around the farm keeping selected areas alive, priorities were pasturage and the vegetable garden...the flowers outside the back porch were an emotional priority. Drought is depressing! My well is tapped into an underground river so I am not apt to run out of water, but getting it to the right places is difficult.
I had fully insulated the barn and with the addition of an air conditioner, we survived the 46-day heat crisis (alpacas are cold weather/mountain animals). November is now beautifully cold/normal and we are experiencing the peak of Autumn color on the mountainsides.
Other than this (hopefully) unusual summer, I love farm life: fresh eggs, abundant herb garden, fresh veggies, lots of animals, and a senior center nearby in my township where I learn the history and lore of the area from people whose ancestors actually fought in the Civil War (for the South, of course) My great grandfather was an ambulance driver for the Union Army but they all generously welcome me, seniors are like that, have you noticed?
Hi to everyone in Class of ‘57. Emails welcome and visitors welcome."
No comments:
Post a Comment