Dueling alpacas

I happened to have my camera one day when the 'boys' were at it. It's been hot. Everyone's a little testy, and getting in each other's space. This really only leads to face freeze and drool.
Kinda glad I'm not an alpaca.


Note the laid back ears, narrowed eyes, and frozen jaw

The advesary: similar stance, but more drool

Even after the fireworks have passed, there is a stand-off. 

Best not to be in the line of fire, they're usually still trying to spit on each other!

Alpaca breeding

One of the male alpacas has gone away for a month to another farm, for breeding. It's like a mini vacation from the normal routine, but with the lady alpacas.

I have deemed this a 'conjugal sabbatical'.

Day 57 of alpaca adventure

Well here's something I never thought I'd hear myself say: "We moved cattle fencing today, and it was about 90 degrees outside". Tasks need to be done, regardless of the weather.

I am, oddly, not completely wiped out. It wasn't as humid as it was yesterday, which I think has a lot to do with it. Yesterday I was a mess. I had a huge knot in my shoulder yesterday, which led to a headache. That, combined with the 80 degree temps and all the humidity made me really not happy. I basically came back to the room and sat in front of the fan until the sun set and I deemed it acceptable to go to bed. I tried to talk to a friend on the phone, but really had no coherent thoughts.

Today, we hauled fencing all over AFTER the morning chores, and I'm still fairly lucid. Who knows? Maybe I'm getting used to this lifestyle. Only took me 2 months!

When the boy parts meet the hose

Alpacas aren't from this climate, and they can get overheated, with all this heat and humidity. Since the breeding males need to keep cool to stay fertile, it's extra important to hose down those boy parts. When it's HOT like it has been, and will be all this week, all the alpacas get some water time, also known as 'tummy baths'. Sometimes they just get a sprinkler to stand in (or sit on, as they often do), but sometimes it's easier to hose them down directly.

Gotta keep those boy parts cool and functioning. An infertile male can't be sent out for breeding....

When we check the pastures after lunch, if it's hot outside, the alpacas know it's 'tummy bath time' and usually come running. They fight like little kids to get to the hose first, and it's quite a display of dominance (both males and females). They spit and huff at each other, and are very vocal. It's quite amusing. Oh, and ALL genders of alpacas get 'tummy baths', it's just the males that get their parts hosed down. The females we just turn on the sprinklers and let them argue about who goes first.

Typically 'tummy baths' are done by the full time staff, but one day I got to do the hose down.

Thankfully, another volunteer had a camera, so I can share with you!

Everyone comes running from the pasture to get their 'cool down' time.

They all stand with their butts to the hose, tails lifted in anticipation.

There's some snippiness when one alpaca feels another is invading his space....

But in the end, all the boy parts get a cool down. 

Why did they not eat the vegetables???

As a reminder why I do not like shared kitchens in group situations: someone ate my pint of ice cream. It was there the other day, it is not there now. I am very sad, because it is very hot. Just another reminder to never have anything somebody else wants. And if you do, do not put it in the shared area, even if your name is on it.  They did NOT eat the frozen vegetables. Huh. I wonder why.....?? They are cold. What's the deal?

Well, I guess I don't need any ice cream anyhow. I'm still trying to get my pants to fall on the ground (due to weight loss, people....weight loss).  And I certainly won't buy any more while I'm here. Bummer, because there's only about 6 people on this floor. ::sigh::  It's the same everywhere.

23 days left. 88 degrees at 8:00 p.m., and just as hot in my room. Alpaca poo at 8:00 a.m.

Not alpaca related, but freaking me out...my article's download stats..

The article I had published in Indiana Libraries has been downloaded 967 times!!!
And I think it's been cited. F-R-E-A-K-Y because there's no way I downloaded it that many times.

It's really more of a resource guide and comparison of World of Warcraft with Information Literacy standards. I did not set out to get published, but there ya go.

https://scholarworks.iupui.edu/handle/1805/1502

Hound of the Baskervilles?

Ever since I moved in here, there has been a nightly noise that I cannot identify. It is very eerie, and sounds like it's coming from outside the building as well as inside. It sounds like a dog barking, but very hollow, like a ghost dog, or the Hound of the Baskervilles. Of course, I've watched enough horror movies that it can ONLY be the Hound. The Hound, hanging out in the Woods, waiting to pounce.

Then the other morning, in the bathroom, something white slammed against the window screen. A-HA!!! (I thought) Instead of the Hound of the Baskervilles, it is MUCH more likely that sound is a dove. If they are in the inner courtyard, that would account for the eerie hollow echoing sound. Much more logical, but a lot less dramatic. I'll let you all know if it turns out I was wrong....