Ups and Downs!

This week has definitely had it’s ups and downs – and that is irrespective of whether you are a glass half full or half empty sort of person.

Even the most miserable old sod cannot dispute that the weather has been a helluva lot better this week.  We even have some plants growing in the garden and buds on the climbers - wonders will never cease.  I don’t even mind the fact that I can see weeds growing out there too.  I got all enthusiastic about gardening this week although my back is definitely telling me to “Cool it!”  A couple of years ago, we hosted the wedding reception for our middle son Peter and his bride Iona in a marquee in the garden here at Crag House. 

 

I have to say that the garden really looked fabulous but then not only did Mike and I work really hard to get it that way but our friends were all joining in too. It was so beautiful that we vowed that we would make a big effort to keep it that way, but the weather conspired against us.  I also found that the other bonus about working long hours in the garden was that I lost a bit of the middle aged spread.  So, Spring Resolution – garden more and eat less!  Result -  garden and body beautiful – well I can but dream can’t I??!!

 

As the weather has been so brutal for so long, we decided this week that it would be a good idea if we took some blood tests from a selection of our alpacas to make sure that nothing was amiss.  We would always far rather be proactive with our alpacas than try and pick up the pieces after the event.  We have always given A D & E Vitamin and mineral paste every 6/8 weeks but we want to be sure that the alpacas are in good shape as we enter the birthing and breeding season.  So this week we had our vet David Parkins from Intake Vets to come and take some bloods.  He was ably assisted by a student vet from Nottingham University Vet School.

 

One of this week’s low points was when David had a look at Philly who we have been treating for a jaw abcess for several months now.  We had thought that we were winning with this one, but apparently not!  She has put on a lot of condition but the infection seems to have spread further down her jaw.  So not a great prognosis it would appear.  I can only reiterate that whenever you are doing any husbandry tasks with your alpacas, please, please check for lumps and bumps on their jaw lines.  Jaw abcesses do occur and the sooner you spot them the better.