Kensmyth

Sometimes you just have to take a day off after lugging heavy bales and take time out to enjoy what you have!

With our own tiny stretch of the River Churn, even the dog can paddle!

Weather has been challenging for all crops this year but the Hay is no exception. I would not like to place bets on a good second crop of hay this year based on the wet weather earlier preventing the first crop being baled. Taking advantage of a dry break, farmers baled madly. So pleased we got the first lot of hay into the barns before the weather broke again. it may not look a lot in this photo but the first 300 bales into a very big barn!

With South Cerney being the nearest village to the Alpaca farm, we often recommend restaurants that we have liked. Recently we visited the Elliott Arms which used to be more like a Beefeater type restaurant. Absolutely not now, very chic.. really enjoyed our meal there.

Kidneys, smoked mackerel, big burger, best sticky toffee pudding!

you always know you will get a great sticky toffee pudding when they serve the pudding seperately!

Welcome July – what better than quintessential sheep in the Cotswolds – well Texels and Badger face !

I do love a shorn Alpaca. Adorable though they are in full fleece, you realise just how small but athletic they are when shorn..

Some of our followers will realise that in order to expand your knowledge, you actually have to travel. Funnily enough I have never been to Stroud or any of the little villages around it. the Daneway en route to Miserden serves fabulous coffee as Mum found out and the pub in Miserden is as quaint as the village..

Well you have to try all the Water Park restaurants with your Mum do you not?  Have to recommend Spring Lake with its Lakeside Brasserie. Never had a bad meal there ever but very busy!

If you fancy water ski or wakeboarding or just fun or just watching!

What better way to welcome June in the Cotswolds than lunch at the Waterparks with Mum! Not so sure about the finger food but the brie baguette was fab and plenty to do if you want the water sports!

In the alpaca world a pregnant alpaca is often referred to as having a “smile”. However, this should not be mistaken for the dropped belly of a fat alpaca or one who has had many cria already.

So what to look for as the gestation lengthens? The gestation is 11.5 months but the alpaca can give birth happily 4 weeks early and two months late. So some of the signs are often missed as you never know, even if keeping records on a previous breeder, what an alpaca will do.. that is the joy of them.

The female below is at 11.1 months of gestation in this photo but has previously gone well over 12 months! However, the “smile” is distinct even now..

Have a look at the maiden non pregnant fawn in the photo above to the right and you will see the straight belly as opposed to the “smile”

other signs to look for are the elongation of the vagina and wrinkly appearance as it all starts getting ready for action – the only question is when which is why you must be on site to oversee the birth..

Finally, as well as demeanour in the female herself, you can with the aid of a trusty mobile reverse the camera and look underneath to see what the udder is doing.. clearly no action here so far! In later stages the udder will be rounded and there will be wax globules blocking the teats to stop the loss of precious colostrum for the cria.

But wait – not all alpaca show any signs or some of the signs and milk may not come in until after the birth – that is alpaca for you!

Anaphylaxis is better known to folk for the extreme reactions to nuts due to its publicity.. however if you are allergic to the sting of bees or wasps, it is fatal. Carrying Epi pens is a routine everywhere (yes difficult at times on farm) and this only buys you time until the Ambulance gets there.

Ambulances bring and carry the additional Adrenalin you cannot legally carry around with you.. with Ambulance times changing so much and especially in the holiday season and Water Parks, it really is a lottery to know if one will get to you in time.

Thanks to my neighbour and local Paramedic and Ambulance from Cirencester, this time I was lucky yet again.. for the third time and fingers crossed for next time.

Funny how I have ridden all my life and farmed for most of it but always stung in the house!

Looking death in the eye yet again does make you count your blessings!