What a gorgeous baby alpaca (cria)! It was born on November 12 2010: my 50th birthday. It isn't mine as we sold her mother along with 2 others earlier in the year to a lovely family. They called to check and get some advice and we were only too happy to go and see the newborn. They are both doing well and am waiting to hear what she has been named. I really love where they are as the home is situated in a beautiful spot. The type of place where I can picture fairies living at the bottom of the garden!
As soon as I walk in somewhere I get a strong sense of 'place' and the people there. This was not only a lovely spot, but a strong sense of kind, caring people came across to me and I knew my alpacas had come to a lovely home. Who else experiences this feeling? You can walk in and feel great, good, OK, not so good, awful or indifferent. I once pulled up somewhere and knew immediately I was going to feel uncomfortable both about the 'place' and in turn the people. Regardless of the type of home or setting it still is about the people. A beautiful place does not give off a 'warm' and 'peaceful' feeling unless it is inhabited by special people. So the bricks, mortar, garden surrounds etc are not so important as the people who live there.
I have also felt it about places I have visited. Some cities and towns give off such a nice feeling, though of course this can relate to the architecture. Bath is a fantastic town and I would love to explore more in the area whereas Leeds..ooh got a bad feeling (no offence to any readers from the area) I just didn't feel comfortable or particularly safe.
These photos were taken In Bath, September 2010. One pics shows Kim and I having a cuppa at a nice little cafe. I had a slice of Victorian sponge just because it felt so English!
My younger daughter Krystal, has also been to Bath around 12months ago and she loved it also. It will be some time before I get back over there as looking at travelling closer to home as it is cheaper and will also offer a different experience. Hoping to go to Bali next May with some friends of ours. They have been there but we have not. If I won the lottery I would be back overseas in a flash, though would also love to do a road trip to explore more of my own country.
It is pouring with rain outside right now. Although the rain is welcome I know of a wedding today and earlier the sun was out so such a shame for the wedding that it didn't remain so. My youngest daughter and 2 of her friends whom I have known since they were children all left from our place as it is not that far to the vineyard where the marriage ceremony(another friend of theirs) and photos were to take place. My daughter Krystal looked stunning in a bright orange satin dress from Cue. The other 2 girls also looked gorgeous in their dresses and bling.
Here they are (pic taken on my phone) Kat, Jocelyn (royal blue dress) and my daughter Krystal in the orange. This morning I met my eldest girl Melanie and her eldest daughter Jasmine at Say Cheese at Salamanca. After that we walked through the market and headed into town to do a spot of shopping. I got a pair of 3/4 trousers on sale at Laura Ashley and went to Darts to have the clip on my pandora bracelet fixed. I did some Christmas shopping and picked up some marzipan before coming back home. I told 8 year old Jasmine that when I was pregnant with her mummy (My now 30yr old daughter Melanie)I was in Tasmania for Christmas (we lived in Sydney at the time) and had a craving for marzipan. I bought it from this same shop from the same man who is running it today. Of course, no such cravings today I just like to buy some marzipan once in a blue moon.
Last night we went to La Porchetta in North Hobart for dinner. This was Kathryn's choice and we were there to celebrate her 27th birthday which is today. She is my son's fiancee and I have known her since she was 15. We had 3 tables out the back so it was not so noisy. Drinks we each bought from the bar. There is nothing worse at a group meal trying to sort out the bill, so easier when drinks are paid for seperately. My son Peter and friend Adam thought their chicken pizza was excellent. My husband had the american pizza and thought it was average (he prefers, as do I, the pizzas he makes at home) Although I do remember having a wonderful pizza in Venice back in 2007. The food was great there, everyone else had wine with their meal and I had a coke. The wine was cheap and the coke was incredibly expensive! Anyway, I digress as per usual. I had the entree size marinara, fettucine pasta. It was Ok. I do have to say the serving was generous for an entree. My eldest girl's partner had the same meal as a main. Jasmine, my 8 year old grand daughter had calamari which is her favourite. I tried them and wish I had it instead! The child's meal came with a small softdrink and icecream so good value for family meals but nothing outstanding as far as memorable food goes. Anyway there were no complants re food though coffee orders took forever and we were told they had a new barista. Must get back here soon to talk about some other recent meals out.
Update on the animal front: We have had once sick alpaca, Mai Tai. We have been giving her vitamins drench and wormed her and she has now picked up which is great. Had some chickens hatch(did a program at school) and currently have 12 chicks. Two have passed away as they had splayed legs and just were not strong enough with another one possibly heading the same way. They were all little pekin bantam chicks. 11 chicks are doing very well, one silkie, 2 salmon faverolles and the rest are pekin bantams. We had 8 salmon faverolles that didnt hatch, a silkie egg and 3 pekin bantam eggs as well.
Pics show hatching process and chicks in an icecream container when I was cleaning their brooder. Also for a school project we have 8 eggs due to hatch round Dec 4th which are pekin ducks. Hopefully that will go well as I have only ever done chickens before. I brought the eggs home to turn over the weekend (need to be turned regularly). Last weekend one of my Animal Study option class students took them home and has been looking after them at school which is great. He cant this weekend as he is over in Western Australia involved in the National Solar car challenge (Science). The students wjo are often willing to be involved are usually those who are busy with numerous other things. Some of course like the idea of it but only want to cuddle fluffy animals but not do any actual work.
Will write some more later..tata for now :)
