Commence with the Fence!

The fencing has begun...... well sort of! Bill Fletcher of Alpaca Atlantic was kind enough to show me how to use the new Shaver HD8 hydraulic post pounder we had ordered. We haven't had much rain all Spring, OK let me rephrase that. We are having the worst drought in 100 years! The ground is like concrete. Anyway, Bill showed me the tricks to using the machine and we pounded in about 14 the first day. Then I was on my own the next day and I pounded in about 12 in two hours...... which wasn't too bad....... until the spring broke on the machine rendering it useless for a few days. That was last Friday on June 22. Then I woke up Monday morning and couldn't walk as I twisted my knee running the dogs on Sunday night. That rendered me useless all week. I'm just beginning to walk on it so hopefully I'll be back at it this weekend. The spring is in (thankfully under warranty) so we'll have another go at it soon. The good news is that it has rained Tuesday through Friday allowing the ground to soak a bit. The bad news is now the grass needs mowing from all the rain.

So here are a couple of pictures from last weeks pounding:

Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!

Yesterday June 19th was my birthday. Tara and I went to Lisa and Bill's to see Otto and also to return a trailer that I had borrowed. Much to my surprise, there was a birthday present waiting for me there. With the help of Lisa and Bill, the three of them pulled off the shocking surprise as they had set up the whole charade. My wife presented me with a spectacular gift of a new baby cria which was born on June 18th, just one day before my birthday. She is gorgeous and is colored a light rose grey with some light silver grey. Tara knew I was partial to silver alpacas and she pulled off the surprise of a lifetime. I am truly grateful and blessed to have a remarkable woman who never ceases to amaze me and I am thankful for that. Thank you to my lovely wife for my surprise gift. This is one alpaca that will never be sold! Special thanks go out to Lisa and Bill for helping with the surprise. I'll get you back one day! Lisa Olsen was kind enough to photograph the event and pass the pictures on to us. Thanks again Lisa!

So without further adieu, introducing Argento, the latest addition to Ambriel Acres Alpacas:




Argento comes from the Italian word meaning "Silver".

Naked Otto!

Here are the photos of naked Otto. He may not look completely naked
because Lisa doesn't clean shave them like a Q-ball -- but he's trimmed
down to a short stubble and feeling much cooler!

Tara, Sammie and Otto!

Here are a few more pictures from Saturday. These were a few shot by Lisa Olsen and there are so many that I haven't had time to sort through them all. Thanks again to Lisa for passing them along.




This is a picture from the "skycam" on the night of the birth. Sammie is nursing Otto.

It's a Boy!

Sammie's cria arrived a little late but, it was better late than never. She gave birth to a brown male on 06/08/07. Tara has named him "Ottimo" which is Italian in origin and means Optimum. We'll nickname him Otto for short.

We are going to see our latest addition this afternoon to snap some photos. The money shots shown below are courtesy of Lisa Olsen of Alpaca Atlantic. She captured the moment brilliantly and we are thankful for her photography skills.

Introducing Ambriel's Ottimo:


Sammie and Otto on their first outing: