Playing the Waiting Game

I have been anxiously waiting to see if my only remaining female llama, Texanna, is going to have a baby this fall.  There have been signs for several weeks that it might happen: her vigorous rolling in the dust bowl, shifting her weight trying to get comfortable while kushed, and her licking the mineral salt block with great relish the last four weeks.  I remember that last year about this time was when I last saw Smokin' breeding with her before I put him into his own pasture....so the timing is right for a birthing......it could happen!  If there is a cria born, it will be bittersweet as Smokin' Jaguar passed away of old age at the beginning of October this year, just two weeks shy of his 19th birthday. He was a very special fellow, my PR llama, and his presence is missed in my pastures.

Lately on the weekends I have been driving myself a bit crazy during the magical hours of between 10 and 2 (or 11 and 3 during daylight savings time) with my attention being pulled in Texanna's direction, constantly looking out windows and doors to see if anything interesting is happening. Llama mamas almost always will birth during those particular hours, when the sun is at its highest, due to the fact that they cannot lick their babies dry and must rely on the warmth of the sun to do that for them.  They rarely need assistance and I have only witnessed a handful of births in the 16 years of owning llamas. The magic of new life arriving in my world is always cause for excitement for me, and being a witness to the event even more so, especially since this would be the last chance for a llama baby to be born here on HeartSong Farm.

Texanna kushed and trying to ignore my spying.

The weather has been quite nice the last two weekends and I have welcomed outdoor chores that allow me to keep an eye on Texanna and still get some work done.  The towels and iodine have been ready and waiting, along with the camera, on the kitchen counter the last few weeks.  My constant spying does not please her and she watches me watching her.  However, this afternoon at 2 o'clock, I finally said to myself, "Well, not today, but ...... maybe tomorrow!" During the work week, it is my son Ben who plays the watching game for me, although I doubt he lets it drive him crazy like I do!

There really are other things to do around here besides watching for a baby, and one of the things I did this weekend was some much needed trimming of branches and bushes with one of my favorite tools...my Fiskars brand loppers,  These things can cut through most anything up to about 2 inches in diameter and they do it quickly, smoothly and effortlessly.  I have never had to sharpen them and the bright orange markings make it easy to find them if you find it necessary to let go of them at any time.  I have also enjoyed using Fiskars brand shears, the kind you can find at Hobby Lobby in the sewing department, for shearing my

llamas since 1999.  The Fiskars company make really good cutting tools!

I spent some relaxing time in my fall vegetable garden weeding this afternoon.  The sun was warming in the cooler weather we have had since the heavy rain we got on Wednesday.  This is my first experience with a fall garden, and something I find am really enjoying.  Three of  my crops are new to me:  kohlrabi, fava beans, and Swiss chard.  I have never grown nor eaten any of these vegetables and am looking forward to taste-testing them this winter.  The seeds were ordered from Southern Exposure Seed Exchange (SouthernExposure.com) where the service is fast, prices reasonable, and the variety of heirloom offerings is immense! I will be keeping close tabs on the garden's progress in the upcoming months with photos and then recipes, so stay tuned!

Butterfly pit stop.

While outside I noticed several butterflies passing

through on their way to their winter home.  They seemed excited to see the yellow lantana and the marigolds blooming in my flowerbeds, where they spent some time before continuing along on their journey south.  I cannot imagine how they make that tremendously long distance trip, nor how they know just where they are going, can you?! Mother Nature is so Awesome!  She is constantly making me stop and wonder about all matter of things.

Well, that is all for now from me to you.  Take care, and see you next time when I share more news from HeartSong Farm.