Kitchi (Native American name from the Algonquian tribe) it means brave. He was born a couple of days ago but my son and his spouse (who is also Native American) were busy with him, his mom is a first time mom and he had a small problem when he was born, his ankle is unstable and he couldn’t stand, so because he couldn’t stand to drink from mom, they bottle fed him some colostrum and continued bottle feeding him because they had him and mom separated from the herd in a barn in a stall, the rest were all close loose in the barn and could touch noses, but she was distressed because she was kinda sorta separated so they feed him through the night and the next day they put a splint on him while his ankle heals. He is now nursing from his mom.

The first picture is the clearest of him. His coloring is striking with the black head and his legs are also black but the rest of him is the cinnamon color, so pretty. The second picture is Finn (the cria born 2 weeks ago) checking him out now that Kit (his nick name) and his mom are no longer separated from the herd, Kit is laying down. If you click the picture it should enlarge and show the whole picture. I was going to put a video up of him walking around with his splint but I would have to upgrade my Word Press acct to do that and since this is the first and probably the only video I would post, I didn’t see the point :P. One more cria is due, should be here in Sept :).

Getting ready for another heat wave to start on Saturday through next Wed with some 96 degree days, not sure what the heat index will put the feels like temp at, sigh. Is it fall yet?

Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the last vestiges of Summer.

We had a new cria (baby alpacas are called a cria) born on the farm. Not named yet, but he looks like his dad and not his mom :P, I will get to see him tomorrow. Babies are always exciting, and there are 2 more due this month.

Before I start, I have deleted the last Monday Funny post. Tho’ those of us who have raised teenagers will understand the humor, I thought maybe because of the criminal climate of our world right now with children being human trafficked this meme might not be appropriate right now, please save the children! A new one will be up next Monday :).

I knit the last sweater I posted for a friend’s daughter who had a son, saw his picture, he’s a cutie. She was pleased with it and surprised me with some stitch markers, so cute, they will definitely be used! Thanks Anna!

The next picture is a bridal bouquet I made for my daughter after her attempt to make it. We bought the silk flowers and all the things needed to make it and she tried to make it. I looked at it and shook my head and took it apart and redid it, she looked relieved hahaha. I made the boutonnieres for the guys too. Crafting is not her thing, but she’s a great daughter :). She gets married later this month.

Now to the last two pictures. My son’s farm helper has gone off to college and my son and his spouse asked if I would be of a mind to step in until Dec when they close their store and visitors for the winter. I thought it over for a day, I rarely just jump in with both feet into anything, there are always things to consider. This involved my Saturdays, so could I move things around to make my Saturdays free and then there was getting up early (I’m a night owl lol)? I decided I could and told them I would be happy to help out. My son puts them in a small pasture up front, next to the barn, where visitors can come see and feed and touch those that allow it. The first Saturday was a short one because of the extreme heat we were having (115 with the heat index), when it gets to hot for the alpacas to be outside instead of in the barn with a fan going, everything shuts down, they come first. This last Saturday was a full day and tho there is plenty of shade, it was humid so my son put out the splash pad he has for the alpaca girls. They love it, it has a place where the water spurts out of the top of the circle and he makes the water go up to belly hight. Some lay in the water, other like to stand around with the water hitting their bellies to keep cool and putting their faces in the water, you can see that in the 4th picture. I got a sunburn, lol, my face and arms and the back of my neck (I have long hair but I braid it and pull it to the side and that causes my neck show). My face was a bright red along with the back of my neck. My arms weren’t so bad. Fortunately I have a large aloe vera plant and when I got home I picked off one of the larger leaves and got the gooey jell stuff out and put it on my face and back of my neck. It felt better and about an hr later I also put lavender on it (lavender in fractionated coconut oil base – if you are allergic to nuts test to see if you can use the coconut oil, in a roller ball bottle). I put the lavender on again before bed and on Sunday morning, afternoon and evening and again on Monday morning. All the burn has turned into tan and no peeling, whew. Aloe Vera and Lavender are amazing for skin, lavender also works to quell itchy bug bites and ouchie scrapes and minor cuts. I call it the itchy/ouchie solution, the kids never mind having it put on because it doesn’t sting on the ouchies either :). I have to say I’m exhausted being out in the sun all day, but I sleep well :P. I did buy a bottle of sun screen so I won’t be burned again.

Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the last of the summer before fall :).