Day at the Ranch http://dayattheranch.wordpress.com Ruminations on alpaca ranching...thoughts captured between the feeding and the raking. Sat, 28 Nov 2009 23:04:06 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ en hourly 1 http://www.gravatar.com/blavatar/cd19503389f2052d6a8ae215043714b7?s=96&d=http://s.wordpress.com/i/buttonw-com.png Day at the Ranch http://dayattheranch.wordpress.com Another Day with Two Cria Births http://dayattheranch.wordpress.com/2009/11/28/another-day-with-two-cria-births/ http://dayattheranch.wordpress.com/2009/11/28/another-day-with-two-cria-births/#comments Sat, 28 Nov 2009 18:54:14 +0000 Leigh http://dayattheranch.wordpress.com/?p=2095 ]]>

Didn’t know it would happen again so soon, but on Friday,  November 20th we once again had two cria born in one day.

Of course, I was on my way out of town for most of the day, but Chuck did a fine job attending the births.

Fayette was the first one to have her cria – a little female by Snowmass Bright Horizon.  Then, Angelina decided it was her time and she gave us a little girl by Express’ Masterpiece Renoir.

Gillespie is the teenie little one on the left coming in at 10.9 pounds.  (She is now 13.9 pounds and growing very well).  Once you get into that little fluff on the outside little Espie is a medium fawn with tight little curls – and shine – boy is she shiny!

Brooks is the nice girl on the right, we think she is probably beige.  Her neck and legs do look white, but her body is definitely not.  She has dense, tight little curly crimp, too.  A fine looking duo. 

Five down and five or six to go.

]]> http://dayattheranch.wordpress.com/2009/11/28/another-day-with-two-cria-births/feed/ 0 dayattheranch DSC_0896 (Small) It’s November and It’s Cria Time! http://dayattheranch.wordpress.com/2009/11/16/its-november-and-its-cria-time/ http://dayattheranch.wordpress.com/2009/11/16/its-november-and-its-cria-time/#comments Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:27:47 +0000 Leigh http://dayattheranch.wordpress.com/?p=2078 ]]>

DSC_0821 (Small)DSC_0823 (Small)This little guy was born on November 7th while we were in California at a friend’s sons wedding.  Our ranch sitter took super care of him – named him Caldwell – and he is doing great.

He is a Golden One son with Chinchero, Dom Lucilio and Royal Fawn in his lineage.  The brightness (shine) in this guy’s fleece is unbelievable!

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Then one week later I went down to the pastures first thing in the morning to find this little critter on the ground already.DSC_0831 (Small)Even though we missed this guys birth, we didn’t miss it by much.   We  were able to see him take his first steps and begin nursing.  As he – Harrison – began to get up Annie decided that she might as well have her baby so in the next 30 minutes we had another cria.  This time we had a little girl. 

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This is sweet little Sabine.  She and Harrison are our first Express’ Masterpiece Renoir’s babies.  They both are grandkids of Accoyo Express and Peruvian Presidio.  Some pretty fantastic bloodlines!

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]]> http://dayattheranch.wordpress.com/2009/11/16/its-november-and-its-cria-time/feed/ 2 dayattheranch DSC_0821 (Small) DSC_0823 (Small) DSC_0826 (Small) DSC_0831 (Small) DSC_0813 (Small) DSC_0817 (Small) DSC_0824 (Small) Kids ‘N Alpacas http://dayattheranch.wordpress.com/2009/10/15/kids-n-alpacas/ http://dayattheranch.wordpress.com/2009/10/15/kids-n-alpacas/#comments Thu, 15 Oct 2009 22:56:33 +0000 Leigh http://dayattheranch.wordpress.com/?p=2072 ]]>

We have started a new ‘marketing’ group down here in Texas.  It is called Alpaca Breeders of the Texas Hill Country and our goal is to have a brochure/map that will be available in area Visitor Centers, encompasing about seven Texas counties.  A lot of people visit the Texas Hill Country and just like the wineries around here advertise together, we decided as alpaca ranches we would do the same.  In order to get this brochure/map together we were looking for a picture for the front cover.  Here are some options…

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All pictures on this site are the sole property of Leigh Thomas, please do not copy…..

]]> http://dayattheranch.wordpress.com/2009/10/15/kids-n-alpacas/feed/ 1 dayattheranch map picture 7 (Small) map picture 3 (Small) map picture 4 (Small) DSC_0533 (Small) Look What I Found! http://dayattheranch.wordpress.com/2009/10/11/look-what-i-found/ http://dayattheranch.wordpress.com/2009/10/11/look-what-i-found/#comments Sun, 11 Oct 2009 22:37:45 +0000 Leigh http://dayattheranch.wordpress.com/?p=2060 ]]>

I was watering my salvia cuttings the other day and as I checked in the pot I thought something looked weird!!!

Check it out….

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There are about four little salvia cuttings that I put in this pot.  After I removed the toad, who had burrowed in the dirt until he was level with the soil, I saw that three of them are still doing well.  But, I did have to relocate Mr. Toad…

]]> http://dayattheranch.wordpress.com/2009/10/11/look-what-i-found/feed/ 0 dayattheranch DSC_0650 (Small) Farm & Ranch Show http://dayattheranch.wordpress.com/2009/10/09/farm-ranch-show/ http://dayattheranch.wordpress.com/2009/10/09/farm-ranch-show/#comments Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:30:42 +0000 Leigh http://dayattheranch.wordpress.com/?p=2048 ]]>

Hill Country Alpacas along with seven other ranches in the Texas Hill Country are taking part in the BRAND NEW San Antonio Farm & Ranch Expo being held Oct 8-10, 2009. 

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This is a new event around here and we thought it would be a great venue to promote alpacas as livestock and get other ranchers or those interested in small acreage ranching introduced and involved with alpacas. 

If you are near San Antonio this weekend, please come – it’s a free event, but you do have to pay for parking.  Hill Country Alpacas, Cibolo Creek Alpacas, Tierra Prometida Alpacas, Wildflower Ridge Alpacas, Great American Alpacas, Wellspring Suri Alpacas,  Thousand Oaks Alpacas and Alpacas of Misty Ridge are all involved in this show representing Alpaca Breeders of the Texas Hill Country.

Besides coming to be introduced to alpacas, you might want to come and see all the BIG fun ‘toys’ that ranchers and farmers have.  I have my eye on this awesome Bobcat UTV!  You might find a fun “big toy” too…..

See ya.

]]> http://dayattheranch.wordpress.com/2009/10/09/farm-ranch-show/feed/ 0 dayattheranch DSC_0646 (Small) DSC_0645 (Small) Farm Day Fun http://dayattheranch.wordpress.com/2009/10/03/farm-day-fun/ http://dayattheranch.wordpress.com/2009/10/03/farm-day-fun/#comments Sat, 03 Oct 2009 13:42:10 +0000 Leigh http://dayattheranch.wordpress.com/?p=2035 ]]>

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Claire meets Calhoun. 

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Claire is not real sure about Crosby looking at her.

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Claire really loved Luke the best!

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Close up of Karen’s yarn.  She started with Shadow’s rovings and then did some spinning with Calhoun’s raw fleece.  Shadow is the medium fawn color and Calhoun is the medium brown color.  Mother and son – looking good!

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The two single yarns are being plyed into a two-ply yarn.  Now we have a designer yarn!  It’s just beautiful.  Karen is a beautiful spinner and we are so thankful that she comes to our ranch during National Alpaca Farm Days and displays her talent.

]]> http://dayattheranch.wordpress.com/2009/10/03/farm-day-fun/feed/ 0 dayattheranch DSC_0579 (Small) DSC_0580 (Small) DSC_0581 (Small) DSC_0577 (Small) DSC_0586 (Small) DSC_0587 (Small) Open House at The Core http://dayattheranch.wordpress.com/2009/09/23/open-house-at-the-core/ http://dayattheranch.wordpress.com/2009/09/23/open-house-at-the-core/#comments Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:12:54 +0000 Leigh http://dayattheranch.wordpress.com/?p=2027 ]]>

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Espresso……

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The Core t-shirts…

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The Coffee House…

www.thecoremedina.com

]]> http://dayattheranch.wordpress.com/2009/09/23/open-house-at-the-core/feed/ 0 dayattheranch DSC_0474 DSC_0455 DSC_0416 Calvin is home in Medina http://dayattheranch.wordpress.com/2009/09/12/calvin-is-home-in-medina/ http://dayattheranch.wordpress.com/2009/09/12/calvin-is-home-in-medina/#comments Sun, 13 Sep 2009 01:14:25 +0000 Leigh http://dayattheranch.wordpress.com/?p=2022 ]]>

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Calvin is very sweet. 

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]]> http://dayattheranch.wordpress.com/2009/09/12/calvin-is-home-in-medina/feed/ 4 dayattheranch DSC_0381 DSC_0395 All Creatures Great and Small http://dayattheranch.wordpress.com/2009/09/10/all-creatures-great-and-small/ http://dayattheranch.wordpress.com/2009/09/10/all-creatures-great-and-small/#comments Thu, 10 Sep 2009 22:16:21 +0000 Leigh http://dayattheranch.wordpress.com/?p=2012 ]]>

Just a few shots of the animals we saw in the Grand Tetons!  Beautiful…

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]]> http://dayattheranch.wordpress.com/2009/09/10/all-creatures-great-and-small/feed/ 0 dayattheranch DSC_0166 DSC_0297 DSC_0939 DSC_0047 The Splendor of the King http://dayattheranch.wordpress.com/2009/09/10/the-splendor-of-the-king/ http://dayattheranch.wordpress.com/2009/09/10/the-splendor-of-the-king/#comments Thu, 10 Sep 2009 21:21:00 +0000 Leigh http://dayattheranch.wordpress.com/?p=1997 ]]>

The Splendor of the King is always so evident to me when I’m in the mountains.  Shouldn’t it be evident to me all the time?
Shouldn’t I be in awe of Him at every moment in my life?

Well, if you’re like me and need to be knocked in the head sometimes to see the glory of God….look at these pictures!  Sunrise on the Grand Tetons and beautiful Jackson Lake.

 

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How great is our God by C.Tomlin, J.Reeves, E.Cash

 

The splendor of the King,
Clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice,
All the earth rejoice

He wraps himself in light,
And darkness tries to hide
And trembles at his voice,
And trembles at his voice

How great is our God,
sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great, How great
Is our God

Age to age he stands
And time is in His Hands
Beginning and the End,
Beginning and the End

The Godhead, Three in one
Father, Spirit, Son
The Lion and the Lamb,
The Lion and the Lamb

How great is our God,
sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great, How great
Is our God

Name above all names
Worthy of all praise
My heart will sing how great
Is our God

How great is our God,
Sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great, How great
Is our God

How great is our God,
Sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great, How great
Is our God

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