Nottingham Hollow's BlackVelvet

Pictures

2009-11-29T13:51:00.003-05:00

I ended up putting todays pictures first by accident. My daughter is 8 days old now... The last pictures by the tree are of her at 1 day old... Autumn Bliss really blends in to the back ground.

2009-11-27T23:59:00.002-05:00

Hi everyone!

It's the post you have all been waiting for... I am a mother!

I had a little girl and her name is Autumn Bliss. The humans are going to take some pictures tomorrow - you'll see how pretty she is.

I will write more when I put the pictures up!

Velvet....

August 2009

2009-08-19T09:52:00.002-04:00

Hey.

I will let you know from the beginning that I grow to dislike summer in Virginia every year. This is my third summer and I have to say, it has got to be nicer someplace else!

I wear black, year round. The sun is attracted to black. It probably doesn't make a difference if it is True Black, which I am, or Bay Black or greying True Black like my dam. She is having trouble in this heat too. It's not the heat alone, it is the humidity together with the heat. Bring on fall!

Every day we do get belly baths. What a silly thing to call them. They take the water hose and spray our belly, legs and arm/leg pits. You'd think they would know to call it a shower! After that we all go and roll in the sand by the big tree. That's the best. Then we are covered in mud! Humans can't stand seeing us dirty so the first few times we did that we got showers again when the boys were getting theirs. I think the humans figured out what our game was because they don't give us second showers anymore. They make us wait a couple of hours.

Well, I think I am 234 days pregnant today. I am getting pretty excited about this. I have watched my dam and the aunties have their babies and I will finally get to have one of my own. My babies sire is Friar Tuck. He's so handsome! I just know we have made a wonderful little girl.

I have to cut this short - it's time for our first shower! I don't want to miss that. I will be back when they let me in the house again. I really need my own lap top. Of course, I could make a better argument for on if I had a lap!

Velvet

Independance Day?

2009-07-04T22:00:00.003-04:00

Okay, so I don't know what that means for humans but for us 'pacas I am pretty sure it doesn't apply! All it actually means to me is that I am hearing these annoying sounds from the neighbors. I think my humans are lucky because they have the windows closed and I bet they can hardly even hear the noise! Of course, we do have the big fans going in the barn and they are pretty noisy. Maybe the neighbors are trying to get even?

Our lady had us locked out of the barn all day on Friday. She was cleaning... Doesn't she know how long it took us to get our house the way we wanted it???? Just kidding. The walls were all swept down and almost all of the spider web thingies are gone... There are a few left but they are pretty high up. I heard her tell the man that they'd get them in the fall when it wasn't so darned hot. I found out after wards that the cleaning was because my little brother Quinn has infected eyes. I wondered why he was crying all the time. I thought he was doing it on purpose so he didn't get put over with the boys. He's seven months old now and weighs 85 pounds. My poor mom needs a break! Anyway, the lady thought maybe it was taking long to clear up because it had gotten so dusty so she cleaned. It turns out he probably caught some spit in the face and it made him get conjunctivitis. Poor guy has to get ointment in his eyes three or four times a day... I made sure the others won't tell him that he's going to get weaned when he's better. That Augustine may just tell him - I am pretty sure she's the one who spit on him too!

I was supposed to have another ultrasound this weekend but it got postponed for another couple or three weeks I guess. I know they are going to want to stick that thing on my belly and try as I might I just can't stand there and let them do it! I don't know why but whenever anyone tries to do anything these days I just have to cush! I wouldn't even let them do my nails again this month. The last time I was ultrasounded the lady that did it said I was pregnant. I don't know if I am or not! If I am, it's my first time and all these signals are confusing me to no end. I hope I am because I am going to be a good mommy... I think I willhave a little girl that looks just like me!

My friend Princess is acting a little weird these days. I am thinking she just might be too. She actually spit at Tuck the other day. I wasn't too happy for him... Gee, maybe she's the one who spit at little brother Quinn!

Did I tell you about the ducks? There used to be a whole bunch of them but they started being killed. Bandana has been living in the barn with us for a long time now and she would visit the others out back often and she'd come back and tell us what was going on. She had thirteen babies and one night they all disappeared! She was very sad for a while and now she's still a bit grouchy. Anyway, we finally figured out the male ducks were doing it! When they were gone it left Bandana and two other female ducks who never did get named. One of them had a nest out in Jacob's shed and she had seven babies hatch out. Whatever her name is she's a great mother duck. She follows them all around, all day long. We thought one of the babies was dying yesterday because it would walk two steps and then go to sleep. The man figured maybe one of the paca boys stepped on it. They put the duckling behind the barn where the duck's pool, food and water is and expected to go out the next morning to have to dispose of it. Well, I guess the little duck just was too tired to keep up yesterday because today there are seven little ducks walking around again. It is really finny to watch Black Perl and Mangini, the two new crias chase the ducks! They run up to them like big, bad pacas and get about six inches from the ducks and then run away. It's a big game. If pacas laughed I am sure they would be!

Well, the noise has quieted down now so I guess I'll go to sleep... Bye for now!

June 15, 2009

2009-06-15T09:46:00.003-04:00

I'm baaaack! I didn't think I was ever going to get back into the house and on the computer but I finally convinced the humans that I really needed to. I have so much to tell you!

I had a couple of dates in December with Friar Tuck and I think I am pregnant! I can't wait - If I am right I should be due around November 23rd. I wonder what I am going to have!?! My dam had a light fawn boy out of him last Thanksgiving... I'd really like to have a girl though.

Since I have been growing into a beautiful 'paca woman everyone is saying that they cannot tell me and my dam apart. I think that is a compliment - she's so nice. She nurses her babies so well that she gets to eat in the "dining room" these days so that she can keep weight on. The dams that eat in the "dining room" get extra pellets and alfalfa. Have you ever had alfalfa? I tasted it once and I hope that I get to have some when I have my baby because it is yummy!

My little brothers are doing really well. Dougal looks just like our dad and he won a fifth place at last year's show. He wants to "be a man" and I heard them say he may get a chance this fall. Too bad he's my brother!

Quinn is getting to be sort of a pain. He is seven months now and has started to bother Princess Lea. It's not all the time or anything but whenever someone has a date he chases after her and pretends. She knows just ho0w to handle him and spits right in his face! I always laugh when that happens.

My dam and auntie Whitney are going to have their babies in the beginning of November. I'm going to have mine (I am pretty sure) when "grandma" Clara has hers. She hasn't had a baby for a couple of years now. She's fourteen years old now so the humans give her lots of time in between. Clara told me she'd like to have a girls this time since she's had lots more boys.

My best friend Emma was going to try to have her first baby when I had mine but she decided to wait. It looks like she will try for next May. She actually had the nerve to have her date with my man! That caused some problems between us but he explained over the fence that she was nervous about everything and he was patient and showed her what needed to happen. I guess that's okay. Gee, what will that make our babies? Half sisters?

We have two new families here on the farm. There's the family from Florida - The mom is Holiday Weekend, the daughters are Princess Curiosity and Black Perl and the son is Mark Anthony. Princess was supposed to have her first baby next spring but it is looking like she maybe is going to wait until fall of 2010. She was really clueless about what we all were trying to tell her. Now that she has figured it out it is too hot pretty much for any breeding...

The other family just came on Saturday. Well, sort of. Princess Lea was here already since she stayed to be weaned after her dam went home after breeding with Victor. Now her dam is back (and she actually tried to see if she could nurse again!)and this time they brought an alpaca called Carousel and her little boy, Mangini. He's Victor's son. Carousel just had a date with Archer. It was his first time but the humans said he did a good job. Actually, what they said was that he had better do a good job or he was going to get gelded! Ouch. It wasn't his fault it was his first time for Pete's sake. The humans control that!

So, we have lots of new 'pacas here and pretty soon the back yard is going to be all for us females and our babies. That will be nice and we will all enjoy being able to spread out some more.

Already they are showing me the door! I don't know why they just don't get me my own lap top... Maybe because I don't have a lap? I think next month their friend is coming back with her machine that looks in my belly to see if she can see my baby. She said she saw it but I didn't cooperate so well. I will try to be still the next time so everyone can see. Then they will have to let me back in to tell you!

I'll be back soon!

Velvet....

It's almost time!

2008-11-10T11:02:00.002-05:00

Well, I have got to say that being a maiden is hard... My hormones are going bonkers and every single one of the males here look great to me! I heard the humans talking and they are going to let us start having dates next month! I don't want to wait that long but I suppose they know best.

In the middle of December I have a date with Nottingham Hollow's Friar Tuck. He's a handsome guy. Even though his fiber is light fawn his sire is a true black. Maybe he has a dark enough gene in there so that I can have a dark baby girl myself! That would just be too cool.

My dam is pregnant now and she is supposed to have the first Friar Tuck cria. It will be my little sister - the humans said "No more boys!". We'll see if mom listened to them and if that pink stuff they wrapped aropund her tail worked. If it did, I am going to beg them to wrap my tail with it too.

I have three new friends here from Florida. They are Princess, her brother Mark Anthony and her dam Holiday Weekend. They call her Holly. I have to call my dam mom, she gets mad if I call her Miss Wise!

Pretty soon almost all of the boys are moving! It's only to the other side of the human's barn - wait, they call it a house. I am sad because I won't get to flirt at the fence any more...

When that happens they are going to let us maidens have our own "apartment". I gues sthat Princess is so close to her dam that they figure she needs to grow up and live on her own. She's going to have a date next month too. She and Emma, my best gal pal, are going to have their dates with Amerikhan Legend. He's special because he won all these blue, purple and lavendar ribbons. Oh - my human said it's his fiber and nice body that wond him the ribbons and that's why he's special...

My brother Duncan is moving in with the other men out front. He'll be two years old on January 3rd. The human lady is a little worried but said that he needs to try to be with the bigger boys and if he can't he stay there he can come back. She always mutters something about there being too darn many boys... I don't think we have enough! I can only whisper that because if she hears me talking like that I get a time out. She just can't take a joke sometimes.

Any how, my dam is going back to the original pen in the barn. They will have that little eye working that fixes it so they can watch her all the time. They want to be careful that they get out there in time for her baby because it is going to be December... I heard they might make a new nursery this year so she and the cria can be on a floor instead of the ground. It will be nice because then the rest of the girls will have room and can be near her. Except for us darn it... We will be in another building!

I heard we have two more dams and their crias coming soon to have dates with the new guy Victor. I wonder where the humans will put them? Oh well, we will see!

I am surprised she hasn't realized I am in the house yet. I think I will sneak out now before she finds me... That way I will get to come on again sooner!

See you later! :-)

Velvet, the pretty black one

Sunny September Sunday Hello

2008-09-07T14:25:00.005-04:00

Wow! I never thought I would get to come back in and use the computer. Finally.

Yesterday it rained and rained. It was the remnants of a tropical storm that went through named Hanna. The paddocks were all muddy. I was bored - had to spend the whole day in the barn eating hay. Can you just imagine that? Don't tell anyone but I really liked it!

Last weekend they took me out for a little walk to the front yard so they could take some good pictures of me. I knew you would want to see them! As it turns out I am for sale again I guess. It's weird because nothing has changed for me so I am not sure what to make of it. I think I am still going to have my date with Friar Tuck this coming December. But maybe not. I don't know - I just wish these humans would make up their minds soon.

Already? I have to go back outside. I will type again when I have some time...

Me - Velvet - the black beauty at Nottingham Hollow!

It's About Time!

2008-08-17T08:09:00.002-04:00

Hay there!

Things changed around here the other day. The humans were grumbling something about "open females" and weren't too happy with the manly men. So - I got to go back with the other girls! Emma and I are happy about this and Tabitha is probably relieved. I think I heard her tell Clara that she felt like she had been punished or something. Can't imagine why!

The best thing is that my bratty brother and his friend got put in with Duncan. The two little ones aren't very happy about it and that Darius is just a fretting. Last night when we were getting our dinner Dougal and Darius both jumped over the creep feed gate! Ha - they thought their mothers would let them have milk? Not. The creep feed has a higher gate now...

We have some new hay and it tastes really good. I could just eat and eat and eat. That's not going to happen though with the others in the barn with me. Besides, if I am to get pregnant after show this fall I will want to look really good - for show too!

Wow -she's grumpy today. I have to get off the computer because she needs it. I really need my own...

Later!

All trained....

2008-07-29T18:57:00.002-04:00

Hay there! :-)

She finally let me in the house so I can get caught up with my blog and say hi to everyone. It's really nice in the house. Much nicer than my "house" outside. Even though there are THREE fans running for us it is still too warm.

So, I noticed something today. When we get fed, I am always first. I take after my dam that way too! Well, almost. She wants to be fed first but Clara is the herd leader so she rules. You know what this means don't you? It means I am herd leader in my paddock! I rule - I have Emma and Tabith trained! My human said to get over myself, Tabitha is just letting me go first so that I don't bother her and she can eat in peace. But if that's the case - how come Tabitha lets me push her out of the way when the hose comes out? Nah... I've got them BOTH trained!

I really enjoy the hose. My human stopped calling me Tank and now calls me the hose hog! Whatever - as long as I can keep cool what do I care what she calls me?

I am going to get a beauty treatment later this week. They bought a new scale so I will get to know how much I weigh again. I have been really bothered y that you know. I mean, with having Tank for a nick name the joke is going to be on them when they see I am just where I am supposed to be! She said after I get weighed I am getting a manicure and then dusted off and she's going to take some pictures. As soon as the sun hides behind some clouds. I have to say, nice as that sounds (right)I will be very happy to roll in the dust pile again. What's the matter with her thinking I need to be dusted off? Doesn't she know that I know grey is in? I mean really, I have to be "in"!

What? She's making me go back out... Catch you later!

I'm Back!

2008-07-09T10:42:00.002-04:00

Well, they finally let me back on the computer to say hello.

I saw my new human the other day. I acted just like my little brother does; totally submissive complete with the slinky neck. I don't think she was terribly happy with me because she was trying to take my picture for something. Oh yeah - I remember now! She is entering my fiber in a Spin-Off. I don't exactly know what that means except that it has something to do with my fleece. You should have heard the humans talking when they had me spread out on that table and were taking all of my beautiful fleece off... I didn't want them to have it but I do have to admit that I felt so much cooler when it was finished!

My fiber is growing back on my backside. That little brat Darius really didn't need to bite it off. I am glad he isn't in with me anymore but I do miss my brother and my dam.... I guess that is what growing up is all about.

All of our grass died and we are back to a dirt pasture. Seems kind of weird they still call it a pasture; I thought you needed grass for one of those! Maybe it makes the humans feel better to still call it that. I have some other words that would fit better but I will keep them to myself :-)

It's been raining almost every day lately for about a week. I kind of wish it would stop but I heard them say that we needed the rain for hay. I need hay so I suppose I had better be careful what I wish for!

I have been flirting with Robin Hood and Friar Tuck. Because of it they have been fighting lately. My human's said I can have a date with Friar Tuck in December. It will be nice and cool then and I will be turning two years old then. My sister Emma is a little younger than I am and has been flirting too. I bet they find a boyfriend for her too!

They are kicking me off the computer again. Sigh. What is this email they always have to check?

Hello, my name is Black Velvet!

2008-07-03T17:22:00.000-04:00

Let me tell you a bit about myself...

First of all, I was born on December 30, 2006. My dam's name is Miss Wise Obsession and my sire's name is Thistledown's Angus of Argyll. I look just like my dam except that I am smaller.

I have a brother here at Alpacas of Nottingham Hollow. Well, actually two of them. My big brother is The Sheriff of Nottingham Hollow and he looks like his sire I guess because he doesn't look like our dam. He's grey and looks like he's ready to go out and party because he wears a tuxedo - all the time! My little brother is Nottingham Hollow's Dougal. He looks a lot like our sire. We do all have something in common. We are a little on the tall side and we all like to kick. Well, it isn't so much that we like to kick as we sort of have to! We all have this one spot and all it takes is air and we just can't help ourselves. It's not like we are mean when we do it... it just sort of happens.

Anyway, I don't take great pictures because I am a true black and my human says it is hard to capture how beautiful I am. She said she'd keep trying though!

This year something big happened in my life. I was sold on April 26th! I get to stay here with my herd for some more time though so it won't be too bad. My human said that she is doing this blog so that my new human can keep track of me. Whatver. I don't understand a lot of what they tell me but I can tell they all love me so it is okay.

I will be back as soon as they let me in the house again - okay?