Frustrating

I was sent out for supplies yesterday morning, supposed to be there for when the builders merchant opened.  Well I got there about 9.30am and there was a long queue of builders waiting to be served, I think early Monday morning is not the best day to go, it was not helped by the computers not talking to the printers so nobody could have receipts or collection notes to pick there materials up from the yard.  I needed some nails and T&G boards for the ceiling of the hut.  After about 30 mins I got to the counter to order with the nails to order the boards, I had the sizes I needed so I thought I was prepared.  Oh no I had to go out into the yard and get a code number of the boards, then the guy was able to find them on his computer.  so having queued again I got back to a till.  Then they couldn't get through to the transport dept to arrange delivery, I gave up then and said we would collect then today.  So after a hour and 15mins I left the store with a box of nails!

Next of to the electrical supplies with another list.  Well that was a total waste of time, usually they are very helpful and will advise what we need but this time all the young lad would say is ", you need to tell me what you want I am not allow to advise you" I already brought all the wire, sockets, fuse board, all I needed help with was a site plug and socket to connect the Shepherds hut to the electric so it can be unplug if we need to move it, it can't be that complicated.  Obviously we get a qualified electrician to do all the connections etc but we need to get the wiring in place before the insulation and internal cladding goes on.  So not

a successful day so far.

In the mean time Steve had started the external cladding with OSB board this is going under a waterproof membrane and coloured metal sheeting.  The hut is really starting to take shape now and I can now see how much space I will have inside.  I have so many things I need to get in there especially the boxes of stock for shows and fairs.  So we are trying to think of how we can store these in the hut so that they don't take up much space but are hidden away and be easily accessible.  At the moment I am thinking a tall cupboard where the boxes will slide in on runners so will move in and out easily, then on the door I can put some grid walling which we use to display our socks and knitwear.
Then I need a workspace and storage for the sewing and felting machines, so every space has to be used to it's full potential.

I think a trip to ikea will be needed as they are really good at storage solutions and we have to pass Cribs Causeway to get there which is a whole another shopping opportunity.

Today didn't start well either

Today was supposed to be the day when we cracked on with putting the frame together for the hut.  Well I woke up  feeling like s--t with a migraine which when I get a bad one usually means I am sick and can even get out of bed.  So I took one of my migraine tablets and went back to bed whilst Steve did all the feeding up.

By lunch time I felt well enough to get up and at least look willing, even managed a piece of toast. I ventured up to the barn and between us we managed to get the floor onto the chassis.  Steve bolted this down and then we were onto the frame, these were much lighter so Steve could lift them up whilst I steadied them until they were clamped together ready for the fixings.
It all looks different now, actually can see what it is supposed to be.

Tomorrow it is the roof, this is in two sections so shouldn't be too heavy, problem is I am only 5'2" and can not reach the top of the walls never mind lift the roof on.  So I now I have some steps! so I can stand on them inside the frame while Steve lifts the roof sections on, I am hoping we get some volunteers to help tomorrow.

Steve decided he may need some new tools to help with the build so I now have this in the lounge.  It hasn't done any work as yet and I do hope it isn't going to stay here to long.  apparently there is more arriving!  I need to check he isn't including them in the cost of the build as I do have a budget and if so he has just blown it.

Well today didn't quite go to plan!

Following a bit of a late start this morning I left Steve to feed up and then he was itching to start sorting the base out for the Shepherds hut.  I had to go to Tavistock for shopping etc and then I was coming back to start sanding window frames.  Just got to Tavistock and the phone rings!  apparently I had take both sets of keys for the van which had all the tools in---- I can say I was not the most popular person in the world at that point.  So back from Tavistock with no shopping or anything else for that matter.
Anyway the base of the trailer now has bearers bolted to the frame to support the floor and it has been wax oiled to help stop it going rusty. It doesn't look much different but it is all the stuff you don't see that takes the time.  Steve has to do the day job tomorrow so we will be back onto it on Saturday.

I spent a bit of time this afternoon just looking at the alpacas which are in the field next to our holiday cottages, some may call it daydreaming or time wasting but I think it is something we should all do periodically.  I look at the individual alpaca, consider its breeding and then wondering if we made the right decisions with our choice of Stud males last year I even get onto this years breeding decisions.

Whilst looking at Zanti (who is fast becoming my favourite Alpaca)  it was evident that some males really do stamp their mark on some females. Zanti is a Jack of Spades baby out of a dark brown female, she is light fawn! she has his head, is a well grown female who will be bred this year.  Next to her was Yolandi who is out of a black Jack of Spades female (Hebe) sired by Inca Cayenne who is Dark Brown/black, she is also light fawn. Seeing them together they are like peas in a pod, they both have that strong head shape, loads of curly fleece around the face but they are a generation apart.  This year we are waiting for a Popham Equador Cria from Hebe, we really would like a black from her this time.  The decision is who do we put over Zanti?

So excited

Ooh Ooh Ooh I got so excited this morning - it doesn't take much I really should get out more!
The Shepherds Hut frame was due to be delivered mid morning soI got up to the fields early to feed up and move the last bits of Rubbish (sorry very useful bits of stuff).  I had just got to the barn when the phone pinged and there was a text from the building supplier who was delivering the rest of the materials for the build, OSb board, Ply, joists etc saying he would be there in a few minutes, luckily he had only just sent the message.  He arrived a few minutes later and I now have a large pile of wood and insulation,  it looks far too much to go on our trailer base!

About a hour later the Hut arrives and is off loaded, I can't believe how excited I am about a big pile of wood and metal!

Tomorrow if the weather plays ball the trailer is going to be wax oiled to keep it in good shape and I am hopefully going to start sanding down some windows which we are recycling from the Holiday cottages.  The windows were removed to make way for the extensions last year, we had four and had already used one in a shed now two more are going into the Hut.  The idea is to use as much recycled materials as possible. All the shelving is already in my work room at home and the small kitchen  is going to be made from some old kitchen units, remodelled and painted.  I have a piece of work top which will be used here too.

With all this work to do I did get a pressie today, Steve brought me a electric sander, which will be very handy tomorrow.

Build day minus 1

The Hut frame is due to arrive tomorrow, so today I did the final ordering of materials, so that is due to arrive tomorrow as well.  Just need to sort the barn out to get it all in and clear a space to actually build the Hut.

The trailer base is ready to have the bearers bolted on to put the floor on to.
It doesn't look much now but it won't be seen at all when the floor goes on.

I thought it was time I started halter training the female cria, all the males were done before they were sold.  As I had hold of them I did some fleece rummaging, they are not bad, I may be over critical of our animals and usually talk myself out of entering them into shows.  I need to make decisions on who to enter into CCA show and Devon county.  I have Zanti who did well as a Junior so she will go into both.  I also have Atlas who is now a senior and has always been placed when ever he has been shown. He gets a little excited when there are lots of females around, so maybe not a good idea.  It is the Juniors who are difficult, I have a black female who's got a bright crispy fleece which is very fine but has now density.  A fawn female who will be over fleeced but the time the shows are here and the white is definitely not going.

The girls enjoying some sunshine this morning.

At Last

I can not believe how long it is since I sat down to write a blog.  Mainly as I didn't think there was much to write about except the usual round of winter chores, weather, mud.

Now with Spring on the way and all the expectations of a new alpaca year I thought it was just the time to try and start writing again.

So the first thing to start with is our new project! for several years I have been bending Steve's ear about a workshop/studio space for the Alpaca products, well it is finally on its way.  The concept has changed a little and the space will be used mainly as a shop for the products and a reception area for the cottages with a small work space at the back for my felting and sewing machines.  The building will be a Shepherds hut as this will be a mobile building, something which is necessary as we live in the National Park and are not allow anything permanent that could be the least bit useful!

Anyway after much discussion and planning it was finally decided that we could buy the frame of the Hut and finish it ourselves, well what I really mean is Steve can finish it himself while I supply coffee, food and advice on how to do the job!

The frame has been ordered and is due to arrive on Wednesday, we had a old flat bed trailer which needed a new floor so this has been stripped down to make the chassis of the Shepherds hut, so technically it will be road legal--- now theres a thought!

So it is all in place ready to go, I have booked time out of Steve's work diary so that he can get on with the build, which means I now have to be in charge of the work diary to prevent him booking in any customers who ring and want work done yesterday.  They are usually happy to wait a couple of weeks as long as they are in the diary, April is looking very busy!

So the next two weeks are set aside to get the build done, so at last I will have something to write about.

We had decided to got to the National Show last weekend just for a look around and to catch up with old friends, so thought we should go to the AGM as well while we were there.  It was great to see so many Alpacas in one place, everyone seemed to be having a great time.

We made the most of our weekend away, we visited the Shepherds Hut supplier in Somerset www.blackdownshepherdshuts.co.uk on the way up.  they showed us around there factory, even showed us our hut on the trailer ready to deliver this week. Our B&B was a lovely old Mill House near Telford so we had a visit to the Ironbridge Gorge, did some sightseeing and had some lovely meals out before traveling back on Sunday. All very enjoyable as we probably won't get another weekend off till after the summer.

We can now look forward to this years births, we had 9 pregnant as we went into the winter, we will run them all past a male in couple of weeks just to check if they have held or not, it is still to early to re breed anyway. Our first Cria are due end of May, so not long to wait.

Yet again we have sold all our young boys and we got good prices again this year.  The last two were delivered a couple of weeks ago.  They have gone to live near the coast in South Devon and I am sure they are going to be very spoilt little boys.

Well hopefully I will be back with more updates on the shepherds hut build and pictures of the progress.

Progressing Slowly

This is a very short blog, The three Alpacas we are taking to the show next monday had anther intensive halter training course this morning, lets just say they are not very quick learners!