Lil Miss has taken several photos of her growing garden and we wanted to share them with you to inspire you in your own gardening endeavors. If you are concerned that you are too late for a garden, don't be discouraged...there is always something you can do! There is still plenty of time to plant and plan for an abundant harvest. In the past, Mom has direct seeded zucchini plants in July and still gotten more produce then purchased starts planted in June. You can do it!
 The weather has been either pouring sheets of rain or blasting heat. It doesn't make it easy for shearing plans. We've had to put off shearing for a couple of weekends now because of rain then the heat comes on in the week and we finally got to the point where we said - we'll just have to do it when we can - with what we have, scissors. All of our shears are out for sharpening, of course! It seems 'Jack' has decided he only feels comfortable with 'Tech' doing the semi-shearing here. The poor guy is a rich, beautiful black with a TON of dense fiber on him. Remember alpaca is 4 times warmer than wool so he is actually hotter than the sheep! Armed with a pair of craft scissors, 'Tech' was quite pleased Jack is so comfortable with only him. Mom sheared the two Giant angora rabbits (not seen here) - they were happy and got to romp in the garden afterward for a treat - they didn't want to move around much due to the heat - even after their coat was off. They liked the carrot pieces much better!  Can you see all three lambs? They are all enjoying a small patch of extra long salad that they've quickly grazed. Limiting them to new, small paddocks every day is making quick work of this out-of-control yard that will be naturally fertilized and growing even better after they move along. Behind Tech, I hope you can see the length compared to what they have grazed. The variety in their diets is only improving their rumen function and enabling them to uptake a greater variety of minerals. Sometimes they like to graze together, sometimes we have the alpacas in first or last and the sheep at another time... If you haven't learned about the benefits of mob grazing - take a look at what the Salatin family shares through their farming experiences at Polyface Farms.  Happy (and one dirty too) alpacas! He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth. Psalms 104:14 
Photo by 'Lil Miss
We've had another blessing, Licorice had her first ewe lamb! After first, she was highly stressed and had a challenge recognizing her little one as something other than a rabid animal trying to attack her. Only after we segregated her with her mother and helped her to calm down and nurse she took to mothering without issue. Her new little one looks nearly identical to her father - she has a white tail that differentiates her just a bit! Watching the lambs run and kick up their heels together is such a treat! Our alpacas consider it their special job to keep their eyes on them and as often as they carefully sit while the little ones play, I'm sure they'll soon be mounds for the lambs to leap upon. I'm including a picture of Frost in full coat because next weekend he and Jack will finally be shorn! We'll have help with their hooves and teeth as well. I can't wait to start creating with all that luscious fiber! 
Yes, he does like to roll in the straw!
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