Nightlife

Last evening, my friend Nancy and I watched the Olympics together at Nancy's home. As a former gymnast (five decades ago!), I was totally in awe as I admired the skills these modern women gymnasts have mastered. I did not get home until midnight. My husband, the night owl, was waiting for me and had turned on the porch light in welcome. After changing into my work boots, I headed out to the barns for "bed check."

A surprising number of visitors ask me, "Aren't you afraid of the dark out here?" Some get visibly restless as dusk approaches and insist that they must "leave the country before dark."

True, there are no street lights on the farm or anywhere near the property. However, the farm is not pitch black at night. The main barn has solar powered lights. The stars and moon seem brighter out in the country.

Even on moonless nights, I am not afraid of the dark and enjoy the visits to the pastures. The alpacas either cush in the barn or in the pastures at night. It is their choice where they wish to rest, chew their cud, or sleep. Most sleep cushed but with their heads and long necks stretched out on the ground.

This morning, I vaccinated the crias with CD&T (Clostridium Perfringens Types C&D-Tetanus Toxoid). I find it easy to vaccinate adult alpacas without restraining them and without help. The babies—so squirmy and tiny—are more difficult to vaccinate without assistance. Over the years, I've developed a technique that is safe and quick. Whenever I vaccinate an alpaca, I stay around to check for any adverse reaction. Aura Lea, Juanita, and Lorena were fine. Time to empty and re-fill the fly traps. Yech!!

Ingrid Wood is the author of The Alpacas of Stormwind Farm.