An unusual event in the paddock!!…Check out these photos!…Correction from yesterday’s insurance post…

Is that a smile on the face of the “stuck” alpaca?

Correction from yesterday’s post:  The bereavement coverage in our policy with Healthcare International does include coverage for both of us to return to the US (or your home country) in the event of the death of an immediate family member. I had stated based on my incorrect assumption it would only include the actual relative of the deceased.  However, the policy provides for both of us to return to the US for the NZ $7502, US $5000, benefit. Any excess beyond that amount would be our responsibility.  Thanks to the staff at Healthcare International for reading our post and informing us of this correction.

Now, on to yesterday afternoon’s adventure in the paddock. It’s practical to state that I spend several hours each day observing the alpacas. With two patio chairs with footrests on the veranda and the often warm sun, it’s easy to become lost in watching the adorable antics of both the female adults and the adorable youngsters.

Growing so quickly, it’s becoming more difficult each day to decipher the difference between the one-year-old cria and those born shortly before we arrived. Those born since our arrival three weeks ago are getting tall seeming to nurse less and graze more.

The larger alpaca was getting annoyed with the situation and was making lots of noise. The others, always concerned for one another, looked on with concern over the tricky situation. The tan-colored baby of the stuck mom approached, wondering “What the heck?”

Males are kept in a separate paddock. We’ll soon be posting our amazing video of the mating process with is orchestrated by Trish and Neil when they decide the time is right. More on that later!

Late yesterday afternoon with the sliding doors wide open, I heard the sound of an alpaca cry. Grabbing the camera on my way out the door, I was shocked by the situation at hand. I wish I’d taken a video. However, I was more concerned they’d need help to become untangle and was preoccupied watching if they’d be able to resolve the tricky situation.

Tom came outside when I called him and he too was shocked by what we were watching, hoping they’d soon resolve the situation on their own. It appeared if they’d both lay down, they could untangle. 

Finally, to our great relief they untangled. Having taken two photos and knowing they were both safe, we couldn’t stop laughing over the peculiarity of the situation. Apparently, those long necks can be a hazard!

The young bulls always seem happy to see me.

Once back inside and feeling relieved over the two alpacas seeming to be fine, I downloaded the two photos and laughed over and over again, especially with what appears to be a smile on the face of the alpaca caught on the bottom of their tangled bodies.

I hope Trish and Neil don’t think we’re awful finding humor in this situation. We only laughed after we saw they were fine. Having observed wildlife over many months in Africa, we often found wildlife getting into predicaments that elicit laughter from us humans, often reminding us of our own foibles.

Let’s face it, all of God’s creatures (including us) may find ourselves in tricky situations simply from living life.  We can only hope that somehow we can maneuver our way out of the situation with a positive result as in the case of the two adult alpacas managing to do so yesterday.

The lily pond in a stone basin.

We’ve stayed in most of this week. Tom’s been a bit under the weather with an intestinal thing with a fever since Sunday. He’s improving each day without the necessity of a doctor visit. 

Traveling the world with good health doesn’t make us exempt from occasional viruses or bacterial infections. It’s easy to pick something up when we out and about around people. 

We considered the possibility of a bacteria from something he ate at home. However, we’ve both eaten exactly the same meals and I’m feeling fine. We took special precautions during the past several days, including sleeping in separate bedrooms. 

These alpaca sculptures are also located at the “y” in the road, one road leading to our home and the other leading to Trish and Neil’s home.

We hear that a number of couples sleep in separate rooms when sleeping together impedes the quality of their sleep. That’s not us. We both tossed and turned all night sleeping in separate beds, hoping I wouldn’t “catch” whatever it is he’s had. So far, so good. We look forward to getting back to normal.

Today, we’ll forgo our usual shopping day since Tom’s not up to getting out yet and I have no interest in driving to the grocery store myself on the opposite side of the road. I’m an awful driver as it is. Plus, when we rented the car for three months, we didn’t pay the extra fees to include me as a driver. Tom’s hardly eating and we have enough on hand for several more days.

Back at you tomorrow with more…

Have a fabulous day wherever you may be!

Photo from one year ago today, February 11, 2015:

One year ago today, we’d driven by this nesting site many times not seeing any chicks. And yet, we returned once again to see this adorable chick safely under the shelter of her/his parent. This was the beginning of one of the most enjoyable wildlife observation experiences we had in our travels. Click here for more photos.