Blooming Rose

Blooming Rose

Sunday, July 11, 2010

A Visit To Alpacas at Windy Hill Ranch

I had the most glorious morning. I went to visit the Alpacas at Windy Hill Ranch.
It was a lovely drive along the coast and then on country roads of farms and ranches. 
It was beautiful. So many of the farms now use windmills in their fields which is
wonderful to see. The long narrow road that leads to Alpacas at Windy Hill is dotted
with orange groves, fields of sunflowers, queen anne’s lace and vineyards.

And then, I saw what I was looking for...

I pulled in the driveway and quickly jumped out of my car and walked toward the
pastures. The first thing I saw was this mama and her new baby.

I was very fortunate because Cindy, who owns and runs the ranch, was right there and
told me that the baby had been born just a few minutes earlier. Cindy is great!  She
educated me about the Alpacas and their babies which are called cria. I was a bit shy
about intruding on a new mother and her cria so Cindy picked up one of the little
crias and brought her over to me...



The little baby was so soft and delicate and her mama watched every move we made.

Cindy said I could walk all around the land and into the pastures. She didn't have to
twist my arm. I immediately began to wander around.  Here are a few of my new
friends...









While I was walking around and taking pictures, Cindy came over to tell me that a
mama alpaca was in the process of giving birth and if I hurried over to the next
pasture I would be able to witness the wonderful event.  I was so excited. Cindy’s
husband Doug was in charge of this delivery and he was fabulous.

Mama is cleaning her newborn...

Just ten minutes later...


She's ready for her closeup now...



Forty minutes later she wanders
over to meet everyone...
.
Several crias have been born this month. Here are a few...







Well, it was such a lovely day but it’s time to say goodbye for now...
It’s so difficult to say goodbye.


Cindy, thank you so much for letting me visit and educating me about these gentle and
sweet animals.

You can read more about Alpacas at Windy Hill right HERE.  Be sure to scroll down to
read Cindy’s story about how she came to raise Alpacas.
This is a woman who made her dreams come true!

Thank you again to Cindy and Doug.


11 comments:

Stephanie Lloyd said...

Don't ever stop taking pictures.

Don't ever stop blogging!

Privet and Holly said...

Oh, my goodness!
What a dose of Sunday bliss!!!
These creatures are so
beautiful and I especially
loved seeing the protective
mamas with their new babies,
as well as the whole group
welcoming the "newbies."
Off to look at Windy Hill, now!
Thanks for the lovely respite.
xx Suzanne

Jeremy said...

OK! When can we go? This is fabulous. I also read the link to their site. I am so glad you included it in your post. Fantastic! I have always loved alpacas.

René said...

What an amazing post! Thank you for sharing this with us. So glad I stopped by.

-Rene

A New England Life said...

Wonderful photos! I love the Cria, they're so darned adorable! And lucky you to capture a live birth, that's pretty amazing.

There's a flock of Alpacas out by my parents house and I always want to stop and photograph them. Maybe one of these days.

La Brocanteuse said...

O this is absolutely fantastic! a post I enjoyed very much and the pictures!! wow how lucky you were to be part of this!thank you so much for sharing with us. Colette x

Low Tide High Style said...

Oh these pictures are so great and I love seeing all of the baby alpacas! Our daughter always wanted us to open an alpaca farm!

Thanks for taking us along to this special place!

Kat :)

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Hi!
Thanks for visiting my blog. It was nice to see you.

I really enjoyed this post. We used to live in Tennessee and our neighbors had a couple of Alpacas. They were male, so no babies. What wonderful pictures you took!

I have signed up to be a follower...

Hope you visit again soon!
Penny

Heidi said...

Oh how wonderful to see the babies! My husband and I just got back from our evening walk to see the alpacas and horses down the road from us. No crias there, but I just love the mature ones to pieces. Their funny faces just get to me!!
I envy your afternoon spent on that wonderful looking farm, and to be present during a birth was a stroke of luck! Thanks for posting these great pictures, and for visiting and leaving such a sweet comment.
XO
Heidi - Heart and Home

Pondside said...

Thank you for visiting Pondside.
I enjoyed my look around your blog site. Your photos are lovely - especially the hats, the sweet peas, the strawberries...I could go on. You live in such a beautiful part of the world. I visited cousins in San Luis Obispo a while back and look forward to exploring that part of your state again sometime - didn't get enough of it!

La Dolfina said...

Hi!
I found you!
I love it here!
What a beautiful post this is :)
Can't wait to follow and get to know you... I'll be back soon.
xo