Baby Spot has been annoying his sister Carol all day wanting to play. He chases her and jumps on her... She's not looking impressed.

We had a great time tonight watching them on the hill in front of the house. Carol is one year old and only occasionally lets herself go and plays around. She's a very serious lady.

Our other one year old, Renata, wasn't invited to play, even though she's usually the more fun one.

The next cria should be due soon so Spot will have someone his own age to run around with... Bet Carol can't wait!

I was recently asked to wriite an article about llamas for a children's science magazine, as part of my freelancing activity... What a treat! I got to tell everyone what wonderful animals llamas are and why I think everyone should keep them! Calm, sweet, safe around children, gentle on the land and on your fences, easy to train... it's hard to stop!

Damian also took some lovely close up photos for me to send in with my article, to show the kids what llamas are really like.

Finally over the last few days we had some decent rain! The small dam is full again, filled with water and many happy frogs judging by the sound of it.

The llamas always look pretty sad when they are all wet and muddy but I am sure they enjoy the cooler weather.

I've missed most of the feedings this week as Damian gives them breakfast really early now. They are really hungry with little grass in the paddocks. So today I brought them some morning tea and a cuddle. It's always so relaxing to spend time with them!

Tonight Elody wanted to give a good night pat to our baby llama, so off we went up the hill to find the herd. We named him SPOT, as a nod to Elody's love for Spot books and his appaloosa markings... anyway, as we were walking we saw something running through the grass. A rabbit? Nooo, a fox! Maybe even THE fox, the one that ate Aurelia and her eggs! Here's some photo evidence.

OK it could be anything in this image, but Damian held it in the spotlight long enough for me to have a good look and it was a fox, a very tiny one, too. But having met the enemy in the flesh (and fur) made us even more conscious of how we are building our new chook pen. This little guy is hardly bigger than our smallest cat so it could squeeze through the tiniest gap... oh well, good to know what you are up against I guess...

Of course by this stage Elody was fast asleep in the pouch on my back so missed all the action. Damian chased the intruder as far away as he could and I enjoyed a quiet pat with Spot and the girls. They were very alert and aware, but didn't seem too concerned about the fox, maybe they worked out it was too tiny to harm even the smallest of them, or maybe they were glad that someone else chased it away so they didn't have to.

We have been at the coast for a few days and we are having a lovely time.

Unfortunaltely we have just learned the hard way why farmers hardly ever have a holiday. Even though we have an army of carers looking after the animals and the gardens every day the first night we were away a fox (it's always a FOX!) took our beautiful peahen Aurelia and her 4 eggs due to hatch only a few days later. Tragedy! ... guess next time peahens get locked up while sitting.

Now we need to find some company for our poor Jamie, the peacock, who's been left all alone.

Our first baby llama of the year arrived safely today. Second cria to mum Connie. This is the first boy born on our property as last year we had two girls.

He seems to be an explorer and took off stright away to check out the paddock on his own. But he forgot he needed to feed first so mum had to chase him and remind him. Elody and I sat with them for a few hours to make sure he found the teats and he finally did, had a good feed then turned around to give Elody a big milkey kiss... Lucky her!