Blog - Westsongs

A Week in White

It has gone, almost as quickly as it arrived, leaving me with a sigh of relief, and everybody in the paddock – humans, cats, dog and alpacas with the joy of seeing green again.

As a snowy week went, it was pretty good. We had two big snowfalls, one right at the beginning and one two days before the end, and though it lay deep – in places a foot or more, at no point were we snowed in, nor did we suffer from the serious ice problems that we have had in past years. We had some concern about our hay supplies – it did catch us unawares, but we were able to get out to Alpacas of Wales on the Monday and snaffle a couple of bales from there.

There is a lot more work for us when it snows, the alpacas get through a lot more hay, and consequently they drink more water. Amazingly this time the water supplies in the field remained usable, so I only had to do the dreaded water-by-bucket a couple of times.

Gwen discovered frisbee. We soon realised that throwing sticks was hopeless as they would just sink and disappear without trace, but I dug out an old frisbee that worked a treat and lasted at least two days before the ancient plastic succumbed to the cold. Something else for the shopping list!

It stayed picturesque throughout. Yesterday as the thaw kicked in it certainly wasn’t looking as good, but all the really slushy action happened overnight, last night, and we arose today to clear fields, clear paths, and animals wandering about freely.

More to come? Who knows. We are almost through January. Whilst I am not a fan of the winter or the snow I have to say that it is better than having year round slugs!

Solstice Greetings from Pistyll Gwyn

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Winter Solstice dawn at Pistyll Gwyn – top of the hill looking over Huw’s field

Well, here we are at the shortest day of the year and so for me the New Year officially starts tomorrow. I do some of the Christmas stuff and some of the Devember 31st stuff as well, but in the heart the real meaning of the event lies here.

Ash Tree at the Fairy Dell, Pistyll Gwyn — Ash Tree at the Fairy Dell – lets hope it’s still here next year.

A time to reflect on the outgoing year and consider any changes in direction for the incoming one. For me, there is a lot of thinking to do. You can see by the photos what an amazing place I live in, but I need to get the other parts of my life in order too.

Hoping 2013 will be a step in the right direction.

Photos were taken at 8.00am

Into the Dark

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We’re now in the dark bit – it’s three weeks either side of the winter solstice for me, so from the beginning of December to the middle of January.

For me this is a time to turn the collar up, get outside as much as possible during the daylight hours, and cosset the alpacas a bit. They don’t mind the cold as such, but they do miss the sun.

On the plus side, it always feels good in the evening with the wood stove burning and the doors shut against the wind and rain. This year we have a good wood supply, so we’re not having to be quite so frugal. It is amazing how my attutude to fuel has changed now that I create it myself, rather than just swap it for some money!

Another treat is dog walking in the dark. Whilst the alpaca stuff has to happen in the daylight (precariously juggled with my desk job), taking Gwen out doesn’t. Heading off to the wood in the dark is always a joy, and after four years still has a sense of adventure about it. What will we find?
The other night I had an electrifying few moments with a fox, who seemed oblivious to my headlight and my very presence as it caught its breath while trying to evade my over-excited dog! The fox just sat there, a few feet from me, senses completely focussed on Gwen’s trampling about some way away. As Gwen came nearer she turned and vanished in the trees. I’d never been that close for so long to a wild fox before.

On moonlit nights when no torch is necessary the wood is a magical place with the moon shining down through the bare trees. Tempered a little this year by concern – most of our trees are ash, and dieback has already been found in the Carmarthen area …

And then we come out of the wood to the top of the field. There is a bench that my dad made from some old timber from the bell tower of St Peters church in Wisbech. When I’m sitting there, wrapped up warm, looking across Cwm Cynon to the other farms with lights twinkling, or looking up to the Milky Way and the constellations on either side, I can really appreciate the quite dark introspective beauty of winter.

As a child I would dread winter – it seemed to go on for ever and the prevailing memory is of the harsh fenland winds. As an adult, time flies so fast I know that soon we will be through the dark bit, the nights will start drawing out and spring will be here again.

Walter and Tyler head out west

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Walter - splendid as ever, off to grace a field near Fishguard — The stunningly splendid Walter – off to Pembrokeshire

Tyler - handsome lad heading west — Tyler – our herd lookout, is now looking out over Cardigan Bay …

Well … they’ve gone!

Walter and Tyler have left Pistyll Gwyn and headed off to pastures new with sea views and Gav the Goat.
I have to say it is a bit strange. When we moved here we started out with a herd of six – four geldings and two pregnant girls, and it seemed that we had so much room! How quickly the field filled up and for me at least it became quite stressful. So now, we have a bit more room, and a bit of breathing space until the cria are older.

It is, of course, time to really sort out our whole alpaca strategy. At the end of the day I am a bit uncomfortable selling animals – I worry about the new homes and feel responsible, which isn’t helpful at all.

For now though, I am quite confident that Janet and Brian who have bought Tyler and Walter will give them a great home. I haven’t seen it, but Caerthan says it’s beautiful.

Back here, the field is not quite the same. Both Walter and Tyler were quite dramatic in their own way: Tyler making a fuss and fretting about his food, and Walter throwing himself about like a wild shaman carpet thing, or just standing looking spectacularly splendid.
Silky looks perplexed …

Pistyll Gwyn Rhiannon says hello

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Rhiannon in the sun — Rhiannon with sun and bluebells

On a beautiful warm May sunday, our Lavender has given birth to Rhiannon.

Although the timing was about right, Lavender was giving nothing away, that we could notice, and the first sign was Caerthan spotting some commotion in the field shelter just after 2.00.

And there she was!

The poor little thing was covered in bits of straw and dust from the field shelter but once out in the sun she soon dried off and was running about playing with Molly and Olive.

Gwen sat there, captivated. Lavender munched on nonchalantly …

Rhiannon is either light or mid fawn, hard to say just yet, and has the awesome half-Accoyo Teifi Dreamcatcher for a dad.

Needless to say we are delighted – another stunning little alpaca for Pistyll Gwyn