and you thought hormones affected YOU.....

So, here I am, entering my eighth month at Amber Autumn Alpacas, happily married to my tall Dutch cowboy, and I have discovered fairly recently that hormonal changes during pregnancy are most certainly NOT restricted to humans.
Nope. Nada. Niet. Nay.
Enter exhibit one.
Ekela.
Now Ekela is a very attractive alpaca, weighing in at about 165 pounds (which is about 40 pounds less than Big Crystal, who did her level best to knock me out last Saturday but managed only to knock me on my back and put my tooth through my lip and nearly break my nose, but that is a story for another post).
When I met her, Ekela was well along in her pregnancy (alpaca gestation is 11 and a half months) and she would stand in her pasture, tail erect and cluck incessantly at me or anyone else with her regal head held high. In alpaca speak, this means (loosely translated of course) " back the hell off or I swear I will charge you and stomp you to smithereens."
If she were in a particularly bad mood, the clucking and posturing was accompanied by a well aimed spit, made up of a lovely blend of regurgitated grass and/or hay and pellets, made up at no small expense just for our rather large herd.
It is a fragrance I truly hope none of you ever wear.
But of course, as she was not in full control of her emotions, we would just give her a wide berth and avoid the spitting, choosing instead to coo to her in soothing tones that she was a lovely girl, and we were so looking forward to meeting her cria, which we truly hoped would be a lovely pure white female.
Time came, about two months ago, that Ekela gave birth to a lovely while male cria, whom I have dubbed Zeke, though his official name has yet to be given.
Of course like all new mums, our Ms. Ekela was VERY protective for the first while and the clucking continued for a couple of weeks.
Then one day, we noticed a wee change.
In doing routine herd care, trimming toenails, giving shots etc., Tony remarked to me, "Honey, do you see how Ekela is acting?"
I looked, and no word of a lie, she was rubbing up against him, as if to say, "Oh Hi! My name is Ekela, and oh please would you rub my neck? You are ever so handsome... did you feel my fleece? It really is soft and fine... touch it... really, go ahead!"
Flirting with abandon at my then fiance (now husband... titter titter!) Ekela went out of her way to charm Tony, then turned her eyes to me and gave what for all the world looked like a dazzling smile.
She continued this way each time we saw her for a few weeks, after which she was bred again, I believe to the handsome Prince Charming (yes, that really is his name) and while she is not quite grumpy enough to spit at us just yet, she has been known to toss a few clucks our way, and does not invite us to stroke her regal neck anymore.
I was reminded of this strongly today when Pixie, who had gotten not quite but almost as bitchy (pardon the language) as Ekela during her pregnancy, gave birth a few weeks ago, and came up to me today and showered my face with adoring little kisses and sniffs, following me around like a puppy awaiting a snuggle.
Sadly, her wee baby did not make it, but she seems to have gotten over the heartache and has directed that adoration directly at me.
Pixie love. Nothing like it, and it makes up for all the hormonally challenged months. I'd best appreciate it while it lasts. Sweet little Pixie is due to be bred in a few days.

Figured I had better post SOMETHING or you would all think I had abandoned you!
Oh and Margie, please to send my your mailing address again?
With love, snuffles and much affection,
S
xoxo