No, June Gloom isn't the melancholia that falls on us when politics and viruses and riots in the streets happen. In Ventura County (and much of LA County as well) June Gloom is cause for CELEBRATION! Just as summer starts to heat up at the end of May and we start to think we will all die of the heat, 3-4 weeks of overcast mornings and days in the high 70's arrive. June--a blessed state-- one to be savored. The alpacas especially love it. We did have ONE cria already! We only have about 8 overdue, and this one made his appearance 2 weeks early. He was a little "floppy", with a curled ear and lax tendons, so he had trouble for a day standing long enough to nurse well. Here I am giving him a little bottle of colostrum I milked from mom. Ilsa is a maiden mother, but she was spectacular instincts and tons of milk. The little girls next door were VERY interested to watch. ?? June is also the season for mustard. When the hills turn yellow we know that summer is almost here. Remember when Jesus said that faith the size of a mustard seed could move a mountain? Mustard seeds are REALLY LITTLE, but the plants could take over the world! I love this little planter in the yard. It sits next to a bench in the shade under some trees. It's becoming a favorite spot to sit and reflect. When Gardener Ellie gets done reclaiming the yard it's going to be the perfect place for a day retreat! MacKenzie has been out to help us a lot during the down time. She is helping Farmer Don put together a shelter for the pigs so we can have another litter of Kune Kunes. Kallie, Klick, Lucy and Pixel all help keep the squirrels at bay. I have to make sure they spend plenty of time outside everyday so the vegetables can grow! We have more Zucchini than we know what to do with! Who has a recipe for preserving squash? We're getting ready to put lime in our coconut. LOL Meanwhile, Farmer Don has set up a chick hatchery in Tracy's office. She watches them hatch all day while she is working from home. Noella is the chief inspector. She is deaf, but she always knows when a chick is hatching. And their granddaughter loves her chickens. You should see her toddle up and swoop them up in her arms. It's adorable! June is almost time for peaches. I am really looking forward to them this year. Last year we had so many that I actually got tired of them. Imagine that! Last week some friends brought their boys out to visit their alpaca. They had such fun feeding him hay and playing in the dirt. Here they are walking up to the gate so they can see Chachi. Mom said she loves to come out because the boys enjoy the ranch and the alpacas--that it's almost a "magical" place. We love it when our boarders enjoy the ranch. Owning alpacas has so many rewards. Cindy Harris ~ Alpacas at Windy Hill ~ Somis, CA ~ 805-907-5162 http://www.alpacalink.com ~ [email protected]