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It was a bittersweet day today on Howling Hill Farm, as we said goodbye to the last of our breeding herd of Scottish Highland Cattle. All four of our breeding cows have gone to live on a gentleman's farm, where they will be appreciated and well cared for. We're going to really miss our bull, Sir Galahad, and we are so happy that he has gone to a farm that will appreciate him!  Lola, on the other hand -- the cow who did not want to get on the trailer two weeks ago, when the folks first came to pick her up, and who dragged Husband through the mud while trying to refuse a second time -- welllll, you will forgive us if we admit that we're going to miss her a leeeetle bit less.
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... But it was totally worth it, because nothing says "Internet" like an animated GIF. (Yes, this one is choppy and primitive, but at least I got it to work! The next one will be better ...) 
... If you're going to alliterate, you might as well mis-spell! I have found that the 'blog lags behind the Facebook page just a tad, but I'm trying to keep up with both. I plan to use some of these photos on the main site eventually, but for now, here they are on the 'blog! First off is a portrait of Kubota, our newest up-and-coming young stud. 'Bota was the first alpaca that we ever had hauled in -- he came to us all the way from New Mexico! 
Que Sera's Kubota, elite appaloosa alpaca
This, of course, is Gus -- AKA Lord Gustafson -- our silver dun bull calf. "Hey! Who you callin' cute?" 
Gus, silver dun Scottish Highland calf
Logan, our harlequin grey cria. He looks as though he almost wants to become that rarest of the rare -- a brindle patterned alpaca! I will be MORE THAN happy if he shears out solid grey, though. This photo is one of the ones that I'd like to put on the main site. 
Logan, harlequin grey (brindle?) alpaca
This one is kind of cheating. It wasn't taken in the fall. I never did upload it, though, so here it is. These gals represent two different genotypes of grey alpaca. The one in the back -- Silverado -- is a tuxedo (classic) silver grey. The one in the front -- Western Sunrise -- is a harlequin grey. Both are alpha females, by the way. That's why they're hanging out together in the barn. 
Classic grey and harlequin grey alpacas
Cochin gals, hangin' in the yard ... The chicken yard. From left to right, we have a blue cochin, a splash, a laced, and another splash. 
Don't mess with my peeps.
Aaaaand, one more of Logan. This guy is so photogenic. The camera is always there for HIM. 
Logan the oh-so-adorable harlequin. Look at that face ... LOOK AT HIM!
I wanted to get more while the fall leaves were on the trees, but I only got in a couple of photography sessions before several days of wind and hard rain dumped all them all down, leaving the trees barren. Ohhhh wellll .... There's always next year. (Next year, we'll have our very own farm-born cria!!)
It takes a bull who is truly comfortable with his studliness to stick his tongue out cutely in public. 
Sir Galahad of Summitview, white Scottish Highland bull
Lord Gustafson, son of Sir Galahad
I mean, when is it NOT time for cute baby cows? Our second Highland calf was born today. He is a big, solid, gorgeous silver -- I think he is actually a silver dun. His mom is a dun, Lola and he is sired by our white bull, Sir Galahad. The red calf is a red heifer. She was born the 2nd week of August, which made her a little premature, but she's doing great now. Her mom is a black, Oprah, and her sire is named Broderick. Blah, blah, blah ... Cute pictures! 
Silver dun Scottish Highland bull calf
Red Scottish Highland heifer calf
Red heifer calf looking way super cute
Look how freaking cute we are
Yesterday marked a major first: First large animal born on the farm! She is a heifer calf and her name is Xena, Warrior Princess. Xena, Warrior Princess is a Hereford, not a Highland, so, as a polled cow amongst horned cattle, she'll have to grow up tough. Seeing the incredible heavy bone on that hour-ish old baby, I'm not too worried. Here is Xena: 
Here is her mama, Sunshine. Sunshine has been an awesome mama so far! 
In other news, there are NEW adorable baby bunnies! These are supposed to be lops, like this bunny here: 
Daddy is a French Lop and mama is a Mini Lop, both pedigreed. One baby doesn't seem to have gotten the memo about being a lop, however. He gets it in one ear, but not the other. One ear is lopped and the other ear is "Bongo," and that configuration seems to be semi-permanent. Halflop: 
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