Well summer is definitely over! Yesterday it was 88 degrees in the afternoon, by 5:30 pm the temperature had started to drop and then “wham” the cold front hit us with stiff winds, dropping the temperature down to 42 (and that’s without the wind chill). Ironically yesterday was officially the last day of summer. Typically we do get cooler fall temperatures, but the days usually cool off a little at a time, not in one fell swoop.
It is not entirely a surprise that fall has arrived so swiftly as there have been little signs that fall would be early this year. Some of the trees are starting to change color already, berries have already appeared on winter bushes, the tarantulas have already completed their fall migration and different birds have appeared in the area. (Yesterday we had a Wilson’s Warbler in the garden who would be in the process of migrating from the North West to the south east). Parts of Colorado and Northern New Mexico received their first snow on Monday.
The alpacas seemed to enjoy the sudden cool temperatures. Our two youngest crias started off the frisky activities by galloping around their pasture at high speed; they were soon joined by the adult females in their pasture. Once that group were galloping around the main female herd decided that they too wanted to kick up their heels in the cool, windy air. Evening chores was interesting as we had to dodge all of those low flying alpacas. By the time the alpacas had settled down to eat they must have felt nice and warm.
According to the older people of this area the signs are all pointing to a cold, snowy winter. After yesterday’s dramatic fall arrival I can definitely believe winter is not far away.
A Taste of Life at Windrush Alpacas 