Grans on the Manor ....TOFT Alpaca Open Day

It really is a family affair at TOFT and not just for those of us who work here on a regular basis. THis weekend we had the pleasure of our daughter Laura (aka FEMME) taking a break in her busy recording schedule to sample the 'vibe' on the TOFT Alpaca Open day. It's great to see that she hasn't lost her touch with the alpacas having been living that there 'London' life for the past few years. 

Here she is enjoying a little family fun with the Supergrans- Gran Gran Adam, Gran Shirley and Gran Sandra. That's a whole lot of Grans on the Manor in one day but fun was had by all.

The two scallywags are Edward Lord and Jacob McDowell who revelled in the attention, being surrounded by Grans all day long.

TOFT Studio heaving with alpaca Joy...

Congratulations to TOFT talent Kerry Lord and her magnificent team of yarn elves who worked tirelessly for for the TOFT Xmas opening day. 

Closely followed by a huge TOFT welcome to Jenny and the Cornflower Cafe fairies who kept all comers well fed and watered.

 A massive thanks to Elf and Safety ( Scott and his Uncle Keith)  worked the hundreds of cars on and of the temporary car parks with a smile and the efficient authority and a quiet confidence which only comes with experience. 

A big hug for Aunty Lorna who met and gret all our visitors with her best a smile and a warmth which set them on their way to a great day. 

Huge hugs for the herds women  team of Freya and Linda who braved a fierce wind all day to breathe confidence and joy into all the halter walkers, whilst Whoopy Daisy walked and talked crowds of people through the pleasure of our alpacas. 

And let's not forget  the indominatable Auntie Sandra who took on looking after the little TOFT people in the form of young Lordie whilst his parents worked the room. 

And of course to the old folks Myra, Audrey and John who got well into the Christmas spirit and sprinkled their happiness over everyone they met along with a new addition to the Team in the form of Scott's new girlfriend Cissie who dropped into the TOFT alpaca experience like she was born to the job adding a very attractive international aspect to the proceedings.

We thank you one and all for another hugely successful and memorable day on the Manor where all our visitors one and all were made welcome and got to share a little of the TOFT alpaca joy.

I was so busy I didn't have time to get a photie of you all so please forgive if I missed you - more to follow as we slowly catch up with ourselves coming back the other way over this festive period. Unfortunately I only got into the Studio when the day was calming down. One day I'll make rush hour!

On behalf of Shirley and myself and all our visitors I thank you for your time and talents. I hope you had as good a time as we did and have a great Christmas and a Joyfull New Year.. bless you and and all.  xxx

Can anyone join the party? Huacayas too ?

Seems like all the TOFT weaners are keen to join the festivities starting with the TOFT Alpaca Farm Open Day on the 20th of December. Ho Ho Ho...!

Now that is fan dabby dozy!

Shirley and I tested the salted caramel chocolate cake at the Cornflower Cafe at Toft Alpaaca Studio with our lunch yesterday. As you can see we hated it! It hardly touched the plate as it tasted as good as it looked. Nice one Georgie and Jen- way to go! 

Heart of England Alpaca Group Halter Show this weekend

We are dodging the rain here at Toft today squirrelling the Toft alpaca Show Team into various sheds to keep them dry for the show. The. Heart of England Alpaca Group Halter Show is on at the Royal Agricultrual. Centre, Stoneliegh this Friday and Saturday. With almost 300 entries it will be a bit of an alpaca festival, providing an interesting alpaca event for alpaca enthusiasts all over the Midlands.

This will be our last show of the season as the birthing begins in earnest in May and continues through to the end of July. 

After our tremendous success at the BAS National and Alpaca Showtime we have our fingers crossed for a few rosettes this weekend- who knows? Different time, different judge? We live in hope.

Well done Team Toft

Here they are - the full Toft team, minus my good self, seconds before the Toft Easter Monday Farm Open Day.  Apologies for the darkness of the photo but the cars were already arriving as I was taking this and we didn't have time to shuffle the gang into the light. The Herbert in the high vis vest who is supposed to be greeting the people and parking the cars is busy posing like he's in the cast of Oklahoma and it would have ruined the moment and delayed the day to shift him.

Joking aside, we had a fantastic day on the Manor. The Toft Team ran the event with a precision and professionalism that would have made. Swiss clockmaker cry. The cars got parked and left without incident. The workshops created and crafted. The Pop up Cornflower Cafe went down a treat. The people were alpaca walked and talked. The Knitters were able to touch and feel in a unique atmosphere created by all the  Toft Team, who pulled their puddings out to make this a memorable day for all the attendees. Long may the Team Toft continue to bring joy in abundance to these special Days on the Farm. Thank you all and well done Kerry Lord for pulling it all together and making this a very special Alpaca event.

And a very special thanks to all those who came along to enjoy our alpacas on Easter Monday. I was very appreciative this morning when I went on my walk round to find not one single piece of litter on the Farm. I thankyou all for your responsibility and respect.

The Cornflower Cafe will be popping up again soon at Toft. In two weeks time it will be popping up in the TOFT Studio from Thursday through Saturday right though the summer. So make a date to get along get some great coffee and cake and take in a little alpaca. The babies start arriving in three weeks time.

Cornflower - all 'popped up' and ready to serve

Here she is Cornflower tea shop has popped up in the Toft Studio for the Toft Alpaca Open Day today,