WHAT??? The short story is, many years ago I bartered for a llama. Circumstances are such that I was now able to collect on that debt...and then some. I could have as many as I wanted. OMG! I'm in a llama candy shop! Available were 9 females: 5 registered and proven adults and 4 registerable youngsters (2-year-olds). Tammie and I wanted to take them all home. She and I came home empty handed, mostly because we weren't in a position at that moment to haul any home but, too, to contemplate this overnight. After pondering, regretful that my own circumstances weren't such that I could take more of them, I thought best if I just stuck with but one more addition to Bucky. Did I not
mention at the beginning of The Story of Bucky that llamas are like potato chips? Did you think I was kidding? I figure when I'm in a position to have more I will now have breeding stock. And Tammie has two studs. Tammie, too, wanted all of them but Lester had given her a limit of 4. Yeah right, that's like Bob putting animal restrictions on me.
Click the picture for a larger view.
Chapter 2: Llama Roundup
This turns out to be the only picture I could take of the event because I, too, was involved in the roundup and loading. What a trip! Most loaded pretty darn well. This last one is not my pick. Well, she was a consideration because I love the charcoal color around the middle but in the roundup and loading, boy was I glad I'd chosen another. This one could give Bucky a run for his money. It took four of us here to catch her. Then to our surprise (Tammie's and mine) we discover she's a leaper. As in, she jumps. Big time. I lost count of the times she bumped her head in the trailer. I could see when she unloaded, though, she'd learned to be cautious. She's one of the youngsters and hasn't the
experience yet the adults have. This one here was part of the herd of six we brought back including Bucky's new step-sister which I'll get to in the next chapter. I must say I learned an awful lot about handling and that will be most beneficial in handling to a certain someone...we won't mention his name. And see? Didn't I say Tammie would win the numbers game with Lester?
Chapter 3: The Arrival of Bucky's New Step-Sister
What a surprise, Bucky seems far more interested in what's unavailable on the other side of the fence than getting to know his new little step-sister. And get a load at what a midget Bucky looks. All four 2-year-olds are bigger than Bucky and he's on the downhill towards 3 already. I knew I was coming back with one a little bigger than him which is why we joke about her being his little sister.
Click the picture for a larger view.
Click the picture for a larger view.
So far our new little girl is sweet as peaches, the other end of the spectrum from Bucky. Not that I'm complaining about him. I'm just saying, after working with his personality for several months it'll be nice to work with something low-key. Where Bucky always has me on edge, this one relaxes me. Already I can easily approach and stroke her. That took ages to accomplish with Bucky. She is just beautiful and such a girly girl. Me thinks she is going to be a princess.
Chapter 4: What I See
This is what I see when I go see my fleece kids. Bucky is having no part of the princess (still no name). But that's not what the residents of Beyond The Fence farm see in my absense. Apparently my newly gelded Bucky doesn't know what gelded means. I guess that's what happens when he sleeps through it for 2.5 hours. Farm residents have witnessed him mounting that new little step-sister he's having nothing to do with. Okay, so we think this is funny. But now I find out that sperm can still be active and viable for 30-60 days in a newly gelded llama. You'd think the vet might have mentioned this. Bucky was on day 51 at the time we introduced him to his little sister. We're certainly crossing our fingers this doesn't take but me thinks if it does we will have to rename Bucky, Lucky. Me, not so much. This gives a whole new meaning to The O.K. Corral which is what I now call our personal boarding facility. And Bucky has a vote: size doesn't matter.
Click the picture for a larger view.
Click the picture for a larger view.
Click the picture for a larger view.
Chapter 5: The Boys Spar
This chapter is more or less for published documentation. Remember Tammie has a farm rule? Animals that don't get along have to leave. Clearly we see here Lil' Bit initiating a llama rumble and clearly we see Bucky trying to avoid such childish behavior. Well maybe you can't see it but I sure could. I was there. That's why I'm photographing. That little trouble maker has a 5-girl harem over there. Bucky's just looking. Word must've got out about the O.K. Corral.
Chapter 6: The Princess Settles In
Our princess is settling in nicely. Of course practically her entire herd is in the adjacent pasture. Not a lot to get used to except now she has a step-brother to live with while her aunts and cousins are living with Ziggy and Lil' Bit, both males. It seems Her Highness has taken a liking to the little boy next door.
Click the picture for a larger view.
Click the picture for a larger view.
Chapter 7: The Walkabout Map
Several of you have asked about the route we take for our walkabouts. So here are some pictures I took. You can certainly skip this part if you're not interested. You're not getting paid to read it.
There's a Start Here arrow in the bottom right corner and our route is something of that square. We're actually halfway down the road already before I took that first picture. This is a dirt and partially paved road and we pass three farms on the left and one on the right with some very long pastures. Then we negotiate around some obstacles (good for Bucky to get used to when carrying his wide load) and turn left onto a paved
Click the picture for a larger view.
Chapter 8: Big Day For Me
Today while putting the gear on Bucky I took a chance and reached under him for the two saddle cinches and the belly strap for the packs. That's three reaches, not one reach for three things, just to be perfectly clear. Normally I use the long handled hook my husband made for this because Bucky is so squirrely I thought I'd get kicked if he thought I was reaching for the only boypart he has left. This is a huge feat for me without the hook. Shocked that this came off without a hitch I am again amazed at how far his trust and training have come. And me without a photographer.
road. Orchard on the right, farm on the left. This is the only other farm around with a llama. Friendlies. Then we turn left and stay on a paved road. Vineyard on the right, same three farms we passed before from the front side, now from the backside. Then one last turn left. Here we walk on an easement alongside a canal. Tammie's farm is on the other side of the canal. I'm guessing this walkabout totals about a mile. We'll go back to doing this almost daily again now that he has a new halter.
And another thing about Bucky, he reacts to so many new things as though something might try to kill him. I was taking these pictures while walking with him and he was getting squirrely again. At first I thought it was the camera in my face. Nah, he's seen that plenty of times. Ah ha! It must be the camera mechanisms. He's never been right over my shoulder before when I've been snapping pictures.
My = Well you know what this means.
Tawny = That's her color. Plus I know it will annoy a friend of ours whose daughter is named this too...but they don't spell it right.
Cuppa = See the rest of the name.
Double = Because she doubles my llama pleasure.
Chai = This has a triple meaning. The most obvious is the spice. But the idea struck me like this. One day Tammie and I stopped at the Big Green Bus (another story, don't ask) and got us a nice cuppa chai latte. Now as I was looking over the menu I notice, "chai". My being Jewish and all, what I see is the Hebrew word for "life". This is one of those Jewish words where you conjure up spit to pronounce the "ch". Added bonus to
Chapter 9: The Princess Has A Name
After much deep thought and sapping my friends for ideas, I've finally settled on a name. Now you're really gonna find out what's in a name.
My Tawny Cuppa Double Chai Latte
Click the picture for a larger view.
the meaning here--llamas spit (the secret third meaning). But back to the spice part. She is, of course, one of the spices of my life.
Latte = Well doesn't she just look like a foamy cuppa latte? I wanted to work this word in early on and this is where we end up.
No hurry to register her with this name until (or if) I breed her. It's an unnecessary expense until registration becomes something beneficial. But this will be her registered name when the times comes. Meanwhile we'll be calling her Tawny.
I tried to work the Cinco de Mayo theme into her name (see birthdate) but it's kinda tough trying to roll the r's while conjuring up spit cuz that chai part ain't goin' nowhere.
Oh and one more point. This background? It's Tawny's fleece. New story, new background. This will make one heck of a nice sweater, don't you think?
Bucky's adjustment is another matter. He's the boss, don't ya know. He hogs the food. She gets it when he's done. Llama rule. He finally has someone below him in the hierarchy. I think if she spit back (yes, I saw him do it) she could climb the social ladder because he didn't look like he had a lot of confidence in the weenie spit I saw. Ya gotta love her for respecting him. After all, it's his pen.
Bucky also got a new halter in the deal. The princess is hogging his special rainbow halter. We must leave it on her for now, just like we did with Bucky early on, until she becomes halter trained and will stand still for the process. The early stages of training with her have made me realize how much has really been accomplished with the Buckster.
Click the picture for a larger view.
Chapter 10: Let the Training Begin
Tawny begins her formal training with lead work. She learns to follow the person (or eventually, in a pack, another llama) at the other end of the lead. I'm a little more experienced myself this time so it seems this training is going much faster. Also we're working on putting on and taking off another halter. Soon her 24-hour halter can be removed when she can realiably be caught and haltered.
