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I was born in Germany, in Franconia in the state of Bavaria and grew up
there. I remember going to the zoo years ago, with my Mother who was
promptly spit at by an irate Llama. So why did I want one? It
all started about 10 years ago, a Coup do Foudre.... Love at First
Sight! I had four Goats by I had to have Llamas. So I bought an
unregistered male from a friend and named him Beng (Romany for Devil). It
is a proven fact you can't have just one Llama and most Llama Owners I know
would agree. It's those heartbreaking eyes! When I seriously
looked to buy Llamas, this time girls, I was told by Harry and Laurie Mollin
of Shangrila Farms the last thing you need is a male. I do love Beng
dearly (his name is a total misnomer), while he doesn't have good bones he
does give good kisses. I love that soft nose. So when I bought my
girls, Tessa Noelle and Cherokee Tradition from Harry and Laurie, Beng was
gelded, which made me feel guilty for weeks. Our long legged girls are
in a pasture right behind out house the gelding, the stud and boys are down
the road a bit. My
husband, Bill, was not thrilled about llamas, to put it mildly. But
what can you do about love at first sight? Over the years we built a
house in Gretna, cleared and fenced about 40 acres and planted Orchard Grass
for the pregnant llama girls. Bill got Angus cattle, 6 cows and a
large bull named Jake, now spoiled rotten of course. We became Sunday
farmers. My goat herd increased to about 30, Nubians and some
Boars. Several baby llamas (crias) and stacks of goats were born over
the years. A Stud "Shangrila's Papillion: was bought and next year we
are hoping for some babies from him and his ladies. And the Golden
Girl in the first picture is now seven, so who knows. I
had grown up in a good sized city in Germany, my husband was from Rocky
Mount, Virginia which is semi-rural but we settled in rather nicely.
With all the girls Bill is badly outnumbered something like 30 or 40 to
1. But he copes. We enjoy the country life and would not move
back to a town. Mowing the grass is a pleasure for him (not for
me). But I do like to dig in the dirt and plant flowers. And
Beng is still my Love Slave, at least when he doesn't spit. My husband
still tells me you don't know where that llamas nose has been and still
don't care, .... aaah paradise! |
First Encounter - Baby
meets baby
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