Latest news
Vetta and Lada participate in Pet Partners Therapy animal evaluations
June 2023
Vetta passes with flying colors. Complex Level rated new therapy llama.
Lada also passes with the highest marks possible. Complex Level rated new therapy llama.
New girl on the block!
February 2023
Vezzana (Vezzie) from JNK llamas joins the herd. Quite the special girl she is, she had no problems coming home in the back of my Subaru!
Darrington Llama Show
July 16 & 17, 2022
The girls, Jocko, and I loaded up the trailer and headed out for our first adventure across the Cascades to meet up with a bunch of friends for a really fun, low-key performance show. I appreciated how well all my animals behaved, which made camping and exploring all the more fun. Vetta and Lada each competed in the Novice division of Obstacle, Pack, and PR. Each nabbed top placings in their classes, and Vetta achieved top honors with Grand Champion Novice Performance llama.
Slow welcome to Summer
June 2022
May and June have involved a lot of time out on the green lawn, but not before regular grooming and handling sessions to make that green grass all the more a wonderful reward. We enjoy watching them munch and graze while the dogs meander about between them, especially in the evenings when Bryan and I need to decompress after our work days. On July 4th, I remembered a good friend gave me a bunch of her old llama equipment, and one tote included a bunch of celebratory fourth of July paraphernalia. So, without too much fuss, I reminded the girls what they were destined to do. Then, the rain started. Our attempt at a fun 4th of July parade down the driveway and through the neighborhood got shortened to a picture.
Spring training begins
March 2022
While I have worked all winter on continued desensitization for grooming, nail trimming, and head handling, I finally got a second Flaming Star pack to allow me to work both girls in saddles. We've enjoyed spending time on the weekends taking extra walks in Riverside State park, as well as going exploring down by the lake.
Training, socializing, and making introductions
December 2021
Lada
One of the sweetest faces around, Lada always obliges our visitors when the need for a kiss arises.
It's a party!
Bryan and Mustang appreciated the attention the girls provided just before we set out on a walk with the dogs.
Happy Gotcha Day!
October 17, 2021
Vetta and Lada arrived Sunday evening, courtesy of Jeff and Niki. After getting acquainted with their surroundings and new accomodations, they enjoyed rolling in the sand, pronging in the pasture, and curiously rubbing noses with the dogs on the other side of the fence.
Final weeks of preparation
September 25, 2021
It's been quite the whirlwind of the past 6 months. My dad and I have finally erected the Llama Lounge, and just a few final touches remain. This past week alone, we had the water line connected from the well head to the above ground water hydrants, along with electricity, run in a deep approximate 200 foot long trench across the front of the yard and drive way.
For someone that embraces a neat and tidy yard, the urgency to complete this project caused a bit of anxiety. Yet with the help of one of our great neighbors, Gary used his John Deere tractor to fill in the section that spanned the driveway so 7 ton of orchard grass hay could be delivered and stacked in the barn.
Raymond not only hauled the load up from Quincy, he helped me unload and stack it, too. Thank goodness; I'd forgotten what kind of work it was to wrangle, lift, and stack 90-pound bales.
Niki seemed to know I needed a pick-me-up, so she sent me a bunch of pictures from her "baby boot camp" adventures with Lada. I included a few others of Vetta from a prior training day.