September 14, 2008

ell the rest of the day yesterday was interesting to say the least. Generally I try to plan my week ahead by Sunday night and generally my well intended intentions are blown apart sometime before 8 am Monday morning. Yesterday sorta exceeded even that.

I had my companion's roommate (and friend) with me for company as I did my travels for my work this weekend. He is a city boy and had not been to a country auction before. So we stopped by the local livestock auction for my work.

As I am talking to someone for my work, my friend whispered to me about the llamas which were currently being auctioned off. I was interested in the sheep prices earlier to see what they were going for. I like to attend auctions every now and again to keep my 'eye in practice' for animal conformation and I like to keep track of market values.

My friend was whispering the llama prices to me and I was only half listening to him as I was also talking to another individual. I nodded to him and said.. "Yeah, that is not too bad of a price for a llama." Then he whispered another price to me as the bidding went a little higher. Again, I whispered back that it was indeed a good price for a llama. The next minute my ears were at FULL attention as city boy asks me (and I notice the whole assembly of the auction attendees were looking in my direction) if he should take one or both at that price. I ask in horror, "One or both of WHAT!!" Everyone in attendance laughed.

Apparently while I was talking to the person for my work, my friend somehow managed to buy a llama without having a bidding number or knowing what he was doing. Soon there was a llama in the back of my truck. He was named "Larry the llama" fairly quickly after that and he is now residing in my barnyard.

After I got him haltered in the stockyards, I was very afraid this beast had not been socialized at all and was not halter broke as there was a bit of a rodeo getting him haltered and to the truck, let alone into it.

"Larry" and 'A'  are now learning the ropes together, and I am very happy that "Larry" actually is mostly halter broke. 

'A' is so very happy to have a pet. I told him it was great to have an unusual pet and I was happy it actually had fur, versus something like a snake or tarantula. This morning "Larry" was humming up a grand ole tune and so everyone went for an early morning walk in my back 40. Watch out coyotes, "Larry" is now on guard!