The Sad Case of the Melted Llama
Now that it's too cold to use our above-ground water pipes, I must hike up to the barn every day to refill a huge water tank for the steers and sheep. As I do, I always pass Tucker on the way.
As you can see, Tucker is very much alive.
When I reach the barn, I lift the handle of the orange water hydrant, and water begins filling the big tank. While it fills, I look around. I look into the barn. I see a large pile of something toward the back of the barn:
OH MY GOD! TUCKER IS DEAD. HE HAS MELTED INTO THE BARN FLOOR!
My heart races. Then I stop and look behind me to where the sheep hang out. There's Tucker. As you can see, Tucker is very much alive.
Then I remember that this summer, when it was so horribly hot and humid, Melissa took Tucker to the back of the barn and sheared him. She was too busy to pick it up, and since there are no animals using that area, we left the pile of llama wool. (Fiber people, relax. His fleece isn't that great, and is terribly dirty.) So I laugh at myself and calm down.
The next day? I pass Tucker on the way to the big barn. He is alive.
Then I reach the barn, turn on the hydrant, and look into the barn. OH MY GOD! TUCKER IS DEAD. HE HAS MELTED INTO THE BARN FLOOR!
Seriously. This happens every flippin' day. So why don't I pick up the fleece?
---Because I've learned that it's not a good idea to walk away from the water tank as it fills---when it overflows, I have a mud lake on my hands.
---Because I'm too busy gazing out over the farm.
---Because I'm too busy fending off the vicious steers living in the pen with the hydrant. This is a steer trying to consume the flap on my coat pocket.
---This is a steer trying to consume the camera I'm holding way above my head.
No matter the distraction, when the tank is full, I shut off the hydrant and walk back to the house. Then I repeat the above steps the next day.
So why don't I pick up that stupid fleece so I stop scaring myself every day?
Some people get their adrenaline rush by driving in heavy traffic or fighting their way to the front of the latte line, or having a crisis at work.
I know we'll pick the fleece up eventually, probably late this fall when we let the sheep into the barn. Until then, I'll continue to get my little OMG HE'S DEAD jolt every day when I see the melted llama.
It's sad, I know, but hey---It's cheaper than a can of Diet Coke, and provides twice the stimulation!
As you can see, Tucker is very much alive.
When I reach the barn, I lift the handle of the orange water hydrant, and water begins filling the big tank. While it fills, I look around. I look into the barn. I see a large pile of something toward the back of the barn:
OH MY GOD! TUCKER IS DEAD. HE HAS MELTED INTO THE BARN FLOOR!
My heart races. Then I stop and look behind me to where the sheep hang out. There's Tucker. As you can see, Tucker is very much alive.
Then I remember that this summer, when it was so horribly hot and humid, Melissa took Tucker to the back of the barn and sheared him. She was too busy to pick it up, and since there are no animals using that area, we left the pile of llama wool. (Fiber people, relax. His fleece isn't that great, and is terribly dirty.) So I laugh at myself and calm down.
The next day? I pass Tucker on the way to the big barn. He is alive.
Then I reach the barn, turn on the hydrant, and look into the barn. OH MY GOD! TUCKER IS DEAD. HE HAS MELTED INTO THE BARN FLOOR!
Seriously. This happens every flippin' day. So why don't I pick up the fleece?
---Because I've learned that it's not a good idea to walk away from the water tank as it fills---when it overflows, I have a mud lake on my hands.
---Because I'm too busy gazing out over the farm.
---Because I'm too busy fending off the vicious steers living in the pen with the hydrant. This is a steer trying to consume the flap on my coat pocket.
---This is a steer trying to consume the camera I'm holding way above my head.
No matter the distraction, when the tank is full, I shut off the hydrant and walk back to the house. Then I repeat the above steps the next day.
So why don't I pick up that stupid fleece so I stop scaring myself every day?
Some people get their adrenaline rush by driving in heavy traffic or fighting their way to the front of the latte line, or having a crisis at work.
I know we'll pick the fleece up eventually, probably late this fall when we let the sheep into the barn. Until then, I'll continue to get my little OMG HE'S DEAD jolt every day when I see the melted llama.
It's sad, I know, but hey---It's cheaper than a can of Diet Coke, and provides twice the stimulation!
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by
Andrea
(new)
Nov 18, 2012 07:40AM
I love the last picture. He seems terribly friendly to me, wish our cattle were that friendly. Although if he was less friendly then you could pick up the dead llama and we wouldn't have these great photos and story :) Thank you friendly steer!
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Poor steers. I just use them as an excuse to be lazy and not pick up the fleece!
Tucker looks soooo intelligent - loved your story - hey, at least Tucker doesn't play dead!Reminded me of my horse, Cisco - on a hot day, he would lie on his back with his feet in the air! Scared the hell out of new boarders, who would immediately go into shock, then would race up to the house yelling, OMG- YOUR HORSE IS DEAD!!!.. When enough people had gathered around, he'd roll on his side, rise to his feet and shake! (swear he knew what he was doing!)
Sounds as if Cisco was hamming it up for an audience!
*laughing*.. yes, he was good at that! He lived to 40,(oldest horse the vet had ever known - he used to call him the '400 year old horse' Thanks for replying.
