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| A LLAMA NAMED JELLYBEAN |
| Many times when we are working on our websites to show off our wonderful male sires, our select females to bring forth the next generation and those comical young crias running around we maybe overlook those older, out-of-style llamas of yesterday. Jelly came to Different Drummer farm and my llama partner Cherigene Slaughter over 15 years ago. Those were the days when you didn't know what your animal would look like after you put your name on a waiting list. Visitors that come to the farm today look at her and ask 'what kind of llama is that'. Long stretchy neck, tall legs with little fiber on them but a heart of gold inside that body - that's Jellybean. |
| We have starting calling Jelly the 'grandma babysitter'. It seems the past few years that she has made her happiness with the young crias that are born at farm. In the spring of 2002 we had two boys born. As their mothers were in the same field as Jelly they were with her until fall. As they began to get older we started noticing how much she would play with them. All three would be wrestling trying to get each other's legs. Sometimes you would see both boys getting her and other times she would team up with one of them. As fall approached and the cool air came the boys would run all around the pasture, around their barn and back into the middle. One evening off they went as fast as they could. When they got around the barn we could not see them for a few seconds and then they came and right behind them was Jelly. The running continued a few minutes and then that magic happened. There went Jelly, Treasure and Spirit pronging all around the field.. |
| Today the boys are in another pasture but that doesn't mean the babysitting is over. The above photos were taken on top of a large dirt hill. She has three autumn babies to watch over for the next few months. It seems that they love her just as the ones did in the past years. To say Jelly is one of a kind is a good description. She loves to eat apples and pieces of bread. Her treat today includes shredded beet pulp as she has lost her front teeth. The winter of 2003 has been a cold one for many of us but Jelly has enjoyed the warmth of a bright red coat. When the cold 0 degree temperature nights come she knows her spot in barn - right under heat lamp with hay all around her. There are a lot of girls and boys like Jelly out there and many stories that could be told. I hope all their days will be happy and healthy for many years to come.. Since writing this story I have heard from many of you who have told me your stories. Thanks for sharing. Joyce |
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