Bumfuzzled...

"We need to do something about the grass in the garden..."

Husband looked at me.   I said, "I want to put in raised beds, could I just set the beds on TOP of the grass?"

"No, as the grass died back, it would create lumps and bumps you might trip on."

Oh...

"What about me getting out with a push mower?"

"It's almost to your butt, that would be too much for you OR the mower."

Oh... *sigh*

So, after some more discussion of varied and sundry ideas, that really might work if I had unlimited personal strength, money, or hordes of willing helpers...

Having none of those, we continued to ponder.

"Hey, why don't we move the llamas in, they can eat the grass down, and you can have some free fertilizer!"

Hmm... That could just work!  We decided that we'd move them in the morning.

Husband had to go get some business taken care of this morning, so I decided to see if I could move the llamas myself.  I managed to corral two of them.  The others came up and started checking out the feed bucket, so I caught Lorenzo, who is a little love, (except when he broke my glass chicken waterer, grr), and I walked him out to the garden.  I put a water bucket out, and he just started eating like it was completely normal.

I then went in to get Dolly.  Nothing doing, she didn't want to be around me, she bolted and ran around the field like her tail was on fire.  Oooooookay, we will take care of Dolly later...

I then went in and caught Toni.  She grumbled, and pulled against the rope a little, but once she figured out I was walking with feed in the other hand, she decided this looked promising.

Until we got to the garden.  The gate swung toward her, and she stopped dead.  I pulled, she stood.  Until I blocked the gate, so she didn't see it swing, she wasn't going to do ANYTHING.  I finally, with a little tugging, got her in the garden with the gate closed.

Rudee tried to help.  I debate on whether he was actually doing much, help wise, but except for laying down in front of the gate, pinning it closed, when I was trying to lead a llama out, he did okay.

But, I was pooped.  I had weeded again (only 2 wheelbarrows full, yes, I did learn my lesson...), and went in the house a bit to rest.  Husband came home, and then helped me get the other two into the garden.  He went out and put a lead on Annie.  Surprised me with how easily he was able to get her into the lead, she is the least cooperative one of the bunch.  She fought the lead a little, but he walked her over, and I managed to get the gate open, and shoo the others away while he led her in.

Finally Husband managed to corral Dolly, who was nearly crazy by this time, wanting to be with the others, (llamas, like sheep, are herd animals, and DO NOT like to be by themselves), he put the lead on her and I thought she was going to take his arm off running.  He just held on, and she jerked to a stop.  We sweet talked her, and finally got the lead on properly, and I ran walked quickly to the gate, and shooed the group away again, as he walked up with her dancing all over the place around him, not quite wall-eyed.  He calmly walked her in, sweet talking the whole time, and once the lead was off, and she realized she was with the others, she calmed down.

Then the whole group looked at us in complete confusion.  Why are we in here?  What did we do to get stuck in this tiny hole? (Considering I call it the County Plant Jail, it seemed sort of appropriate...) But we looked them over, they'd all calmed down, and except for the bewildered looks, were settling in  well enough.  I think in a very few days, they should have the whole thing eaten/walked down, and we can move them back to the other pasture.

And as usual, Husband, He who doesn't "do" animals, was able to calm and lead the gals like he'd done it all his life.  And sweet talking them, too.

The ol' poop...  ; )

Wha'd we do?  Dang, and I don't have a tin cup...