Here is a letter to one of our Coordinators (Pat Cothran, the wonderful llama llady in the story on the top of the page!):

The llama girls are settled in nicely. They really have bonded with the goats. If the goats are back at the barn, they will go off for a while, but they come back frequently to check on the goats. The goats only head out of the paddock to the pasture/woods when accompanied by the llamas. On several occasions, we've seen the 2 smallest baby goats left out in the field by the rest of the goats. Then momma goat gets frantic back at the barn when she does a head count and doesn't see her babies. She starts hollering. Then the llamas escort the babies back. Lucy leads them back, stopping to be sure everyone is keeping up. Cloud "tends" the babies as they walk back... reaching down to sniff and check on them... and Penny takes up the rear, stopping if the babies stop.The donkeys and llamas pay no attention to each other at all, and the donkeys basically ignore the goats. At times, they all graze together.

I'm so thrilled with how the llamas and goats have adjusted together. The llamas have adjusted to Brian and me also. They are SO curious about any project we do around the barn. Llamas really do act like an aloof cat who wants your verbal attention and doesn't want to miss a thing, but prefers not to be touched. I'm fascinated with them!

Thanks for your help and matching me up with these lovely girls!

--Kathy Patterson
Spring Woods Farm




Mei Xiang's new Mommy Allie, wrote in about their Christmas time together this year. Looks like Mei was employed as a stand in camel in this year's nativity scene at the local church.

Here is a picture of her with the 3 Magi. She was a huge hit and very well behaved, coming out of her shell and letting everyone experience her wonderful personality.