I Fell In Love With A Llama.
This is probably the strangest post that I have ever made but please bear with me. I have fallen in love with a llama. Yes, I said a llama. I have never been an ‘animal person.’ In my 28 years, I have never had a pet of any kind (not even a goldfish). But, an encounter I had two weeks ago has shifted my perceptions dramatically. I now want a pet…but not just any pet will do. I want a llama.
Back in March, I got word that a llama named Nigel was coming to town. He was supposed to be standing in front of the R.E.I. store in Portland’s Pearl District for a presentation about packing gear. I’d never seen a llama up close, so I was unsure of what to expect. The second I laid eyes on Nigel though, I was sold. Statuesque and all black, he seemed to be constantly smiling. In the middle of a bustling city on a downtown sidewalk, he was totally calm. His black fur was freshly brushed and very soft. I swear that he even winked at me. This llama was a total charmer.
Normally I am intimidated by animals that are larger than me, but I happened to be wearing my trusty Dries Van Noten wedges that night so we were at eye level. I was intrigued by this animal; there was something special about him.
I took a brochure for Wallowa Llamas which is where Nigel lives but over the next six months, life became hectic as I began taking on more freelance, bought a house and traveled often. The dream of meeting back up with Nigel got pushed to the back burner.
Then, a few weeks ago I was surprised with a late birthday present; a meeting with his royal blackness, Mr. Nigel himself. The drive from Portland was very long, clocking in at close to seven hours. Once we reached Halfway, Oregon (near the Idaho border) the scenery became quite idyllic. A bustling small town with farms and horses and greenery and quaint storefronts, Halfway has a storybook quality. Finding Wallowa Llamas proved slightly difficult; it was quite far from the highway, down a series of gravel side roads.
As we pulled up, one of the owners of Wallowa, Raz came out to greet us. Normally, they are accustomed to doing hiking trips that are multiple days in length and bringing the llamas along for the purpose of packing gear but made special arrangements for a shorter day trip instead. Raz took us over to a side plot of land where Nigel was hanging out. I spotted him from 50 feet away; even among other llamas, he stands out. As Raz was prepping the gear, he let us take Nigel into the orchard and spend some quality time together. Nigel ripped into one of the fruit trees and loaded up on leaves. Llamas chew funny, in a circle–8 motion just like camels.
Once the supplies were ready, Nigel was loaded into the back of a pickup truck with tall, enclosed sides and we drove a few miles to a secluded trail. As we hopped out of the truck, Nigel seemed confused; he is used to packing quite a bit of equipment but was free of the usual load that day. I spent most of the time pulling Nigel up along the path and we made a stunning pair, both in all black. He trotted right along, never stalling or tripping (unlike me)!
We took a few short breaks and Nigel chowed down on plants while we sat down, enjoyed the view and drank water. During one break, we heard some rustling and turned around to see Nigel rolling around, taking a dust bath! His fur became coated in dirt and full of debris but he seemed quite proud of himself.
On the way down, the trail was pretty steep and Nigel was going faster than me. He kept getting a little too close, breathing over my shoulder and making high pitched noises. I thought something was wrong, but I was told that it’s really just a sound he makes when he knows he’s getting ‘close to home’ (the truck). Pretty cute if you ask me!
Nigel was on absolutely perfect behavior the entire journey but when he was being loaded back into the truck, he did get a little grumpy, ducking his head down. It was pretty funny to watch!
When we returned back to Wallowa, we were taken on a brief tour to meet the girl llamas and then the boys (they are kept separate to keep inbreeding from taking place). The girls really do look like girls! My favorite female llama was Mary Priscilla (I’m pretty sure that was her name. A fancy name for a fancy llama)! Her fur looked dip-dyed. She subtly faded into a beautiful spectrum of colors. The girls seemed inquisitive and simply stared at us, quietly taking in the situation.
In contrast, the boy llamas were much more rowdy and aggressive. They enjoy chasing each other around and occasionally fighting. Obviously, Nigel is much too evolved and refined to participate in this type of behavior and chooses to spend much his time away from the pack.
After the tour, we said a sad goodbye to Nigel and vowed to return next year.
I know this sounds crazy, but I’d like to skip the whole dog and cat phase altogether and move on straight to a llama. They are very quiet, go to the bathroom in relatively neat piles and don’t eat an absurd amount of food. Michael Jackson used to talk about taking his Llama named Louie on walks near his parent’s mansion and how he would stop traffic; I want to do the same!
Find out more about llamas and guided trips at Wallowa Llamas.
Oh, I almost forgot. My favorite part of Nigel, besides that adorable face? These handsome little feet.
Readers: What was your first ever pet?
If you had an unlimited budget and space, what would your dream pet be?
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44 People have left comments on this post
Making plans for Nigel. Aw, how adorable. I visited a Alpaca farm last year. They all have their own little quirky moods about them. I wanted a white one so I could dye it blue.
A Fennic Fox would be my choice of exotic pet…since I took care of one at a summer camp. Those over grown chihuahua like ears and mischievious personality just wins me over. It’s like having your own personal gremlin.
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how funny, nubs! i had the exact same sort of thing happen to me a couple of months ago when i saw this picture floating around:
alpacas! now i am determined to one day own enough land to have a few and make them my good friends. i spent pretty much a whole evening reading all about them.
nigel is quite the looker. i can see why you love him.
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oof! here’s the picture:
http://www.estesnet.com/events/alpacas.jpg
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My first pet was a jet black cat called Midnight. He was very sleek and beautiful and cool.
My dream pet would probably be a lake/pond full of swans.
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I always enjoy your blog posts! I’m not much of an animal person but I love pandas and elephants <3 Oddly though, I’d choose to have a tiger or panther, I imagine they’d be very comforting (Hahaha…)
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hehehe… i enjoyed about ur new love. handsome toes!
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llamas are sort of awesome. i saw some super cute ones at a local fair this year and couldn’t stop grinning at their ears.
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Nigel is a gorgeous llama!
I’ve always had a cat…I’ve also had a frog and a couple of gerbils (who ate the runts!) and for the past 12 years I’ve had a dog. If I could have any pet, it would be a chinchilla–they’re cute, soft, and smart.
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Money no issues? I’d have a huge lot of land and a few enclosures set up specifically for Wolves and Wolf Hybrids. Such majestic and amazing creatures.
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Wow, they look so calm and composed and totally harmless. I am not a pet person either, but recently I was enamoured by a cute Yorkie and now after reading this post, I want to see a llama too!
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i want a polar bear! and a panda!!!
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They’re quite common down here in my state, I wish I’d fallen in love with them though! I’ve only encountered grumpy ones that seemed to enjoy drooling/spitting everywhere and being unapproachable hehe.
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my favourite animals are giraffes and I’d love to have a couple of them! I’d also really like some zebras or asian elephants. The zoo near me has just welcomed their first elephant calf and I’ve been to see him twice – I love him! the zoo keepers have even set up a little blog about him, it’s pretty cute: http://babyelephant.taronga.org.au/
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Awww Nigel is awesome. Llamas hold a special place in my heart! I remember meeting one when I was a youngster. He was called ‘Sid’ and was an affectionate, lovable chap. He became instantly enamoured with my dad and kept nuzzling him! So cute.
At the moment I have no pets.
I’m a total dog girl, in the future I’d love 3 dogs! However, I think this guy is pretty cute!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLdQ3UhLoD4
Please can you take Nigel home with you? I think llama updates would be great!
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I couldn’t contain my grin while reading this!
He’s ADORABLE!
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We’ve had cats and dogs (border collies) all my life but the first pet that was actually mine was a pair of rabbits for my 7th birthday. Unfortunately my Grandad told me that rabbits like to eat little girls’ fingers so I was pretty much scared of them for their entire lives.
I’m really really mad about cats. And in a dream world, I’d be one of those people who raises orphaned cubs of the big cats like tigers or lions. I’d also love an ocelot as a pet. They are exceptionally beautiful and Salvador Dali had one as a pet! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Salvador_Dali_NYWTS.jpg
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Ahhh. I LOVE this entry. It’s funny because I’ve become obsessed with this place http://www.llamapark.co.uk/ not far from London where you can go and walk Llamas and had it bookmarked for the past year, now I definitely have to go!
My favourite animal (bar cats of course!) is the Tapir, I love that they have been about forever but never evolved so they just look really silly and awkward:)
xxx
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I like sloths.
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Such a cute post!
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Only problem with llamas is the spitting! blerg!
If I had unlimited space/money I’d have a giant marine fish tank!
When I get my own place in a few years I have a lot of animals planned! a shetland pony, quails, chickens, a dog, cats, rats, corn snake, a tropical fish tank and a marine fish tank!
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Ok.. I am a 110% animal lover. I own 6 cats, a dog and a hedgehog. You can see adorably cute pictures here on my husband’s blog (http://www.bscphoto.com/blog/?p=39)- he’s a photographer..and a good one. Feel free to look through the pets section to get a peek at my dog who has a pegged leg (hes missing a foot).
Anyways. I came here to post to tell you that MOST exotic animals are not all that fun to own. They are cute and cool and they definitely turn heads, but when it comes to everyday care.. WATCHOUT!
I used to have sugar gliders – little adorable flying squirrel type animals that were actually small marsupials. (they can be seen on page 5 here – http://www.bscphoto.com/pets/index.html)
Anyways.. these things were awesome. You could put them in your pocket and walk around town without anyone really noticing. They love to hang out with you and are pretty quiet. They make a REALLY cool noise if they are grouchy and dont want to be bothered.
Anyway.. my point is. These little cute creature were work! Everyone who owned one said how great they are, but never mentioned the pitfalls of owning them. They have a pungent smell, they require you to COOK their meals, and they need at least 2 hours out of their cage everynight. Oh, and they live up to 12 years.
All i am saying.. exotic pets are cool and fun but too much work.. but if i could have ANY pet in the world.. it would be my pooch. Hes awesome. He housetrained in 3 days, hes loyal, smart, cute, and he has a peg leg!
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Oh, Nigel is so gorgeous! And Ms. Priscilla is a lovely lady as well. I’ve wanted a llama for a llong time. Did you know they hum to their babies? They are persnickety as all get-out, too.
One day I will own a llama!
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Nigel is quite handsome w/ a nice coat of fur. I wish you both happiness as u two battle the Oregon courts to make ur love legal.
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Shauna,
Great post. Love the frames and the story. He really is a handsome llama and so calm. I have sent links to your blog near and far. I love your photography. Our son Devin who is now eleven has gone on a llama trip every year since he was 5 months old. Up until he was 4 I carried him on by back in a carrier. When he was 4 he was too big to carry but too young to hike 8 miles to camp. Nigel was the llama chosen to wear a little horse saddle and carry Devin. Nigel was very obliging but didn’t like it when the other 7 llamas on the trip got out of sight so at one point when we were almost to camp we let Nigel join the rest of the llamas and Devin and I attempted to walk the rest of the way. Devin got tired and cried and I thought maybe we shouldn’t have come and how are we going to get there. At this point it was just me and Devin in the wilderness the rest of our party out of sight and not knowing we were struggling. Unknown to me, raz imagined that we were struggling so he sent Danny (our handsome young Helper on the trip) and Nigel back to get us. Suddenly I looked up and at the top of the next hill was Danny and Nigel waiting to rescue us. To this day the image in my mind is of a knight in shining armour and his royal steed.
We look forward to seeing you again. Louise
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lau: Those alpacas are adorable!!!!
Lauren: I noticed that all the girls were really well behaved while the boys were more aggressive (except for nigel). Maybe you need to meet a girl llama!
Kaz: Sid sounded like another perfect llama. If I could keep Nigel, I would. I think he’d enjoy daily walks through the city!
Joanne: What a cute story about the finger eating rabbits!
Loulou: You HAVE to go and let us know what it’s like!
Lindsayanng: Thanks for the sound advice! I still want a llama though.
Jade: How cute! I love the sounds they make. They can do no wrong in my book!
KimB: Hahaha, this is the best comment EVER.
louise rasmussen: That is the sweetest story ever! When I first met Nigel, I knew you must have known that he was very special to be chosen out of all of the llamas to come into the city. Coming out to meet him again was one of those perfect days and I can’t wait to make plans for next year to see everyone again!
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ha! AWESOME. will we be seeing some llama silhouettes popping up in your design work?
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Nubby, you are so adorable! I love the idea of you traipsing around the countryside with a llama – it’s so bizarre yet somehow so right.
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I believe I had a fish! Or, a bird..
BUT IF I COULD HAVE ANY PET, EVER?
A frickin’ beluga. Yes. I go on & on & on about belugas. I’m such a sealife nerd.
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This is the most hilariously unexpected post ever. Glad you’re back in the homeland and can’t believe you went that far east! Next time you have to stop and visit me. Aside from fish I think I have to agree with Auntie Nubs – Sloths are a top favorite animal, so cute, calm, considerate and misunderstood. This actually reminds me of one of my favorite jokes involving a sloth and a fish but it is in Spanish.
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Oh my gosh, Nigel is gorgeous. <3
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Actually.. Just yesterday, while wasting time on the net (i like to call it research) I came across this amazing little animal. I would deal with ANYTHING to have a little guy like this one!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLdQ3UhLoD4&feature=player_embedded
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This is one of the sweetest stories I’ve read in a long time! That llama is gorgeous and I love his purple harness. My favorite thing about the female llamas are their eyelashes, as seen on Mary Priscilla.
I love when non-animal people fall in love with an animal. My boyfriend was never too fond of pets until he played with the goats @ the LA County Fair. Now he’s loving animals left and right.
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your post made me laugh out loud with its sweetness. i adore llamas and alpacas, can’t wait to have a farm with my own.
your post also made me think of this short from sesame street… i saw this years and years and years ago when i was small, and the song has remained stuck in my head, popping up whenever i see a post like yours. =]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgkYHhG18uc
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Llamas!!!! This is my llama, Solider Boy http://www.flickr.com/photos/darlingduckabeees/3885934556/
He is amazing. I had 2 others but they were infected by the meningeal worm and died. Seeing them suffer like they did was the more heart wrenching experience of my life. I also have 3 alpacas. They are just as wonderful as llamas! It always makes me happy when someone falls in love with a member of the camelid family because they are incredibly awesome creatures!
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Christine: I know, it’s pretty unexpected of me, considering that I never leave the city! Driving 7 hours to visit a llama is the best thing I’ve done so far this year. I hope you make it to town sometime soon!
Fashion Intel: I think that’s what makes them stand out from the males; their eyelashes. I thought there was something wrong with me because I’ve never wanted a dog or cat. In reality, I just needed to find the right animal!
amy: Cute, thanks for sharing.
Stacey: Awww, he is ADORABLE! You are so lucky.
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oh this post makes me so happy!
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Oh, Nigel is so handsome, indeed! I’ve always had this odd fascination for llamas, too. They belong into that category of a select few animals , which god (well “god”) created when he just had some spare parts left -the odd, wobbly looking legs, the curious smile and those hoofs. Yet the llama manages to look so proud and elegant in its own, special way.
My mum has a horse in Switzerland, which is kept at an open stable, meaning that all the horses live on a paddock together the entire year – only they are not alone. The same fencing is inhabited by ponies, donkeys, mules, geese, mini pigs and, of course, Llamas! One Llama in particular considers itself king of the pack and prances around the stable grounds accordingly (it has found a way to slip under the fence.) He always greets visitors with a curious glare and follows them around for what can be hours. But not everyone is welcome – he doesn’t like men, particularly not tall ones, which is a slight problem for my stepdad. The llama will spot him from far away, cast an angry stare at him, charge and chase him around the stables. Sometimes it happens to unsuspecting passer-bys too. It’s hilarious to watch! But don’t worry, the llama never hurts the men, he just wants to show who’s boss.
I just realized that our llamas don’t have names. What might be a good name for the king himself, and for his humble knave?
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Llamas are indeed so cute! Their eyes are so expressive! I love this post…you should go for it! Though, I wonder, where can you take a Llama for a walk?
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awwww so adorable
They really do look amazing, and there’s something about their sparkling eyes- like they know something about you.
Personally, I love dogs&cats myself, but my dream exotic pet would be a white tiger. always had a thing for them- beautiful creatures. <3
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Love that bow!
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