Small Frys

You know that sinking feeling you get when you’re peeking out your window on Christmas morning and see your baby yak across the road in the neighbors’ driveway.  Not only in the neighbors’ driveway but THAT neighbors’ driveway. You don’t know the feeling, well, maybe I had better tell you a story.

The story actually begins last spring when I purchased three new yaks; (a bull, and a cow/calf pair) to add to our herd.  It wasn’t long after the yaks’ arrival to their new home that the baby yak (AKA Small Frys) realized she could leave our pasture by sliding between the strands of wire in the fences.  Equally as quickly, I realized I had two options to keep small Frys contained.  First option: I could refence the entire property changing the fencing material.  Second option: I could let her come and go until she is too big to get through the fence.

Small Frys comes “home” when she is hungry and thirsty, she knows where the water and food are.  Having said that, there have been times she leaves for the day and I have had to look for her. 

Christmas morning after the family gift exchange, (which was lovely) I was peeking out the window.  (OK, Full Disclosure: I have binoculars, or some type of telescope by every window in the house.  Hey, I like to see what’s going on.)  So, I’m peeking and Small Frys is a quarter mile from home in the neighbors’ driveway.  Honestly, I felt it wouldn’t be a big deal except it was THAT neighbors’ driveway.  I had to get Small Frys to come home.

Me: Does anyone want to come with me to get Small Frys?

Girl Twin:  I come with you.

Girl Twin and I got in the side-by-side (look it up) and headed for the neighbors’ driveway.  Unbeknownst to Girl Twin and I, the neighbor was on the phone with Elaine to report, “Hey, I have one of your critters on my property.”  “Monner and Girl Twin are on their way”.

Me:  Maybe we should have brought a rope. Girl Twin:  I was thinking that.  I roped my friend Casey’s feet while he was running. Me:  Well, we might need to go back and get a rope, but let’s try to get behind with the side-by-side and drive her towards home.

Girl Twin and I got behind Small Frys with the side-by-side and started directing her home.  She wasn’t in the mood to come home and ran the totally opposite way.  While repositioning the side-by-side Girl Twin and I noticed the neighbor coming down his driveway on his side-by side.

Neighbor:  She tried to get through my fence, but she couldn’t get through my barbed wire.  I’ll bet she is scratched up Me: She is pretty hairy.  I don’t think she’s bothered by your barbed wire. Neighbor: I'm surprised she doesn't stay with the herd.

Me: She definitely has a mind of her own.

Our property is fenced with barbless wire, barbed wire, and wood fencing.  The barbed wire was existing to the property, the wood and barbless fencing was installed after we moved in.  Elaine made the choice for barbless wire because she didn’t want scratches on her precious llamas.  Anyway, it doesn’t matter to Small Frys, if she wants out, she’s going.

The neighbor offered to saddle one of his horses and help herd Small Frys home.  It was a nice gesture but I think the motivation was to show me his cowboy skills.  Not to mention by now Small Fry had casually returned to our property.

I "scared" Small Frys a little with the side-by side and she sprinted home, across a ditch, through three fences, she went home.

In all fairness, the neighbor is a good guy and we have helped each other on projects numerous times in the twenty-some years we have lived here. He (and his wife) couldn’t be any more different than I am politically. His employment (retired) was tied to the federal government and his opinions are not mine.

I bring this up because as Small Frys was sprinting home, it was time to talk.  Girl Twin just wanted to go home. The next fifteen minutes is time Girl Twin will never get back.

Girl Twin, even if it was just sitting on the seat next to you, I’ll never forget it.  Every sigh, every groan, every eye roll.

I was peeking later in the day.  I saw the neighbor checking out his fence where he told me Small Frys “tried” to get through.

God Bless, Love Ya, Happy New Year

Our crazy lives!

Monner