There is a guy around the corner who just moved in…
He’s renting. The owner of the place just happens to be the guy who weed whacks all the properties around here.
Anyway, the week whacker guy was telling me how ‘handy’ this new renter has been around his property.
Hmmmmm.
Me: “Handy in what way?” I asked.
Weed Whacker Man: “Oh, just about every way… he’s built a new bathroom on the place, enclosed the barn, re-roofed the shed – heck, he even remodeled the kitchen, pretty much he can do anything…!”
Me: “Reee- ally? Hmmmmmmm. Can I have his number?”
WWM: Sure!
And so that is how I met Dan.
I CALLED THE ‘HANDY’ MAN
I called him.
I asked if he would be interested in fixing the fences and replacing boards.
“Sure.”
WOW. That is rarely the response to that question.
…
He did a good job.
So, I called him again…
He did a good job.
Hmmmm.
All the fences were fixed at one time. There wasn’t a down board or a broken board anywhere.
Wow!
I felt all puffy chested.
The ingredients arrive and I used the little shed to keep the fragile stuff dry.
WINTER IS ARRIVING – FAST!
A few weeks ago, it was 90 degrees here.
And then it wasn’t.
Brrrrrrrr.
I thought that I better build a shelter for Princess LlamaLlamaLlama and Bodhi because as a human, even though there are ample trees up in their pastures, I feel the need to shelter them…
Except PLLL is a llama – and her shelter would need a floor because she sits to chew her cud.
Hmmmm. How can I get a shelter with a floor?…
Aha! A Tough Shed. That’s the ticket!
And, if I am really clever, I can make it work for Bodhi, too!, I thought…
So, I ventured to the Tough Shed place.
…
Wow! They were so nice!
I wanted one for sure!
But then I thought about it… if I bought a Tough Shed, I’d really only be able to make it work for PLLL.
I mean, how could I keep them together but separate in a Tough Shed?
I couldn’t.
She’d have a palace with a nice floor and Bodhi would have nothing.
The more I thought about it, unless PLLL wanted to hang her tools and/or have an office, a Tough Shed was really overkill.
What I needed was a shelter that would cover both animals – with a floor on one side – but keep the fence between them.
So, I called Dan.
The first day of work… and then I left town.
SO I CALLED DAN
Me: Can you build a Llama shelter?
Dan: Probably. What does a llama need?
Me: A floor. I was going to buy a Tough Shed but they don’t make the design I need.
Dan: I can build a Tough Shed.
Me: C’mon over and let’s talk.
… and he did.
When I came home, this was there!!!
One side has her floor, the other side covers Bodhi.
AND THEN I WENT OUT OF TOWN FOR WORK
I went out of town for work and magically, when I came home, there was a Shelter!!!
I heard angels sing! It is a beautiful thing!
They can watch the house and also see the rest of the ranch from their hillside view.
PLLL eating her grain inside her half.
Bodhi watches us in her side. He is a bit of a pest… so I need to put mesh between them so she can sit in peace.
I called Dan.
Me: I LOVE IT!
Dan: Really? It isn’t finished. I need to add the shingles to the roof and make the llama ramp.
Me: Llama ramp?
Dan: Yes, so she can walk up easily.
Me: Oh, OK. We also have to put up some mesh or something so Bodhi doesn’t harass her when she is laying down.
Dan: Sure. Whatever you want…
Nice.
Me: Can I have a window for the llama to see around the corner? Maybe with a little hood so the rain doesn’t get inside the opening?
Dan: Sure. Whatever you want…
Sigh.
Big sigh.
Could it be that I have a happy worker-bee person who can help me around the place when I need him?
Wow.
Big, relieved sigh.
(big smile)
I’m inside with PLLL, getting her used to the straw and the floor.
CAN YOU FIND THE KITTY?
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What an angel you have in your back pocket! Love the leanto!
Wow – I need a great handy neighbor like yours. Beautiful work and lucky you, llama and horse buddies too. Where is that cat? ;-)
Lori
So typical of kitty peeking around the corner!! The shelter is super, wish you could send Dan to me!!!
You are so lucky to have found someone who likes to build things and build them well and efficiently. We had a wonderful person like that build our enclosed catio. I hope Bodhi and PLLL get many years of use out of the shelter.
cool shelter, does he travel?
This made me happy!
WOW! It’s beautiful, and what a great surprise to come home to! Hmmm, I wonder if he has a brother in my neighborhood… :) Lucky you!