One way to a llama's heart

I may have mentioned that the three rescue llamas I took in three weeks ago, Kai, Dolly and Toni, are a bit, er, standoffish. I've spent more time than I care to admit watching them stalk away:

Both Chester and I have been a bit surprised by the lack of warmth and friendliness these three have shown us. It's hard warming up to animals that flinch and run away when you come near:

Nevertheless, I am an optimist who, like Chester, tries to make friends with EVERYONE (while not always the best of ideas, this is a story for another time). Separately, he and I both seem to have decided that we are in this for the long haul and, despite their reticence, continue to try to befriend these pretty ladies every day:

So, imagine my surprised delight yesterday morning when I offered Kai, the most reserved of the three llamas, the opportunity to snuffle a bit of grain from my hand...and she TOOK it:

And Toni, who has been particularly nasty of late, pressed her way in for a taste, too:

Who can resist a face like this?!:

Not me. Here. Have some more grain:

Mama Dolly decided she needed to get in on the love, too:

This is an excellent start, I think. It's a relief to me to know that there is *something* that I can do that will bring them closer to me once they've been let out of their stall for the day. We'll work on this.

Now with Chester....

...this is the way to his heart: