About Us
The People
Jay (right) and Michael (left)
Jay is the soaper, felter, and paper folder, and webmaster. Michael is her forever supporter and expert soap packager and tagline thinker. Plus he's nice to look at. Both are llama farmers although the llamas def have a favorite person.
We met in 2008 in Oklahoma. We both work as full-time biologists and started the hobby farm when we moved to Montana. Mutual likes: adventuring, camping, hunting, fishing, eating, critters. Mutual dislikes: bananas, folding laundry, grocery shopping.
Fun fact: hobby soaping started as a gift idea for our wedding. Guess it went a little crazy.
The Llamas
From left to right: Billie, Ermine, and Ibis.
BLHF usually has 6 or more llamas. The number varies because we now breed and sell individuals when we have llamas available.
Fun fact: It's very hard to get llamas to all look happy when they are standing this close together.
Learn more about our llamas here.
The Dogs
Niche (left; rainbow bridge), Cricket Sue (center), Minnow (right)
All of our dogs are rescues. Niche is from Arizona. She left us in 2023 from cancer but she's still a part of the family. Cricket is from a reservation in New Mexico. Minnow was found on the side of the road in New Mexico. She's a German Shephard mixed with cinder block and is the troublemaker of the group.
Fun fact: this is the cover for their album "Mountain Dogs" where Cricket plays the mouth harp. Niche and Minnow just woooo the entire time.
The Gatli-hens (and a rooster)
From left to right: Falcor, Red-blue, Eros (rear left black), Magic Flash (rear right black), Buff (center tan), Clove, Red, Legend, and Alice. Not pictured: Andy the rooster, Magic Flash, Sunshine, Waffles, Bacon, Syrup (named by my nieces).
They come running when you call "chickie chicks!". It's fun having your own backyard dinosaurs. Our flock changes on the regular due to Jay's habit of rescuing chickens that need new coops.
Fun fact: Michael does not like chickens. So we compromised and got chickens.