On the world’s slowest dog walk (for Jack), I saw hundredsof mushrooms and/or toadstools.  As the walk can be done in pigeon steps and I would still be faster than Jack, I took some photos of the fungi for identification purposes later.

I would be very grateful if anyone could add their tuppence worth as to the fungi id so that I know what is murderous or not.

This year, I have seen very few field mushrooms – we usually have sacks of them and I make endless soup bases (aka Euthanasia soup!)

Some of this lot look worthy of a mushroom omelette made for Snow White by her Wicked Step-Mother!

Clavaria fragilis, commonly known as fairy fingers, white worm coral, or white spindles, is a species of fungus in the family Clavariaceae.  I have never seen it before but today it is everywhere and looks like someone dropped a bag of bean sprouts!

Blackening Wax-Cap (Hygrocybe conica) ?

Meanwhile, I have split the herd into those that don’t need to go on a diet…

And those that do –  Kappi and Klængur, who are not happy but I have to be cruel and may even add Haakon and Iacs into the mix as well.  But I want The Minions and Taktur to put on weight and be well fed all winter.  We will see.  Nothing is written in stone.

Hey ho, on with the fungus identification.  I will search t’net and The Collins Wild Guide of Mushrooms and Toadstools as well.

I was not required for babysitting duty this afternoon so I made the most of my time off to try out a new photographic experiment.

I had ridden Klængur and Taktur and lunged Kappi in the morning so was feeling like doing something completely different and un-horsey.

So I went out with my camera, an unhelpful tripod and tried my best to take photos of the water droplets on the cobwebs.  They are everywhere at the moment and not easy to photo.  I think I will keep practicing as I like the results but want more focus and clarity.  .

Anywho, this is the best of the bunch and they came out better than I thought they would.

Them spiders are very clever and like their cobwebs, this is work-in-progress too. I have more time tomorrow and, weather permitting, I will have another go if they are still around or new ones have been made.

I walked into the field this afternoon to see Taktur lying down trying to have a kip.

Silver had other ideas and determinedly began his Annoying Shetland Pony campaign.

Although Taktur was being very nice about it, I could see that Silver was totally exploiting the fact that he could reach and there was nothing Taktur could do about it apart from abandon his idea of sleep.

The other babysitters were on strike, off duty, asleep and refusing to even look at or help the situation.  Typical.  Call themselves friends. I think not.

So I sat on a rock, provided a toy and the three boys came over to play with me.

The toy behaved remarkably well and didn’t get narky like she usually does.  Bridges were built – Silver hates BeAnne so this was encouraging.

And Taktur gratefully slept.

He snored and dreamed.  Anyone who says horses don’t dream, is wrong.  In his sleep Taktur nickered to himself and smiled. I wonder if he was dreaming of Hetja – his one love.

After about 20 minutes to himself, he woke up, stretched and got up.

So, of course, the Minions started to yawn and feel tired.

At least Taktur got some uninterrupted sleep.

Taktur started his winter training today.  He had only front shoes put on and off he went.

Apparently he is “just the same” but lacks muscle in his back end.

So Bjørn, his trainer, said I should ride Taktur most days.

[my cheesey grin]

I was given a quick lesson on what was required and we decided that 20 minutes every day in walk and tölt would help.  I have only previously ridden Taktur in walk so I tried out rising trot (no thank you very much, he has a huge trot and it hurts my back) and then tölt, which was incredible.  I mean I know Haakon and Klængur can tölt, but Taktur’s version left me grinning from ear to ear!

I cannot wait and am now busy putting inspiring and invigorating music on my iPod for 20 minute work-outs.

We are also to practice some dressage if we feel like it.

Taktur is a joy to ride and I think it will do us both good.  You have to “ride” him and not just sit there so it will do me good.

Then I hopped onto Klængur, who resembles a Suffolk Punch or a Comtois (I know, I know) and we pootled around the school having a very jolly time.

Afterwards, he played with a cones.

I love horsey days.

I am recovering from the most horrendous migraine ever.  So I will keep this short.

The Troglodytes troglodytes zetlandicus is the Shetland wren, the local variety of Winter Wren that lives in Britain.

A few years back, I found Mr and Mrs Wren had built a superb nest under one of our saddle panels!

They had cleverly used all the loose horse hair, some moss and bits of straw and the nest was firmly wedged in.

Mr and Mrs W came and went with various household necessities for their impending new family and seemed totally unpeturbed by us and our horses.  They were a regular sight and we grew very fond of these lovely little birds.

This was a busy place but we didn’t want to disturb her so we crept around for ages and used other saddles.  Our efforts were rewarded and one day there were bebbies!

I think they all fledged and there were no mishaps.  We still have wrens in the school and I always wonder if they are related to the original family.  As neighbours go, they were never any trouble. I am very fond of wrens.