Today, it is Mother’s Day or Mothering Sunday (held on the fourth Sunday of Lent).

I read on t’net that “An important part of Mothering Sunday is giving cards and gifts. Common Mother’s Day gifts are cakes, flowers, chocolates, jewelry, and luxurious clothing. Some people do not give a physical gift, but choose to treat their mother or grandmother to a special meal, beauty treatment or fun outing.”

You can guess what I was given!

Daughter No 1 – A large bottle of Gin, tonic and a lemon plus a box of swanky chocolates
Daughter No 2 – A selection of something nice (Nuxe) – sadly still en route to me plus ,as I type, she is cooking supper – an authentic Szechuan meal.  Cookery is the latest talent – “write da feem toon, sing da feem toon“.

Lambie refused to spend his pocket money on his Muzzah.  He sulked all day because I made him be a proper sheep and go in a field.  He was triggered.

I wonder if he will bother for Puzzah’s Day?

Gin?  Did someone mention gin?

I am a very happy mother.  All my major food groups are covered.

Meanwhile, yesterday I rode this horse – Mr Bimble – here he is happily asleep on the gate.

I don’t ride Haakon at the moment, so Bimble is a good substitute though his trot is a killer on my back.  I do not encourage this and I am suffering today.

Anywho, Happy Mothering Sunday to all mothers.   It was a good day – I even cleaned my tack and mended a rug.  Does that count as luxurious clothing?

Off to drink my therapeutic gin.

We went to see my little herd of Minions today.  They were miles away, up in the hills.

But they spied us and came over to chat.

Fivla has finally lost weight.  She is looking almost svelte and that is very pleasing, as well as a huge relief.

Look, she has contours – bits that go in!

She looks normal standing next to others, ie Storm who is wider than he is tall.  What I like most is that Fivla is happy.  She loves being with the Minions.  They make her smile and she has friends her own size.

Silver is on great form – such a handsome chap and soon he will be as “grey”/white as Fivla.  It is inevitable.

Every year his coat changes colour.

Silver, too, has wintered very well – oh look, Storm again being a best friend.  He gets about.

Storm – well, what can I say?  Storm is always the same.  Funny, cheeky and spikey.

He has maintained his winter weight.  He is solid.

Waffle resembles a barrel.  We have decided that every time someone says his name, he somehow absorbs the calorific equivalent.   In his spare time, he could be a table.  The only pony to travel nearly 2000 miles and not lose a pound (when he went south with Kappi).  The only pony to winter in a field with nearly nothing and if it is possible, look fatter!

Still, he is very, very loving.

And a true friend to everyone.

Talking of friends.  This is the beginning of a typical Thordale nose-kissey.

Tiddles does the best.  100% full-on with commitment and no biting.  You’ve gotta love Tiddles.

Vitamin continues to Rule Her World.

So, as you can see, everyone is doing very well.  Perhaps a bit too well.

I love my Minions.  Therapy in a field.

I dragged Daisy over to Leradale as I am worried about Brá.  She has lost a bit of weight during the recent cold spell.  Nothing huge but we just need to tweak her hard feed and Daisy is the resident expert.

This chap is the main reason for Brá‘s weightloss.  The heffalump on the left – Dreki, my dragon.

He is a lovely not-so-little dragon of weird proportions – his age.

At the moment, Dreki’s role is to annoy his sister, Lilja, at every available opportunity.

I think Lilja gives as good as she gets.  Both are rather chewed around their faces and necks.

Lilja is beginning to “come out” now.  I can talk to her at a reasonable distance and she secretly likes attention but it is all on her terms.  She is a huge drama queen.

Lilja is going through a gawky giraffe phase at the moment.

She has her father’s head, eyes and expression but is not nearly as laid back as he is.

Lilja – ever the Princess (you can see the chewed fur).

She is looking good, though.  They both are.

So Brá’s feed has been upped and she is very happy.  Brá likes her food and waits by the gate for her daily bucket tapping her imaginary watch if we are late.

Hetja remains very generous about the fact that she can’t have anything but three carrots.  She doesn’t even try to be a bag about it and would be well within her rights as everyone is eating around her.

I just stay with her, kiss her nosey and tell her she is a beautiful lady.

Hetja is still feeding Lilja but the weight is just not dropping off.

I understand her pain.  I have yet to get my pre-baby body back, 25 years on!

Huzzah – the snow has almost all gone so everyone went down to the bottom field after filling their bellies with silage.

It was lovely watching them gallop down to the hill to the stream.  This is a favourite field.

Iacs and Efstur started to play.

It was sweet to watch.

Efstur, who is our 2 year old colt, wanted to play with Iacs, who is 23 years old this May.

May 10th is International Bimble Day – we will celebrate with cake, cake and possibly even more cake.

So, while those two were having the best fun, Hjalti decided he wanted his own little friend – someone to make their life a living torture.

And who better to jump on but the herd leader, Haakon.

So now we have Hjalti, a 3 year old gelding, playing with Haakon, a 24 year grumpy old man.

They all happily pranced about like foals.  All happily initiating the games.  No one bullied or trying to run away or feeling picked on.

And I shall look at these photos whenever I think Haakon or Iacs are looking old because they certainly doesn’t act their age.

These young whippersnappers have to be kept in their place by the old guys.

It does my heart good to see this.

In our little micro-climate, it seems we are the only property that is still sitting in snow.  We are an island.  Everywhere else is melting fast except, of course, us.

The snow is staying on the west-north-west facing hills  – OH have just spent a good 10 minutes discussing where north is, like you do.

Anywho, the horses are fed twice on days like these.  Based on last night’s revolting forecast of freezing rain, they spent the night inside.   The ones at Leradale have far more shelter and food so were fine.  Apparently there is no snow there either.

Piles of silage are distributed everywhere, including in my house, car, wellies and possibly knickers!

For the next few days, Iacs and Haakon are back with the herd.  They came over last night.

So, that’s us.  Still in snow while the rest of the world has none.

Roll on the thaw and Spring impending arrival.  I am bored of this now.