I have not strayed far from home as I am still not feeling very strong, but I did remember we have two little Shetland ponies somewhere around the premises.

It took a while to find them.

They popped their heads up when I shouted (I think Newt must’ve been standing on a hill as he, for once, appears to be the same height as Albie).

During the day, their stable door is shut otherwise the little boys would just hang out in there and never move.  Every morning they are evicted and so have found a new place to live – that would be behind a large drystone wall.

They climbed over it to chat.

Albie, particularly, wants a chat and a hug.  He will always be my little boy.  Albie is very special to us.s

Don’t get me wrong, Newt is a sweetie, but he is not little Albie.  Newt is strong. Newt likes people but he doesn’t need them.

Albie is not strong.  He needs his Mum.  He always has since he came to us as an orphan.  He hasn’t changed just grown bigger.  Still my little Albie.  He adores us and we adore him.

 

Apparently we have a micro-climate around Thordale.  Only us.  We are sitting in snow.  Nowhere else is according to my OH, who made a break for the shops today in town.

Anywho, there is one little person who loves the snow very much and, as I was pottering about with my camera outside, taking it gently, I promise, I took some photos of her.

As well as swimming and digging, snow is BeAnne’s thing.

It makes her smile.

She plays.

She bounces.

She runs.

She never gets cold.

I luffs watching my little girl in the snow.  She is a snow-hund.

Update on The Cough – I went to the doctor and he gave me a steroid inhaler which should calm it down.

This morning, I was feeling a little better (though, if this cough continues, I think a visit to the doctor may be on the cards) so I climbed out of my pit and have been pottering round the house all day.

After lunch, I went outside to see how everyone was getting on.

We have a bit of snow, apparently more than anywhere else.  Why us? Are we a special catchment area?

The boys are doing fine.

They all look well-fed and content.

Those that need their rugs, have them.  The rest don’t.  Fat and furry.

It was lovely to see everyone, if cold, which made me cough more.

It was obvious that the girls and OH had been working very hard.  Snow makes every task twice as difficult and long.

The sheeple, as ever, were about.

They have, as well as daily hard feed, unlimited silage rations which ‘Ster mostly wears about his person.

Lambie was pleased to see his BeAnne (his mini-Muzzah).

I had a long chat with Puzzah who I think genuinely missed me not being around.

The sheep are good at tidying up the silage that falls out of the fishboxes.  In this weather, everyone is fed twice a day, so a good cleaning-up crew is useful.  I hate waste.

BeAnne loves snow but, having been stuck to my duvet this past week, she has missed out this winter.

And then it clouded over and started to snow again.

So me and my camera went indoors and I took photos from the shelter of the back door.

It was nice to be outside for a change.  Still ruddy coughing, though.

The Minions have not been forgotten.

They argue with each other behind the fence in their huge field and the girls go and visit them every day.

Daisy, who is in charge of the feeding, decided they could have some silage while the snow lies and huge bales are carried down to the potentially “starving”.

However, there is still some grass sticking out from under the snow which the ponies could find if they wanted.  Or they could even dig.  They are Shetland ponies and therefore very resourceful.

But their greatest resource is their charm and Silver was in a very good mood, according to Flossie – taker of the photos.

He came up for a chat and smiled sweetly, working that field like a pro!  Of course many carrots will have been distributed too.

One day soon, hopefully, I will be able to leave my pit and go and see everyone.  The snow is melting now and I am missing all my little chaps.  BeAnne has yet to leave my side.

Daisy, Flossie and my OH are doing all the chores while I dwell in my pit not being able to help even slightly.

They have dutifully gone over to Leradale, sometimes twice a day, to make sure everyone has silage and, more importantly, water.  Their water supply has frozen solid in this weather and water is a must.

Every day the family have lugged haynets full of silage and containers full of water and I know it is very hard work.

There is also the hardfeed to give to Brá and two foals as well.

It is all received gratefully.

And Hetja gets to wash up.

It is a token gesture really as she is also a heffalump or a good do-er, as we say in the trade.

Or fat, as we say in real life – yes, we do!

I love Dreki in this photo!

Without my family, none of this would be possible. They are being wonderful.

Photos by Flossie, by request