Edna, who is of indeterminate age and has only one tooth which was wobbly last time I investigated, is not at her best at the moment.  She is lame (daily hoof sprays plus the very expensive magic injection are not working) and not her fattest, despite being on three breakfasts.

So I ordered her favourite food – Rowen Barbary Ready Mash Extra.  It arrived swiftly in the post – I have since discovered that my local feed merchant will get it in for me, which is good and will save ££ on the postage.

This is the mash in its raw stage.  Floss said she wouldn’t mind trying it.

And after five minutes soaking in water, the mash was ready.  Floss did not try it.

I called Edna into my porch. She did not need asking twice.  Whoomph, straight in, head down and chomp.

She came up for air occasionally.

Outside, there was some shameless begging going on.

So we ignored it.

More beseeching looks.

Lambie even did his cheesiest grin, so I distributed some barley rings to the starving.

It was a big bowl (note-to-self, I must improve my portion control) and Edna gave it her very best.

One happy, and very full, Edna.

I put the bowl out for the washing-up crew.

While Edna very politely said thank you.

So this is Edna’s new normal.  A bowl of Ready Mash Extra every morning and I hope this will turn her around.  When I went out an hour later, she was fast asleep in the sunshine, digesting!

We haven’t had any proper rain in Shetland for ages and, although it is a bore (I hate working outside in the rain), it is much needed and I tell myself the grass will grow so much better.  The grass which no Minion can have, that is.

Fivla and Vitamin really have not looked back since I made the executive decision to put them in their own green field.  Minions?  What Minions!

The picket line does not move and I am sure I can hear bad language.  I hope the Minions do wander off after we have left. How long can six ponies stand by a fence and sulk?

Clearing out the derelict croft-house and its shed has made a huge difference.  Vitamin loves her new dining area.

I did my vegetable packing this afternoon and then drove home in the rain to be met by these two, also hopeful that someone would come by with some hay.  Luckily Floss felt sorry for them.  We are on the tail-end of the winter hay now.  Once finished, no more.

Two boxes unpacked today. A few surprises (I don’t remember packing half this stuff) but I will hit Ebay shortly with the taken-to-be-sold items.  Just got to find out what it is, first!

Piles and piles of stuff now inhabit the empty part of my shed.  All covered with dust-cloths against the pesky birds.

Some stuff has made it into the house (I “did” five boxes today and distributed everything far and wide).  I swear it has all grown in size since I saw it in Mum’s house and thought it might look nice in mine.

And Mum’s huge tapestry arrived all rolled up. It spent the night on the sofa and today I found a certain little doglet using it as just the best spot for looking out of the window!

This is the face of someone who didn’t want to be moved. Interestingly, Ted is sniffing around but not really making any links, which is good. I would hate him to be anxious.

Anyway, OH did his best and with some jiggery-pokery, moving things around and swearing, the tapestry was put up.

I won’t lie, I am not sure how I feel about it to be perfectly honest.  It is darker than I remember. We are ordering some lights to see if that improves it.

I’ve decided to live with it a for a while and see.

Meanwhile, I need to get back doing this…. yes, that’s me riding Dreki.  We can walk a circuit of the school, being led!  You have no idea just how proud of this I am.  It is a huge achievement for both of us.

(**** sigh **** so much stuff, so much to do, and so little time. I feel a bit overloaded.)

A new horse arrived here at Thordale.

Yes, I am cutting back and no, I don’t need another one but…… well, you know how it is.

He is a beautiful dapple grey with luscious mane and tail….. and he arrived with a full set of fitting tack too.

He is just the right size for me and looks stunning.  We’re keeping him indoors as he is a bit sensitive to the harsh Shetland weather.

I am so pleased!

This is Phar-Lap.  Mum and Alec Kinane from Legends Rocking Horses designed him.  Mum’s perfect rocking horse and he is now living here in Shetland.

Gotcha!

I went to see the Minions with my new plan. Writing everything down yesterday helped me to see the way forward.

I moved Vitamin and Fivla into the next door field where the spring grass is growing.  This is what Vitamin needs and will hopefully help her weight loss.

I was not popular.

But I cannot let the Minions have spring grass.  They are fat and I don’t want them to get laminitis ever again.

So I am being cruel to be kind.

I asked Fivla not to raid Vitamin’s bucket and she happily acquiesced, glad to see the lovely grass.

Once the ladies had finished their food, I nipped up the hill and moved the wee enclosure over the fence into their field.

The ladies were very happy. I had worried they would mind leaving their herd behind, but no….. grass and being in the next field is fine, apparently.

I popped back this afternoon just to see how things were and to see if anyone had jumped over (Waffle was threatening), and the ladies were happy enough – they had come up the hill for a drink.  The boys had not left their complaining spot. It looked like a picket line protest so I ignored it.