Veg Peelings for Ponies

I realise I didn’t feature Ted in the Christmas photos yesterday so here he is today, just after his rather soggy-doggy walk.

Ted’s eyes are always grot because he has KCS ( Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca) or dry eye, which has plagued him for most of his life.  We put in regular eye drops to help and luckily he is very good about this.

(and the divine Miss Pepperpot. Just because).

Anywho, today has not been great, weather-wise. Dreich.  We all felt it in our bones.  I spent my morning trying to make space in the fridge by cooking soup (curried root veg, thank you for asking). I ended up with a good pile of edible veg peelings in a dish for later – that perfectly good piece of parsnip (top right corner) was found in a dogbed and even I declared it inedible by hoomans!  I have a standard, low I admit, but one none the less.

While I was going over to my shed, I noticed that the Shetland ponies were all down by the house, so I scrambled over the garden fence clutching the dish, and threw the veg overboard.

I might’ve been a bit of a bad shot as Waffle was wearing some of it.  He will wonder why he is so popular for a while, I think.

Everyone was very grateful for the peelings.

I was going to give them the pumpkin rinds but the last time I fed them, Storm came down with colic the next day so these days I am a bit wary.

I left them all picking through the grass looking for nice bits of vegetable to eat.

And then I went into my shed to make that sheep. Probably the last of the year.

Christmas Card 2025

This year’s treasure.  Dearest Pepperpot looking almost angelic.

And a possible contender …..

As well as the downright failures….

(including the bumhole one!)

Merry Christmas, y’all xxx

Flossie’s Turn Today

On our dogwalk today, Flossie and I walked to the furthest corner of the furthest field to find the sheep.

And today it was Floss’ turn to have her presence acknowledged, after all she holds the crown as “The Queen of Sheep” when I go away.

And, of course, Lambie was not sure.  He was in one of his speshul moods so we ignored him.

He needed to think about this new person’s arrival – Lambie is not the brightest star in our firmament.

But then he remembered that he liked Flossie and if it would annoy me, then he would like her just that bit more.

Thanks Lambie.

Anyway, it was very nice at the top of the field, far away from anyone and anything and we all had a good chat and enjoyed the view.  We quite forgot about the dogs who were happy doing their own thing.

Best of all, today is the Winter Solstice and it is downhill all the way now.  Apparently tomorrow’s daylight is increased by a whole minute!  I tell myself it will soon add up noticeably.

Home for Christmas

Daisy came home yesterday but she didn’t see the sheep as they had already gone out into their field for the day and then straight to bed when it got dark.

So, this morning Daisy came outside to help with the morning chores – it took half the time.  All the sheep came up to meet her.

Especially Lambie.  He came running, all smiles and got a fuss from Daisy.

And then he deliberately turned and gave me this look!  Like I was now redundant as his Muzzah.

Flossie came home later this morning and now my house is beginning to feel Christmassy.  It is lovely to have them both home and something I really do appreciate.

The tree is up and the house is decorated.  I am happy.

Where Do They Go?

Most mornings (except when the weather is beastly), I lead the sheep out to their field of choice.

Currently, they all want to go into the same field as the Shetland ponies, which is absolutely fine.  Less grass for fat little ponies then.

But I do wonder where the sheep all go for the day.  It is a large field (26.26 acres or 10.63 hectare to be precise) and, once they are out of eyesight, they could be anywhere, even out of the gate at the back which has a nasty habit of breaking it’s manky rope during a good gale……

As I was on dog-walk duty today, I decided to find out where the sheep went during the day.  I found them right at the back of the field, somewhat near that gate I mentioned (luckily still shut).

This part of the field is fenced in apportionment (ie, hill) so it is rough grazing which is perfect for everyone.  No rich lush grass for fat little ponies or sheep.

Everyone was nearby.

All except for Gussie and Maggie, who seem to be a couple at the moment.

‘Tis the season when the boys are going around asking “do you have a boyfriend?”  ‘Bert was trying his luck with Dahlia who ignored him completely.

So I had to content myself with taking photos of the ones who were close by.

‘Ster

And ‘Ster not looking quite normal.

Dear ‘Bert

He has a very honest face.

Barrel trying his best.

And Dahlia who originally came rushing over and then decided as I had no food, I was not worth talking to.

Still, it was nice to know where they spend their day.

I also went over to talk to Gussie and Maggie but they were too busy looking for the hill ram to drool over.

The weather was beginning to turn, so I called the dogs and we walked home.  The sheep all followed when it got dark and went to bed.