A friend and I went to visit Lyradale – I haven’t been back since we took everyone away early last Spring.

I didnt need to see it really but I just wanted to know if the grass was growing.

The answer isyes, yes it is.  Very much. So that’s good.

Last year, I didn’t buy Lyradale or move the ponies in until December so I am going to try and do the same again this year (unless, of course, we are desperate.)

Nothing is written in stone and you never know.  We will see what the winter weather brings.

Lyradale is special and particularly suited to winter grazing as it can offer natural shelter from three sides.

There is also more grass as there have been no sheep grazing this time.

So, my friend and I wandered around.

There are a few faint archaeological features which I would be very interested to know more about.

The first is the low rock boundary and parallel rocks down one side.

Next up, is the “round” house or long house” depending on your opinion.

And, lastly, there is the ninety degree turn on the wall boundary with an extra bit built in.  Now what is that all about?

So answers on a postcard, please.  If you want to come and dig or geo-phys the area, please do get in touch.  We would love to know more.

All being well, the equine inmates will arrive in January.  All not being well, they may come a few months earlier.

This afternoon we went down to see the Icelandic horse foals.

First up there is Lilja, who is our enchanting little filly.

And then there is Dreki, our solid colt foal.

(we teach them early about nose kisseys)

Some days, you don’t actually need the written word.  The photos speak for themselves.

Heaven.

That time of year again – when everyone moves fields ready for Autumn which can either be an Indian Summer or wind, gales, rain and worse.

I have a lovely field waiting that has been left since last winter ready for the four Shetland ladies.

I know it is not ideal for a certain body-type of girl but our thoughts are that even if Fivla gets fat, she will lose it as she will winter here for as long as possible and there will be no extra hard feed (I must keep telling myself that).

Also the grass is dying back now.

See what happens.

Everyone was more than happy to be put in this field.  The school children walk past and talk to them.

We moved the ponies two at a time and Fivla shouted her head off when we first took Vitamin away with Lyra.

The old ladies are a very close little bunch.

After that, we walked the dogs on the local beach.

We haven’t been to the beach for a while.

It was very empty.

Not a bird or seal to be seen.

So, BeAnne enjoyed a little swim.

And Loki wandered about.

So, that’s the girls moved ready for Autumn and possibly Winter (or at least December).  Life is rather complicated this year as Newt has not been castrated (one nut Newt) and I don’t want to split the Minions but I do want them to live at Lyradale (another field 2 miles from home).  I can’t let Newt live with the girls.

In my head, it all makes sense.  Basically, we just have to go with the flow – weather, grass, Newt’s non nut appearance, etc….

Yesterday was a strange day.

After the net/bales scenario, our visitors, taking OH, went off a-trippering and suddenly every midge in the land jumped on us.

Lambie was indoors faster than a whippet.  He just can’t do midges.

Later on, the wind got going and I offered to walk the dogs.  Half way down the track, I decided I was over-dressed and dumped my coat on a post only to notice I was being followed.

Dear boys, they were all determined to come with me.

Lambie followed his Muzzah #2.

I looked back only to see Rammie had joined us too.

We even were passed by cars on the single track road and all the sheeples knew where to wait, politely.

Yes, I did get some very odd looks from the passengers in the vehicle.

So that would be four sheep, two dogs and me walking along the road.

Loki did his best to disown us.

And so did the hill sheep.  They were totally oblivious of this ridiculous situation.

Once we reached the gate (our turning point), I did a head count.  Rammie had given up half way along. He is very lame and was finding it difficult.  Her Maj, on the other paw, couldn’t be arsed and had a sit-down strike somewhere along the road.

My theory was we could collect them all on the way home.

Once home, we had to leave Rammie in the hill as he doesn’t really understand about people/dogs/sheep all sitting down together.

We had a nice sit in the sun listening to music on my iPad.

Daisy found our sheep/dog/people pile.

Awww, I love Lambie’s expressions – now that is The Winning Smile!

If Landseer drew sheep….

And then the midges came back again so we all had to fly into the house again.  Poor Lambie. I feel his pain.

I have 16 bales of silage and, this year, I am not going to let the big birdies and their big beaks/talons get into them.  Last year, I spent my winter hovering around my silage bales armed with a cloth to dry the bales where they had been damaged with silage bale tape to mend the holes left by the birds standing on them.

I am trying  a new invention – recyling old tyres and fish net.  First, I put one tyre on the top of each bale.

After an advert on a local website asking if anyone had any spare fishing net, we collected a large old salmon net.

First we laid it out – we have visitors staying so I roped them in as well – they did offer!

As ever, one small family member got in the way.

Having laid the net flat next to the bales on the track to establish the net’s actual dimensions, we then started to roll it over and lift it on.

Perhaps not the lightest or most helpful of net.

Daisy, being small and agile, was tasked to gently stand on the top, lifting the net over the bales and the tyres.

The net was enormous and spread well.

I am very happy with this set-up. I hope it works.  There is also enough net at the base to deter the hill sheep from the bales.

Once finished, we let BeAnne out from her “helping”.

Afterwards we went for a ride, knowing full well that the horses should be introduced to the new scary monster.  Taktur was fine.

Haakon’s eyes were out on stalks!

By tomorrow, they will all be used to it.

Success!

So bring it on Birdies!