This afternoon a small little face was telling me it was time to go and poo-pick the field, albeit in a high wind, but at least the sun was shining.  Rain is forecast later.

Newt was in a silly mood following me and my bucket around, giggling to himself and cantering about.  I couldn’t take photos as rubber gloves don’t work with an iPhone screen but he made me smile and wonder what on earth was he thinking.

And then, as I reached the far end of the track, I called the ponies over wondering if they would bother.

It was like a miniature version of the Grand National with the little boys galloping over, all the way to other side of their track. I love how they use it for racing.  This is their exercise.

And then suddenly it was heads down and all about finding grass to eat (good luck with that, I told myself).

Pepper, who always comes with me, and I walked home down the unused bit of the track of knee-high lush grass (over my dead body do they get this), switching on the electric fence on our way out.  This track, although working well, is hard work.

Isn’t this lovely?  A gorgeous linoprint of my little house with a beautiful wall of primroses underneath.

And this is us.  Totally us.  The primroses are perfect.  My wall of primroses are real.

I could not love it more because it  just says everything I want it to.

The linoprint was originally created by a very talented local artist, Fiona Sinclair as a commission for the previous owner of Thordale and now I have a copy too.  Go and look at her other work. It is well worth a visit.

“I love linoprinting and I love crofthooses!” – Fiona

So, as I said, this is us! Immortalised in linoprint.  Just bloody perfect.

Today it poured with rain all morning.

Not our best look but the wild flowers appreciated it.

The afternoon was a different matter and, after a quick work-trip to Turriefield, I came home to this.

Why, hello Tiddles!

The farrier is coming here very soon – Tuesday.  We can’t wait.

This is Waffle, who finally left his hay net to go outside.

He is looking glossy and very well.

As is Newt, but possibly a bit too well.  I still cannot find a rib. Perhaps he doesnt have one.  Newt could be a medical phenomenum.  It’s the sort of thing he would want to be.

Albie is another one without ribs but it is work-in-progress on this front.  One day, they will appear, I tell myself.

Just not today.

And Silver refused to talk to me.  Every morning after breakfast, I have been catching him to put cream on his sarcoids and to give him a scoop of TurmerAid (to boost his immunity) so he hates me as he is becoming increasingly ear-shy and I am becoming increasing determined this will be done. I will do this, I tell him.

Silver is also revoltingly filthy.  I am ignoring that.

But when the sun shines, everyone is happy.  When it rains, then less so.

Kolka came steaming in for her breakfast!

WhileIacs gently bimbled in for his.

And Haakon brought up the rear in his weird pacey gait, like a drunk camel on a mission.

And finally here are all three happily eating. The other two little old ladies were in the far distance enjoying the fact they didn’t have the big ones hassling them.

So that was breakfast sorted.  Nice to see everyone move for a change.

It was a wet start to the morning as I went around with my buckets.

Haakon and Iacs

Kolka looked particularly striking when I took this photo (but how I wish I had included the top of her ear!)  Possibly another potential album cover for a solo female artist.

Kolka

This breakfast, I managed to place everyone’s buckets where no one else could get them. I have few goals in life but I consider this the beginning of a successful day.

Vitamin and Fivla

And this is Iacs having a thought, but no one is sure what it was.

Iacs in front of Stourbrough Hill

This lot finished their breakfast and took to their container.  They are not huge fans of the rain and I refused to give them more hay.

All of them were in except for Albie who hovered about outside or in the other container on his own.

In revenge for not letting Albie join the gang, I went amongst them with scissors and trimmed all their tails – they were beginning to drag along the ground.  Waffle was less than impressed at this.  Tough, it needs to be done, I told him.

Then, as I had some time to myself, I sat with Lambie and we listened to classical music together.  Recently Lambie has been in the wars – he has been fighting with possibly Gussie and lost his magnificent horns (cough – he had nubbins) and there was blood.  Lambie is now very stiff and sore from this and I hoped sitting listening to music with me would help.

Apparently, it did. I love his cheeky grin.

And ‘Bert turned up too.  When arguments break out, it does no one any good, I told them.