It seems a bit all or nothing with the weather these days and last night was no exception with torrential rain.  I knew this was going to happen, as I watched the ten weather apps on my phone like a hawk, so rugs on Fivla, Vitamoobag and Tiddles and I had a worry-free night.

So imagine my consternation when I met Waffle this morning shivering.  I refuse to rug him on the grounds that he looks like a bull, but I felt sufficiently guilty to quietly give him the spare food bowl.  Haynets out and he soon stopped dithering.

This afternoon, I went out with some leftover celery stalks.  The rain had made the burn impossible to cross.

The ponies knew I had celery stalks, but how to make sure everyone got their fair share?

So I chucked the veg over the stream trying to aim for each individual pony so they would have their fair share.

Everyone, that is, except for Fivla who was at the back looking hard done by.

But I called her over, and she knew that I had a celery stalk with her name on it.

Tiddles was trying hard to get them all.  We had words, across the flooding stream.

And he knew there was nothing I could do even if he got everyone’s celery stick because I was not going to cross the burn.

And Fivla got her ration and crunched on with absolutely not intention of giving it up.

Even if the vultures circled.

It was Volunteer Saturday at Turriefield and I always ask if there is anything I could do which didn’t involve my back, as it’s still not great.  Mostly they say no, as it is digging and weeding and stuff that would kill me.

Anyway, garlic was mentioned and I arrived to a wheelbarrow full of drying garlic bulbs.  I was told to cut off the dried leaves and trim the roots and left to get on with it while everyone else went outside to work.

A stool was brought, and I positioned myself with the least amount of stretching or bending and got to work.

First, I just cut off the roots, the dried leaves/stalk and then put them into a small crate, ready for my next stage – sorting.

Once the small crate was full, I sorted the bulbs into Grot, Small, Medium and Large bulbs.

Two and a quarter hours later, plus some help at the end to get them all finished, the job was done.   I felt immensely pleased with myself.  There was a lot of garlic.

And, in another world, I took this photo yesterday evening.  Scary stuff.

A few photos from today (and yesterday).

While I’m working away in my shed making sheep, Pepper likes to sit outside on the doorstep. She likes to watch the world go by and is usually very good, not wandering off (though I do call her back regularly if I find that she has mysteriously vanished).

Failing that, she has her spot on the chaise longue and blends in beautifully with the dog blanket.

Monster does the exact opposite probably because we don’t have anything white anywhere – I may be stupid, but I am not that stupid.

Pepper likes to sit on my knee while I wait for the ducks and hens to finish their tea.  The nesting ducks are now getting bored of their one job and are leaving their nests.  I don’t mind as baby ducklings means more ducks and we have more than enough.  Meanwhile, the boys are still bickering.

All the ponies are fine.  They come up in the morning for their buckets and then a mean haynet – mean, as in not very generous – and then they all go away again for the rest of the day while I studiously ignore them but am always counting up to 8 to check everyone is ok.

And thank you for all your kind words of sympathy about my back.  Today is better. I have my Painpod on and that has made a huge difference to my day.  That, and a hefty painkiller last night.  So all is good again.

Today is not my best day.  My back is hurting badly and so I am not going to write much but I took these photos yesterday of my darling sheep and I think they are rather nice.

I love how they look with all their wool in amongst the beautiful wild flowers around our croft.  If you could stand next to them, you would get a huge whiff of the surrounding clover (as well as a faint one of pee, if you are next to Lambie – he can’t help it).

Bert

Bert

Ster

Bert

Ster

Lambie

Bert and Lambie

Bert and Ster

Maggie

Bert and Ster

Edna

Madge

Harrel-the-Barrel

Anyway, I apologise for the short blog. I have taken a painkiller and am swiftly losing the will. Tomorrow is another day and it will surely be better.

I started the dog walk thinking we would drive to the beach and have a change of scene, but when Monster said he wanted to come too, I realised we should walk in the fields (as he is not his best in the car – ever the back seat driver).

So we all set off across the Ancients’ (big horses) field with the intention of checking the far gate to see if it was still shut.

And I felt sorry for Monster. He is not invisible and Kolka is always intrigued by him.

Monster turned tail and left in disgust.  You can really feel it, can’t you?  The total disgust.

I was going to leave Monster to go home on his own but in the end I walked back and called him away from his Nemesis.  And all was going well, but a friend arrived with her dog, so all bets were off and Monster went home and we went on with the dog-walk, just without him.

After the walk, I made myself a well-deserved cup of coffee, and went to sit outside but I changed my mind, and decided we needed a family photo.

And like all family photos, it was never easy.

Ted, Ted, look at me…..

No.  No, Ted at me and Pepper, look at me!

Still, Pepper, at me!  (good boy Ted).  Monster, a bit more enthusiasm, please.

Bingo!  Sort of.  Monster, had gone to sleep and so I gave up.

I booted the dogs off the garden seat and sat down next to Monster.

My view.

And then it started to drizzle so I went inside.

Anyone got a fishing rod and a little red pointy hat?  Asking for a friend.