Stephen, our farrier, appeared first thing this morning.

Luckily, it was very easy to put everyone in the right field – with a breakfast bucket.

While Stephen was busy trimming Iacs, I looked over to see Haakon playing with the spare headcollar.  He hasn’t done that for years, so I think he must be feeling much better on his arthritis supplement.  It made me smile to see him being young again.

And then into the paddock where the Minions and Old Ladies were waiting.

Pepper was thrilled to see Stephen, which was lucky because she managed to get in the way at every opportunity.

No one behaved badly. Waffle managed to pick up the spare headcollar and take it over to give to Stephen.

That poor headcollar was doomed.

But on a good note – there were no signs of laminitis at all in anyone’s hooves.  I must’ve caught it in time and that is a huge relief as laminitis can do such permanent damage and everyone looked so much better after the hoof trims.  Stephen also said all the horses and ponies looked fit and well – and NOT FAT.  Just solid!  I can live with that.

And moving swiftly on from the little ones, here are some pics of the Ancients.

Kolka – who has settled in here just fine.

She rules the two old men and they follow her everywhere, which is good otherwise they would just live by the gate looking hopeful possibly forever.

Haakon looks just the same as he always does.

And I have no nice photo of Iacs because he didn’t feel like cooperating.  Haakon told him off for me.

This is the best I could do.

Kolka and Haakon together – very few rows except at meal times when Kolka wants everyone else’s bucket.  It is not allowed.

(sorry this is short, but I have just returned with OH and Pepper from a fabulous late Sunday lunch and I am so full I can’t think straight!)

At lunch, as well as the humans, there were five dogs and Pepper. All were very well behaved and Pepper enjoyed herself making friends.  She was the only girlie in the pack.

I was very proud of Pepper.  Although Ted was invited, we decided not to bring him as we felt he would be more settled (and calmer) at home with Monster to look after him.

And all was fine when we got home so I think that was a wise decision.

A rather fat Newt – his real name is “Viking” but I just can’t bring myself to call him that.  So he is Newt as in My-Newt because he was 24″ high when he first arrived as a foal, and probably not much more than 27″ now.  Small, sturdy, with an attitude around the others but not around me because he knows better.

And his cousin, Storm.  Storm is an evil genius but also agreeably open to all ideas of my stupidity, like trying to lead him with my coat because I have nothing else to hand.

Vitamin. 30 years old now and still the Queen of the herd.  Mad as a box of frogs and I can’t catch her, but then completely calm while I clean her mouth out standing in the field without a headcollar.  Who knows what goes through her head.

She gets two pictures because she is so pretty.

Vitamin’s sort-of BFF is Fivla. She is 28 years old and drifts through life in her own world.  She always has. The summer diet seems to suit her and she is no trouble to anyone because that would involve effort and at her age, why bother?

Fivla’s doppelgänger is Silver.  He listens to his own voices, as my previous neighbour would say, and looks so much like Fivla that he sometimes gets her bucket before I realise.  Like Vitamin, some days he is my best friend, and then he is feral.

This little soul is Albie.   He is speshul and wants all the love in the world. He follows me round.

Waffle, who briefly managed to put his head up – he probably can’t see out and didn’t know I was there.

And little pink-nosed Tiddles, who is the best kisser of them all.

I adore them all. ❤️

My day in photos…..

Apparently there are iPad apps for cats.  I downloaded one for Monster.  He loved it.  Guess I am going to have ration viewing from now on.

This afternoon was spent in my shed (this morning, the gas man cometh to mend the cooker) and I left the door open so the dogs could entertain themselves.  I was feeling guilty as I hadn’t walked them.  I usually take them out in the morning.

Pepper was outside watching for invaders…..

…. while Ted sought refuge on the chaise longue.  He had it all to himself so he spread out.

After tea, still feeling bad about the lack of dog walk (due to the gas man comething), I took the dogs out into the fields to go and see the Ancients.  Iacs was snoozing by himself totally oblivious to the world around.

I wanted to take photos of him fast asleep, but when he heard me, he woke up.  He was hoping I had brought something to eat.  I hadn’t.  I have turned into Mean Muzzah as everyone is rather *** cough *** robust/fat.

And this photo disturbs me. Pepper looked so sweet and teddy-bear like when I took it, but now I see a small determined Gremlin looking back at me.

Monster loves his dear old Mum, he tells me, but he has an addiction…..

He also loves Cat TV – you can find it on YouTube.

Every morning, while I have my breakfast, Monster likes to watch the telly.

And, for the sake of peace, I put it on for him on my iPad which I feel is safer than the tv – which he could easily knock over looking for the mice.

And I have an addiction (I am not proud) too – Grey’s Anatomy in the afternoon while I hand-felt my sheep.

– which Monster is not helpful about.  Poor Karev. He didn’t deserve that.

Monster likes to come into my shed in the afternoon and he gets in the way, trying to find a space on my table.

Note the cup of tea.

I could cope with the tail in the saucer….

But I was annoyed at the mess he left behind when the tea was knocked over.

He had to be evicted.  So off he sulked.  He came back twice afterwards to whine outside the door and then got in the way all over again.