I think the quote ““Just because you can doesn’t mean you should” comes to mind.

So I did and Monster loved it…… (so, shoot me!)

Out and about my daily dog walk this morning, I decided to go and see the sheep in their natural habitat.  They come up for their breakfast in the shed and then return to whichever field they chose for the day.  That’s the routine.

Lambie first, as usual.

Lambie with his Hallowe’en face.  He is wierd.

‘Ster looking a bit gormless.

He really doesn’t photograph very well and he’s wearing shrubbery.

Maggie demanding whatever I had in my pocket – she knew there was a Pasture Cookie.

Yes, she found it.

(An Interlude – little Pepper with Ted in the distance.  While I talk to the sheep, they do their own thing.)

And, back we go to the sheep.

Harrel-the Barrel on his own.

He was quietly working on his Winning Smile.

And dear Edna

She may be ancient and have no teeth but she is looking so good now.

And this is usually as close as I ever get to Madge, these days.

However, she put on her Brave Pants (possibly size XXXXXXXXXL) to come and see what I had brought.

Once taken, off she went again.  This is my normal view of Madge.

And lastly, the luscious ‘Bert who, in this photo, doesnt look at all like my usual ‘Bert.

No, my bad, there he is!  Gorgeous, obviously.

So the dogs and I wandered the fields and the sun sort of shone on the sheep which proves they are all very special and I am very lucky.

I called the Minions down for their daily breakfast – they like to wait impatiently by the wrong gate and I have no idea why, but they do, so I shout and they arrive.

And they all find their buckets, beautifully laid out and filled by me, thank you very much.

And do they stand in a nice neat line?

Yes, they do. All except Newt.

He has to be different. There is always one and it is always Newt. Helpful, he is not.

And Fivla, who has to be special (because if she ate with the others, they would steal her bucket) – she holds the title of The World’s Slowest Eater!

A nice quiet dogwalk I told myself. That’s what I wanted. Only it wasn’t what I got.

Monster was determined to come too, despite me deciding to go and check the furthest gate at the furthest point of this 45 acre field.  It’s a long walk.

Here are the two dots – Pepper was way ahead.

It was a gorgeous clear day and the light was magical.

Monster was on top form.  I have never been this far away from home with him.

But he kept up, sort of – yes, I waited so he could always see me and shouted for him so he didn’t lose us.

He was quite easy to see, too, which helped.

I like to think everyone was wearing their Hi-Vis!

Once the gate had been checked – it has been known to open after a storm and everyone could go out into the hill if they could be arsed.

I checked the horses too.

And we finally reached the home field gate.  I knew Monster would struggle here, though he could’ve cheated and gone home via the garden, which would’ve been much drier.

He had a few “ew, mud” moments.

But he worked out the best route, like all of us do  – aim for the grassy tussocks and pray hard.

Someone will sleep well tonight.  That was a long walk for a cat.

Lugging water every day over to the Minions is back-breaking (me) and shoulder breaking (OH) so this morning when I found an empty water trough because possibly a certain Waffle had been dancing in it, I made the decision to move everyone…. again.  I hate the fact that they can go for hours without water – this way lies colic.

But, firstly, I took the dogs to walk the perimeter fence of the new field and I cleared yards of electric fencing from tenants way back.

It is a big “hill park”, about 10 acres of mostly rough grazing, with a patch of the nice stuff, which I am sure will swiftly be consumed.

There is also water au natural and Waffle can dance up and down to his heart’s content in there – just as long as he doesn’t swim.

I was on my own and so, to make my life a little easier, I took four ponies at a time, packed like sardines in the van.  It wasn’t very far, I told them and they all loaded and travelled well.  Even Tiddles who can be unhelpful.

Pepper, of course, came too and was a most welcome and helpful companion.  Such a good girl. So proud.

This is the nice grassy bit and the ponies have a herd of Shetland cows as neighbours, which they were slightly interested in.

I am exhausted now. To bed early with hot chocolate I think, purely for its healing properties.