During my morning round, the one after breakfast where I just check everyone is ok while putting away outside things that might get blown away in the oncoming Autumn Equinox, which is guaranteed a doozer, I found this lot.

They were all having a snooze in the sunshine.  It was a lovely morning.

The two cousins.  So sweet.

And while I was trying to take photos, my duck-assistants, Huey and Louie, arrived.

Closely followed by Dewey, who has turned into a girl – I am pretty sure now.

Everyone ignored the hustle and bustle that is the ducklings.  They never go anywhere quietly.

Apparently, I was told many things duck.

And then Huey, or is it Dewey went over to tell Haakon, who looked utterly bemused.

This is Dewey. She has a very pretty head and a sweet disposition.

Meanwhile, Iacs snoozed on.

I wonder what he is dreaming about.

Pepper kindly guided the ducks away to their pond.  Probably wise though I don’t see the horses doing anything nasty.  I trust them and I also trust Pepper 100%.

The Autumn storms are on the horizon for Shetland and everyone (equine) is happily living outside, which is the best place to be and definitely their choice.

But the last time it rained a few days ago, I found Tiddles shaking and dithering even when it was double digits of temperature.  What to do?  Yes, I want him, and the others to lose weight, but shivering it off, is that the kindest way?  And I do want everyone to grow their winter coat.  What to do?

I have a shed-load (quite literally) of rugs of all different sizes, all neatly stacked and put away so, like a thing possessed, I went through them all to find everything that will fit a variety of Shetland ponies, even Newt.

Tiddles came into the stable with me and I tried various rugs on to see what size he was so, if he starts shivering, I can quickly grab the right-sized rug for him.

This was ok, if a little snug when pulled forward.

This was good but he doesn’t need a neck cover, I don’t think.

And this was perfect. I have two of these.  I think Tiddles’ pile will also fit Albie, Storm, Waffle and possibly Fivla too.  Silver and Vitamin are in bigger sizes and Newt the smallest one I have.

So now I alternate between thinking I am being too soft and shivering is natural but the Minions go all dithery and can’t think straight. I hate seeing that.  There is relatively little shelter in their field/paddock too.  So I think I have talked myself into rugs for those that shiver and dither when it rains.

I’ll just leave this here……

Enjoy.

and then there’s this.

This time, two years ago, Daisy and I brought Pepper and her sister home on the boat.  Pepper’s sister was quickly dispatched to her new owner and the two puppies went their separate ways.

This photo is Pepper’s first – when we met her in Aberdeen.  Notice the iron-hand grip.  Already Pepper had ideas.

And she still has her teddy, though it might be slightly altered with love and Ted’s obsession to destroy all squeakers.

Pepper was ever the lady.

And possibly still is.

And then there is the obsession for the ducks which, now I see, started at a very young age.

Until Ted appeared, Monster was in charge of Pepper. He taught her all he knows.

So happy gotcha day to my little shadow.  Always there, always by my feet, especially if I turn the fire on.  Pepper has changed my life, for the better.

A beautiful day today (2 loads of washing and making the most of it).  On the dog walk I saw a Northern White-Tailed Bumblebee lazily working on the last of a Devil’s Bit Scabious flower.

With my camera, I was hanging right over it and totally ignored, which is unusual.

Our garden surrounding the front of the house, is slowly giving up too.

And I am getting the potatoes in as they die back.   It is work-in-progress but definitely on my to-do list.

Still, we have sunshine today and we are all making the most of it.

In other news, all the duckies – all 13 of them – have finally got together.

Pepper has declared herself Queen of Ducks.

She is determined to talk to them all.

Whether they are happy to respond is a different matter.

I haven’t ever known a dog quite so interested in making friends with everyone around the croft.  It is not a Patterdale thing. I know that, but then Pepper is not your usual dog.  She is a little treasure of determination.