Yup, I sucked my teeth again and brought home Tiddles (who was on his own so a sure sign) and Albie (who is suddenly fat, there’s no denying it – did this explosion happen overnight?)

Again, the Welcoming Committee were out in force.

Most of them.

Upon expert advice, I am not going to increase the size of the wee paddock/dust bath.  It is sufficient.

Storm is, for the time-being, staying where he is at Leradale. He is showing no signs but with this sudden onset, especially with Tiddles, I am not holding my breath. And while Storm continues to chase me down the hill for his food, I can see he is fine.

Bibble, of course, is staying put. Well, you just never know when you might need a Bibble, obviously.  Such a “help”.

The little shed is much loved too.

And Pepper is putting in the hours too.

In a small way, I am glad Waffle has company his own age and size.

But I am sad they had to come home with laminitis again.

I have tried to explain to Tiddles that this miserable starvation is for his own good and please don’t get colic.

I am not the most popular person around here, though.

I might have to provide toys.  It will of course be supervised playtime only.

I’ve been sucking my teeth for a couple of days now about Waffle. I would find him always by himself and not very enthusiastic or walking about much.  And today I saw him in a typical laminitis stance (sort of stacked out), so I went back with the van and brought him home.

Before he came back, I lugged my collection of hurdles to make a small dry pen area attached to a little open shed so Waffle can have some shelter if he wants too.

The old folk were pleased to see Waffle.  I am hoping they will pop back occasionally to keep him company.

The hay is soaking but I gave him a small unsoaked net to be getting on with.

And Himalayan salt.

Along with a huge bucket of water.

A rookie mistake.  When I went to check on him a few hours later, I met this sight.

Meh!  Waffle!

So I brought in two different containers – the gate hanging variety – in the hope Waffle can’t throw them around.  I bet he tries.

So he washed his head at me instead!

A quick trip to the vet surgery to collect more antibiotics for Bibble and, upon my return, I found the water buckets still standing and Bibble had volunteered to be Waffle’s BFF.

I thought that was very sweet of him.

It was lovely and warm this morning so I asked Pepper if she wanted to go swimming in the  loch next to the Minions’ field.

I didn’t have much to throw in to entice Pepper in, but I walked into the loch in my wellies, hoping she would follow while coaxing her in with bits of dried horse-poo or dried moss, which all floats very nicely.

And Pepper bravely went in genuinely thinking about retrieving them, but she would turn back just before she was out of her depth.

I tried a few times.

And then Pepper noticed her Nemeses (pl. Nemesis) – greylag geese.

She hates them.

Her aim on any walk is to make them take flight, and if she sees any, she deliberately runs after them to achieve this.

I urged her to “get them” and that spurred her forward to the deeper part of the loch.

But then Pepper chickened out and turned for the bank.

So close, so very close to actual swimming. Next time I might just go further into the loch wearing some old boots to see if I can get her to follow me.  It is warm all week and I want to get her swimming.

A well known English phrase or saying – “Good things come to those who wait”.

“I see you Monster. I know what you want (our Sunday lunch) and I think not.  Make good choices today.”

And Monster was a good boy and he didn’t jump onto the counter to steal our lunch.  Nope. He wanted to, but he thought better of it and didn’t.  It was a mental struggle but Monster abstained from thievery and chose a righteous path instead.

So, as his reward, I gave Monster the cooking dish I roasted the chicken in and he was very happy.

Pepper arrived (she had been in the garden with OH picking bluebells) and Monster even shared his bounty, which I think was very generous of him and, yes, once the chicken was carved they all got a bit, including Ted who got the big carving dish with all the bits as he had previously missed out. He’s gone to bed.

Talking of being nice ….

I put the breakfast buckets down knowing that no one would steal each other’s.  I don’t know many horses who will all stand close together and eat their own bucket without drifting over to steal their neighbour’s.

Though, I will admit, I did move Haakon’s a bit further back as I knew he might be less generous.

As Iacs’ bucket has antibiotics and painkillers, Haakon didn’t need those so it can’t be a free-for-all at the moment.  Note the food tide line on Bibble’s nose and can you see his donkey wither cross stripe?  It only is very apparent in summer and means it is official, Bibble is a donkey!

Well aware of my inadequate indigenous floral and ornithological knowledge (ie, what’s that called? I dunno), I was recommended these two books. Once purchased, they arrived today:-

Shetland Flowers

And
Discover Shetland’s Birds

I highly recommend and they should fill a huge hole in my knowledge, hopefully.

Ribwort Plantain, anyone?

Common Butterwort, I think.

Common Bird’s-Foot-Trefoil

Bogbean

Spring Squill

Northern Marsh Orchid.

Common Milkwort (I think).

Not sure what this one is. Isn’t it too early for heather?  Help, please.

Common Spotted Orchid

Marsh Marigold

Common Mouse-Ear.

Red Campion (more pink, if you ask me).

And bluebells, which aren’t indigenous to Shetland. I did not know this.

And Tiddles, who is!

Heath Spotted Orchid

And Mr Blackbird who “is a common breeding resident, migrant and wintor visitor.”

So here is all this knowledge for me to learn from my two new books.  I shall enjoy this. It is interesting to see what is growing where too. Each field is very different and now the Minions are living in Leradale all year round, I am seeing new-to-me plants because I never used to visit Leradale in Spring or Summer.  Everyone lived elsewhere.