My garden is a labour of sort of love but obviously back ache and there is one major problem. You can probably guess who.

Clue: large, white, furry and whinges.

So here is my before photo.

And yesterday I went to the garden centre and spent all my money on lovely bedding plants.  Something comes over me at a garden centre – I just want to spend, spend, spend.  I resorted to Googling my own garden to see how many Belfast sinks (the answer is 6) that I had to buy for and fill.

So, I weeded the weed-things away, got a wheel-barrow full of horse manure/compost and then planted everything out.

This year it is pansies, trailing lobelia, with alysum.  The night scented stocks (gorgeous in the evenings) are in separate little pots.

The rest of the garden looks like this.

And I had my little helper. Ted was in the house refusing to ever come outside.  He had run away on the dog walk.  He has his anxiety at the moment.  I am ignoring it.

This is one of the many times, I wish I could phone my mother to ask her for gardening advice. She knew everything and her garden, as you may know, was always incredble.

I would’ve asked her if you water after you plant bedding plants. I erred on the side of caution and watered.  Mum would’ve told me what to do right.  I do miss her very much.

So, after planting everything out, I had to cover it all up with chicken wire because of Monster.

To him, this is a cat litter tray.  To me, it is not.  I am hopeful I can take the wire off once all the plants are a bit more established.  Bloody cat.  There is nothing worse than meeting plants scattered all over the ground because he back-dug after doing his business.

A whole day in town today so these are from yesterday’s after-tea-time perambulation.  I was not in the mood to take any photos of Lerwick. It was pure work only with a break for a lovely lunch with a friend.

So here is Wee Dug or Scooby Doo (shouted enthusiastically as she runs towards or past me at great speed), Potty, Pepperpot, even Pepper as the last resort.

There is a definite similarity to Basil Brush – a fictional fox, best known for his appearances on daytime British children’s television. He is primarily portrayed by a glove puppet (Wiki)

If you watched it, you would know.

And then Ted who is up the hairdressers next week, which is very good-timing and essential, I think.

He does resemble a Yorkie very much, at the moment.  Just a rather large and substantial one.

Lastly and not leastly, Monster.

White Panther or Panther Cat (the name on his veterinary records – they named him, not me)

Monster’s hunting face.

Pepper’s hunting bottom.

And Ted, who hasn’t a clue why he’s here and when can he go back to his warm bed, thank you very much.

Well, now that spring is properly here and the grass is growing well, all the oldies are not on fattening food anymore.  I have cut back.  They get their breakfast bucket but it is not as calorifically laden as it used to be.

My theory being they are fat enough!

The weight is back on and everyone is perfect.

That is the face of an Iacs who stole, yes you heard me correctly, stole Haakon’s afternoon carrot and now I have to make sure Haakon has an extra one tomorrow morning because of this heinous crime.

And this is the face of Haakon who knows Iacs stole his carrot! He was not happy and I could not be arsed to walk all the way back up the hill to get another carrot especially for Haakon. So shoot me.

Wisely, Kolka left the boys to their own argument.

She is looking fabularse.

Spot on.

Yup, obviously more tomorrow!

On our après tea dog/cat walk, I found the seven sheep all sitting like an audience in a theatre. It made me instantly think about what John Lennon said at the Royal Variety Performance “Would the people in the cheapest seats clap your hands,” he said. “And the rest of you, if you’d just rattle your jewelry.”

I reckon Lambie, ‘Bert and ‘Ster would be rattling their jewelry like mad!

Especially Lambie.

Kolka came up to investigate, quickly followed by her field-friends and I dished out my three carrots to check everyone is still eating properly and I can give up my worrying through the night.

Kolka really is very pretty and is now turning a completely different colour since she has almost lost all her winter coat.

Bibble was investigative too.

And Haakon was ever himself.

While I sat on the ground, Lambie mushled about around me, coming close occasionally for a hug or a scratch.

‘Bert was sitting behind me, nudging me if I forgot to acknowledge his presence.

He has filmstar good looks.

And yes, of course, Monster appeared.

We all just pretended there was absolutely nothing odd about this scene.

So I walked back up the hill, looking behind me to watch my version of heaven…..

…. followed closely by Monster whingeing about the steep climb, long way to go, and WAIT FOR ME!

To the Minions’ field this morning with my little helper, Pepper. It has become our thing.  Ted is no good because he has anxiety and runs away.  I swear if he could find the M25 he would be under the first lorry he could find.

Anyway, I will just leave all these photos here so you can see just how much the Minions adore Pepper and how it is reciprocated.

(Storm rolls with his head in his bucket, just because he can)

This photo gives me goosebumps.   Newt and Pepper have a genuine friendship. Maybe Newt is pleased to find someone as small as him, for once.

And the thing is, Pepper specifically goes and finds the ponies to talk to. They don’t sneak up on her to do horrible things (it has been known).  Pepper genuinely likes the interaction, the sniffing and she will even lick noses in return.  I almost trust everyone together, although I have eyes in the back of my head at all times because a) the Minions are Shetland ponies and b) Pepper is a Patterdale and I am not as stupid as I look!