Every night, after supper, I don my waterproofs for the last time that day, and go outside.

This is looking west-north-west at about 19:05.

I have a few end-of-the-day chores to do.

Checking sheep – this is their bedroom now (the stable) and they can come and go as they please.

Another job is to do a chicken/duck headcount and then shut their door for the night, all safe from the blood-thirsty night vermin.  Six of each (don’t worry, there is a chicken on the rafter right at the top).  We also have a polecat trap set ready outside.

Then I collect up and fill all the empty haynets – the horses’ ones ready for the morning and the sheeps’ for constant night munching.  My cafeteria never sleeps.

Last night it was a magical still evening. I love the peace and quiet.

There had been significant snowfall last night and I changed the feeding area for the oldies, putting out all my four hayboxes.  It just makes life far easier for everyone.

The hay boxes are a great invention.  I love them.  Stops wastage.

Even Iacs understood that he had one to himself.

And Haakon was smiling too.

The Happy Couple!

OH and I walked up to the car (about 1/4 mile) with buckets of food, a tow rope and snow shovel – the powdery snow was drifting in the wind.

Driving was not too bad until we found more scary drifting on the road – we dumped the car and walked the last bit (another 1/2 mile) armed with buckets for Fivla and Vitamin.

I brought a small piece of carrot for the others. Rationing now as I’m not sure when we can get to town next.

These two….. aw!

And then I opened the gate to a small field that had not been touched for the year. It has long grass under the snow.

I also dragged a haynet with me and spread it out.

So the ponies turned up their noses…..

…. to go and make snow angels.

We left them to it and walked back to the car, knowing they were all fine.  Digging is what they do best.

We had the long walk – all uphill – back to the car.

Home was not much better.  More snow had fallen.

But everyone was smiling and waiting for the waitress service.  More hay, please!

And, despite my best efforts, of course I could not forget Monster.  This is his best day of the year!

More snow is forecast but everyone is managing fine.

We woke up to this (though I spent the night awake listening to the freezing rain and the wind howling).

This morning’s buckets.

(Haakon always looks wonderful in snow).

For the oldies, I do buckets and then haynets.  I call this my “Feeding Station”!

The Happy Couple share beautifully.

As do these two cousins but, to be fair, there are four haynets out.  One each with no arguing, please.

In the stable, which the horses hate, there are full haynets for the sheep.

I call this photo “Naomi and Kate”.

I’ve told everyone they are not to get “snow blindness” again.  We can’t be doing with that.

Harrel likes to wear his food.

And then over to see the Minions and I gave in, letting them up into the field with the grass.  When we get more snow, which is forecast, I can sleep at night knowing they have fibre in them and, if the roads get bad, they will be ok.

So this is my how we are coping with the snow at the moment. It has been snowing all day in flurries, melting in between but I don’t want anyone to be starving.  If the little ones manage to get laminitis in this, then I will give up.  There, I’ve said it.

Feeding the Old Ladies takes a while. I fed extra today as we are due some shocking weather in the next 48 hours (snow, snow and more snow) so I like to think their internal boiler/furnace (tummy) is stoked.

So, I sat on a rock and waited. It didn’t take long.

On my front knee end was Tiddles.

He is such a sweetie and gives the best kisses.  We chatted.

Then Fivla was fed up with Albie (she got cross with him for trying to get her bucket) so he came running to me to tell me all about her meanness. I said “Well Done Fivla!” and gave Albie a kiss.

Behind me was busy too.  Storm had arrived and wanted to “chat”.

I hate Selfies. I never look good so ignore me and look at Storm.

But Storm hates Selfies too and got his revenge, taking it out on my poor coat.  It never stood a chance.  Neither did I!  They make me smile.

Feeding Fivla and Vitamin this morning, while the others looked on (having had their carrot ration), I noticed Pepper was chatting to the ponies. Ted stays well away – sensible lad.

Pepper is very confident around the ponies.  She goes round introducing herself to them and they are very kind to her.

Very kind indeed. Even Silver has stopped chasing Pepper with intent to stamp on her.

And all I can say is that Fivla is a saint.

A total saint.  Pepper switched on her hoover for any fallen bits.

And, even though, the other ponies want to steal the buckets, they mostly don’t dare (yes, I’m looking at you Storm!) and they don’t even seem to mind that Pepper is stealing the dropped food – the old ladies are mucky eaters.

I am quite amazed Pepper gets away with this but she does and if anyone minds, she must take the consequences and hopefully learn.  Kolka got a bit narky with her so she sensibly keeps away from her and her bucket.

Pepper is lucky everyone is so nice.