A beautiful sunrise this morning.  Cold and windy but still beautiful.

And it made a nice back drop while Vitamin ate her brekkie.

Pepper (and Ted) were with me. Ted hides behind the drystone walls, but Pepper likes to be with me and the ponies.

And today Silver wasn’t trying to stamp on her – he can be mean, but Pepper knows this, watches for the signs and gives him a wide berth if necessary.

And I am glad that Silver has accepted Pepper.  We have had words about his murderous ‘haviour.

Sweet.

Then Tiddles joined in. I trust Tiddles more with Pepper.

The sun made a brief appearance.

And the light was instantly magical.

Good old Waffle. I am not sure which photo I like the best, to be honest.

Once the girls had finished eating, I washed eyes (Fivla), swooshed mouths (Vitamin), sprayed hooves (Vitamin) and gave Silver a kiss on his nosey for being a gentleman and not a stamping murderous maniac today.

These days, Ted looks like something off the Muppets. He is in desparate need of his twice yearly wash and hair cut which is luckily booked for the beginning of December.

I feel rather ashamed but Ted is now a croft dog who goes digging and running around in the fields. I doubt my mother would be impressed with how he looks but she would approve of how he lives.

Anyway, hopefully the dog-groomer will recreate a version of perfection and I think I will book Ted in once every three months so he doesn’t go so long and get quite as revolting!

Pepper is just lucky – she is one of those dogs who the mud doesn’t stick to because she is too busy whizzing quickly past.

No one knows how Monster stays so clean. It is one of life’s mysteries.

Meanwhile, the weather continues.

This afternoon there was a small patch of blue sky – possibly enough to patch a Dutchman’s trousers (anyone else know that phrase?)

Apparently it might calm down next Monday…. briefly.

I think we all be pleased if only for a very short time before it revs up again with a possible threat of snow!

These days, I can never find Harrel-the-Barrel and that is because I put a lick bucket down in the sheep-shed to help ‘Ster’s hooves and the weather is vile.

And with that Harrel vanished, never to be seen again.

I think we all know what he’s been doing.

And I think we can all safely say that Harrel-the-Barrel has a new friend!  He is one happy little boy.

We are in a lull now. Today has been fierce and going out this morning to feed the horses and ponies was hard but OH and I did it.

The ponies were of course fine. They all came down the hill and the old ladies got their buckets.  In another field, the old men appeared on the horizon and then stood by the open shed and said they were happy being outside, thank you very much.

I had worried all night about everyone  but no one was shaking or looking miserable so I have stopped worrying.

Albie and Storm are doing ok.  Storm is sound while Albie still has painkillers. He needs them and moves far more freely with them. Without, he goes back to pottering and looking miserable.  The difference is huge.

After my lunch, I put the boys in the school while I mucked out in peace.

While I was shovelling, Lambie pushed his way into the stable.  I felt sorry for the other sheep and let them come in too.

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While Lambie ate his “private” straw bale, I gave them a haynet to munch on.  They were very happy (as ever, Harrel had gone to bed and Madge was happy outside).

We’ve had one casualty, so far, in the storm.

Pepper, no matter what, and I mean what, follows me everywhere.  She will not be told no or to stay inside. She has to be with me, which is lovely especially at night when I go out last thing because I won’t lie – I am scared of the dark.

Anywho we are all making the most of the lull.  Hopefully the next few days won’t be so bad.

Feeding everyone these days is a two-man occupation. I am lucky becuase OH helps.  He feeds the Old Men, while I feed the sheep, and Albie and Storm.  We were out first thing with the buckets.  Vitamin and Fivla were waiting for us by the gate.

This does make life much easier as we were not having to climb up the hill to find them.

The others were loafing about too, ever hopeful.

Of course, I had carrots.

I call this “Elephants at the Watering Hole”.

Once fed, feet done (Vitamin’s sprayed with apple cider vinegar), mouth swooshed out (Vitamin again), we took our buckets and walked back to the croft.

Today’s shed inhabitant was Klængur (and Pepper).

Haakon wasn’t bothered about going inside.

And Iacs was sheltering behind a dry-stone dyke (wall).

It is slowly revving up outside now (the late afternoon). I have tried to do everything in the daylight because it is safer to see what you have to avoid.