Yesterday afternoon, I put Albie and Storm back into the field to rejoin their friends.

I had watched them in the school and Albie was trotting about, moving nicely and freely.  Storm was lame on one front leg, which I attributed to a possible shoulder injury from Waffle hooning about previously.

This morning, however, was a different matter. Both ponies were very sore and pottery so I immediately put them back inside.

I was not popular with anyone and Albie and Storm looked at me miserably but, as they’ve spent most of the day lying down, I think I made the right decision.

Both ponies both need their feet trimmed (which should, I think, help hugely) but, as the farrier is not due until next month, I think this is where Albie and Storm will have to live for the time-being.

Sorry boys but it is for your own good.  I feel very sad. This is a set-back for both of them but hopefully I have made the right decision. It is so difficult to know what to do for the best but I think keeping them inside is the only way forward at the moment.

The others (except Newt) were all very pleased to see them, too.

He was too busy asking for carrots!

A lovely, if fresh, morning.

I decided to take down the electric fence that divided the field. It served no purpose anymore.

The chaps were busy but Newt spotted me and walked over to see what I was doing.

He likes to “help”.

“Just the say the word”, he said so I did – Go away, please and touch nothing.

Note Waffle wandering over, in the background.

I got on with the task of undoing all the electric fence wire from the posts, rolling it up onto a very useful spindle thing and then pulling up the posts, putting them into groups of five to collect afterwards with my wheelbarrow.

“And thank you Waffle”, I shouted after him!  That was definitely Waffle. I saw him.

Now the ponies will have access to fresh water where there is a small stream.  And, yes, I will still go on lugging buckets for them in case they never learn!

Anywho, I managed to get my wheelbarrow, now full of fence posts (bagged) and the wire, through the gate without letting anyone escape.

They all wanted out.  They had spent last night in their huge field with the little shed, that I am saving, as the weather was so vile.

I don’t know why they grumble so much in this field. It is not that bad.  It was like herding cats trying to get them all back in this morning!

They all, to a horse or pony, want to go down to this field which has not been touched for months and is full of grass.  No chance. I am saving that for later when winter is at it’s worst and we will need it.

I think I will sleep well tonight.

We’re only at the beginning of November and the weather is now officially vile.

I was on dog-walking duty today so we went out fairly early trying to catch a brief weather-window.

I was full of good intentions to give the dogs a good walk but failed when I realised that I was mostly walking myself. The dogs had gone home!

Even the sheep were in bed.

There is weather and then there is WEATHER!  They’re not stupid – except for Lambie who is not the brightest star in our firmament.  But at least he had the sense to go inside.

The ponies were looking for shelter so I moved them into the big field, which has the wee shed and lots of dry stone walls. They all rushed off and I hope Vitamin and Fivla remember the shed is open when the skies open later on (4.5mm in an hour forecast).

Fed up with the weather (you can see a theme here), I went into my shed this afternoon and made these two little chaps to go with their Mum.  If anyone wants sheep for Christmas, let me know. I am happy to make you one, two, three,….. many….. I have a variety of natural Shetland wool colours.  Email me for prices.

Finished, I went inside and, well, I have nothing more to say!

The sheep are rarely home these days.  They love grazing in a far field, that I was saving for winter.

Everyone can get there by going under fences.

Everyone, that is, except for ‘Ster who sits patiently by the fence waiting for me to walk him round through the garden and another field.  To be fair, he is very good and doesn’t eat anything in the garden – he knows the routine and what is expected.  OH would go nuts if he knew I walked ‘Ster through his garden most evenings!  We will say nothing.

The sheep go out all day and night, if they can, coming back for a swift breakfast before going off again.

So it was lovely to see them sitting down chewing their cud in the morning sunshine.

I like to think they have very smiley and relaxed faces.

Except for Lambie, who looks like the village idiot!

Despite this, he is very good with Pepper.

And Pepper is (mostly) very kind to the sheep. She likes them.

Even Maggie has calmed down.  I love the way Maggie looks behind when I tell her she is gorgeous!  I think she knows this already. ❤️

Yesterday was a beautiful day (today, less so).  I was on dog-walking duty so we went out early as the wind was meant to be getting up later.

Obviously I took the two dogs out, but Monster followed along for the craic.

My constant, if perpetually complaining, companion.

I think he was trying to make up for the day before when he spent his morning getting into a glass Kilner jar with treats in.  He broke it with glass and treats everywhere, resulting in me cursing and swearing at him while I cleaned it all up.  Three lots of vacuuming, Monster. That’s all I’m saying!

Still, I have to forgive him for such dogged (or is that catted?) devotion.

After our long walk, Monster had a lie down to recover – we did go quite a long way for those short little legs.

And then it all started….

Pepper knew the signs.

Note, in this film how Pepper is the one doing all the moving, while Monster deliberately evicts her into the kitchen!

And yet they genuinely like each other. I think Pepper would’ve been a different dog if Monster hadn’t taken her under his iron paw.