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.

Pepper is very good around the horses and ponies and, mostly, they are all very good around her too, with the exception of Silver who would like to chase and possibly stamp, if he could. I do not encourage this one bit.

Yesterday, I was sitting on a rock in the field when Tiddles and Newt came up for a chat.

Pepper instantly appeared on my knee.

Newt started to sniff my pocket and Pepper was curious – sniffing pockets is her job.

She wanted to study him up close.

Then it was Tiddles’ turn. He wanted to investigate Pepper.

And so she reciprocated.

All the time, I was holding my breath in case it all kicked off, quite literally.

But no. I just kept murmering to all around “be nice, be nice”.

And then Pepper decided Newt needed a nose kissey.  He agreed and now that’s Pepper’s thing. She gives nose kisseys out to the ponies, if asked.  Possibly not to Silver, though.  I watch him very carefully.

And Newt loves a nose kissey from anyone!

A few photies from the past few days. The autumn evening sunshine is perfect and then today it was windy, which gave a good hair day.

Newt

Fivla

Silver

Tiddles

Vitamin

Waffle

I should go out more with my big camera, especially this time of year.