I was looking at the old men, Haakon and Iacs, while they were eating their breakfast thinking to myself “isn’t nature amazing!”

Both horses were wet (I am trying to be tough and make everyone live outside, even if it rains. My mantra now is “they won’t melt, they are fat; they won’t melt, they are fat” and occasionally I will message Daisy or Flossie so they can confirm this for me and I won’t give in and dish out rugs and stables.)

Nature has kicked in, growing a long multi-layered winter coat….

…. that forms into little points for the rain to drip off, leaving a lovely dry undercoat next to the skin.

The belly (ok, rather huge) remains dry and fluffy from being underneath.

And they also have beautiful dry froo-froo bouffant knickers, as well.

All the lovely dirt and grease built up over the year from not washing it out also adds to their waterproofness.

It really is a bloody brilliant invention of nature and something to encourage, so no rugs or sheds for the foreseeable.  I expect to last the week!

After me, one more time ““they won’t melt, they are fat; they won’t melt, they are fat” !

It was time to put everyone back to the three long fields in Sandness.  I only originally brought the ponies home for the dentist and the farrier.

We decided to leave Storm, Tiddles and Albie at home on their hard-standing for a bit longer.  I am not sure if you know, but Albie rejoined the hard-standing/stable group yesterday as he was lying down a lot and being by himself.  So, possibly not thrilled at this prospect (they did shout), the boys were very good and had a few extra carrots to divert them while their friends all left.

Easy loading.  Always nice. Five ponies moved.

Some quickly cantered off.  Even the old ladies were active.

And then Floss and I sucked our teeth about Waffle.

We both agreed “he was just not right” so, after lunch, we went back with the horsevan and brought him home again.

And I think we made the right decision.

Storm was pleased to see his friend.

While we have no offishul diagnosis, I think Waffle is finding his feet painful with all this grass, as is Albie.

I gave Waffle a painkiller and declared stable-rest for all.

It is just for tonight.  Give everyone’s feet (and possibly brain) a rest.

Tomorrow, Tiddles and Storm, who are walking very well now, can go outside but Waffle and Albie will remain indoors.

Feeling exhausted with all these descision, this afternoon, I went into my shed and made a mini-Barrel!  I might’ve also added more wool to the original standing Barrel to make him a bit more realistic!

Remember this wee black lamb?

…. who was intrepid and greedy, from Day 1?

He even went on a dog walk with me, leaving his mother behind…. shouting!

Well, he was sheared for the first time this year and his fleece was gorgeous.  I have kept all their fleeces except ‘Ster’s.

After choosing a nice bit (hopefully around the neck, I think), washing and drying it (it took ages hung up over the Rayburn like dreadlocks), I carded a good pile today and made 5 lovely batts.  The colour is beautiful.

And then, this afternoon, I made this little chap!  A mini Harrel-the-Barrel!

Awwww…… *** sniff ***!

His wool was lovely to work with and most pure black.

Yesterday, we swapped Albie for Storm, who was also very sore on his feet.  Flossie had noticed he was lurking in the background looking miserable.

Tiddles was pleased to see him and Albie was glad to escape.

Talking of escaping, this morning, OH came in from feeding the hens/ducks to say that Storm and Tiddles were the other side of my optimistic single strand electric fence.  Of course they jolly well were!  I guess it was inevitable and it definitely was Storm who was to blame.  I put them back and lowered the fence.  They had gone under. No one jumps. I don’t encourage flight.

And today is a day of shite, weather-wise, so I felt sorry for the reprobates and brought them into the stable for their painkillers. I also made up a hay net too.  Maybe that will keep them out of mischief.

I left them playing with all the bowls.  The best toys – they are virtually indestructable.

I wonder where these two will be tomorrow.  Probably in the house!

Last week, I put an advert out asking if anyone had a hot water boiler and I bought this 30L boiler.  OH collected it for me yesterday.  So I filled it up from our hot water supply and then some buckets too.  This is our cheapest way to do it. The water is already good and hot and the boiler just keeps it like that.

I have an electric thermometer which I was given many years back and sat in a drawer doing nothing.

I washed some of Harrel-the-Barrel’s wool.  This is lamb’s wool so it should be the very best of the best.

There was help, obviously!

And a small row about the bed.

Job done, relatively easily now I have my hot water boiler and I put everything outside to dry in old pillowcases.

There was obviously clearing up to do afterwards.  That cat ain’t moving for no one.

This is my wool supply from shearing this summer.  I aim to wash the nice bits and use them to make my felted sheep.

And I also bought myself The Beast – or a drum carder!

It means business with those teeth.

This is last year’s wool from ‘Ster, which I had washed but was difficult to work with in its original state.

So I swiftly ran it through my carder to make very useable batts. So soft and a lovely colour.  There is something very nice about using my sheep’s own wool. It makes every sheep that I make very special.

My aim is to be self-sufficient in wool. I have all the colours (white, black, shaela, moorit, katmoget, flecket….). I will wash small batches, dry them and run them through my drum carder to create wool I can make my sheeple out of.  I am feeling very pleased and ever so slightly smug now.