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.

It is been pretty obvious, even to me, that Waffle is better now while Albie and Storm are not.  Waffle is going stir-crazy in the stable. He is horrible to everyone and needs to go.  Albie and Storm were very happy to see the back of him.

And Waffle, who is normally the easiest pony I have, would not be caught. Oh, no. He galloped about like an idiot refusing to let me near him until I got him a corner and he had no choice.  Headcollar on.  This is not like Waffle at all. Time to be outside, then.

Waffle was thrilled.  Such a happy boy.

He cantered around like an idiot while the others just stood and watched. I think Silver went after him. They go way back and had some good games.

I think Vitamin’s expression says it all – Oh no, not Waffle back!

A little later, I went out to the field and Waffle sauntered up to me, all back to normal. I could’ve easily caught him then, if I wanted to. I told him to not eat too much or it would be back to Square One inside.  Anyway, this field is rough grazing and has been pretty much eaten back.

Meanwhile, these two – Albie and Storm – are not brilliant. Today is their first day without painkillers and I am dithering whether to put them back on them. I think I will, tonight.  Although a lot better, they are not right.  They are such good little boys (I never thought I would say that of Storm).