A bleak day for all of us today.  Non stop rain while both dogs went to the vet and so everyone was very anxious.

Pepper was due to be spayed while Ted was going to have “a dental” – both under general anaesthetic.

When we came home, the house seemed too empty.  There was a level of noise that had vanished and no one was pleased to see us.  No mad bouncing.

I decided to fill my day setting up Airdrop on three computers and failed. Monster was everywhere but, honestly, he was no help.

At lunchtime the vet phoned to say Pepper was producing milk so he could not spay her.  There was a bit of a panic about the possibility of her being pregnant but it was confirmed that she is most definitely not (phew!) Meanwhile, Ted has his teeth cleaned and polished.

So, I went to collect them both this afternoon and I am living in the doghouse.

Pepper is resentful and furious with me for her horrible day.

Ted is a bit cooller about things.  Everyone said he behaved beautifully, which cheered me up.

Pepper starts medication to dry up her milk and then hopefully in two weeks time, she will be spayed and I can be loathed all over again. I seem to remember BeAnne had a similar thing after her first season so maybe it’s a Pattterdale-terrier thing.

Vitamin has a tummy alarm clock on her that should be admired. She is accurate to the last second.  I don’t even have to shout for her.

(that little black dot in the distance is Vitamin walking determinedly towards me for her breakfast bucket having left everyone else behind).

As it was raining, I decided to feed Vitamin in the shed so she could stay there afterwards to digest out of the wet if she wanted.

She is looking so much better now and I am just really maintaining her weight these days.

The others drifted along a bit later so I dished out the carrots in my pocketses.

And then some moved in – I saw these guys when there was a weather window and I was walking the dogs.  I kicked them out on my return and mucked out. It tends to be lived in quite a lot judging from the mess in there.

The rain kept on going most of the day but it is warm out, so I am not worried. No one is shivering.

I have spent most of my time working on my family tree.  Obviously I had “help”.

The other day, the one when Lambie was being an unhelpful arse….. No, I know, which one was that?  The one when he wouldn’t go out into the field he goes out into every day of his poor miserable existence that is called his life….

Anyway, I digress, it was a beautiful lying-in-the-sun kind of a day and I found these little guys all snoozing in the flowers.

Pepper made her introductions. No one likes a surprise when they are resting.

Vitamin was lying down, which is actually a rare sight. She is not that kind of girl.

Tiddles was also reclining.  He looked so neat and tidy with his little hooves all tucked up.

And Waffle was doing his best Chinese dragon impression.

He is a gorgeous boy (they all are).

I asked Waffle if he was getting up so he lay down even flatter and smiled at me like someone who really didn’t want to get up.

Fair enough, I told him.

Don’t get up. Nobody minds.  Waffle reminded me of Ferdinand the Bull (NOT the Disney version, thank you but the original book)

The ponies look perfect in the field with all the flowers and the blue, blue Shetland sky.

It seems a shame to move them but needs must – next Friday is the day.

And today, guess who got the shed?  Monster claimed it as his.  None shall pass.

Monster views the world as basically all his.

Where we go (ie, the dogs and I), Monster will come too…… if he feels like it.  I love his relationship with Pepper too.  They definitely communicate.

On this particular sunny afternoon, when I took the dogs out for a run, Monster was with us all the way.

He even sat down to enjoy the sun.

And then went a bit blancmange-like on a rock.

Monster seemed very happy, though, surveying us from his rock.

(with the sun shining through his ears)  Am I the only one wondering if Grumpy Cat needs a stand-in!

Today, I found Monster practising to be part of the furniture.

He is one very photogenic cat and we are just part of his world. I realise that now.

Iacs will tell you that he’s “in a routine!” It’s all he ever says as he stands by the gate punctually at 08.30 with his cousin, Haakon, waiting for his morning bucket of TurmerAid and nothing.

Haakon gets real food as he also has boswellia but he hates it so I have to disguise it with mix.

Iacs just gets TurmerAid, a handful of chaff and air.  Low calorie air.

And Pepper gets whatever they drop.  She is a great hoover.

I think both old men are looking fab this summer.  I am much happier.

….. though I think Iacs would like higher calorie air.

And then of course I have to bring a carrot for each of them because “WE ARE IN A ROUTINE!”

(I love how the old men still argue after all these years!)

It really is a wonder that I get out of their field alive.