I brought these two home today.

I have been sucking my teeth for a while now and decided that Tiddles and Waffle (and possibly Albie, though there wasn’t room in the van) should come to stay here before the autumn flush of grass comes through (the last growth of high-in-sugar green stuff) and they get laminitis.

They will stay inside for a few days.  The hay is soaking and rationed.

I notice that both were slow walking up the hill and puffing.  Tiddles is not fat but on the cusp of struggling.

And war has been declared with Waffle, who was equally bad, if not worse, in his gait.

So far there have been four upturned buckets of water so I have resorted to this.   Up turn that Waffle!

The alfalfa blocks are scattered too!

I feel sorry for the boys but it would be much worse if they stayed there.  I think they were days away from full-blown laminitis.

Meanwhile, outside, I have my mowing crew doing their bit in the paddock.  This is where the little ones will live at night.

Some are more committed to the cause than others.

My jury is still out on Albie but one hint of leaving the herd and not looking happy and he is joining the other two.  I have my van.  I will use it.

The daily dog-walk, Vitamin bucket while checking the Minions is an all-in-one job.

Me: “Storm NO! Do not touch the bucket!”

When I looked downwards by the bucket whilst picking up all the bits Storm had thrown out, I saw this!

You have no idea just how ridiculously excited I was to see this little plant.

A round-leaved Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia).

What joy and, best of all, here in Leradale.

I told the Minions to leave the sundew alone. I hope they don’t taste like the most delicious thing ever and they spend their days searching them out.

And once I had got my eye in, I could see the sundew plant everywhere.  I guess for me it is the little things that make me smile and I can go to my bed happy in the knowledge that I have sundew growing in my field.

(I think it is the fact that the plant eats insects. I mean that’s pretty cool, if slightly gross!)

I am very pleased with Edna. She is looking fabularse, darlink – all rotund and happy.

And this is not surprising since she has three breakfasts and yes, she can count.  The first is in the shed with everyone – a mere handful as no one else actually needs hard feed but they all refuse to give up this daily routine.

The second is when Edna, dog-like, devotedly follows OH back to the feed shed, clambers in and demands another handful in her own private bowl.  The others have to stand politely outside not bothering her.

And the third is when I go outside.  I bring a big bowl of fattening weight-putting-on mash which she adores and is easy to eat with one tooth.

Edna has to eat her mash by herself as there are vultures always circling…..

Mostly a black vulture called Harrel-the-Barrel and sometimes his mother, Maggie.  They don’t actually like the mash much but think they are entitled to it, or to at least get Edna away from her bowl.  Despite words, they continue to circle.

Hence the private dining area.

Today started well. It wasn’t raining so that was a plus. I looked at my waterproofs and thought nah, I’ll be fine. It’s a weather window.

But, no it wasn’t. We (me, Pepper and Ted) were drenched.

It was so wet the windscreen wipers were on double time and I had to change all my clothes when I got home.

But here’s another plant to add to my collection.

Grass-of-Parnassus or Bogstar – (Parnassia palustris)

It doesn’t grow at Thordale but is everywhere at Leradale.  I had never seen it before.  I love the name. Apparently it smells of honey.

And from this afternoon. You can tell it is raining outside – the “kids” are trying to kill each other!

A grot day outside (rain showers, fog and windy) so, after horse and pony feeding and checking, I spent most of it indoors.

After lunch, I vacated to my shed to make another, to go with all the rest, sheeple plus have a nice cup of tea.  I like to think I have some peace and quiet too.

As ever, I took the dogs with me, so the peace and quiet quickly left.

And Pepper hopped up and down saying “I’m bored. Are we there yet? I’m still bored!”

So once one sheeple was made (and then in again after supper to make another as I can’t keep up with demand), I took the dogs out after their tea for a good run.

We were watched by the Old Men who happened to be loitering with most definite intent.

Ted almost caught a rabbit. He just didn’t know what to do when he had it and Pepper ran about doing her bouncy part-meerkat, part dog thing.

The Old Men frisked me for food. I had none.  They told me I was nothing to them.

So now I am thinking as my life has calmed down, there really is no point in this blog and maybe I should give it up as hopefully nothing ever happens.  Ever again.

Lambie was having one of his “moments”. He said the midges were bad.  They weren’t but he was having none of it and had taken himself off to sulk at me.

So I took the dogs for a walk in the field and decided to look for my favourite plant – sundew.  Many years ago it grew in my field and I wanted to see if I could find it again.

While I was looking, I took photos of the plants I could find with the help of my trusted companion, Pepper. Ted had long since gone home by now.

So here goes…. (and apologies as I am bound to get some wrong in my identification)

Bog Asphodel (Narthecium ossifragum)

Devil’s-bit Scabious (Succisa pratensis)

It’s been a very good year for this flower.

Marsh Willowherb (Epilobium palustre)

Cross-leaved Heath (Erica tetralix)

Heather (Calluna vulgaris)

Tormentil (Potentilla erecta)

Selfheal (Prunella vulgaris)

Autumn Hawkbit (Leontodon autumnalis)

Eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis)

Possibly Common Chickweed (Stellaria media) ?

Some kind of lichen?

A nice green plant that had droplets of water! You can see I am now giving up on the educating front.

And, yes, I found Lambie’s midges but they weren’t biting.  The wind was beginning to blow.

Upon my return, I went and told Lambie it was safe to be in a field. He said he didn’t believe me.

I never saw the sundew but Pepper and I had a nice time looking for it.