It was persisting with rain this morning and I couldn’t find anyone to give them their breakfast.  I fed who was already around.

Later I went back out to find Dahlia and Gussie behind a wall, so I gave them their food bowls along with the accompaniment of a starling, who was not feared of me at all.

The sheep inhaled their food and went off to do their own thing for the day.

Then I picked up their bowls, turned round to go back home only to find the Fivla and Vitamin had taken up residence in the wee shed and were not coming out or letting anyone else in.  The rain, by now, was tipping down and did not look like giving up either.

I secretly admired the ponies’ determination to occupy their space.  Kolka could’ve happily strode inside causing total chaos and misery for the little ones who would be made to leave.  Vitamin might hold her ground, but Fivla would squeal like a pig and exit the shed, tail swishing, in unjust indignation and fury.

Deciding to do as much as possible while I had my waterproof kit on (a survival suit, no less), I threw a huge bag of unwanted bolted celery plants over the fence for the other Shetland ponies who were looking dejected huddled in their container.

This was considered a lovely gift and they chomped their way through the lot, and hopefully felt fuller and happier afterwards.

It really has been horrible outside. I am currently on my third coat, the rest are currently drip-drying in the kitchen onto the floor.  Ugh.  Tomorrow is no better either. Our local show has just been cancelled.

This was taken from last night. Lovely colours and the sunset was pretty too.

This morning, however, was a different matter. I had decided that mother duck and her babies could now go outside of their pen but it was raining and not very nice so I asked OH to make their run a bit more sturdy instead.  They are learning to escape.

As the day brightened into lovely sunshine, I finally opened their door.

So they sat there and ignored freedom for a while.

Later, I saw that the little family had moved around and were perfectly happy outside of their home.  Mum was keeping guard.

Her dearest darling precious little ducks.

Later, on my way out to pack veg at Turriefield, I fould that family duck had all gone back to bed.  As Monster was also around,  I shut the door.  I trust Monster but I don’t really trust him.  I would’ve hated to come home to carnage.

I told you I would follow them around!  I just worry too much.

This was Silver earlier this year in May.  The visiting vets from south diagnosed a sarcoid.

Luckily, a kind reader sent me half a tube of Sarclay and I decided to start by treating Silver’s sarcoid using this. We could go down the vet route later if it didn’t work.

I was diligent. Applying the cream (with gloves) daily and eventually a scab formed and fell off leaving little if any sign of anything.  I am very pleased with this result.

Silver has gone from being head-shy to letting me kiss the area better every morning after his breakfast.

He also has a daily scoop of TurmerAid to support his immune system, which I like to think helps too.

I don’t let the others eat the TurmerAid as it is alfalfa-based which is a known trigger of significant insulin spikes in insulin-resistent ponies, potentially contributing to laminitis.  We have been down that road before.  They are all pretty good about not trying to steal it off Silver and I am a vigilent guard.

So let’s hope this treatment has made the difference to Silver. He is much more amenable to work with, which is a huge plus.

And back in duck land. I am still hated but the little ones really are quite a size now.

They love their food and come running when I put out fresh new saucerful (twice a day) and water.

First thing this morning, OH found them all out of their compound, so he put them back wondering if I had let them out.  I said no – they had found a hole in the wire and popped through.  I am thinking tomorrow I will give them their freedom but keeping a eagle-eye on them at all times. I shall possibly even follow them around!

We all survived last night’s storm (Storm Floris) without casualties, either animal or building. It can’t have been pleasant for anyone outside – torrential rain, thunder rumbling and an unforgiving northerly wind but at least it was fairly warm.  Earlier, when I checked on everyone, making sure they were in their correct fields, put out haynets for those sheltering in the containers, it was midgey as hell outside.  The calm before the storm.  Two hours later, the world was crashing around us with a continuous Force 11 (74-82 mph, 119-133 km/h).

Little Miss Pepperpot is 100% well now. I have no idea what is going on.  You would never know she had a limp on any foot.  I think she should still have her x-ray, though.  I am swithering on this.

She spent most of her afternoon under my shed growling at someone. I have no idea who is living under there.

This is currently her favourite sport and, as long as I know where she is, I don’t mind.  She has never caught anything under there so I think they are fairly safe.

The stream flooded the field at both ends so I could only poo-pick this afternoon on one side.  I couldn’t get across but Pepper did, which just proves how well she is feeling.

She has a good leap on her fired by her Patterdale terrier determination.

It’s going to be pretty windy all week but I will try and stay strong on the haynet front.  My rule is the Shetland ponies only get hay if it is raining a lot as well.  Otherwise, I tell myself that they won’t blow away.

Yesterday Pepper was fine.  She had four legs that all worked relatively fine (though there is still a smidge of a hint of her old limping injury – nothing I can put my finger on, but she’s not 100% sound when I look at her walking around the croft).

Last night we went out for a lovely supper with friends, leaving the dogs happily sleeping in the sitting-room as is our usual going-away routine, only to come home to find Pepper walking on three legs.   Again.  Same leg.  Same sort of hoppity walk.  She was non-weight bearing, in no pain, but not using her four legs.

So today, Pepper is on bedrest.  No walks, no going outside except for the basics.  I also gave her painkillers.

I made an appointment with the vet for an x-ray on Friday and we can hopefully get to the bottom of what is really going on with her paw.

It is a complete mystery.

We have no idea what this limp is from and during the day it suddenly almost miraculously vanished.

And now I can’t remember if it is Pepper’s left or right front paw and which one it was last time.  She is a little conundrum wrapped in an enigma with more than a hint of wicked!