A little known fact – the shed can hold four Shetland ponies. Who knew?

I have to say that it was also very “close” in there – the smell was eye-watering (think sweaty jockstrap after a Rugby Union match that went to extra time!)  You get the picture.  Since then, I have mucked out and refreshed the whole area.  It is much nicer now.

I could tell Waffle wanted inside too.  Fool.

Anywho, Vitamin happily ate her breakfast bucket oblivious to all of this.

I think the rules are one out and then one in.  A rota system is run by Vitamin, obviously.

Meanwhile theOld Men wouldn’t walk across the burn and so have missed their breakfast all day.  And don’t I know it.  Baleful glares every time I go outside but since they won’t come up, there’s nothing I can do. I told them that.  They hate me.

I found my-Newt having a little bit of a sit by himself this morning, just like The Story of Ferdinand – possibly my most favourite of books.

I crept slowly nearer as I love seeing my ponies asleep and Newt was looking particularly sweet today.

But sadly he noticed me…..

…. And then he got up.

But he ambled towards me….

…. for his statutory nose kissey and a hug.

And then he went off on his little way.  I do love my quiet, if short, moments with Newt.

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.