Gosh, where to start…..

Worry #1
Yesterday I knew ‘Bert was lame but it wasn’t until late afternoon I found out just how bad it was.  I found him in sitting by the gate refusing to move. After much cajoling he stood up and on three legs he hopped/walked to the stable with me. It was ‘Bert’s back leg. He wouldn’t even weight-bear and I was worried.  Was it broken?  According to ‘Bert it might be.

I trimmed his hoof, gave him an antibiotic injection and a painkiller and left him in the shed with ‘Ster for company, lots of food (which ‘Ster happily scoffed) praying he would still be alive in the morning.

This morning ‘Bert left the stable on four legs and was much better.  I had worried all night.

Next up…

Worry #2
This morning Haakon was eating his brekkie, suddenly stopped, did the “flehmen response” a few times, pawed the ground, looked tucked up, did a big poo, ate a bit and then went off to lie down.  So, worrying, I went off to check the Minions (an hour’s round trip) hoping he would be standing up eating by the time I returned.

Worry #3
On my drive past “my” oystercatcher, I saw she had gone from her nest!

I looked at the empty nest and could see a few fragments of shell but that could mean the crows had been.

So I looked around for Mr and Mrs Shalder and could see them nearby.  And then I found the three babies!  Phew.  So happy.  I quickly left.

(the third one is in the long grass).

Home and back to Worry #2
Haakon was still lying down… now flat!  So I got a headcollar, some carrots and tested him out on his primary function – eating. Yes, he liked food.  He got up and I led him up the hill to the long grass around the house.  His walking was not good, and his back legs looked odd but as he walked, he seemed to straighten out and look happier.  Into the stable for some painkillers and he, Iacs and Klaengur are currently around the house with access to the stable.  He looks much happier.  I am still worried, though.  Maybe it’s just a blip.

“Vitamin?  Do you want your bucket?”

And straight in, like an arrow!  No need to ask twice.

Tiddles fancied his chances (good luck then).

Vitamin was having none of that and it wasn’t even her bucket!  But she told him anyway.

Tiddles managed to look slightly ashamed.  Just slightly.

And so Storm took over.  He thinks there is choccie cake hidden somewhere in the bucket.

Oh yes.  It will be found (no, it won’t because there is none) and still Vitamin eats.

Fivla looked on.  She is not averse to barging in, bullying Vitamin off her food and stealing the lot if I don’t keep guard.  Today, she was better behaved.

They all know the rules – no stealing Vitamin’s food. Stay away but be around if I need to put sunscreen on noseys, no barging, no running away and no being mean.

However, whether the Minions do any of these things, is a different matter!

I am still trying to work out this camera, I am still not sure about it and I will probably go on whining like this for a while trying to decide whether to sell or keep it.

Anywho, off I went with said-camera and took a few snappity-snaps of the chaps.

Klængur looking, well, orange!

The frilly of the silly (Iacs).

A close-up. If you want this as a screen-saver, please email (you know who you are!)

Iacs even has a silly tash too.

Dearest darlingest Haakon.

Meanwhile, over the fence, Dreki was watching us all.

And then he went back to more important matters.

With a fence between them, everyone gets along spendidly and I am even managing to train Dreki and as well as taking Klængur out by himself. We have a routine and it works for the time being.

I am still undecided about this camera.  Meh!

My wonderful proof-reader and her husband visited us today.  I defrosted a tub of who-knows-what-this-is soup from the freezer and we had a good lunch with Pepper falling asleep on the table (tell no one).

Afterwards, there was the usual request to meet Lambie. My visitors had brought us hoomans cake and, for the sheep, ginger biccies (which I refuse to buy as they have doubled in price).  Lambie and his friends were easily bought.

And then I showed off my shed and Lambie followed in as well.  Harrel was banned. He has no manners.

Lambie worked his charm, but as you can see, the ginger biccies were all finished.

Still, Lambie is not a gold-digger. he genuinely liked our visitors, ginger biscuits or not.

Mr Proof-Reader is trying to explain that the ginger biccies were finished.  There were doubts as to the truth of this statement.

Then carrots were brought out.

And father and son charmed everyone with their handsomeness.

And natural good-looks.

Sort of…..

A lovely day.  My proof-reader works tirelessly through my Great Great Aunt Kate’s Diaries pointing out my cruddy typing errors.  There are loads.  I just hope the Winning Smile of Lambie is enough payment for all her time and skill.

As a certain someone was brought home by a complete stranger the other day, we have now resorted to a hi-viz coat (not dissimilar to the one worn by Her Maj in her later years).  The theory is we can see Pepper so much better when she is leaving the premises!

Ted with his new haircut is still very handsome.

I wish I had done this sooner.

Everything revolting has gone and he is a vision.

Flossie kindly walks the dogs in the morning and I take them out after their tea for a good rabbit hunt along an old drystone wall with old burrows in it.

An interesting note – these two can share very nicely.  This is not something Her Maj ever managed and she would swear like a navvy if anyone ever asked her what she was hunting.  And so, of course, this would end badly as no dog ever liked being sworn at by BeAnne.

I love watching Ted being a proper terrier. It makes me all warm inside.  I wish Mum could see him.

Both dogs have the best time and love running up and down the old wall looking and digging too. Ted is a ferocious digger though, to date, nothing has ever been dug up!

And then the sheep arrive to see what all the fuss was about and we go home.