A few day’s back, it was a beautiful morning – all crisp and shiny.

When I went outside, I could only see one black horse and I wasn’t quite sure which one it was – Taktur or Dreki?

Realising it was Dreki when he crossed the burn and came up the hill, Taktur suddenly trotted past and all I could hear was trot, trot, trot and “coming through!”

Who knows where these two had slept that night.  Both were covered in earth.  Hello, revolting!

While Taktur eats his daily bucket of food, Dreki has a pile of hay to keep him amused.

He is an appreciative chap.

It really was a beautiful Shetland spring morning.

I am not feeling the love for Fivla and Vitamin. They are preventing the Minions from getting any grass.  They just want them to watch them eat and while having nothing. It is disgraceful.  There is food if the Minions care to look for it.

So today, I led Waffle, with the others following, off to find some grass.

They have been picketing for too long.  The strike had to stop.

Everyone was very pleased to move on.

Everyone, except for Albie, who just could not leave his Fivla.  His second mother.

I told him he had to.

And Albie quickly agreed and moved onwards and upwards with his friends.

So, yes, everyone was far away.

Meanwhile, Vitamin ……

…. and Fivla were furious.

They stomped up and down the fence shouting.

And, yes, they shouted all day.

And they waited……

And waited.  I know this because when I went back this evening to check with Mandy, my flute duet friend, I found Fivla and Vitamin still waiting and still shouting.

The Minions were miles away happily eating grass!

Edna, who is of indeterminate age and has only one tooth which was wobbly last time I investigated, is not at her best at the moment.  She is lame (daily hoof sprays plus the very expensive magic injection are not working) and not her fattest, despite being on three breakfasts.

So I ordered her favourite food – Rowen Barbary Ready Mash Extra.  It arrived swiftly in the post – I have since discovered that my local feed merchant will get it in for me, which is good and will save ££ on the postage.

This is the mash in its raw stage.  Floss said she wouldn’t mind trying it.

And after five minutes soaking in water, the mash was ready.  Floss did not try it.

I called Edna into my porch. She did not need asking twice.  Whoomph, straight in, head down and chomp.

She came up for air occasionally.

Outside, there was some shameless begging going on.

So we ignored it.

More beseeching looks.

Lambie even did his cheesiest grin, so I distributed some barley rings to the starving.

It was a big bowl (note-to-self, I must improve my portion control) and Edna gave it her very best.

One happy, and very full, Edna.

I put the bowl out for the washing-up crew.

While Edna very politely said thank you.

So this is Edna’s new normal.  A bowl of Ready Mash Extra every morning and I hope this will turn her around.  When I went out an hour later, she was fast asleep in the sunshine, digesting!

We haven’t had any proper rain in Shetland for ages and, although it is a bore (I hate working outside in the rain), it is much needed and I tell myself the grass will grow so much better.  The grass which no Minion can have, that is.

Fivla and Vitamin really have not looked back since I made the executive decision to put them in their own green field.  Minions?  What Minions!

The picket line does not move and I am sure I can hear bad language.  I hope the Minions do wander off after we have left. How long can six ponies stand by a fence and sulk?

Clearing out the derelict croft-house and its shed has made a huge difference.  Vitamin loves her new dining area.

I did my vegetable packing this afternoon and then drove home in the rain to be met by these two, also hopeful that someone would come by with some hay.  Luckily Floss felt sorry for them.  We are on the tail-end of the winter hay now.  Once finished, no more.

Two boxes unpacked today. A few surprises (I don’t remember packing half this stuff) but I will hit Ebay shortly with the taken-to-be-sold items.  Just got to find out what it is, first!

Piles and piles of stuff now inhabit the empty part of my shed.  All covered with dust-cloths against the pesky birds.

Some stuff has made it into the house (I “did” five boxes today and distributed everything far and wide).  I swear it has all grown in size since I saw it in Mum’s house and thought it might look nice in mine.

And Mum’s huge tapestry arrived all rolled up. It spent the night on the sofa and today I found a certain little doglet using it as just the best spot for looking out of the window!

This is the face of someone who didn’t want to be moved. Interestingly, Ted is sniffing around but not really making any links, which is good. I would hate him to be anxious.

Anyway, OH did his best and with some jiggery-pokery, moving things around and swearing, the tapestry was put up.

I won’t lie, I am not sure how I feel about it to be perfectly honest.  It is darker than I remember. We are ordering some lights to see if that improves it.

I’ve decided to live with it a for a while and see.

Meanwhile, I need to get back doing this…. yes, that’s me riding Dreki.  We can walk a circuit of the school, being led!  You have no idea just how proud of this I am.  It is a huge achievement for both of us.

(**** sigh **** so much stuff, so much to do, and so little time. I feel a bit overloaded.)