I try to get out on the Minions’ track at mid day to keep on top of the poo-picking (my newest chore).

These past few days, I have found it very difficult to spend time with the ponies as I miss Storm so much.  He should be with them.  I can’t count to seven.  EIght was so much easier.

I think the only one who misses Storm is Silver.  He shouts for him occasionally and then forgets and of he goes to join his friends, though I do doubt his choices sometimes.

I did try to explain to him what happened.

Newt was Storm’s greatest friend and foe.  They were related.  Cousins, I think.  You could tell because if one was up to something wicked, the other wouldn’t be far behind.

The track is made a bit bigger every few days.  This time I gave them the whole bottom area of the field which they are thrilled with.  Vitamin and Fivla job share the role of boss-mare and everyone else follows behind never questioning where they’re going when they canter off in the morning.

The rocks are cold but I found a small one and perched on it while Tiddles told me I was his best friend.  He likes to help to poo-pick, which is very distracting but lovely.

I am mostly nose-height which means I have to kiss the proferred nosey for each poo I find to pick up.  Well, someone’s got to do it!

Today is OH’s birthday and I gave him his present in a box.  No, it wasn’t Monster, it was a very nice bread board.

But the minute the box was empty and put on the floor, Monster was straight in making himself comfortable.

And that’s where he wanted to spend his morning (Monster, not OH).

I left Monster snoozing and popped down to the byre at the bottom of the garden to get something celebratory out of the freezer for supper when I got the feeling I was being watched.

So I nipped back up to the house and got three carrots to give to the “fairies” at the bottom of the garden.

Three fairies to be precise.

At least they don’t know how to open the gate…… yet.  Looking at it from the photo, I think I might take some rope to tie the gate up a bit better. Belt and braces.

Back in the house, Monster had gone to sleep.  The box is a the best bit about someone’s birthday.

Today I had a day off.  Once all the horses, ponies, ducks, chickens, Ted’s eyedrops (he has dry eye) was done, I climbed into clean clothes (that would be anything without mud or horse, pony, duck, chicken, dog or cat involvement) and shoes, kissed everyone goodbye and left home, never looking back.

(sorry, Pepper, you are not coming too)

Clean clothes and shoes do not go well with our home environment.  I ended up walking on the grass trying to avoid being covered in mud, which is everywhere.

Making it out fairly mud-free, I drove off to collect my friend, Monika, and off we went to Lerwick. To Mareel, to be more precise.  “Mareel is a multi-purpose entertainment venue located on the waterfront of Lerwick”.  The cinema, in other words.

Tickets pre-booked, a sandwich (lunchtime viewing), plus a Pepsi and my weight in Haribo and I was set for a lovely afternoon not thinking about ponies, cats, dogs, yada yada yada…..

We had a quick perusal of the Lovely Things in Mareel’s shop.

Can you tell what film we were going to see?

A bit of a clue here.

It was Wicked and I was mesmerised 100%.  A brilliant film, soundtrack, everything.  Would I watch it again? definitely.  As the titles came up at the end, I just said “wow” and I meant it.  Possibly because they don’t have mud in Oz, just a brief talking horse.

Then we wended our way home and I dropped of Monika and came home back to my life of mud and horses, ponies, ducks, chickens…..  I changed back into my filthy (with a funny horsey smell that follows me) clothes and went out to put the ponies to bed etc.

It was a lovely day off.  Every mud-free minute.

Only two horses were up waiting for their breakfast this morning – Kolka and Iacs.

Haakon was waiting at the bottom of the hill requesting that I brought his down to him.  No chance.  I am not his servant. Well, of course, I am his servant but he knows I am a determined person and I want to see him walk as well as eat.

So Haakon said he could, and then he couldn’t and then he did that head-shakey, silly front leg flicky thing, caved in cantering up the hill to his bucket, which I had set aside from the others so he could eat in peace.

There was obviously a small hoover attachment too.  Ever vigil and at least she was here and not with the neighbours.

My job was to stand between Haakon and the now descending vultures as I knew Kolka and Iacs would finish their buckets earlier and then come to hassle/steal his food, which is an absolute no-no.  Haakon’s food has a special very-expensive supplement exclusively for him.

I was right.  As if by magic, Iacs appeared by my side.

While Haakon ate, Iacs went through my pockets with all the expertise of airport security on High Alert.

But I wasn’t going to let him get Haakon’s breakfast.

Then I could see Kolka wandering over with full intent to steal as well.

While I was watching her arrival, Iacs quickly snuck past me and Haakon told him what he thought of his breakfast heist.

Luckily, by now, Haakon had finished his breakfast so there was nothing to steal.  I know these guys.  I know what they are thinking.

And then we had a brief glimpse of the winter sun and our day began.

Yesterday morning, while OH and I were busy mucking out, and feeding ponies/horses, I suddenly thought to myself that I hadn’t seen Pepper recently.   This was not like her, she is usually around with Ted while OH and I are working.

I thought I trusted her.  I had just been thinking how well behaved she was.

How wrong I was.  A rookie mistake.

So, I looked at my phone to check to see if anyone local had seen her……

(photos courtesy of my neighbour!)

**** sigh ****

It is a new low when my dog goes for walks with my neighbour’s dogs.  I live over the hill about another 1/2 mile.

Apparently Pepper got on very well with the three dogs and had a lovely time.

I am so pleased.

So, I drove over and fetched my ungrateful wee dug home, trying hard not to ask if they would like to keep her since she got on so well with everyone.

Pepper, of course, is not sorry for her excursion.  She knows I am disappointed but she also knows I will apologise for feeling this way if she turns on the charm!