This is the view from my bedroom window first thing.  Not too shabby really.

My morning routine consists of something like this….

I get all the sheep into the big stable for their breakfast (in case they need to stay there – it is a good habit to have).  7 bowls out for 6 sheep.

While Lambie has his own private speshul bowl – I have to stand guard for him against potential marauders like ‘Ster or ‘Bert.

Leaving the sheep in the shed, once Lambie has said he’s finished, I put together five buckets of food (all different except for the girls who get the same) and lug them over to their field where everyone is waiting.

I stand with Haakon (again guarding his bucket for him) listening to the quiet munching and admire the amazing scenery and light.

I have taken to popping 5 carrots in my pocket so that those with less (Sóley and Lilja who only get a smidge for the sake of it), don’t come and hassle Haakon who has more to eat. I see it as not dissimilar to protection money for the Mob.

Buckets finished, removed, carrot payments made, I walk back home, wash the buckets in the stream (think of the last scene of The Jungle Book and yes, I do hum the tune the girl sings).  Then off to find the sheep and to put them, horror of horrors, into a field!

If there is time, there may be sheep hugging.  As you can see, Harrel is almost a grown-up now and definitely one of the lads.

And I haven’t even had breakfast!

Daisy and I went up to the Minions’ field to “do feet”.  It is neverending for obvious reasons.

While Daisy worked her magic on Newt, I was in charge of the front end.  I also had to hold the bag of hoof trimming equipment to keep it out of the way of prying minds and teeth. They had already scattered the contents around the field once.

Storm, and his little friend, then proceeded to be very irritating.

One friend, Albie.

An eternal irritation.

Silver was “helpful”.  I won’t let them nibble or get in the way – that’s not fair on Daisy who is doing all the work.

Then it was Fivla’s turn for her hoof trim.

Of course, she was a stoic and a sweetheart.

She put up with a lot from Albie.

This time it was Newt’s turn to supervise – well, it’s always good to have an expert on hand or hoof, depending on your perspective.

I shoo’ed them all away and told them to “get a job”.

“Seriously, a job?”

So they annoyed each other instead.  Well, that’s a job, I guess!

I took Pepper in the car (as she has to learn to travel) to see the Minions.  They were fine and afterwards as her reward, I took her to the beach to explore.

She was keen as mustard.

And thought the beach was BRILLIANT!

To start with, I kept Pepper on the lead as I was not sure about her recall.

There were so many distractions.

Everything had to be explored.

We pretty much had the beach to ourselves.

The trouble is Pepper is almost totally invisible in any background (my next dog will be fluorescent, I have promised myself).

More exploring.  This was Pepper’s walk so I let her do what she wanted.

And then we met a friend.  They were my almost-neighbours and, after some consultation, we agreed to let our dogs of their leads to play.

Pepper was totally smitten but she behaved much better.  She had nice manners and, although besotted by a bigger dog, she didn’t annoy.  A small someone is going to sleep well tonight and probably me!

After supper, Daisy and I go outside in the almost dark with our wee “croft dug” to put the ducks to bed in their shed, and then going on to sort out Tiddles and Waffle in their stable.

Croft dug always comes too.

She loves it, following digilently in the near dark with a huge smile on her little puppy face.

We let her into the stable now so she can meet two trustworthy Shetland ponies – Tiddles and Waffle – who are both very good around dogs.  Others are less so.  Pepper won’t be meeting them until she is a bit bigger and quicker, if ever.

And because of this, Pepper is much calmer around the ponies now she has finally met them.  Far less idiot-puppy-bouncing so they don’t react either.  She was desparate to say hello while we were mucking out.

This is Pepper’s “good-girl” face.  Utterly enchanting.  We are all very smitten.

She is a very special little dog.

First thing in the morning, after feeding six sheep, then taking Lambie to a quiet field where he can be fed separately as he refuses to eat with everyone else and has to be speshul, letting out the ducks, feeding them and the hens (let out earlier by OH in his dressing gown complete with small puppy), …. I set out five buckets and into each goes a different combinations depending on who needs what.

And then I clamber over the hill with my five buckets, shout at everyone to stand back and to stop mugging me and dish them out accordingly.

I stand by Haakon as he is easily bullied off his bucket and he has the most to eat. He has the most supplements.

God help anyone who comes between me and Haakon’s bucket. They mostly don’t bother though I sometimes feel Iacs’ nose on my hand or back.

It is all a bit of a performance especially if it is a windy morning because then buckets can fly away, but mostly everyone is sensible.  Haakon is doing very well on his daily TurmerAid. It has been a real game-changer for him. I walked him home the other day and thought I haven’t seen him move so well in ages.  I wonder if he thought that of me because I take the human version!

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