I am trying to maintain some kind of normality in our new whirlwind of a life.  The Minions are good at reminding me of this and I enjoy going to see them – having some time to myself.

Dear Little Newt looks like a small Wade figurine you put on your mantelpiece or possibly give to a 12 year old girl for Christmas who loves all things pony!

He looks so sweet and fluffy.  Don’t be fooled, though.  He can be a demon when he wants.

Anywho, when I came home, I found Daisy was riding Efstur.  All going well there.

I dropped in to take photos.  Such a joy to watch – a great team.

Lambie and friends are trying to get their heads around our latest addition. Every afternoon, I take Pepper out on her lead to show her around the croft and she is very interested in meeting the sheep.  They too are fascinated but not aggressive, though there was some stamping from Maggie and so Harrel on the first day.  These are not running away type of sheep so hopefully Pepper will learn from this.  I think if they get used to each other under-supervision (hence no photos – I can’t take a camera, a dog lead and try to grab all at the same time. I haven’t got enough hands) then they will all get along fine….. eventually.

The ducks are a different matter, though.  Pepper wants to chase them and “no” is not a word she cares about or wants to hear when it comes to ducks and they do run away very satisfactorily.

And poor Flossie seems to be the one on Pepper-watch while I am out.  Having now finished her dissertation, she is busy with other stuff.  I don’t know how much she gets done.  Probably nothing!

In one week, our lives have changed, but definitely for the better.

Little Herself, now officially named Pepper, is a Demon of the First Order.

She adores her toys and everyone around her.

(as does Monster, if he is allowed near them – though only toys. He only totally loves OH).

This flapping fish, that arrived today (you know who you are and thank you) is a particular favourite at the moment.

Pepper worships Monster.  She thinks he is great. She follows him everywhere.  She thinks he is Batman to her Robin.

And, surprisingly, he is wonderful with her.  He puts up with a lot.

Pepper wants to be with everyone.

And sometimes Monster is close by.  He can always vanish if he wants and mostly chooses not to.

I mean, what is not to love?  Look at dat face!

And this evening I realised I should contact the Vatican to nominate Monster for his beatification and possible future sainthood.

All I can say is this never happened with BeAnne (mostly because she would not share anything!)

So, life here, although exhausting, is going along very well.  Pepper is learning because Monster is teaching her.

Little Herself, possibly Pepper (still), has found her favourite spot – next to the Rayburn – a poor man’s Aga. 

We place her bed there during the day and she spends her day happily alternating between bouncing off the ceiling and sleeping.  She is one very active little puppy and I still resemble the walking dead (one hour of sleep last night).  To be fair, it is me. I just can’t get back to sleep in the middle of the night.

I needed some time out so I spent a little time away to go and see my Minions.  Floss has been a stalwart, holding the fort, or carrot, and I miss my little ponies.  They don’t appear to have missed me and are very content in their “new” field.  Lots of grass and passing school children!

Fivla is a good weight going into winter.  I don’t mind if she is fat. It soon falls off once the weather gets going.

Ditto Vitamin.  It has taken all summer to get back her comfortable matronly figure.

It was a windy day and so I dished out my carrots and took a few photos to remind myself that I have another life apart from puppy-sitting.

It was very nice to get out!  Maybe I will sleep tonight…… please!

This blog will be short.  We are all a bit exhausted today.  Frazzled.

Photo from this morning, first thing.  I had been up a few times in the night taking Little Herself out – she has a crate beside my bed, asks very nicely (scrabble, then woof) and was subsequently accident-free which is a huge achievement.  I needed some sleep to recharge.  This is like having a baby or a small lamb. I had forgotten.

Later, we went to the vet for a check-up and weigh-in.  All good there.  Just a small baby canine tooth to keep an eye on – back in two weeks.

So she tried to eat her lead!

Monster is also tired.

We are still not settled on a name.  Today I quite like Busy or Bizzie and then I try it out and it sounds just odd! We will inevitably shout it endlessly and that is where the name fails. It will come. She is down at the vet’s as Pepper.

Little Herself (today possibly named Pepper, as in Chilli Pepper) has spent the morning with Flossie while the farrier was here.  Puppies and horses don’t mix.  Not never.

Thankfully, we have discovered a hidden skill – Floss definitely has a knack with puppies.

Possibly magic – I took these first two photos just now.  Pepper has been bouncing off the ceiling all day and finally stopped to lie upside down on Floss’ lap.

It is perfect.

Meanwhile, I was outside with our farrier, Stephen, and he trimmed 4 horses and shod 3.  Klaengur is still on holiday. The consensus is that we will wait for his hoof injury to grow out completely.  I don’t want to put unnecessary stress on what is left of his hoof just for the sake of riding.  We are not rushing anything.

Everyone behaved well.

Afterwards, I took Pepper for a walk in the field on an extending lead.

Monster came along too and was a huge help.

It was an amicable walk.

They muddle along fine.

I think that Monster is secretly very happy to have another “person” in his family.

And Pepper has learned very quickly to stay out of reach.

The sheep are going to take a bit of convincing, though.

We are all exhausted!  I had forgotten about just how much hard work puppies are. Fun, but very hard work.  I appear to have “puppy brain” now.