Little Harry likes his grub.  He happily tries everything, from his Mother’s breakfast, biscuits, string, gates, anything really. He will try to eat it.

Today, when Maggie brought Harry up with her for her second breakfast (she is a little known hobbit breed of sheep), Harry discovered the sheepie lick bucket.

Oh yes!  In he went.  I watched him try to get both front legs in, while he was bouncing on the back end.

And that was it, head down and lick…..

He occasionally came up for air.

Maggie ignored this and continued to eat around him.

A little while later, she tried mentioning that maybe he had had enough.

And to be fair, Harry did lift his head and walk around the bucket.

But no, straight back in and off he went….

He looked like a naughty kid who has been caught with the cookie jar.

I left them for a little while longer.

And then, after a good 15 minutes, I thought maybe Harry might have had as much as any small lamb should have so I took the bucket away and hid it.

(From the shed door) – Harry was very unimpressed.

But Maggie had long since left Harry to his bucket and, as he refused to go with her, he sat down and refused to budge.  She refused to go back and collect him and she sat down too – the other side of the fence.  So I picked him up, still in his sitting position, and ceremoniously carried him to her! I got not thanks for that.

Small Harry is a strong-willed little chap and he likes his own way and if don’t get his own way, he ain’t budging for anyone (or unless he is carried)!  The lick bucket will be rationed!

I have planted all my tatties, (sing it loud),
I have planted all my tatties (feeling smug)…
And winter hurriedly returned.  It’s very cold again.

I have also acquired a plethora of Belfast sinks which I am planting up with a variety of flowers – so far they all seem to be blue, but who cares! Flowers is flowers.

More tatties – this was a case of I wish I had planted them in the other place as that was ideal but now they are too heavy to move over there.  Dammit.

Everything has to be Monster-Proofed.  The only cat to have knowingly killed mint and that is quite an achievement.

I have my beloved Jerusalem artichokes planted here.  My favourite vegetable.

After a rainy morning today, I went to town with Floss – she had her first Covid injection.  All went smoothly.

We didn’t hang around and quickly went home.  These days, I am not a fan of Other People.

I gave Maggie her 4th breakfast as it is the only way I get to talk to Harry.

Maggie told me she hates Harry trying to nurse while she eats her food (she has a point), so I grab him and pop him on my lap for a little cuddle (which he hates but I love).

He is a funny little chap.

He has lots of ideas, and Maggie ignores them all.

But wherever she goes, he follows and then the Clean Up Crew arrive.

I love being at home.

Maggie has been shouting and everyone has “talked” to Harry through the fence so we opened the gate…..

I check them all regularly.  Firstly, the main flock took themselves down to the bottom field leaving Maggie and Harry by themselves but when I came back later, they had come back up again and things were looking hopeful.

Maggie has three meals (at least) a day.  She insists and is in a routine, which we go along with – mainly to shut her up!

This is her where-is-my-2nd-breakfast face!

Lambie was happy to leave the paddock and I don’t like arguments when food is involved.  Edna has also cottoned onto the first, second and third meal sitting.

When I put the bowl down, then it is usually my chance to talk to Harry but he is now trying to eat everything too.

I

Trying….. there’s lots of spitting out!

Lambie is of course very cool.

Later on today and Maggie was still keeping her distance from the others – the best mum – but she would come and talk to me if I am carrying Animal Crackers (Stauffer’s) about my person.

Once my supply had been exhausted, I was history.

Later this afternoon, me and my Animal Crackers went to call Maggie up again.  ‘Bert and Lambie followed me too.

Maggie didn’t seem to mind the boys.

It is just taking time.  The way I see it is that we have all summer to tame Harry down, there are acres of fields and if Edna and Madge are horrible, well Maggie and Harry are lither than the fatties!

I am hoping they just get on with it and get to know each other in a calm, kind way.

Efstur is now well into his training with Daisy.  He loves being ridden and is beginning to become more balanced while developing the right muscles.  Upon examination, Uwe, his physio, said that he still has some more growing to do in the next year or so.

With this in mind, Daisy (who has studied all things saddle and took a saddle fitting course) rides him in an adjustabe saddle which will hopefully accomodate any change in shape and size. She decided that her original saddle did not fit Efstur’s requirements.  Fair enough.

Anyway, Efstur is going very nicely. He has forgotten about being a goldfish and is settled with a double jointed loose ring bit (yes, she did bit science and fitting course too).

And he has started to show a beautiful natural tölt.

Once we have Klængur’s shoes back on (and it is warmer), we will be going out more too which always involves lots of hill work. This will strengthen Efstur’s topline and core.  I am really looking forward to this summer and our treks.  It will be interesting to see how Efstur develops.