One more lot of feet today. Albie’s turn.

A little star, of course.

It was windy so some good hair too.

Afterwards, I made a decision – to take the herd into the hill park where there is loads of uneaten grass. I kept Albie in his headcollar and, with me, he valiantly led the way (with Storm annoying him at every step – we had words!)

Ok, it is not green grass like Summer, but grass none the less and it will do.

And then the herd suddenly remembered there was this whole other field that they had totally forgotten and off they went, very enthusiastically.

“Fly My Pretties, Fly!”

Vitamin was a bit of a tail-end Charlie.  She wanted to go back but the others went onwards.

She came up for a bit of a chat so I told her to get going or she would lose them all.

And off she went to join them.

We shut the gate behind them. They can stay there for a bit and stop loitering with intent.

Guess who was today’s lucky contestant for hoof trimming?

A clue – he is a lovely kisser.

And he has a beautiful blue eye too.

Tiddles was such a good boy.  A delight. As you can see from the hairstyle, it was a bit blowy, but as Daisy and I agreed, at least we weren’t being rained on – so that was a bonus!

We always set ourselves the task of two ponios each time.  We have a list and next up was Little Himself.

There was some back leg action (cow-kicking) so I told Newt that I had been asked if I knew of “a young Shetland pony that is very tame for a little girl.…… “

I was minded of this card that a friend sent me a few year’s back. I keep it in my shed.  Remind me to show it to Newt!

(now goes off to look for pink net and some elastic…..)

Vitamin waits patiently at the gate for us.

The two Icelandic lasses, (from L-R) Sóley and Lilja, wait in their spot together too.

As does Fivla.  You can almost hear them willing us to be faster with the buckets!

The Minions all know it is not worth their while – and they get carrots (today was ginger biccies as we were running out of carrots plus some horse treats) if they can wait nicely.  And if they wait nastily, they still get the carrots, biccies and treats because it would be mean to give them nothing.

It was all very civilised, which is always nice and makes a change.

Everyone is lying around, chewing their cud and I am thinking to myself “their fleeces look a bit good”.

‘Bert – originally a “moorit”, but a bit of a faded one now.

‘Ster– “katmoget” – his fleece is incredible, the very best of our flock (Note-to-self –  I need to save up and buy some carding combs and stop giving his fleece away).

(Screen Saver anyone? – let me know – happy to send a larger file).

Edna – it will be very interesting to see what Edna’s fleece is like this year. Last year, she had none. It all fell off due to sickness and misery.  She is a pure Shetland ewe and her wool should be very nice.

And then there is Madge – Her fleece is exceptional.  Seriously wow!

As a cross breed – Cheviot x Shetland, I think, her fleece is amazing.  Folds of wonderful wool.

But, best of all, she is a happy sheep and that is very important to me.  Her calm eyes say it all. She will come up for a chat, she lets me tickle her nose and she doesn’t run away in a blind panic.

And then there is Lambie.  Well – we don’t discuss this.  It would hurt his feelings.  He is a delicate flower but his fleece is, sadly, “carpet quality”.  Nuff said.

Only a Muzzah could love him.

For me, the sheep’s fleece is a by-product. Being happy, confident and content with the world is all that matters. It has taken a while (a year, to be precise for Edna and Madge ) but I think we have done it.

Sheep are very under-estimated.  This saddens me.

Daisy and I were out first thing this morning fully intending to “do feet”. Silver and Tiddles were on our list.

We managed one – Silver – while the rain poured down.  It was too much.  But when it goes down the back of your neck, there is a constant drip off your nose and you can’t feel your fingers….. we called it a day, went home soaked to the skin, miserable and cold.

Silver was, of course, an angel.

I saw this chap on my rounds.

And made this little cutie-patootie in the afternoon (to go with his Mum).

They look good together, I think.

So a sort of a productive, if wet, kind of a day.