We fed our last bale of hay to the horses this morning – because of the harsh weather over the past few days, we used more than we’d anticipated.

This morning I jumped into the van, having checked there was a good supply of hay in town first, only to find again that the van was dead.  The battery.  So, once jump-started, off I hobbled, equipped with jump-leads just in case!

My first stop in town was the garage who kindly checked the battery and replaced it.  I even got to see my old car – the one that died in England a few months’ back when I was visiting my mother. It is still lives at the garage with its undiagnosed mystery problems. *** sigh ***.

Then off to the hay merchants.

I waited in a queue gazing at my quarry.

It was very cold.

The van was filled to the brim with the request of “as many as you can, please”. I got 18 bales.  Happy days.

Feeling much relieved, and far better equipped for this winter weather, I drove home, stopping to take a photo of Whiteness Voe looking stunning.

Definitely an equine version of a pot of gold in my van.

With a nasty snow-storm on the way, we got home safely and I am having a nice well-earned cup of tea.

Phew!

The weather has not been great – icy cold with huge flurries of sleet.  To prove that my heart is not made of ice….. (I mean how could I resist those little faces?), ….

….. I opened up the Leradale “hay-park” that I had been saving for February.  Everyone was much happier then and I felt better.

We’ve had some snow at home. Enought for all the boys to come in for hay in the morning and go back out after lunch feeling much fuller and warmer.  This weather takes it out of them, especially the old men.  Haakon has a rug on.  He hates it.

BeAnne has been running around. She loves snow. It’s her thing.

If there had been more snow, a certain cat would’ve been a bit more invisible and possibly happier but it is melting, or turning to ice depending on the time of day and we can still see him.

This photo was on my way home from checking the Minions and the girls.  It was quite dramatic.

This afternoon, I went into my shed and made a sheeple.

Not a very exciting day, but productive in a little way and I know everyone is alright.

I turned around and found this looking at me.  So, while laughing, I took a photo!

To be fair, it is just a very bad angle and Monster is not really that obese, so he tells me.  He just has big bones.

There was audience participation at lunch-time.  I do not encourage this sort of behaviour but we had finished eating so I let it go, just this once.

BeAnne, of course, would never do this – mostly because she can’t jump up anymore, not because she shouldn’t.

Monster remained unrepentant.  He honestly doesn’t care what I think. If it were OH, then of course that would be a completely different matter.

BeAnne then asked to go outside so I left the backdoor open for her.  Monster was feeling mean and decided to stalk her.  At first, he pretended to be looking for an invisible mouse but I knew what he was planning and we had words.

Monster by name……. and all that.

It’s that time of the year – when rams will be rams and the hill rams have started hanging around outside our gate and perimeter fence looking hopeful.

These days the words “absolutely no’ and “over my dead body” are frequently said.

Obviously the Boyzens are not interested.

But, sadly, two Girlzens are a bit too interested, if you ask me.

And also sadly, the Boyzens are utterly useless at defending their GIrlzen’s honour!

So, I made a decision and constructed a very efficient and zappy electric fence at nose sniffing and, hopefully any other part of active anatomy, height!

It is very effective.  I also have a spare fully-charged 12v battery on stand-by.  Zap!!!

I may possibly not be the most popular person in this flock but I do not want my Girlzens to get knocked up. Little lambs are not on our agenda.

So far, the fence is working it’s magic and the hill rams are now staying well away so the Girlzens have no interest either and just mooch off down the hill, far away from the Evil Outside World to join the hopeless boys.

Thems are the rules in this house. No little lambs, please.

Since I found out that there were long tailed ducks at our local beach, I have wanted to see them for myself.

So, yesterday, armed with my camera, after checking the girls, I went to look for long tailed ducks or Clangula hyemalis as they are known to their posh friends.

Please excuse the quality of the photos – they were a way off in the distance.

Long tailed ducks are a total delight. I was entranced and have now given them the honour of being on my Top Ten bird list.

They also quack when they’re flying which was very good value.  A proper duck. None of this silent Muscovy judgement!

The light was going fast but I was pleased I had seen the ducks and I also had the beach to myself too, which is always good.  I get very territorial about “sharing” an empty beach.

Feeling very pleased with my photographic achievement, I drove home with the car window open in case I could see a rather pudgy winter-coated Mountain hare in the scattald (hill).  Like Monster, they rather stick out this time of year.

This is where the hare sits most afternoons.    I think it is the front door to his “nest”. Apparently they don’t burrow.

A rare glimpse of Fair Isle on the way back (about 45 miles away).  It was very clear and we don’t see the island very often.

Happy little sheeple faces greeted me when I got home (Madge is behind, biding her time before her biscuit begging!)