Well, you are all probably well aware of my unhealthy if tenacious obsession with the weather and today has been absolutely no exception.

One second, it is tolerably nice and then the next it is shitting down quantities of hail or sleet or snow with a good icey gale as well. That wind-chill factor is vicious.

Anyway, we managed to feed everyone without bringing them in (our aim in life at the moment) but this afternoon, it was like the Apocalypse outside.

I felt awful for my chaps as we have so little grass about and so Floss and I donned our waterproofs, rushed outside, filled all the haynets again and tied them to the gates.

No one needed asking twice.

They all visibly brightened, which cheered me up too.

And so I can sleep in my bed tonight knowing the horses have had double rations today.

Meanwhile, inside, BeAnne was wandering around in a dither (until I put on her shirt of thunder) with the word “Princess” written on a very fetching pink bandana!

She was looking miserable because I had also brushed her!

First thing this morning, I stood outside in the old men’s field – all was calm (between weathers, as it is known) and thought this is nice. I can do this.

There was a beautiful blue sky.  It was starting to warm up a little too.  You can certainly feel every degree difference both ways.

The boys munched their buckets around me.  It was a good happy sound.

Some don’t even lift their heads to breathe (** cough, Iacs **).  Every calorie matters to him and his silly-frilly.

Haakon does come up for air, though, because he knows I will stand guard and stop anyone else getting his bucket.

When the sun came out, I could feel everyone breathe out and relax. This afternoon, there was a huge pile of horses all asleep in the sun. They were enjoying themselves.

I am glad we all had a breather because Storm Ellen (which apparently is a polar vortex (eh?)) is crashing down on us next.

Extra rations tonight and please think of us all these next few days.  February feels like the longest month this year.  As I type, I can already hear the wind outside starting to rev up.

I keep looking at as many different weather forecasting websites in the hopes that one of them says the rest are wrong.  Ever the optimist!  Failing that, I am going into hibernation.

Well, I am busy thinking about Dreki, my little black dragon.

Here he is standing, as ever, with his father, Taktur and he is developing into rather a nice horse. I like him. I like him a lot.

Every morning the field gate is opened and every morning the four boys (Taktur, Kappi, Efstur and Dreki) come up to be led, if it is blowy, into the stable, to have their hay and hard feed. Every morning Dreki won’t go past the gate person until he’s had a little chat and possibly a nose-kissey.  It can be a Force 11, I can barely stand up but he wants that acknowledgement of his existence and our relationship.  Other horses just gallop past barely saying thank you but not Dreki.

And I genuinely like the type of Icelandic horse he is growing up to be.  He is solid with a good strong back.  He is also very conscientious (he minds desperately) and is not difficult if you explain what you want.  An uncomplicated chap – never mean, vindictive or wicked (some I have known – ugh!)

And he has a lovely little sense of humour – he likes to wind up his Dad sometimes.

Dreki Dragon may not be as beautiful as his sister – Lilja is a truly gorgeous lady.

I think it might be the raggedy mane but I also think that might be the fault of living with youngsters and a bouncy stallion.  It will grow.

So that’s my little dragon.  He is turning into a very nice Icelandic horse.

The wind died down a little and the sun came out, if briefly, so I went for a nice drive.

This is the Foula that I see every day – the view from our track where it meets the road.  The weather was closing in again.

A planticrub in the hill.

Burga Water (I had to look the name up)

Shetland ponies with the sheep on the scattald (open hill).

I even drove down to our local beach to watch the waves. It was fierce.

Foula again from Dale beach.

The fields are fairly waterlogged now.  It is all a bit depressing and everyone is very fed up – animals and people.

I got home just as the weather was returning again. This was definitely “a survival suit” day.  February is my worst month.

Today Floss and I felt like the security guards you get at large concerts.   The ones with their backs to the stage who are there to stop the crowds climbing onto the stage.

We were feeding Kappi, Dreki, Taktur and Efstur their feed before going out into the wild outdoors.

Everyone has different dietary needs so each has to stick to their own bucket.

It is a spectator sport.  Klængur and his friends, Iacs and Haakon, had eaten earlier.

But, still, food is food, whoever has it and memories are very short these days.

Anyway, the calories were dished out and then everyone went back out into the filthy weather with their internal furnaces restoked.  This is what keeps them warm.

Meanwhile, in Lambie-Land…..

I walked past this little cloud of misery.

Like many when feeling ill (think man-flu), Lambie has taken to his bed in a big way.  His only friend is a chicken.

And the struggle is real if you are Lambie.  Luckily, though, he has managed to live the day and to be fair, the weather is so vile, no one wants to be outside anyway.  I just love his little face poking out.  That’s Lambie’s spot, that is.

And yes, I posted a ginger biccie in the slot He cheered up after that!