The Boyzenberries spend their day in the fields and then in the evening I call them home so they can mooch around the house and have access to shelter with no midges and flies.  This time of year it is a necessity.

The Boyzens mostly stay where I put them but certainly know which fences to go under to come home if they want.  Lambie sometimes appears out of nowhere in a hysterical flurry.

But, without a doubt, I can see ‘Bert is 100% happier and that is a huge relief.

Look, he is smiling.  He really is.

He is relaxed, happy and back to being my cheerful little “monkey”, just like before the Saga of the Horrid Horn.  I am glad I made the decision to take it off.  It was driving him insane and probably hurt too.

When stuff happens, politics quickly move in and the sheeple hierarchy changes.  ‘Ster has perhaps not been as nice as he might about all of this.  He turned into Top Sheep aka Bully.  We had words.  I am Top Muzzah.

But I guess there was a bit of karma involved as you may remember ‘Bert was vile to Lambie when he was sheared.  The endless butting and being mean was not necessary.

But now they are back to being three happy sheep and I am very relieved. I hate the politics.  It is brutal and distressing to someone who is the under-sheep that day.

Fat and well.  Everyone is fat and well.  Here is the photographic evidence.

(Klængur and Haakon mutually grooming each other)

Cerberus, or Dreki, Hjalti and Efstur as they are individually known, are fine.  All developing, changing and growing up fast.

Taktur and Kappi are looking good.

Bibble, sometimes known as Iacs, is superb.  Perhaps a bit too superb but he is old enjoys his superbness.

So, for once, I am not worried about this lot.  They all look perfect and are a very happy little herd, which is the most important bit.

I, on the other hand, am still suffering with my summer cold – I admit I have downgraded it from near-death but even so, I sniff and cough as I go around my daily business.

I went to town today to get some messages (including fly spray, additional healing unguents, gels, ointments, creams, lotions and potions for poor suffering Hetja) and wore the wrong shoes so my feet are hurting and that has added to my self pity.

I am glad to be home, though. It is cooller here with a nice refreshing breeze.

The grass in our fields is growing and unusually very long.

I don’t know if I have seen it this good for many years.  It has been a very wet summer.  That’s all I can think.

The Icelandic boys are next door and the long grass will be all their’s in winter when they need it.  We rotate the fields all year.

For now, they have plenty and are somewhat rotund.

It was a warm morning so, having photographed the chaps (for tomorrow when it is raining), I asked BeAnne if she wanted to go swimming. She didn’t need asking twice and jumped in because she is secretly an otter.

She amused herself, jumping in and out rolling in hopefully nothing (too) noxious.

I found an old piece of wood and threw it in.

It was taken away and hidden so I could never do that again.

Then my little sweetheart and hopefully delight posed for some pretty photos.

All was going very well until I said I was going back up to the house.

And that was it.

A sit-down strike.  The Patterdale Terrier stubborness appeared.  BeAnne would not budge.  She just sat there while I walked up the hill to the house.  She’s probably sitting there still.

(No, she appeared later when she realised Muzzah was more stubborn!)

Some folk always look good in photographs.  No matter what.

Every angle is a good angle and there is no such thing as a bad picture.

And then there are others……

Well, all I can say is I was under attack …..

….. from all sides.

Oh look, there Floss is looking lovely again with the handsome Waffle.

And they both have a Winning Smile too.

Silver was nearby for moral support and looking his best.

Then he ditched me for a more favourable friend.

And my hat got it.  Well, it was inevitable.  I never thought for one minute that it would be safe.

As you can see, Floss and I sat in the field with the Minions.  Some of us looked wonderful.  Others, less so but it was nice to be loved.

Did I mention it is very very hot today?  Too hot for me and my summer cold.

Poor, poor Hetja is covered in horrid flies, all having a go at her.  No one else is suffering like her.  I don’t what it is.  Maybe because she is nursing a foal she is more attractive to flies.  Yes, there are flies about the other horses but Hetja is the one being attacked constantly especially around her legs, eyes and udder.  I have been using a citronella spray on her but it doesn’t last long enough and I don’t want her udder to smell odd to Sóley the Foalie.  It is a tough one.

So today I dug out an old fly mask we had used on a horse many moons ago for uveitis. I am not sure about the three straps at the top but I tied them onto the headcollar for good measure.  The fly mask wasn’t perfect, but I reckoned it would do for the time being.

Lilja was babysitting her little sister (awww, **** sweet ****).

I went up to Hetja and put on her mask with a headcollar attached.  She didn’t mind, not even slightly.

I admit that it is a bit work-in-progress and I check Hetja regularly. I will swap the headcollar over for a quick-release one.

Little Miss woke up and had a good scratch.

Lilja and Sóley investigated their mother’s new headwear.  Lilja pulled Hetja’s ear out so I went back, returned the ear to its rightful place and had words with Lilja.

As long as the damn thing stays in place for a little while.  Hetja seems happier too, which is good.

When I got home, I hit Amazon and bought a better fly mask with a nose-shield (against sunburn) as well, plus many bottles of Avon Skin So Soft.  Let’s hope it all arrives soon.