Monster loves the snow.  It’s his thing and it’s finally here (but just about gone now, as I type this).

He has spent many hours outside and the Harry Potter Invisibility Cloak (patent pending) almost works.  Cat?  What cat?

Here he is channelling his “inner Gemma” and if you don’t know who I mean, I suggest you do a quick internet search of “Gemma, Dancing on Ice” and you will get the joke.  In this house we are strangely addicted to DOI at the moment.  It has a wierd car crash appeal.

Anyway, our star is not available for comment.

The rustle of a crisp packet usually does the trick, though never prawn cocktail flavour (so you know).  These days they hunt in pairs.  Both of these beggars can hear one being opened from another room and have tummy-clocks you could set your watch to.

The happy hormones have kicked in.  At the moment, Brá is exceedingly easy and tame.  Her eyes are soft and she is happy to see us.

But yesterday Brá let me catch her, have her feet trimmed and then, once released again, stayed next to me to be stroked and made a fuss of.  This is something Brá simply does not do.  People are not her thing so I can only think the Happy Hormones of her 2nd trimester have kicked in.

Hetja is always easy to work with. She only turns into a Professional Mother when her foal arrives.

By my calculations, the ladies may be due between May 9, 2019 – May 24, 2019 and so they are both 32 weeks pregnant.

I found this on t’net –
At 8 months, the foetus is:-
9-33 lbs
20-32 inches
Hair on mane, back, ears (squeeeeeee!)

And yes, Brá is fat but what can I do?  She gets nothing but the winter grass in her field.  I do not believe in dieting a pregnant mare.  Hopefully winter will sort it out after all this is how nature works.

Meanwhile, stopping the dreaming of foals with manes growing, ‘Bert has made a miraculous recovery, which is a huge relief all round.

Even yesterday I was contemplating his future as an animal in pain is never good. But today, ‘Bert is almost back to normal.

Sheep – who would have ’em.  From dead (nearly) to alive in two days – there is no middle ground.

Need help with anything and Lilja is there for you.  Always there.

Although we take drinking water and fill up buckets for the pregnant Icelandic ladies, there are two perfectly good streams/drainage ditches that run through their field for drinking out of.  Floss was making one more accessible for the girls.

Lilja was fascinated watching Floss trying to break the ice without falling over.

So, being Lilja, she offered to help.  She stood nice and close by while Floss used her as support, and kicked away at the ice.

Dear Lilja.  I was very impressed.  All our horses (and sheep) are used to me hanging on to them, due to my inability to stay upright.  They will even let me hang on to be pulled upright, which is very useful.  Lilja is no exception.

Many years ago, when Taktur, Lilja’s father, was an unridden colt, I remember falling over in the mud by the gate in the pitch dark while I was trying to put him out.  Taktur just stood there while I floundered about and ended up pulling myself up hanging onto his hairy legs and then his mane.  So Lilja has it in her genes to be a perfect lady.

And she is.

So, after Floss’ ice-breaking, we walked up the hill back to the car and of course we were followed.  It’s not food Lilja wants.  She is a very people person.

I seriously love this little horse.  Lilja is very special.  She is a horse you can rely on.

We have sheet ice everywhere now.  It is horrid and I worry about walking on it.  When I came out this morning to feed the sheep, there was ‘Bert sitting down.  Not like him at all.  I called over “I hope you haven’t broken your leg” and he got up and started hopping towards me.  My heart sank.

So we managed to get everyone into a small paddock, I phoned the vet for advice and also waited for our local expert to come along.  He is our postman.

Once the expert arrived, ‘Bert refused to be caught and for a sheep with a supposed broken leg, he was very speedy, breaking out of his enclosure.  We decided that if he could successfully do that, on four legs as if nothing was wrong, then none of them were broken.

I telephoned the vet again and agreeing, she offered ‘Bert a painkilling injection.  So after feeding hay to the Minions, we went to collect said jab and this was my view for the rest of the day – ‘Bert’s bottom leaving.

Lambie and ‘Ster loved all the chasing and bribery – the biccie tin was out in full force.

I tried everything including my secret supply of Shreddies!

Eventually I managed to grab ‘Bert and turquoise sprayed his foot, looked for anything there (nothing), had a sniff (nothing) and gave him his painkilling injection.  He hates me now.

So I have done my best.  The boys are outside the house.  There is a pile of hay and a bucket of water close by.

I reckon ‘Bert has wrenched his leg or shoulder and it will hopefully clear up on its own.

I left them all looking at Monster.

His Best Day Ever – et voilà, an invisible cat!

Yesterday I found that we had a herd of chippy-chipmunks busily eating the fences.  I hate that but the Shetland ponies are bored and not feeling full because they have to dig for grass through the snow.  It is not difficult and it is what they were born to do but loafing around with Lilja and eat the fences is more fun.  So, today ,Floss and I lugged 3 haynets over to Leradale as well as a lick bucket.

We plonked the hay in the middle of their field so they would have to leave the fence posts alone and maybe even forget about them (I type this hopefully).

Of course they all followed the food except for Newt …..

…. and Vitamin who said they couldn’t and didn’t know how.

So Floss and I went back and chivvied them over to join the others.

I know the ponies struggle in the ice but I can’t do everything for them.

The hay was popular.

They stuffed their faces.

The lick bucket was a success too and they all shared without argument and flying bottoms.

And then, of course, Storm had to roll in his food.  Because he could.

They will now get hay while we have snow and then hopefully they will leave my fences alone.  I will put up an electric fence if I have to.

I mean it! These are my cross clouds!