The snow has just about all gone now but before it left, I went home the scenic route after seeing the Minions and Icelandic ladies to admire the view.

It is in this particular spot the best icicles “grow”.

They are fabulous.

I love the way they look like sharp teeth!

Vampire icicles

People are starting to notice that it is getting darker a little bit later every day.  Since the shortest day, I would say we have gained about an hour of daylight – a bit in the morning and the evening.  It does make a huge difference knowing we have gone through the darkest part of winter and are coming out the other side, slowly but surely.

Once home, the Boyzenberries had woken up from their afternoon siesta.

The Monarch of the Glen by ‘Bert

Lambie wanted me to know that he hates silage but, as there is nothing else, he will grudgingly eat it.  But I have to interpret this by the baleful glare he insists on giving me.

And ‘Ster, who had found a new spot to continue his slumbers in, saw me and rolled over like a seal to give me his most beautiful smile..  He is enchanting.  Lambie possibly less so.

As it was a super blood wolf moon last night, Monster was annoying OH on an hourly basis.  In the end I gave up trying to sleep, remembered the eclipse and went and stood outside in my dressing gown to watch it.

This is the best of the terrible photos I took.  You don’t want to see the others.  It was commented that they looked like someone had spat on my camera!

I don’t know why I bother.

Yesterday was a beautiful calm day and the pale winter sun shone.

Lambie and his friends were back in their normal field for one day only.  They love this field.

I shall title this picture – The Noble Profile

‘Ster went to sleep in the sunshine (you can almost hear him snore).

Lambie practiced his Winning Smile at me – he knows how to make his Muzzah’s heart melt.

Zzzzzzz……..

‘Bert was on the move.

Blue Steel or Magnum?

Exhausting work after being “really really really ridiculously good-looking” so a little forty winks was the order of the day .

There was nice and comfortable grass, with a hint of snow.

A bijoux Winning Smile in his sleep.  Dreaming of what do you think?

So two of the boys were sheepie-bye-byes.

And ‘Bert found the morning silage – he was stuffing his face.

This is the face of a sheep who knows his friends are asleep and all the silage is his, if he wants it.

I love my sheepie boys.

When it snows, the light is beautiful and I go out to take photos (now, there’s a surprise!)

So here are today’s pics……

Efstur – a sweetheart and a delight. He is three this year and I am shocked.  Time is flying by. I never noticed.

He has a famous dad – Álfur frá Selfossi – but to us, Efstur is just one of the boys. 

A desperately honest chap, possibly too honest at times for his own good.

Here is Haakon – my old friend, companion and “the one”.  25 this year but still bouncing.

Iacs, aka Bibble, he of the silly-frilly.  Much loved and Haakon’s cousin.  They may look similar but that’s about all.  Daisy ❤️ her Bibble.

Dreki Dragon (2 years old – wow!) – growing up to be a very nice chap.  I love the way he thinks.   Nothing worries him.  The herd is teaching him well, padwan.

Haakon (sticking his tongue out!) and Hjalti – who will be next up on the training roster, but it won’t be until next year as he needs to mature a bit more.  He is 4 this year.  We don’t rush our youngstock. We wait until we think they are ready.

Taktur, daddy of Hjalti and Dreki (and the lovely Lilja). He is a the best dude ever. If all stallions were like Taktur, life would be so very easy.

The gorgeous Kappi just returning to work after his much deserved holidays.  He loves training. It means he gets fed.  Reason enough in my book.

I put out a salt-lick and they all shared nicely.  Not a cross word between them.

Dear boys.

Efstur sees Tatkur as a father figure.  Well, you would, wouldn’t you?

So, that’s us, in the snow.  All happy.

I woke to this sunrise from my bedroom window at 08.51 heralding a new, if freezing, day.

After we had fed the Icelandic horses their silage, I stayed out with a little camera to take photos of the icicles in the hill. I also made a small film.

The shapes made by the movement of the water with the low temperatures create fascinating little watery sculptures.

As ever, BeAnne came too.  She likes my expeditions especially if they don’t involve either the horses/ponies in their field or the car.  Sheep and chickens are fine, though.

Monster, on the other paw, is struggling with his inner demons.

He is enjoying the snow but, to his disappointment, remains still visible.  He wants a full refund on his Harry Potter Invisibility Cloak.

Who knows what he is up to here. Was he a garage mechanic before he came to us?

Monster was determined to follow us walking calmly on the ice while I tried to find a safer, less-slippery route.

He even managed a little game with himself, pouncing and sliding on the sheet ice like a Disney film.  It was very funny to watch. He is certainly a candidate for Dancing on Ice – yes, I am addicted (don’t judge me!)

The audience were bemused at Monster’s antics.  Sheep are not good ice dancers.

Sunset today was at 15:42 so this was a bit before.  Always beautiful.

Blimmin’ freezing, though.

I mentioned yesterday that rather than eat my beautiful weathered planks (which OH has now removed from temptation), I would put out a salt lick.

So I lugged one down and tied it onto a fence strainer that serves both the Icelandic horses and the Shetland pony fields.

Tiddles managed a quick sniff (he wanted to eat the rope really) while Vitamin dived straight in – crunching off bits with her teeth.  Large pieces.

She wasn’t letting anyone have a turn and the little ones looked on rather mystified.

Lilja had also followed me down the field and politely popped her head over the fence to see what the new lick was all about.

Vitamin rudely gave her what for!

So Lilja’s Mum turned up!  That look says it all.

And then, because Hetja is a lovely lady with beautiful manners, she let her daughter have first go.

And she had a shot herself.

With Vitamin now out of the way, Hetja even shared with The Minions and she hates them. I was very surprised.

Vitamin did not care.  I think she had eaten enough. I wonder if her mouth was fizzing!

The others will probably have a go, once the excitement of a new lick has died down. I like to think they regulate their intake, ie eat what they need.

(Silver looking particularly handsome – just because).