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).

Between filthy showers of rain and kitted out in my last dry coat – I got through 4 today – I went out in search of the Minions.  They were not in their usual spot so I drove up round the back of the hill to find the herd behind a sheep wind-break/possible crö (sheep-fold).

Anywho, they were pleased to see their dear old Mum and possibly the bag of carrots I had.

Everyone was rather soggy.

As ever, Tiddles was on very snoggable form.  Best kisser ever.  No, seriously, he is.  If there was an order, it would go Tiddles, Newt, and then Albie.

Funnily enough, not Storm.

Anywho, I was looking at the wooden windbreak/crö because OH and I have plans for it – the wood is beautifully weathered.  We are thinking dado rail or skirting board in my studio but need to see how much useable wood we have and also how it looks in my studio before the final decision is made.

Certain ponies have been snacking.

So we will go up tomorrow and take it down.  The minute I thought this, Waffle read my mind.  Honestly, Waffle!  Why?  Just why?

Tiddles was not much better.

And Storm, well he was Storm.

I will replace it with a mineral/salt lick. That should keep them entertained.

These pictures are from yesterday around midday when the snow properly got going.

Deep and crisp and even.

We broke into a hay bale (the first of the year) and distributed it into old fish boxes tied to the fence so everyone could have a good eat.

There was even sharing, which is always heartwarming.  This herd is a happy bunch and there is little arguing or stress.  All good friends with no rattiness.

Rugs were on those that needed them.

For a short while the snow lay.  Everywhere was white and looking clean.

As I left the field to return to the house for lunch, I found this little urchin helping herself to the muck heap.  We had words while she was cross I had spotted her.  I chivvied Her Maj back into the house with a flea in her ear.  And then there was the sulking and I had to apologise to her for her bad behaviour.

The snow didn’t stay long.  It had all but gone by the late afternoon.

Apparently bad weather is forecast to return and now everyone is, after one day, in a routine of being fed hay.  Amazing!