We are trying to preserve our fields for winter.  It is a bit of a juggling game but, every year, we do our best.

There are various other factors to take into account.

The field we have just moved the boys back to is Clothie.  A five acre field with good shelter and its own stream but it does tend to dry up if it possibly can.  The downside to Clothie is that it is an unhelpful field to use in winter when we are feeding silage (from January onwards) as we have to lug every bale over, plus water if it runs out.  Back-breaking work.

Temperatures are going up this week, albeit briefly, so we will let the big field rest as we will definitely need that later.

Daisy, Flossie and I moved the eight lads over.

First the youngsters – we took one each.

Then the older, more sensible ones.  Daisy led Kappi and Taktur while I led Klaengur.  Floss brought up the rear with her herding skills.  Iacs and Haakon were loose and following, sort of.  Iacs had an independent thought which is never to be encouraged.  At one stage, we turned round and watched him set off down the track by himself in a happy bimbly trot!

Anyway, once safely in their field, we decided it was obviously an aberration.  Not like Iacs at all.

I am not sure how long the boys will stay here.  It may just be a week or so.  We’ll see how long the grass lasts.

With me, nothing is ever written in stone – I tend to change my mind frequently.

By the way, in my head the field swapping makes perfect sense.  Just writing it down makes me sound like a deranged idiot.

To make up for yesterday’s totally inadequate blog post, I went into my stable/studio and made a little film.

Things I learned today whilst film-making….

1.  Sticky Glue dots are exactly not that.  They stick to one thing – themselves – or maybe two – me and themselves.  Everything else they are entirely immune to on the sticking front.  A complete waste of money.
2. It is very difficult to make ponies jump.  Just sayin’.  I had to be the Muzzah of Invention.
3. It is also very difficult to get Monster to meow on request, which surprised me since he never shuts up so it ended up with me opening his tin of cat food while Floss followed him round trying to record him telling me to feed him NOW!
4. BeAnne is a grudging little companion (see photo)
5. I really need my own studio space (see photo). The building may be completed by Christmas and I am very excited. I have such plans.

So, I hope you enjoy the film.  That’s 29 seconds of your life you’re not going to get back.  Turn up the volume too. 

I hope this makes up for yesterday.

Edited:  I read this blog back and managed to say, like, “totally” three times in the first paragraph. I sounded like a teenager.  I really must remember to proof-read. I embarrassed myself.

A bad day for me. I’ve spent most of it in bed.  Sorry. I’ll be better tomorrow.

Autumn is truly my favourite time of year.  Mostly because of the light and the colours. All perfect.

So on my daily checks of the two herds that live outwith Thordale, I obviously took my camera.

First up were the two pregnant Icelandic mares – Hetja and Brá – plus Hetja’s little girl from last year, Lilja.

Lilja is weaned so it is fine for her to be back with her Mum.

The girls is much more settled now.  There is no barging and arguing, though I do love Hetja’s face at Lilja when she walked past my camera and wrecked the shot!  That is such a Mum look!

The ladies are most definitely pregnant.

That or the world’s biggest diet is on its way!

Our not-so-little (these days) Lilja is maturing to be a lovely filly.

She has a huge amount of look-at-me as well as being such a nice person as well.

It is nearly impossible to take photos of Lilja as she tends to follow me everywhere offering “help”.

But, with the help of threats and jumping up and down, I did get Lilja to stop following me so I could grab a few nice pics of her.

(however, she didn’t believe my threats!)

So that’s the girls.  All happy and settled and eating for two, three or four……. except for Lilja who is just a “growing girl”.

On my way over to check on the Minions and the Icelandic ladies, I came across the hill ponies on their wanders.

I like seeing Shetland ponies on the scattald (our common land used for grazing).

It is a tradition and one that is dying these days.

I only know of one stud that uses the hill that is local to me.

I have hill rights for grazing sheep and ponies but I don’t think the world is not ready to meet the Minions out in the wild.

All hill ponies belong to someone.

None are feral or wild.

They are kept a close eye on by everyone who drives past.

Anyway, this lot seem very happy and look well.

The ponies were only interested in me in a “do-you-have-a-carrot-on-you” sort of way.  I did not. I just took their photo and got back into my car to drive on to check my lot.

As for feeling miserable, I have got it out of my system.  Thank you for listening and your support. It was appreciated.

I am now working on a new venture that may involve yourselves and Christmas.  At worst it will keep me off the streets and at best, someone might like it.

Oooooh!