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!

Not every day is brilliant and I try very hard not to air my dirty laundry in public but this morning started badly with a knock-back letter in the post.

So, feeling very disheartened as well as rather disappointed, I went to see my Minions to discuss it with them.

Always a good idea.  They make the best listeners.

Seeing my little boys and the old ladies made me feel instantly better, as well as having a good chat with a (human) friend who helped put things into perspective.

So poo to the world, that’s what I say.

Life goes on.  Minions (and chatting) really is the best therapy.  So if you are feeling blue, please drop by even if it is just looking at the blog.

Meanwhile, Floss, having got to grips with her jeg-lag, was busy at home riding her horse, Klængur, in our newly dug-up and harrowed indoor school.

Floss was glad to be back in the saddle again and Klaengur was enthusiastic to go back to work too.  He has been on holiday for 2 months – shoes off, teeth done and not being ridden.  A holiday is very important part of the Icelandic horse training.  All mine have one.

Double Meanwhile….. Monster is very settled with us. I had my camera in my hand, heard some snoring and came across Himself in his “Wee Nook”.

So, that’s me.  Not my best but moving onwards and upwards.

Question:  What makes me smile?

Answer:  When I call my Boyzenberries off the scattald (common grazing), they leave all their sheepie friends and come running home.

I love that they do this for me.

(or possibly the biscuit tin!)

Lambie could be described as, what is known in horsey circles, a “scopey” jumper.

I thought he was more of a woolly one, myself!

See what I did there?  Geddit?

Anywho, Lambie has enthusiasm and, as you can see, he didn’t actually get over the ditch but landed in the middle of it instead.  But ten out of ten for effort.

‘Bert was more casual about his home-coming.  He is like that.  A cool dude.

As was ‘Ster.  They don’t make the hysterical fuss Lambie does about being out in the hill when they were the ones who made a bolt for it when someone opened the gate to get their car out.

They always do this – run out thinking they are wild and free and then, especially if the weather turns, rather regret their actions and want home as soon as they find someone to open the gate again to let them in!

They should believe their Muzzah. I always tell them home is best.

Floss made it home last night in some of the vilest weather that has hit Shetland for a while.

She said the landing in the tiny little plane was “a bit hairy” so today we are concentrating on better things, like seeing the Minions again.

Of course they were all thrilled to see their Flossie.

And, of course, Floss brought carrots which did up her popularity stakes!

The Minions adore her…..

….. as well as her coat, which is treated like a toddler’s activity centre!

Floss crouched in the wet field in the middle of nowhere and was duly adored.

Poor Floss is used to the high balmy temperatures of Chengdu so Shetland is rather a shock to her system.

We will give Floss a few days off before we get her back to cooking us her fabulous Chinese meals.

Floss was busy taking photos of the Minions to show her friends just how different her life is at home.

Meanwhile, Lilja is much more settled with her mother and step-mother.  She is one of the girls and they are all happy again.

The Minions have given up shouting for their Lilja and realise that she was not really a Shetland pony who grew and grew and grew.

Lilja needs to be with her own kind.

It is good to have Flossie home.