A few days back my OH came home from town telling us magical tales of things he had found.  He even took photos with his phone – and I honestly didn’t know he knew how to do that since his phone is mostly purely ornamental.

OH had found a secondhand Peli case (waterproof hard case) on wheels with a handle.  He had the measurements for us but we didn’t believe it would fit a large Icelandic saddle and poo-pooed his find.

Today, however, I saw Kappi’s saddle and it suddenly looked smaller than I remembered so I made Daisy drag it indoors and we measured it.

I phoned the Shetland Home Co, asked them if they still had the Peli case (they did), if they would to set said case to one side for us (they would) and so Daisy and I drove into town.

We took the saddle with us and IT FITTED!

Being one of our favourite shops, we dumped the saddle and had a quick peruse.

There is an excellent selection of everything – our mahoosive four-speaker stereo that resides in the indoor school came from this shop.

We paid (a total bargain – about a fifth of what they sell for new) and drove home.

The case is now residing in the porch and I have bought OH a bottle of whiskey to watch the World Cup with to apologise for dissing his brilliant find!

I love a bargain and this Peli case will be perfect for carting Kappi’s stuff around Europe with him.  I have  smaller version for my camera.

Me – “Guys, do you want to go into another field where there is a bit more grass?”

Icelandic Horses – “Yes please, yes, most definitely.”

A jump for joy from Kappi to whom food is his life’s pursuit.

And they were off, well some of them were.  Kappi and Klaengur galloped down to the bottom of the hill.

Meanwhile the two old men, Iacs and Haakon, were immediately “heads down and eat”.

On the other side of the fence Hjalti, Efstur and Dreki were following so Kappi and Klaengur ran up and down the hill for fun.

Meanwhile, the two old men kept eating.

More galloping with happiness.  It’s an orange thing, I suppose!

The youngsters on the other side of the fence were caught up in the moment too.

So we asked them if they would like to move fields too and join the others.

They didn’t need asking twice.

And again, much galloping everywhere with happiness.

Eventually Dreki caught up – he could not work out the open gate situation.  To him, it was complicated.

And still the old men ate oblivious to everything going on around them. They never lifted their heads.

More shenanigans.

Having fun with the others.

It was lovely to watch.

Everyone will be fine in this field.

Even the two old boys if they ever look up!

Our garden used to be part of the field where the horses live and, despite my OH’s huge efforts, the garden is putting up quite a fight to remain a field.

When I first lived here with my two small daughters, the horses were allowed everywhere and used to wander about close to the house, knocking on the back door or rattling the snib (thank you Haakon) for a quick perusal of the biscuit tin.  We had no garden.  Just horses and ponies everywhere.  At night, Iacs would loom in the kitchen window and block any tv signal.  It was wonderful and no one minded.

Once my OH moved in, from Englandshire, he had some romantic notion of a garden and the bit of field around the house was duly fenced off.  Since then it has been a constant battle – between my OH and the gradual encroachment of the field trying to return.

Anyway, this time of year the wild flowers in the garden are amazing.  For me, they outshine any cultivated plants.  I am not a gardener.

And the smell.

Oh my goodness, the air is honey-like sweet from the clover that has gone mad and the rosa rugosa.

We also have “seggies”, the beautiful yellow-flag irises (Iris pseudacorus), growing wild by the water, in the fields and therefore the garden. They attract the insects but they are pretty and “very Shetland”.

Wherever I wander I am never alone.

There is always my small retinue of followers.

However, when Lambie and friends were banned from the garden a few years back (Lambie was caught eating the sacred willow trees and there was something about out of control sheep muttered), I gave up sitting there and prefer our outside table and chairs so everyone can be together.

So no one really sits in the garden these days.  Shouldn’t have banned Lambie;   just sayin’.

It is the time that the water-lilies appear in some of the lochs around here..  They are one of my favourite flowers and I look forward to seeing them every year.

Today I have one helluva of a headache. I woke up with it and it won’t shift.  It is very close outside.  I would not be at all surprised if there was a thunderstorm.   It has been like this all day.  Gah!

To try and get rid of my pounding head, I took Haakon on my usual “physio” walk.

As no little dog and/or sheep wanted to come, I looked around and took my other best friend.  Haakon was happy and no trouble (unlike some who tend to play Grandmother’s footsteps – *** Lambie ***).

The other horses are all fine.

I can see the youngsters from the house.

They are always mooching around….

… looking gorgeous.

Sometimes they like to speak to their neighbours.

There is always much communication…..

…. with varying levels of annoyance!

Update:  Just now there was a smattering of rain and my headache has lifted a bit.  Early to bed, I think.  Sorry to be so dull.

Daisy thought she would try something different with Kappi today.

Using the whole school, Daisy first let Kappi walk around on each rein to warm up.

Next a gentle trot.

Time for the poles go down.  First just one, which Daisy lead Kappi over to show him what was required.

Again, Daisy removed his headcollar and Kappi was left to consider the pole and how to get over it.

It was very big so he jumped it!

On the other rein, Kappi managed a good working trot.

The pole was then made into a small jump.

Then a slightly bigger one.  Kappi was flying.

But on the other rein, Kappi learned to avoid the jump.  He swerved out at the very last minute (I hate that).

So the jump was turned into two trotting poles.

And everything went back to normal.

Kappi trotted over them perfectly.

I think he enjoys this kind of work.

Back around the other way and everything always looks different on the other rein.

And off Kappi went.  Again, beautifully.

So that was a good training session and something different for both Kappi and Daisy.  I just sat on a bucket in the middle with my camera and BeAnne at my feet.

Kappi and Daisy did all the hard work.