Poor Monster has spent the last two weeks wanting to go out more than anything.

We have given him toys in the house, mostly with a catnip involvement.

Drugs are good!

BeAnne was also sent a huge bag of bally-balls.

She wanted them all.

What the Hell – I gave her the lot.  One happy little dog again.

Last week, Lambie came into the house because he was upset with the heat and flies (hates them to distraction).  He was very interested in the new white could-this-be-another-lamb animal.

Poor Monster could not believe his eyes (or his nose – the accompanying stench was mighty!)

But Lambie was intrigued and wanted to get to know this newbie.  So he held Monster hostage under his chair resulting in Lambie jumping everytime a paw came out to swipe, and then after about ten swipes and jumps and no backing down, I saw Lambie running after Monster into the kitchen!

It was very funny.

Meanwhile, Peace Negotiations are going along ok.  There is the odd hiccup, but mostly it is ok.

Today we opened the back door and Monster was allowed out.

There was much investigating and it has been raining, which in a way is good as it has shown Monster how to come home.

BeAnne said it was her garden.

‘Ster was also interested.

It is the local wildlife I am worried for.  Is Monster the Great White Hunter?

He has terrible manners.  I am shocked.

We left the backdoor open so Monster could spend his day coming and going.  He found the two cat flaps that he has to negotiate, a bit awkward. To be honest, we were unsure whether he could get himself through as he is quite large!

We are getting there and Monster is doing very well.  He has us very well trained.

BeAnne is just biding her time – all she needs is photographic evidence and she can Rule her World again!

This was the sight that greeted Flossie and I when we went tentatively over to Leradale this morning.

One big happy herd.

Phew.  All the girls together with a sub-herd of little boys to the side.  Just how it should be.

As we have a weather forecast for rain in the next few days, I decided to open the gates and let everyone into the grassier fields that the Icelandic horses had spent their winter in.

No one needed asking twice.

They all cantered in enthusiastically.

The field has a few fences and the herd managed to split itself up.  The Minions (except for Vitamin) went one way.

While the Icelandics another.

Vitamin was by herself mostly due to her own stupidity.  She decided she couldn’t remember how to get through an open gate.

I am not too worried.  The herd will join up when they want to.  Most of the Minions have been in this field before so know their way around, though I think it is new to Vitamin and Fivla.  However, everyone was thrilled to see grass.

I am pleased the herd has settled down.  That is a huge relief. I don’t have to worry.

I popped over to Leradale this morning to see how everyone was doing in their new bigger herd.

It was a bit Us and Them but it seemed peaceful enough.  The Minions were all together at one end, some lying down snoozing (a good sign of relaxation) and then there was Brá with Lilja happily eating together and Hetja some way away from everyone.

At first glance, things were looking good.

I went over to check that the Minions were not all covered in bites, blood with broken legs – they weren’t.  All fine.

Lilja wandered over to chat too.

Everyone was most welcoming – all except for Storm who was vile and chased Lilja off.

And then he stood there looking cross.  I told him off for being mean.

The others wanted to talk to Lilja.

And she desperately wanted to talk to them but went back to be with Brá.

Vitamin went over and whinnied at Lilja.

She wanted to make friends.

And then the others arrived to ruin it.  Storm’s tail was swishing in a bad way so I put a stop to that.

As I was walking away, they settled down again.

But Hetja suddenly arrived to tell the Minions what she thought of them.  Interestingly, though, she just chased them back and did not launch into a full on attack.

So it is a bit grandmother’s footsteps at the moment but not quite all out war.  If Storm continues to be the fly in this ointment, I will move him home and he can be sat on by Newt and Albie.

Meanwhile, the hill sheep are beginning to lamb.  They are soooooo sweeeeeeet!

Today we executed Part 1 of my Cunning Plan to wean Lilja.

After feeding Brá and Lilja their buckets of hardfeed, plus one for Hetja in the hope it would mellow her slightly, we put headcollars on the ladies and led them over to the Minion field.

Theory:  If the Icelandics are not on their home turf, they might be slightly nicer to the Minions on their’s.

We were quickly seen and the little ones came rushing over to say hello to the newcomers.

First contact.

And then the big ones ran away.

And were swiftly followed by the Welcome Committee.

A small battle instigated by Hetja.  I am sure she said “none shall speak to my daughter”.

Brá was less confrontational.

Again, Hetja gathered her troops and left.

Vitamin decided to go over as she had always been a keen fan of these two pregnant mares but in a next-door-neighbour-over-the-fence sort of way.

Hetja was having none of it.

The support group turned up for Vitamin

And then they all ran away together.

Another battle started.

And everyone scattered while Lilja bunny-hopped hopefully.

Not to be deterred, little Fivla left the Minion herd and went over by herself to say hello.

The others were right behind her, just rather far away, probably hiding.

The Icelandics were rolling, which is a good sign – they were relaxing and wanted to acquire the herd/field smell.

A bit of chasing, but nothing too aggressive now.

And we left them either eating or watching.

I went back a few hours later just to check everyone was ok, and saw that Brá was now more with the Minion herd while Hetja and Lilja were standing on their own.  Hopefully, they will sort themselves out in the next few days and then we will let them into the green grass field for a few weeks.  After that, when Lilja is fully integrated with the Minion herd, we will take Brá and Hetja out when she is not looking.

Well that is the plan anyway.

I may have been over doing things a little bit these past few days.  We have been making a field sheep-proof by building walls out of the surrounding rumbled dry stone dykes, which is hard work.  Floss and I also did a Redd Up (cleaning up the litter on the side of the roads) yesterday which left my back screaming for mercy.

Last night, I gave in and took painkillers realising that I may have done too much.  This morning I could not wake up or move, so Floss and OH kindly did all my chores while I snoozed.  Floss even brought me tea and toast in bed – a wonderful luxury.

Sunday is meant to be a day of rest so I took this seriously and we went Minion hugging.

After lunch, I wanted to see the newly arrived wild primroses that grow on either side of our burn (stream) that runs through all the fields at home.

Floss and I sat out of the wind in the warm(ish) sunshine while BeAnne had fun paddling.

It really was a stunningly beautiful afternoon.

I am feelinga bit more rested now.  Minion hugging is possibly the best therapy.