An update of little cattie.

She hides a lot.  Today, as we were continuing our War on Clutter as we all vacuuming, she took herself upstairs to spend her day under my bed.

BeAnne went along too because where little cats go, cat treats can follow……

Little cattie likes to hide but also in plain sight so you can call her to come out and chat.  BeAnne is a good cat-magnet too.

Little cattie also talks all the time, particularly if she is exploring, is stressed or thinks she is on her own.  She has different kinds of yowls and I am beginning to work out her language.  Night times are getting quieter too which is a blessed relief to everyone.

But her love for BeAnne is unwavering.

She can’t get close enough to her Best Friend.

Little cattie likes her food and is good about keeping clean.  She is very pretty.  Divine markings.

A friend came over this afternoon, and I was amazed to see little cattie stay around and even sit in BeAnne’s dog bed.

She was very settled there and it was a first.

So it is little steps every day and that is fine.  She is not a bold cat but I see her changing all the time, settling into our daily routine and learning to live with the household noises, our comings and goings as well as BeAnne’s barking at invisible enemies.

So, all in all, little cattie is a good little girl.  I am still not convinced we have a name for her, though.  It will come.

The three little half-brothers are living very happily and getting on fine in their field.

Their training has begun.

Every other day we bring them all into the shed.  We catch Efstur and Hjalti because they are easy and Dreki follows along.

Boot camp has begun!

Things I want the boys to learn :

1.  All to load into the van without a fuss.  I am feeding one in there each time they come inside.

Today it was Efstur’s turn and he loaded like a dream.  Hjalti was two day’s ago and he was a good boy too.

I expect the fun and games to start with Dreki but, if we keep it calm and persevere, we may succeed.  He gets a bucket of feed, so he will hopefully see the point.

2.  Feet – everyone will pick up their feet nicely and without a fight.  Hjalti is such a good boy about this.

3.  Stand quietly tied up. Dreki, are you listening?  No fidgeting.

While Efstur, who has the biggest bucket, was eating, I did some more training.

4.  To lead on both reins like a good boy.

Efstur surfaced once he had finished his grub.

I let him out, all calmly and he was happy and relaxed, which always makes for a good training session.  The boys were watching and learning.

Efstur is turning into such a nice boy too.  I adjusted his headcollar, which was far too big, without any problem.

I am feeling very happy with my little lads.  Five days ago, Dreki didn’t even know how to lead.

Early days. I am not holding my breath.  Life is seldom perfect.

I know I left you with a bit of a cliffhanger about the fancy dress competition at last weekend’s show – the 2018 Serrang Equestrian Inhand Show.

So, at last, and because I have spent the morning in town and the afternoon at home de-cluttering (now my middle name), here are the photos of the Class.

All the entries were fantastic.  This is, I think (I should’ve checked first) a Formula 1 Racing Car.

Efforts had been made and there was pride in this work.

The Queen of Hearts was enchanting.

Farmer and cow? I think so and those patches were sewn on by hand – not an easy task writes someone who spent an hour cursing and swearing while mending a rug.

This is Finding Nemo. I just love the fish costumes.  Brilliant.

The spectators, who had stayed to the end, laughed and none of the horses going around the ring seemed phased at all at what they had to wear or whom/what they had to walk with.

There were some equine spectators who were gob-smacked and probably thanking their lucky stars they were not having to do this.

But everyone behaved beautifully. All credit to their owners/leaders.

Finding Nemo was the winner and rightly so.  I thought it was a brilliant idea.

And I won something at the raffle.  Huzzah!  A good day all round.

Does anyone miss Dreki since his removal from Leradale?  Anyone looking for the rambunctious little dragon?

Anyone?  This is Brá, his brilliant mother who gave him her all to the point of losing weight over the winter while he got fatter and fatter.

Hetja, who is boss-mare in the herd, do you miss Dreki who was really beginning to piss you off with his colty bad manners and mischievous behaviour?

Lilja (Lily), do you miss your half-brother who never stopped playing endless rough games and didn’t care at all about your happiness or general welfare? Just bounce, bounce, bounce!

So that would be a no, then.

Lilja has her sights on better prizes.

However, I did hear Brá whicker once but I think, upon reflection, it was at Flossie who was walking up the hill with a bag of carrots.

So that would be a no.  No one misses Dreki.  Anyway, he is busy.  He is otherwise occupied.

The time had come – Dreki needed to be weaned from his mother, Brá.  His behaviour was disintegrating.  Far too much bouncing and everyone was bored of him.

We knew it might be tricky, so we took a secret weapon to act as a lure.

Iacs, aka Mr Bimble.  He of the Silly-Frilly forelock.

After an initial struggle, Mr Bimble worked his magic and Dreki walked into the horse van – mostly because all his carrots were being eaten by a professional.  Whatever it takes, you know.

A short drive and we were home.  Daisy and Flossie then went and caught Hjalti and Efstur.

Efstur and Dreki are half-brothers through their mother’s side.  Efstur is one year older and still a colt.

Hjalti and Dreki are also half-brothers but through the same father, Taktur.  Hjalti is a gelding and one year older than Efstur – 3 years old.

Efstur and Hjalti are not related.

As I write, it sounds like one of those tortuous school maths problem that used to leave me feeling sick.

You know the type – “if Efstur is one year older than Dreki but Dreki is two years younger than Hjalti and each two are related but no one is fully related to the same parent, how many beans make five…..”

After initial introductions, the chase was on.

The little boy behaviour began.

Dreki slid straight down to the bottom of the hierarchy heap.

They weren’t actually horrid to Dreki just persistent.

We opened the big gate and they all rushed out…..

And the sheep all rushed out!

The boys were last seen heading over the hill!

I have just phoned the vet for Dreki’s gelding.  it’s got to be done.  Mother?  What mother!

Btw, I have not forgotten about Lilja.  She remains work-in-progress. Hetja is doing the weaning, anyway.