Feeding the little Icelandic herd at Leradale is a two-man job.  Today, it was Floss’ turn to help me feed Brá, Dreki and Lilja.

I had hold of Hetja and was feeding her pieces of swede as she is a good weight.

The little foals get a bucket each, which they have quickly learned to kick over or play with or even eat the contents…..

ie, mucking about and arguing!

The most important horse is Brá who is giving her all to her son, Dreki.  In science terms, it is called a “maternal investment”.

If you are interested, this article is fascinating – Maternal investment results in better foal condition through increased play behaviour in horses

Lilja was bored of her bucket first – the wind had tipped it up and she lost interest.

So she came to say hello to me and ask why I was keeping her mother back.

Next up was Dreki, having finished off Lilja’s food, now on the ground, too.

Lilja drifted back but Dreki stayed to chat.

Brá, meanwhile, still ate her bucket.  She has her personal body guard, ie Flossie.

Hetja did the washing up!

They are not looking bad for 8 month old foals.

I am still working with Dreki and Mr Headcollar.  He is a very good boy.  Lilja continues to voice her objections.

So this was the 1st of February (last Thursday) – the weather was just vile, blowing a gale.

Good waves, though.

We all sat in utter misery, candles and headtorches at the ready – our electricity supply can be sporadic this time of year – I guess those hamsters can get blown off their wheels!

(having said that there is nothing like the scream of anguish of someone (preferably a daughter) caught in the shower during a powercut for good family entertainment – don’t judge me!)

Today, however, is different.  It is beautifully calm.  Not a zephyr.

I indulged and had a little drive around finding the wonderful Shetland winter colours.

Seeing the mist rise off the sea  makes me believe somewhere out there is Spring.

It was almost unnaturally calm today.

Still, there is the retreating ice on the lochs.  Because of the recent clear winter skies, temperatures at night have fallen below freezing point.

A windless Shetland winter’s day is a rare but valuable experience.

Because when it blows, it truly blows!

I felt sorry for my two little ones this morning so I let them have a day around the house.

Elvis, the chicken, babysat them for me.

Elvis in her Vegas era!  Our Elvis is very old.  At least double figures.

Anywho, Newt and Albie were happily munching the sheeples’ silage and it is good that someone eats it as the sheep like it freshly hand-plucked from the bale, lightly drizzled where they want it, take one mouthful, announce it has been on the floor or a chicken sat in it and then leave it.

Albie and Newt are not that fussy.

The big boys remained in their mud happily arguing over every last bit of food.

Afterwards they parked up on the hard shoulder for a bit of shut-eye!

I secretly love having the little ones around the house (outside, preferably) but I don’t trust the sheep very much.

Puzzah has weaponry and can sometimes interpret friendly interest the wrong way.

Tonight I put the Albie and Newt into a little paddock with their very own silage, water and shed where they will be safe. I think it is nice to give them some time off from all this endless mud.

(I love this photo – ‘Bert looks like Puzzah’s minder!)

Meanwhile, it has been declared that Lambie is looking a bit thin so daily rations have been increased.  He was thrilled to hear this and has been following me around all day begging.

Is it just me or does anyone else think he looks a bit like Blue Ivy Carter at the Grammy’s when she shushed her parents, Beyoncé and Jay Z?

Same look!

Once inside, Newt is very keen on his daily bucket of food.

I had just taken off Newt’s rug as today has been glorious by Shetland winter standards so he is all floofy and ruffled up.

We bring them in to eat their hard feed two at a time.  Newt usually comes in with Efstur who is a model citizen.  You just call Efstur, open the gate and off he takes himself to his bucket, eats the contents and would probably put himself back out again, if asked nicely.

Newt, on the other hoof, shuffles in, probably grumbling to himself.  Finds a bucket and tries to get into it – hence me holding it.  Yesterday Efstur stood to one side while Newt helped himself.

I measured Newt today – he hasn’t been measured for a while.  28 whole inches of unhelpful ingratitude.

Me:  Come on Newt.  You’ve finished now – time to go back out.
Newt:  (in Russian) – Nyet (het)

So using all my horsemanship skills (I took the empty bucket with me and he followed thinking I would refill it).

Me:  Newt, you have to go outside.
Newt:  Nyet, absolute nyet.

So I asked for help because Nyet ain’t budging and for a small chap, he can’t half not move.  He leans backwards!

Anyway, with the help of Daisy, we succeeded and then threw everyone out into the big field.  Ok, they have to get through the mud but on the other side of the stream is a large green hill.

Anyway, 28″ of Nyet may well be changed to “Da” to see if has any effect on his character.  Every day Newt says Nyet!

Over at Leradale, I am holding onto Hetja while Daisy feeds the foals and Brá.

Afterwards, Hetja gets to “wash up” the empty buckets plus a large carrot for her patience and for not being pushy.  She is a good girl and perhaps realises that she does not need extra food.

When the foals have finished, Daisy holds Brá’s bucket for her because they think they should now have Mum’s food too.  It would not be good for the little ones.  They have Mare and Foal mix while Brá has a mixture of conditioning cubes, sugar beet and mix.  Different food for different needs.

Afterwards, I went down to see the Minions, to give them their statutory half carrot and to remind them it has been four years.

Four years since this blog post when the three original Minions came into my life.

(Storm perfecting his innocent waif look)

Of course, he instantly gave me his cheeky grin – probably worried the wind might change and he would be stuck looking pathetic!

Four eventful years!  These little boys have totally changed my life and me, inside – in a good way, I hope.   Seeing the Minions today, and giving them their daily hug/carrot is the best therapy after the past few days.

(Oh, Storm, why can’t you just be nice like everyone else?  Poor Waffle.)