Brá was last served on the 6th June.  I have this information on authority from the owner of the stallion.

Ok…….

Symptoms so far:

Visibly uncomfortable now (oh, how I relate to that feeling; last trimester pregnant in August in London – meh).

Kicking her belly, lying down, getting up, lying down, etc.

But a small udder, larger teats than normal. No waxing, not really ready-to-go.

So I have set up my mare-stare wagon in front of the house (handy for the loo, hot water bottles, stuff).  My iPod is plugged in and I am currently listening to Terry Pratchett plays (last night was Mort and The Wyrd Sisters).  I also bought a good pair of bins too.  I think I have them sussed now to work with my specs on.

How long will the battery last on the van without taking it for a run to recharge?  Anyone know?

I look over the field and can see what is going on all the time.

My portable hot water bottle.

As well as two outside ones for sitting on my feet.  They’re real wool, you know.

My account at the Bank of Karma is hopefully healthy and I spent last night watching and waiting.

This morning my OH found me “resting my eyes” whilst propped up on the windowsill inside the van, listening to Terry Pratchett plays.

Good vibes please for a healthy mare and foal. That is all I want.

Ok, there is Lambie.  He is, of course, cute and very enthusiastic today about all things.

He came running up the hill when he discovered Bjørn was not me (he was busy checking Brá’s non-existent bewbery).  Today I bought a pair of bins (binoculars) and I will hop in and out of bed on an hourly basis checking for any potential bebbie.  It has nothing to do with me wanting to sleep or not, I just have to know what is going on out there.  Sleep is irrelevant at the moment.

And then today I met this little boy.  He was born to Bergli Stud, yesterday.

I think I am in love (yet again!).  Look, look at his beautiful head and the floof for a forelock.

Is it his teensy tiny hooves or the way he rests his nosey on the grass?

Oooh, ooh look, he is awake.

And his tongue (pronounced in our house “tung-gui” – with a hard g)

He is a delight.

and, despite not even having a name, he can already tölt.

Such a talent.

This darling little miniature foal is all Berry bloodlines and is enchanting.

I reckon, it will only be a matter of days before I get to talk to him or put in a pocket and take him home (whichever I think I can get away with).

What a treasure.

Ooof, look at his little canter.

******** sigh **********

I wish foals could stay foals.  They are the very definition of cute.

Having said that, a grown-up Lambie is still a luffley boy, despite what many may say!

Back to veggie packing on a Thursday afternoon at Turriefield – http://www.turriefieldveg.co.uk/

I always ask BeAnne if she wants to come too as Turriefield is one of favourite travel destinations.

She is mostly a good girl.  She has one of her dog beds there – it stays permanently in their packing shed, so she has somewhere to settle and sleep.

Today, on our well-earned tea break, the biscuit tin was opened and BeAnne heard it immediately.

So BeAnne did what she does best – she worked the room!

When BeAnne found that folk in Turriefield don’t feed beautiful sweet little doggies, she took herself off for a sulk.

But BeAnne is not one to hold a long grudge and she soon found some old sacks to sit on.  She is always happiest when she is involved.

Having done the vegetable box distribution, I was put to work dibbing and planting beans.

On my home, I checked the horses.  They were miles away on the horizon, totally ignoring me.

Oh yes, ‘Ster returned last night looking rather embarrassed.  Lambie was nonchalant!

This is primrose season.  Primroses everywhere.  They line both sides of the burn (stream) and no one seems to eat them, which makes a change.

Even Lambie is not interested and he eats the post, if he can get it.

‘Ster went off this morning to find Bert who lives in the scattald with his chums.  ‘Ster is obsessed with either beating Bert up or asking to join his gang.  Last time he did this, ‘Ster came back but, who knows.  He has always wanted to be a real sheep.  I hope he returns.

This time Lambie does not care.  He has BeAnne and me and that’s is all he wants.  In a way, he always resented sharing me with anyone.  So that is my little entourage.  They follow me everywhere.

I wonder if anyone would notice if I took Lambie shopping in Lerwick!

Nothing going on in the Maternity Ward.  I check the bewbery every day but there is not much of an udder.  Having said that, a year ago there was suddenly one extra (Hjalti) who seemed to just magically appear giving no warning of this arrival.

Taktur is looking as handsome as ever.  He is a big powerful boy who occasionally stares at girls in the other field across the hill.

Kappi looks like he is due any day now.

I keep remembering this time last year when Lambie was a little Lambie.  He is a huge Lambie now.  There were definitely times when I wondered if he would make it.

(but still, and always, Mummy’s little boysenberry!)

You can see it was a beautiful blue-sky day.  I love being outside with my animal family.

I went a-visiting today – (though, everyone is checked every day).

First on my list was the newly weaned Hjalti, with his bezzies, Storm and Tiddles.

Tiddles came trotting up to me and I secretly gave him some of my well-hidden carrot.

Lyra was happy and I put a secret carrot behind my back for her.

Tiddles is very busy making friends.

He has changed into a very sociable little boy, though I quickly checked his “nose-kissey button” and am happy to report that it is still in good working order.

Storm has taken on the role of Hjalti’s body guard.

They are going everywhere together with matching foot-falls.

Storm is takes this job very seriously (that is his serious face).

Hjalti is still a lovely boy, bless him.

It was interesting to see that, out of all the ponies in the field (and there are a few), Lyra was talking to Hjalti.  Interesting. The other ponies are not Thordale’s.

Anyway, Hjalti is fine.  I did some tickling and told him what a good boy he is and how proud I am.

Then off to see the “Fat Fighters” in the hill park.

Everyone was on good form and I thought Klængur looked particularly beautiful today.

Is it, is it my imagination or has a tiny ounce or two been lost?

Lastly, but not leastly, I went to see Vitamin, who is sharing a bare hill park with a fat gelding. They are firm friends.

Still fat.  No, my bad, Vitamin seems to have turned into a hippopotamus while I was not watching.

I fed her far too much last winter (but, to be fair, she is a bargey greedy pig) so being on this hill park with next-to-nothing food will have saved her from laminitis.

Vitamin was in a vile mood.  She was shouting something about starving around here!