A Thordale Christmas is full of tradition. However, a lot of preparation goes into maintaining these traditions.

The first tradition is the construction of our “real and authentic” pine tree with our miscellaneous tree decorations gathered over the years and from various locations.

Lambie, of course, makes an appearance.  For some reason he has wings and why not.

Of course, Lambie doesn’t in real life – yet!   (to be arranged, maybe – Lambie would love wings – he would flutter, Mavis Cruet like, over our croft.  It would be beautiful – and yes, I may have had gin.)

We have various Tomte – or nisse or tomtenisse – who have always been living in our tree.  That is a 20 year old Thordale tradition and one everyone remembers.  Tomte are very important to us.

Then there is the Ye Olde Wolde Thordale Yule Log.

It is a work of art and a trial to create.  I leave OH and Daisy to do the thatching and they never cease to amaze me with their abilities.

This year I bought a flock of sheep to decorate the Log with.  As usual, they were smaller than I expected.  That’s Ebay for you!

But I like to think that the new additions to the Thordale Family have been included.  Even in a teeny-tiny way.  (OH said they looked like maggots)

So that is us, ready for Christmas and I may feel slightly sick from eating some of the Yule Log.

Happy Christmas everyone xx

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A reminder – I need a reminder of what it was like when the sun shone and I was not up to my oxters in mud.

An oxter, by the way, is an armpit.  A jolly good word in my opinion and should be used widely.

Anywho, the rain, it doth rain (as well as hail and sleet) and the wind it doth blow a lot.  While not quite knocking me off my feet, it is enough to make everything take twice as long as I battle through trying to feed ponies, muck them out, decide who wears a rug and why and who doesn’t.  Life is very complicated and, because of the filthy weather, difficult.  There is mud everywhere and I feel like Tarzan swinging from the jungle lianas only I use the horses and their tails to keep me upright as I wade my way through the mud collecting empty buckets, trying not to suddenly find I am sans wellie.  That miserable wet sock feeling knowing you have the choice of putting a muddy sock back into the welly to try and pull it out or just walking home with one on and one off.  Neither choice is nice.

Just as long as the mud doesn’t swallow a horse – remember Artax in the Swamp of Sadness.  It is not dissimilar here.

No one is enjoying this and everyone is fed up.

The horses were out in their field today but, when I saw them hunkering down like this behind the dry stone dyke (stone wall), I immediately felt sorry for them, knowing what the weather was going to do tonight.

They are now all in with hay, water and friends to annoy – warm and dry.  Girls in one shed and boys in another.  Apparently the sun might shine tomorrow.

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Two Shetland Foals Luggage Wrap Luggage Handle Wrap by Boysenberries

Shetland Pony Foals Pitcher by Boysenberries

♬ “Oh, the weather outside is frightful”♬ – gale force wind with, what feels like, buckets of rain or hail being thrown at us.

So we went indoors.

BeAnne was in one of her moods.

The one where she feels that everyone hates her.

She does do resentment very well.

We tried to coax her out of it.  But no, she was having none of it.

So we gave up and left BeAnne to her sulk.

Meanwhile, Daisy went to fetch Kappi, leaving Taktur to eat his Handsome Prince food uninterrupted.

Kappi has not been ridden since Summer, when Daisy went away to work in Norway.

She said he was on the fat and unfit side but still the same horse.  She even found his trot which has been missing for a while.  Icelandic gaits come and go like the wind.  Sometimes there is no obvious reason – a frustrating mystery that happens.

Next, Daisy tried out Esja. Bjørn, her trainer (both Esja’s and Daisy’s) had asked her ride Esja as he is very busy with the lead-up to Christmas.

So Daisy exercised Esja and said she was very similar to the youngsters she trains.  Happy little Esja was thrilled to be doing something and had her ears pricked forwards all the time.

Next it was Floss’ turn.  She had her daily lesson on Haakon.

I went and mucked out The Grandes Dames’ Boudoir, trying hard not to be the interfering mother.  When I returned to the school, Daisy had Flossie tölting round and round in circles, concentrating on bending in the right direction (I think).  Floss looked very good and has come a long way in a very short amount of time.

It is lovely seeing Floss and Daisy using the indoor school and enjoying the horses together – makes me feel all warm and fuzzy!

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Shetland pony mare and stallion cushion pillow by Boysenberries

Shetland pony mare and stallion fabric by Boysenberries

Shetland pony mare and stallion bag zazzle HEART tote bag by Boysenberries

Daisy is home for two weeks from her job in Norway – she backs and trains young horses.

The first thing Daisy wanted to do was to ride her Icelandic horse, Iacs.  She has had Iacs since she was 10 years old and they are a very happy together.  Daisy has never wanted to sell Iacs but enjoys riding him when she is home.

Iacs may be a fat little hairy boy and Daisy may ride million dollar horses now, but iacs is still her Iacs and nothing will ever change that.  They have been friends forever.

I love Daisy’s face in the photo below – that is the face of true happiness as they disunitedly canter around the school together. Who cares if it is not right or pretty?  Daisy is happy and they are having fun.  Sometimes perfection is not that its cracked up to be.

Still, Daisy had Iacs going very well and he was a happy boy.

There was even a smidgeon of tölt, which Iacs is not renowned for. Daisy asked him very kindly and Iacs duly tried his best for her.

And then my dreams came true.  I never nagged – I might’ve suggested, though……

Daisy gave Flossie, her younger sister, a riding lesson on Haakon.

It was lovely to watch and Daisy was a very good teacher.

She showed Flossie what she was aiming for and Flossie tried her hardest to achieve.

And achieve they did.

What a wonderful day.  I honestly don’t care what the weather does, just seeing my two daughters and their respective horses listening and learning from each other, is a wonderful sight.

I could not be happier.

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Indy and Hammie Coin Purse by Boysenberries

Best Friends magnet by Boysenberries

Best Friends Post-It Notes Post-it® Notes by Boysenberries

This is the Official 2015 Thordale Christmas card.  I hope you like it.

And here is the immense preparation that went into making it……

Last night was spent making a headcollar/bridle for Lambie.  Yes, I even did sewing and if you know me, I do not sew.   But for Lambie and for you, I did.

The headcollar fell off immediately so we got rid of that.

My rider, who was purchased specifically for this Christmas card, was not brilliant at staying on upright either (we all have that problem at times).

We battled with the rider trying to get it right, using a chopstick up her back, then a right angle shelf bracket, but settling on a coathanger in the end.

Flossie said she had riding lessons like this so why was this not acceptable?  I didn’t know what to say!

Then Lambie pulled a face.  Even as a top super-model, he has his moments.

But we managed.  Here are a few shots that didn’t quite make the grade.

(action shot)

Dear Lambie – he is game for anything, for all my mad ideas without any fuss.  I see a modelling career ahead for him.

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Shetland pony stallion burp cloth by Boysenberries

Shetland pony stallion laptop case laptop skin by Boysenberries

Shetland pony stallion postage stamp by Boysenberries

Shetland Pony Stamp by Boysenberries