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It is a tad feisty out.

I wanted to muck out Les Grandes Dames’ boudoir so I put them in the stable and where Storm and Tiddles were hiding.  Sadly, Storm does not live up to his name and detests bad weather and Tiddles was feeling rather hard done by on the food front so had come in too.

The boys were intrigued by the lovely ladies and asked to be introduced so I opened the gate between them.  They have never met ladies properly – only gazed from a distance, which is not the same thing at all.

The Ladies were totally underwhelmed by these two little squirts but also very slightly intrigued.  They had probably never met anything so small with an opinion.

They didn’t know whether to mother them or to f….. feel sorry for them!

Vitamin was in a bit of a Mrs Robinson mood, which was very funny to watch and, yes, Storm suddenly had a look of Dustin Hoffman about him.

It was all a bit like The Graduate.  “Mrs Robinson” gave him her best come-hither look.

You could see Storm trying to work out what was expected.

Luckily nothing!  Basic logistics were against Storm.  I wish the Boudoir was a bit bigger as they could all live there together but two Grandes Dames plus Storm and Tiddles equals a bit of a squish and I don’t want anyone standing outside feeling miserable.

When the weather improves, or on good days, I will put the little Minions out with the Ladies for the day and they can show them their big field, or their etchings or whatever it is miniature Shetland pony Lotharios do.

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MyShetland has been nominated for Haynet’s 2015 Equestrian Blogger of the Year.  There are 12 nominations and I am one of them!  Yay. Get me!

If you follow this link, you can vote for MyShetland Blog –

http://www.hay-net.co.uk/haynet-news/8898/haynet-equestrian-blogger-of-the-year-2015—vote-now

If you want that is.  Please there really is no pressure. I  will just sob into my coffee if I lose again.   No, really, no pressure, or guilt and don’t worry if The Minions are sobbing too and is that Lambie I hear crying his eyes out?  No pressure, like I said.  Remember The MyShetland Advent Calendar?  Well, that will be all binned.  Yes, you heard, the whole lot in the bin or fed to the dog.

Anywho, that is the offishul bit over.

The weather is not brilliant – today was no exception.  I have been working into the wee small hours to create The Mugs to End All Mugs

The Perfect Lambie Mug by Boysenberries

Lambie Mug by Boysenberries

Lambie Mug by Boysenberries

Lambie Basic White Mug by Boysenberries

And please don’t forget

http://www.hay-net.co.uk/haynet-news/8898/haynet-equestrian-blogger-of-the-year-2015—vote-now

(not nagging, just sayin’)

Ok, I have almost stopped calling them The Old Bats, but only because Delia and Vitamin are very sweet and they make me smile.

This was until I was picking up some hay in their shed to put in the haynet when Delia stormed in taking me with her. I was reminded of the old lady pushing to the front of the bus queue.

Mud is everywhere.  My life is mud, my house is mud and I am probably made of mud by now or at least have the beginnings of trench foot.  OH has kindly spent a good part of his morning scraping away as much mud as as possible so that Les Grandes Dames are standing on boulder rock rather than slurry.

From this angle, I don’t think either of them are looking too bad.  Delia is on the left, while Vitamin is blacker and is mostly wearing hay.

Their Boudoir (or Minion Shed) is much loved and I am seriously considering asking OH to paint it pink to suit the mood and the lifestyle.

Les Grandes Dames have finally discovered the shed’s charm and use to it to shelter from the bad weather.  When it gets properly cold again, I will put Delia’s rug back on but she has much more of a sparkle in her eye when she is not wearing it and tends to venture forth into the big field round the back.  I took the rug into my house to dry and it weighed a ton, with all the water on or in it.

Delia’s glint …..

Vitamin is so like her son, Indy.  Same silly grin!

So onwards and upwards.  Rugs on, rugs off, food in, muck out, me splat!

Do you remember this little Lambie?

And all his trials and tribulations?

The terrible joint-ill that took numerous visits to the vet, daily injections of antibiotics and endless physio, comfrey poultice and joint massages?

Do you remember that he was so small, he could fit in a foot warmer.

And BeAnne was his furry Mother…..

And I was his human Mother (or Muzzah, as he calls me – with his slight German accent).  Every evening, he would sit on my shoulder or my lap and go to sleep while I massaged away the old rock-solid sheep scour using melted coconut oil.

I was desperate to get Lambie to eat and would leave little things to tempt him as well as feed him endlessly small amounts of “bottle”.

Well, Lambie is not so little anymore!

He has beautiful thick ringlet wool.

He has two best friends and they are a happy little flock.

And in return for all the love I gave him, Lambie has taken little Lambster under his woolly wing.  They are the best of friends and Lambie is teaching him all he knows.  They play gentle butting games together and it is a joy to watch little Lambster coming out of his shell.  He had a very poor start in life.

I have said it before and I will probably say it again, but sheep are very under-estimated.  Lambie has brought such joy into my life.  He is one of the best members of the family.  His loyalty and devotion know no bounds and his happy optimistic cheeriness would put a smile on the most hardened soul.

Esja went for her first ride out.  She has been backed/trained in the indoor school and her 1/2 mile walk to Thordale.   Bjørn Roar Larsen, her trainer, has taken everything slowly and, totally based on Esja’s progress, today was considered an auspicious day.

I accompanied Esja/Bjørn on Haakon, who I chose carefully as the safest and calmest option, after careful thought and consideration.

Fool, that I was.  The ears tell a different story.

Esja was hoof-perfect.  The proof is Bjørn’s cheesey grin.  He said she felt incredibly safe and he trusted her completely.

Even Tiddles running up and down the fence, plus meeting Delia and Vitamin in their grazing field, had no effect on Esja.

She tölted beautifully when asked, trotted enthusiastically up the hill and enjoyed herself immensely.

Haakon, on the other hand, was horrible.  He bounced, threatened, wanted to go fast, refused to walk slowly or nicely, and we fought every inch of the way to the point I was jealous of Bjørn and the nice time he was obviously having.

We didn’t go far – a few miles in walk, trot and tölt (Esja) while Haakon did what is known as “indignant chicken”.

So, well done Esja and Bjørn.

Maybe I should sell Haakon and keep Esja as my riding horse.  At least I would have a nice peaceful ride without any histrionics keeping me on my toes.  I even told the old fool that I would prefer to get off and walk home than ride him and that is my ultimate threat.