Today it was Waffle’s turn to learn some manners.

The daily dog walk consisted of me, Waffle, Lambie, BeAnne and Loki.  We went on the road and everyone had to behave.

Previously, Waffle had been a bit gobby when we went out and I so am determined that my Minions will have exemplary manners and be well behaved at all times when out and about.  What they do in their own field, is up to them, but they are now old enough to behave and I was rather disappointed at everyone’s behaviour during our last jaunt.

I don’t think I am asking for rocket science.  I just want my boys to lead nicely and to walk without being distracted by the locals to the point of pushing me around to get their own way.

Waffle was first up for training.  I am aiming to work with a Mininon every time I take the dogs out, if I can.

Waffle was much nicer today.  We had words about biting the hand that feeds and leads and, after that, he walked nicely beside me, stopping when I stopped and I didn’t feel anymore little teeth on my hand.

Lambie thought it was quite a good idea to bring other friends along but, as he is not a huge fan of any Minions, he had to gather up all his courage and shoot past at 100mph, like a woolly bullet, to join his leader, BeAnne!

Loki, as ever, disowned us all.

We did get a few odd looks from passers by.  One Shetland sheep walking with one Shetland pony is not a sight often seen walking together, plus two scruffy dogs with one scruffy person!

Sometimes I don’t ride or do anything with the boys. I just sit with them and that is enough.  Our relationship is not based on the need to be ridden or worked with.  Being with the horses, taking their photos, having a chat, a nose kissey, a mutual groom, a bit of special time is enough for all of us.

When I am moving the herd to another field, or letting everyone out to eat the grass around the house, someone usually stops for a small chat before rushing off to find their friends.

Mostly, it is Storm, Tiddles or Taktur.  Food is not always their priorty.  Sometimes they need to talk to me first and it makes me feel special in their eyes. I am not just she-who-fills-the-buckets.

If it is a nice day, ie not raining by my standards and I can stand up straight without hanging onto something, I will go outside and sit with the horses.  Whoever wants to chat is always welcome.  I don’t ask them to come to me – I wait and see who wants to talk.  Usually they quietly “pop by” to have a little time with me.  There is no crowding around or to bickering for my attention.

So, when I don’t ride or I leave everyone alone, I don’t feel guilty.  They have each other, food and me if they need.

I went to see Little Himself, aka Hjalti, yesterday only he is not so-little anymore.  Maybe I should change his nickname to Mahoosive Himself!

The herd have been moved into their winter field and it is much easier to talk to Hjalti and Hetja now.

He is still under the ever-watchful eye of his mother who lets nothing get past her – she is not bored of her little boy.  HJalti will not be weaned until the beginning of next year.

I love watching the unique mother/foal bond.

Like every parent and child, they have private conversations together.  If Hetja could, she would’ve spat on a corner of her hanky and wiped around his mouth!

Hetja is very beautiful.  She has expressive ears.

And I watched her “come hither” glances to Fakur.

He, of course, is completely besotted with Hetja and can often be found baby-sitting a certain young gentleman.  He likes to think of himself as a family man.

And Hjalti is into everything!

He still very shy, however, but he managed to talk to me a few times.  He touched and sniffed me with his gorgeous soft velvety-silky nose that is made of something very special.  I felt blessed and loved.

The Merrie Dancers made an appearance last night.  It was a clear still autumn night and I lugged my kit outside to try and capture the magic.

It was not a huge display or, if it was, I missed it, but I managed to capture a few good photos.  If you look carefully to the right of the main light column, you will see what I think is a meteor from the Draconid meteor shower.

It could, of course be a satellite, wobble or a fly, but I am telling myself that is a meteor.

The aurora was not very long-lived but still, they are always wonderful to watch.

I stood in the wet grass, listening to Lambie gently munching or acknowledging my presence (he is next door and yes, I did gently baa to him!)  Suddenly the peace and quiet was disturbed by frantic harsh barking – BeAnne had located a hedgehog.  She has a special high-pitched bark for them.

We called her off.

I stayed for a while longer, hoping the Northern Lights would return but they didn’t.  In the meantime, I pointed my camera straight upwards, rather than to the north, and took photos of the Milky Way.

It was an experiment and, at one stage, the one kit almost fell over with the weight of the lens. I luckily caught it in time with the dangling remote control.

I upped the contrast on this last photo to reveal this.  I am not sure, again, whether they are stars or just the photo getting grainy.

I thought it looked a bit Star Trekkie myself.

After all the rain, I thought I would start my learning-to-walk-nicely-on-the-road training with The Minions but when I went to catch one, I saw that they were all asleep, so I felt guilty and left them.

The bad weather is always exhausting for everyone.

Instead, I took the dogs out for their walk by themselves (plus Lambie and Lambert who spotted me leaving from the hill and came running).  They were very enthusiastic and there was running, bouncing as well as trying to butt each other into ditches!

Loki disowned us and went off to catch a rabbit.

Afterwards, I went down into the Fat Field to see how everyone was.  No one was very keen to talk to me as there was eating to do before I changed my mind and moved them all back to their original field, that doesn’t have as much grass.

I could not see Taktur in the field, so shouted his name and he popped up from behind a dry stone wall.

He is very handsome and easy to work with.  A real gentleman.

The Minions had crept under an adjoining fence to the next field, where they almost invisible in the long grass.

The weeds are the same size as Silver.

Tiddles was on good form but he had eating to do and that took precedent over everything else.

Tiddles and Storm are still the best friends one year on and that is just what I wanted when I agreed to give him a home, last winter.

It was a lovely afternoon after all that rain/wind.  Everyone was enjoying it and I didn’t get too involved as I though they were tired and just wanted to be left alone.  Still, I had a few nose kisses!