I went for a walk in the fields today, armed with the camera (obviously).

The Summer flowers are just beginning to start flowering while the Spring ones are dying down.

I should really know all their names but I will be honest, I don’t.  However, I do appreciate them all, and think they are very special.  Every year, when they do appear, it is like seeing old friends.  There are no new species.  Just the same but still beautiful.

I have identified them so far but could be wrong…

If you want to educate me, send me the list and I will put it at the bottom of the blog.

Marsh Marigold
Bog Cotton or Common Cotton grass
Cuckooflower
Early Marsh-Orchid
Common Dog Violet (?)
Heath Spotted-orchid
Ragged-Robin
Field Forget-me-not
Dunno
Spring Squill
Meadow Vetcling or Common Bird’s-foot-trefoil
Red Campion

And Fakur fast asleep in the sun.  It was very hot, for us.  Too hot and I was quite crabby while BeAnne ate grass and made constant sick noises.

Oh yes, and I met a froggie as well.  And now I am off to look up said froggie to identify him.

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I am thinking he is a common froggie but still, I do like him (or her) very much.

It is very hot here – 18 degrees centigrade – so we went to the beach.  I love the beach and am always the one at the back loitering with the camera.

Out of nowhere my OH produced a tennis ball for BeAnne.  This is rarely any wood.

The Arctic Terns are back.  There were only a few screeching above us.  They are very quick and not easy to photograph.

I crept up on this Shalder – Shetland dialect for Oyster Catcher.

The beautiful sea pinks are just beginning.

The path to the beach was a fabulous place for the Shetland Bumblebee (Bombus muscorum agricolae)

I have been asked to take photos of my girls from Iceland.  So here they are.  Here is Hetja.  My mare and soon-to-be wife of Taktur.

She is a darling girl who will make the loveliest mother.  She “adopted” Esja when they travelled over together from Iceland.

Esja is growing up fast.  She is 3 years old this year but still an inquisitive baby in her head.

Some Icelandic horses are started in their third year and turned away but Esja is definitely not ready for this and we will wait a year for her to “grow up” in her head.

Anyway, it was lovely to see my beautiful girls.

Klængur is err, cough, umm…… (hides head in shame) …… very, very, very FAT!  We are going to bring him back to Thordale tomorrow.  I am tempted to put him in with The Minions so they will chase and chase him until he loses some weight.  But work will begin as I think he looks like a miniature Suffolk Punch Horse.  He is still very loving, though.

Back in the saddle for us all.

While everyone else went out on their horses, I warmed up Haakon in the indoor school ready for a quick impromptu lesson.  Our tölt is very flat and I needed help.

I was told that it all starts with the outline so we worked on that first.

Then Bjørn rode him to get the feel of Haakon. He hasn’t ridden him for a while and of course instantly Haakon went beautifully.  I was very envious.

Meanwhile, BeAnne was helping Taktur.  We caught her “helping” a lot.  Norty little girl.

Then I got back on Haakon and off we went again – our tölt hugely improved.  I have much to work on, I can see, and we will practice, practice, practice.

During the cool-down, I let BeAnne up for a ride too.  She had been asking nicely and we did a few laps together.

A reward snack for Haakon while BeAnne had a rest.

Like most little girls, I think she dreams of riding ponies!

(now starts to wonder whether a Minion could be bribed when a bit older!)

It was pouring with rain today (good for the grass but bad for The Minions).  They are still not  built for rain yet and I found them in their shed looking bored.  I don’t think they have the ability yet to stay as warm as other Shetland ponies of similar age and they always use their shed when it rains.  I will muck it out tomorrow.  Typical lazy boys – they like peeing in it.

So with the use of a bucket of rattly food, I asked them to follow me into the indoor school where I could work with them.

Firstly, I wanted to get them running about, i.e. active and warm.  Daisy called them “Frances’ Flea Circus”.

They loved it and happily cantered about the school trying to play and eat each other.

They stopped only to play with a cone.  The best toy.

And then off they went again.

I wanted my “Fleas” to use up their surplus energy as well.

Then I put a headcollar on each one and did a little work like picking up feet and leading.  There was no point brushing as everyone was revolting and matted.

I also spent time with each of them alone.  My dear little “Fleas”.  I am extremely fond of them and they have taken up a new part of my heart.  I never thought little Shetland ponies were for me but getting to know and gain the trust of these three has shown me their huge characters and generosity.

Of course Her Maj, aka BeAnne, looked on to check I was doing my work correctly. The Minions are getting better about not chasing her, which is encouraging.  Day by day!

I think I have done too much recently and I have been struck down with a life-threatening lurgy (ok, a cold, but still I feel grotty).

Today, I am giving my horses and ponies a day-off from me.  They deserve it.  Haakon has worked very hard recently.

But Daisy rode Taktur as per Bjørn’s instructions and training.

So proud ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ sniff ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤.  Daisy rides beautifully and it is lovely to watch them work together.  Taktur is Daisy’s much wanted black stallion that she has dreamt of since she first read “The Black Stallion” books. (IndyPingPong, bless him, didn’t seem to fit that role).

She did very well.  I just sat in the middle with the dogs and took a few photos for her to look at afterwards.

Sorry this is short but I am feeling all bunged up and sorry for myself.  It is difficult juggling pain-killers with cold remedies and I can’t decide which is a more deserving cause.

If I cough, my back hurts.  If I sniff, my head hurts.  If I blow my nose, everything hurts.

Off to bed with my 24/7 nursing staff, I think.