The phone rang late last night.  Jo told me that Velvereta had foaled.  The foal was dead.

Poor, poor Velvereta.  There was no reason that we know of or could see. It looked like the foal was born dead as her eyes were not open.  A beautiful filly foal too.  

Last night Velvereta was incandescent with rage.  She would’ve killed Jo so she was left alone to stand over her dead baby as the bag was out, there was nothing anyone could do and this was the safest course of action.  She had Melinda with her who was keeping a very low profile.

It is a horrid time for all of us, mostly for Velvereta, obviously.  She is cross and doesn’t understand.  You can see it in her eyes and her stance – hard and embittered.  She is grieving for the filly she would’ve loved.  Velvereta has always been an excellent mother.

Her filly was not some random result for the sake of breeding either. We are totally aware of the market at the moment. We already had a buyer lined up who desperately wanted a filly from her and Indy.  Their combined breedlines are highly sought after.

Although last night she would not let Jo near her or the baby, by this morning Velvereta had slightly mellowed.

She said she could accept a carrot, (I had brought a bag), but she was still very unhappy and we did not crowd her and read her body language all the time.

We will leave Velvereta with her foal until she walks away.  When she does, then we will move her back into the big field and bury her baby.  She is allowing Melinda nearer so it shouldn’t be too long.

I feel very sorry for her. It is Vitamin all over again and we don’t know why.  She looks terrible too.  We will give her time and then put her out with Indy again. She does think he is gorgeous so hopefully he will take her mind off this horrible experience.  Next year, I will be better and I can set up camp and we will watch her 24/7 to try and prevent this tragedy happening again.  Like Vitamin. we know she has had live foals before.  Last night, it was all so quick.  One minute she was walking around, the next, a dead foal beside her.

I apologise for such a sad post but I wanted to show any of you that are thinking of breeding from your mare, that it isn’t a done deal.  You don’t always end up with a fluffy darling foal and sometimes there is absolutely nothing you can do about it.  When you make the decision to send your mare to the stallion for this to happen, think it through, I beg of you.  Think of all the what-ifs because there is always the risk no matter how hard you try.

You have livestock and therefore, it is inevitable that you could have dead-stock.  Shit does happen.  Would you be ready for that?

Poor Velvereta. I am so sorry, my darling girl.

I need to make my millions and I need to make them quick, like now!

(says in a very small voice – “I’ve been shopping and bought myself another camera, but I do neeeeeeeeeed it” and it will make me happy)

I have always dreamed of owning a Leica camera and I will admit to looking at Hasselblad cameras but, after I had picked myself up off the floor and applied for a mortgage, I decided not to go down that route.

I laughed out loud when I saw those prices.  Anyway, I like my new Leica mostly because it has this…… a swivelly out viewfinder thingy which will help my back for those weird angle shots I like to take.  I know, I know the Canon EOS 600D wotsit has that too but then it would just be a slightly lighter base unit for all my lenses so no different, just slower and still heavy.  

To finance this photographic frippery, I have decided to open an Etsy shop and put only my best photos on it for sale.  Your thoughts and any help would be gratefully received.

Etsy – ThordalePhotography – http://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ThordalePhotography

I am concentrating on having a few different sections and the shop will grow bigger.

First there is the Shetland ponies in Cardigans Section. I have chosen only the best of the photos I took but will put up some more shortly.

Next there is the Northern Lights and Shooting Star Section. I am not sure whether to flood the market with my billions of “Merrie Dancer” photos or just put up a few superb ones.

And, lastly, so far, there is my Arctic Tern picture with the most beautiful quote by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry from The Little Prince.  That is in my Flowers and Fauna Section.

There will be other Sections – like Shetland ponies from Shetland, Shetland Scenery, etc.  This is just the beginning.  

I am keeping prices low and realistic and there is a dirty great big watermark across every picture too that doesn’t detract but does hopefully stop thieving little barstewards.  This time the watermark can’t be taken off like someone once did when they stole my photo rather than pay and announced it on Facebook with pride.  I was so disappointed.  My first day out in my new venture too.

Please go and look at my Etsy Shop and, if you want to see more of my photos or have a particular favourites you think should be included, go to Flickr – http://www.flickr.com/photos/pencille/sets – and let me know.

It would be good to get followers, feedback and a few sales to finance this new equipment (never, toy).

And yes, I fully intend to have PingPong in all his dancing glory!  Watch this space.  Perhaps even a whole Section devoted to his gorgeousness.  And what about one for BeAnne and/or Wuss?  Do you think there is a market or will I end up on Regretsy?

Every day, religiously, Jo comes over to feed Taktur for me.

She has tried a variety of methods to enable her to feed him without a) feeding the others and b) not having to take him out of the field.

As usual, it all started fairly smoothly.  Taktur had taken himself between the two fences which was very convenient and so Jo decided to sit on the gap in the wall to prevent potential marauders and  invaders.

Contestant No 1 was Indy PingPong – a Shetland pony stallion who is used to getting his own way by being charming.

He did try very hard – got his best smile out and everything.

Some of the others realised they didn’t stand a chance so stayed up the top to admire the scenery and be jealous.

Contestants No 2 and 3 were the small hobbitses.  Like father, like son, they favoured the distraction method.

Eventually it was too much for Haakon. so he came down to see what Indy was doing and to decide whether he could join in too.

Jo still refused to budge.

Taktur was going to have his food and they would have to go through her to get it.

She explained this to Indy who was not impressed considering the time and investment he had put into being gorgeous and charming.

In his mind he deserved a decent meal, preferably Taktur’s, for all the effort. There were even moments when he thought Jo’s head might have fitted the bill.

And so, while Taktur ate his meal, Jo talked to everyone who wanted to talk, or wanted to watch Taktur eat his food, thinking she had won and this was, at last, the method that worked. Suddenly  Indy made a decision and just climbed the 2 foot high rock wall in front of her and barged past to get Taktur’s food.  It was then Jo jumped the perimeter wire fence and left them to it.  Luckily Taktur had finished so all Indy got were the pickings.  I was less than impressed and I think Jo was rather suprised!

Indy was thinking about his stomach – his raison d’être.  I thought he had better manners than that.

May Madness

Firstly, I will do the serious bit because Nick Miners is my friend and he did such sterling work stepping in and writing my blog with absolutely no notice at all, while I was rushed away to hospital.

He is running a promotion on his website throughout May.

You should already be familiar with his fabulous photography and work so please take some time out of your day to go and have a look.

He has blogged about it at nickminers.com/may-madness and the Facebook announcement is at https://www.facebook.com/NickMinersPhotography/posts/10151581755338766 

Nick has taught me a great deal and I consider him to be one of my mentors.  His “photographic eye” is one I envy (or is it two?).

☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞

And Now for My Madness…..

As usual the post arrived but today I received this envelope. Note, the name is spelled properly and using the correct French acute accent too.  We are already impressed.

On the reverse was the Royal Seal, which made me laugh.

The actual card was delightful.  Two puppies who were obviously drugged or stuffed.

There was a mysterious message inside…..

…… as well as an awesome (yes, I have used “that” word) gift that will be useful as well as impressive.

Well, we (the Royal We) are delighted with such a magnificent garment.  There was a label attached too so this confirms it is brand new.

I have my suspicions as to who sent this most exquisite piece of décollage or neck wear –  I am not sure if Her Maj wore it the right way round.  Is it mean to be like a bib? I don’t know.

But, who cares?  She looked, of course, as beautiful as ever.

If the company want better modelling pictures, I can do these once I am allowed to use my big camera.  Just say.

Please notice that I did brush BeAnne slightly but I didn’t want her natural beauty to detract from the lovely bandana.

And look, too, she even managed to talk to the “common people”.

I think this look is not dissimilar to Grace Kelly.  They could be twins. It is uncanny.

So, thank you, whoever you are, K!  Wonderful, simply wonderful. xx