Tag Archives: Icelandichorses

The North Wind Doth Blow

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As I write, the wind is gaining strength but my plan is go day-by-day through this storm.  Like the train in Dumbo, “I think I can, I think I can“.

My only priority is that Iacs gets his pills daily and everyone else is safe, that’s all I want.

And if the electricity could stay on as well, then that’s a bonus too.

And, as I am now have a shopping list of all my requests, that all the outbuildings and our roof stay intact or at least on.

As I was on my way out of the door (going to work on a friend’s website), I found this lot had let themselves back out of their field – quite the woolly escape artistes, they are when they choose – and were posing for an album cover.

I’m not sure what the name of the band is but I expect they all know.  Something to do with wool or food.

The Shetland ponies have made camp behind their containers – a very sheltered spot with grass and bucket of water.  I am refusing to worrying about them.

They are tough and healthy – much more so too than last year.

Even Tiddles looks good.

So, that’s me, off to put the ducks and hens to bed for the night.  The wind is going up a notch overnight and then the fun really begins.  Buckets in the wind!

Let me count the ways I love winter….. ah yes, none.

Dark and Dismal

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It’s been a dark and dismal day with constant wind and rain.

Ugh!

None of us wanted to go outside – there are days I would gladly swap lives with Monster.

Still, I donned my full wet-weather gear and plodded outside with buckets for all.  I honestly think there is nothing more depressing than trying to complete Wordle in a driving wind and drizzle (got it in 4, thank you for asking).

Later in the morning, on my way out (to see a friend and work on her website (Squarespace)), I went via the sheep shed to see who was hunkering down.

Surprisingly, they were all outside on the long-side of the big shed which was offering full shelter from everything.  Sensible sheeps.

I had a quick chat with Lambie.

And immediately I could understand the advantages of this well-chosen spot.   Everyone was there, except for Gussie and Dahlia who were long gone into their hill field, either eating or resting.

Of course all the Minions had shovelled themselves into one of their containers.  When I went inside, it was warm and dry.  I think they spent the day there – their choice – and I hung up some haynets when I got home later.

And so Pepper and I set off on our expedition to the other side of the island to build this website, which we did with a modicum of success and Pepper behaved beautifully.  Ted stayed at home with OH as he would’ve only let the side down.

Moved Them

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This morning Vitamoobag and her not-much-of-a-friend Kolka escaped and went walkabout around the croft.  It was all my fault. I didn’t secure the gate when I brought the breakfast buckets and it swung open in the wind offering a lovely escape route.  Obviously, they took it.

Kolka was easy to catch (with a dog-lead attached to the world’s smallest Shetland pony/foal headcollar (so shoot me, it’s all I could grab) around her neck like a necklace) and I returned her quickly to her field before she had another independant thought.

Vitamoobag was not so helpful and had wandered to the house. She had no intention of being caught ever again but using the old “I’m not holding a headcollar and I don’t want to catch you” ruse, I got her and put her back too.

While we did the slow walk back to the field, I mused that as the weather was going to disintegrate, perhaps this herd would be better off in a more sheltered field, as well as having more grass to eat.

So using the now successful method (patent pending) of leading a horse/pony without the right equipment, I put  my teensy tiny headcollar/dog lead contraption around Haakon’s neck and told him to come with me, which of course he did (such a well brought up chap).

Everyone else followed.

And now this lot are happy in a field with lots of grass and shelter.

One problem, though, three of them are pretty much the same colour as their background.  Spot three horses!

There you go.  Two….

Plus one.

But at least I can see Fivla and Vitamoobag still.