Tag Archives: Pepper

My Perfect Day

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At last, my perfect day when absolutely nothing happened that was out of the ordinary or stressful.  My kind of heaven. I have had enough drama recently to last me a lifetime.  It’s all been a bit too much and I am praying it’s over now.

I spent my morning delivering some sheep to friends who were going into town today.  The sheep were needed urgently to restock my sheep field at Jamieson’s Knitwear.  Someone had come in yesterday and bought all my stock and I hate an empty field.

On my way home, I popped in to some friends for a cuppa.  So that was very nice and civilised and we put the world to rights.  Pepper came with me (though, there was a small disgraceful wee on their carpet – I was shocked and we had to leave rather quickly).

My afternoon was spent in my shed making more stock for the shop while possibly eating Tunnocks Tea Cakes.  I finished one sheep and made another listening to an audiobook.

As I write my sheep have refused to come home and I left them sitting contentedly in their field.  They can sort themselves out.  The gate is wedged open and I’ve lost interest.  The ponies have their hay, the horses have lots of grass and I dished out apple slices to all when I gave Kolka her daily painkillers.

And lastly, I took this photo at breakfast a few days back when I told Monster he could not have the milk from my porridge.  So, for revenge, he plonked himself firmly on my iPad saying then I couldn’t use it!  Rotter.

So that’s a lovely boring day in my world where the most exciting thing to happen was Pepper doing a tiny pee on a friend’s carpet (oh, the shame. I am so sorry, Kerry!)

A Very Busy Morning

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I knew I had a lot to fit in this morning, so I got up an hour early to get the chores over and done with before everything started.

And on the dot of 9 our farrier, Jay arrived.  Punctuality is not a trait we have ever seen in any farrier.  But here he was and he set to work immediately.

As everyone’s hooves grow at different rates, only the horses and ponies that actually need a trim are done.  They are thoroughly checked first  and assessed. If they don’t get trimmed on this visit, then they can wait until the next one.

Today it was Albie….

Tiddles….. (with his very-good-boy face and after the debacle with the dentist, it was good to see).

And Newt.

Then we all walked over to the old horses and ponies’ field.  Kolka was trimmed.

Note wee dug – Pepper.  It is a wonder she was never kicked because she was underneath every horse and pony’s hooves with a death wish.

In the end Daisy distracted Pepper away to keep her out from under everyone’s feet or in Jay’s way.  I’m surprised she hasn’t had her nose shaved off!  It was in everything.

Tempus was fugitting along and I had to leave Daisy in charge for the other two horses (I think Iacs and Haakon were trimmed), while I a) put Pepper in the house where she was safe, and b) drove over to Turriefield for my Saturday morning volunteering job of packing vegetables for 2+ hours.

I’m not going to lie – I am exhausted now. I’m having a lie down before the next thing.

Back to Dog Walks in the Flowers

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As Pepper has now had her two stitches out (and, apparently she was a very brave soldier), I thought she could start going for a walk again, but only short ones and strictly supervised.

So I decided Pepper and Ted should go to Clothie, my 5 acres of long grass and flowers which forms part of the old horses and ponies’ winter grazing.

At times, it was difficult to see the dogs.  They were easily lost in the long grass and flowers.

Nearly impossible at times.

Pepper was loving her new freedom.

The two dogs bounded over the grass together, trying to see over the top and where they were going all at the same time.

Meanwhile, having walked to the top of the hill, I sat on a windowsill of the old crofthouse not watching the world not go by.  There wasn’t a soul to be seen, just the long grass swaying in the wind to the sound of the curlews shouting.

I think the short walk was a success.  The daily bandaging less so, though. She hates that and fidgets horribly.

I still don’t trust her not to go a-visiting – strict supervision, remember!

Now, Ted I mostly trust. He has a good track record and stays around the house.

While Pepper is always looking for the chink in our armour.

The Look

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Most of the day I have been on the receiving end of “The Look”.

That’s the one – hard-done-by accompanied with resentment which then pairs nicely with holding the paw up and going along on three legs.

I missed Pepper’s little busybodyness while I gave everyone their breakfasts.  It felt a bit lonely on my own, if I’m honest.

Later on the morning, I put on her (borrowed) boot so she could go for a short three-legged walk on a lead. As I had things to do like clean the water troughs and refill them, I ended up tying her to the fence post so she could at least watch the world go by.

Pepper is learning that she can put her paw down but she is very hesitant to fully weight-bear. The boot is more for keeping her bandage clean.

Ted is being very smug about all of this…..

….. while Pepper is just fed up.

After tea and antibiotics, I decided Pepper would be much happier off the lead (she is not a fan) and I told her that I trusted her to stay around while I put out haynets and fed the ducks/hens.

This was a good decision.

Watching Pepper, I can see that when she is walking (which is rare), she goes on four legs. But if she runs, then it is three legs with hopping. She is not any slower for this and manages to get around.

And now I spend my day saying “no licking”.  Pepper is pretty good, once reminded.

Not Pepper’s Day

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The dogs and I went for a walk to Clothie – our 5 acre field complete with a derelict croft house that used to be a school.

The grass is so long it make the dogs invisible but they love it, bouncing over everything so they can see where they’re going or aiming for.

And the flowers are glorious and so many of them. They seem extra-good this year.

I walked round and then sat on a windowsill while the dogs galloped about looking for bunnies, etc and eventually gave up to sit close to me.

I had a lovely view with the sea in the distance.

And then, on the way home – which is across the open hill a little bit – I noticed Pepper was lagging behind and licking her front paws.

Upon closer examination, and after following the trail of blood around the kitchen, I discovered she had cut both front paw pads open.

Poor little thing.  She was in a state so I grabbed her and put her on the table, examined both paws, got some gauze and rubber gloves and made two makeshift dressings, covering them with a rubber glove and tape to keep the dirt out.  I also gave her a painkiller.

So now I am carrying Pepper everywhere and she’s no lightweight.  She slept all afternoon, which was good.

And I’ve made an appointment for Pepper to see the vet tomorrow (no appointments today, unfortunately).

Once OH gets home, I might soak and re-bandage Pepper’s paws better. This was a real bodge job as I only had one hand (the other was holding her from jumping off the table).  And then there was all the blood to clean up and I’ve just trodden in cat (?) sick and I am feeling sorry for myself too.

But poor, poor Pepperpot.