Tag Archives: terrier

Going Out

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There was a weird eerie light this morning, when I went to fetch the buckets in to wash before putting them away.

The “big” horses had let themselves out and looked very picturesque in front of Stourbrough Hill capped with low cloud.

(173-metre summit located at the center of the Walls Peninsula)

The sheep were also meandering their way out of the paddock and into the big field.

They remain wary of the horses for absolutely no reason.  Shetland ponies, well yes, I can understand, but not the horses.  They’re no bother to anyone.

All the sheep held their collective breath and went past the totally ignoring horses with their eyes closed.

“Don’t notice me, don’t notice me, don’t notice me” I am sure I could hear.

For some reason known only to herself, Dahlia had been left behind.  She soon caught up, though.

Meanwhile, in the wee paddock with the wee shed, Vitamin was busy offering a washing-up service on all buckets.

“No food too small” is her motto.

She did a very thorough job.

And I told her so.  Well done and thank you, Vitamoobag. You’ve saved me a job.

Fivla had just vacated the shed and was doing her own thing – more eating then.

And apparently I have still yet to be forgiven for being disappointed with Pepper.

Doing Everything Early

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I’m going into town for a meal later so have had to do everything early. It is raining so that is helping too. The sheep also wanted in at lunchtime and the Shetland ponies were in their containers sheltering.

I generously filled two small-hole double haynets and tied them into their boxes.

That should keep everyone occupied for a while and hopefully fill them up.

Pepper obviously was my constant three-legged companion.  She is managing suprisingly well on three, sometimes four, legs.  The slice off her front pad is healing nicely and she has day dressings and at night, when she can’t escape, a baby’s sock to keep the wound dry and clean while airing.  So far, this method is working. Her stitches are booked to come out on Monday, all being well.  Pepper is also grounded and not going on walks – only allowed outside with me doing chores.  Ted still has to go on dog-walks which he hates and runs straight home the minute he can.

The other support team is helpful to the extreme.

Not!

But he’s around and shouty if someone (him) might be starving.

In the big field, the horses and ponies are rotating the use of the shed.  Mostly it is a battle of wills between Kolka and Fivla and Vitamin, though I have seen Haakon briefly standing in there.  Iacs, never.  He is not that kind of wuss.

The never-ending feed machine continues, just earlier today.  Everyone probably thought it was their birthday!

 

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.

Busy Day

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We have visitors coming up from south for their holidays tomorrow so I wanted to be prepared, food-wise, and have spent my day chained to the stove, cooking with varying degrees of success.

I made 3 curries, 2 chutneys, a really bad cake (I am quite ashamed of it and will try and pass it off as pudding rather than anything you would eat with a cup of tea), a batch of ice cream, got another one mixed ready to go, and lastly boiled and peeled lots of duck eggs for picnic sandwiches. Obviously I was supervised.

 

Later on, Monster and Pepper had a good battle – it was revenge for when Pepper had ambushed Monster.  He won, of course and she ran downstairs using me as her shield in case he had another go.

I needed a break from the kitchen, all the cooking and so I took everyone outside.  After putting out the haynets for the Shetland ponies, I went into the sheep field and sat down on my coat for some much-needed sheep-watching or maybe it was the other way around?

 

Pepper sat on me and then beside me getting annoyed with the flies.

She was trying to catch them by snapping randomly at the air.

Lambie was far away.

And then suddenly he wasn’t.

My dear little boy. We had a lovely chat.

And he also passed the time of day with Pepper too.

(which I always think is very sweet).

Sitting in the field surrounded by flowers and sheep, listening to the birds, while Pepper snapped randomly at flies made a peaceful break after slaving away in the kitchen all day.

Does Madge Miss Edna?

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After a lovely morning in Sandness, Pepper had a grudging rest in the afternoon while I made another hand-felted Shetland sheep to add to my collection.

It is that time of the year, again, when there are not enough hours in the day to do everything on my list  This is all my remaining stock – the little sheep are selling very well and I can’t keep up with demand despite making a sheep every day even in the quieter winter months.

This just proves to me that Pepper is feeling better.  She is waiting to go and get her tea.

And is impatient for me to let her out.

I decided to give myself a break and went to sit in the real sheep field.  I remember worrying about Madge when her mother, Edna, died.  I didn’t think she would manage but she did and I am pleased she is not desolate without her mentor to guide her.

Madge has made her own friends now and is comfortable and settled in the flock, which is all I ever wanted for her (though if she could be a bit tamer (read grateful) that would be nice).

After wolfing down her supper, Pepper found me sitting in the field.  There is no escape.

While Pepper sat quietly looking for intruders, I chatted to Gussie.

Now Gus-Gus never has to be asked to be tamer or more helpful.  His one aim in life is to be by my side at all times and if I could just trip up over him too, then that would be perfect!