Tag Archives: white cat

Glorious Spring Day

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It’s been a glorious spring day.  Seeing the sun shine and beautiful blue sky really lifted my spirits. I think we can all agree, it has been a long difficult winter and it is a good feeling to be finally coming out of it.

The dogs and I all appreciated the fine weather as we went on our daily walk around the fields.

I saw my very first “Blugga flooer” (marsh marigold or kingcup) and soon the wet bits in my fields will be carpeted in them. They are quite a determined plant here and no one seems to eat them.

As I wanted to make the most of the sunshine, I went into the sheep’s field to sit down on a rock.  Pepper immediately jumped on my lap and Gussie wandered up for a chat.

It must be coming up to Gussie’s birthday too (well, in fact everyone’s birthdays).  The only date I actually know is Lambie’s.  Gussie is 2 years old now and probably the biggest sheep we have.  Not fat, just tall. There is a lot of Gussie.

He is one big sheep and for a sheep born on the hill, he is the tamest.

And when I went inside, I got shouted at. Monster could’ve come too, I told him.  Maybe next time.

Track Life

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Not much happening today.

Just the usual – Monster decided he wanted to rule the world so he sat on Donald Trump.

I am considering selling some of the Muscovy ducks.  We just have so many (mostly boys) and all the girls are wandering around looking for places to nest so there are bound to be more.

I shall be sad to see them go but needs must. I never wanted a large flock.

The Shetland ponies are all doing well.  Track life seems to have been an easy change for them and it suits them. They run up and down from one end to the other, galloping up the hills, giggling and having lots of fun.  I think it also helps that the weather has been quite nice recently.

Of course, I gave in and they now get hay in the evening out of the very-difficult-to-eat haynets (doubles, ie two together with tiny holes) and this a) slows them down and b) gives the grass a bit of a chance to grow.  I don’t see anyone getting fat on this regime but I worry about stomach ulcers, and am trying to keep the intake trickling in.

Anyway, the ponies are getting lots of exercise on the track, which is ideal.  However the constant poo-picking is very boring except I am currently listening to LOTR (onto the 3rd book now), so feel like a miserable put-upon hobbit while I traipse around the track.

Not much today.  Yesterday was much nicer, weather-wise so I spent my morning waiting for a physio phone-appointment and trying to value stuff to put on Ebay.  I am finding that Google Image certainly has its limitations.

Anywho, I read somewhere that cats don’t see us as humans, but instead as a rather clumsy larger cats.  Knowing Monster very well, I can believe that.

I also often feel judged.

And yesterday Monster came on his first dog walk of 2026.  He is totally a fair-weather companion. He continued to shoud at everyone too.

And later, when I went into my shed, Monster turned up and paid me a visit, walking only on the path stepping stones, which I thought was rather clever of him.

After a lot of annoying, ie bothering me, deciding where best to sit, more bothering me, he settled in the spot I had made him by the window (mostly because I told him to sit down and shut up, because I had work to do).

I had to work around Monster. It seemed easier. Us clumsy humans have to adapt.

And then Monster found a better bed, which I wish he had found much earlier.

Later we all walked back together to the house for tea.  Another day, another dollar (or pound if we’re being pedantic).

(and Lambie turned up for his breakfast again).

The Grass is Always Greener

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Guess who turned up this morning, after going out into his field with his friends (he snuck back while I was finishing tidying their bedroom)?  Yes, I fed him and yes, I’ve realised I’ve made a rod for my own back but Lambie is a bit thin (that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it) and I luffs him.

After a very strong cup of coffee (my breakfast), I took the dogs out for their walk. I wanted to check the track’s electric fence, to make sure that when the ponies moved in, all systems would be go or at least zap!

Obviously, I had help.

And the ponies all came rushing over to see what I was doing just in case I had chocolate cake in my pocketses.

Despite having a bit of grass in their field, they all hanker to move onto the track.  I have absolutely no idea why.  There is not one blade of grass on it.

Where the ponies currently live has at least something to eat but apparently that’s not good enough anymore.  The grass is always greener, apparently, even if it doesn’t actually exist.

But I made the most of the nice weather and had a sit down spending some special time with Tiddles (‘scuse the many chins).

I am in two minds when to move the ponies over to their track. It is all ready and waiting.  We most certainly don’t want laminitis again and they have wintered well but there really is not one blade of grass there and I will only end up having to feed them very expensive hay, which seems ridiculous when they are ok where they are.  I dunno. I never know.  Answers on a postcard, please.

Moved the Oldies

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As some of you may be aware, the world news is terrifying me, so I thought I would try and read a sensible newspaper over breakfast to put things better into perspective.

My plans were duly thwarted.

I didn’t stand a chance really.  I don’t know why I bothered.

Pepper has been “funny” as in funny peculiar, not funny ha-ha, all day.  Her tummy rumbled and off she went to the garden.

I dragged her out for her walk (she wanted to stay near the house watching me do the dog walk with Ted) so I walked the track boundary and, while I was fixing fence wire, all the horses and ponies came up to talk and say they were hungry.  I looked at their field and decided they could all be moved to better grazing.

With open gates, they followed me up the hill to the main exit.  Then I put headcollars on Haakon and Iacs and told the rest to follow, which they all duly did with nobody going “off-piste”.

This is the nicest field now and it will hopefully do them all until the proper grass starts to come in.

I don’t think the old men (Haakon and Iacs) look that good – ie, a bit scrawny in the back end – so hopefully this was a wise move and, as the spring grass arrives, they will start putting more weight back on.

And so Pepper spent her afternoon shivering, making horrid noises and then a long sleep in front of my little shed fire, while I cried my way through “The Help” and made another sheep.  When Pepper woke up, she said she wanted her tea now, so we are back to the beginning again. *** sigh *** I am none the wiser with this little dog and her tummy.