Au Naturel Blue Belle

I have been very busy recently and that combined with so few daylight hours means that I haven't been taking many photos lately. I was walking Blue Belle and we stopped at the end of the lane for a wee photoshoot - au naturel, all stains still present! The reality of owning a white pony!

I think she still looks adorable. Getting fluffier by the day as we sink slowly deeper into winter.

Her headcollar and lead are both handmade. I'm very pleased with them.

Even with a few stains, still very huggable!

Wordless Wednesday #136: Teddy Rocks!

Focus on Millie

Sunsets such as the one featured in today's photos are a rare thing at the moment. It seems that every day is dull and wet and grey. I haven't been out spending time with the sheep for a few weeks now, every evening they are soaked through and they'd soon have me soaked too. Hopefully this grey spell passes us by soon and we can have clear skies again.

I went out on this evening mostly to spend time with the sheep, but also to check on Millie. The tips were not long out and Millie, I thought, was acting slightly oddly. Things that I only noticed because I know her so well, like not bothering to come to the gate with the others, sitting off on her own, and not letting me too near. I was worried because she has aborted lambs in the past and hasn't had any lambs in the last few years. Checking her over, I could see nothing wrong with her, and in fact she was in a very friendly mood. Maybe it was paranoia.

While I was there to focus on Millie, I couldn't resist the others. Penny enjoying some grass.

My adorable twins, Connie and Caldwell.

Millie kept following me which was very welcome and a healthy sign.

The sunset was lovely. 

Millie and Rosie (in the background) are the matriarchs of the flock, turning five soon.

Hopefully Millie will have some lambs in the spring. If she doesn't she can still stay, but she really enjoyed being a mum.

This field was supposed to be cut for silage but we ran out of time and weather. The pets here will no doubt have it eaten down come January.

Connie and Caldwell are a charming pair.

Connie especially is such a character.

A healthy looking Millie.

Olive and Tilly's ear.

It definitely counts to know these sheep so well. I can spot and deal with problems immediately. It also means that I am a bit paranoid with them! I have raised them all from the day they were born so I have gotten very invested in their wellbeing. I'm just waiting now for any pregnancies to show themselves, and then it's another nerve-wracking wait!

Wordless Wednesday #135: Behind You!

Cuddles For Connie

Just Connie and my dad having a wee cuddle session. Any time we continued on with our walk she ran to catch us up and demand more cuddles! 

An Autumn Walk With Friends

Yesterday Susan and I met up with Charlotte and Shane for a walk in Tollymore Forest Park. For both of us this was our first outing since before the lockdown back in March. To finally get out again was just wonderful. Tollymore is always pretty but yesterday it seemed even more beautiful than usual.

Shane is a Labrador so he loved the chance to swim in the river. Susan stayed dry on the sidelines.

Watching Shane. Not looking to go after him, though!

Shane was a good poser.

Susan was also on fine form. I noticed that she was much steadier and calmer than the last time we were at Tollymore, last November.

Between afternoon sunshine and autumn leaves, the forest was magical.

This made me laugh! Shane got his lead tangled around this huge tree trunk. Charlotte walked around it to untangle him but he followed her around the tree so they were just as tangled as before!

There was quite a strong current so there wasn't much swimming for Shane. But he enjoyed this calmer section of the river.

Posing on the steps to the Hermitage.

Beautiful light.

Susan on a stump.

A dog on a log.

Shane in amongst the golden trees.

A dog still on a log.

Susan ended up in the puddle - but not for long! I think she didn't realise how deep it was. It came up to her tummy and was not pleased!

Our plan was to walk along the river for some distance, cross a bridge and then come back along the other side. 

This didn't quite work out as recent flooding has washed away one bridge and caused damage to the footpath next to another. We ended up having to turn back on ourselves, making the short climb to a path that runs parallel to the one we were on, only slightly further away from the river.

The forest is a bit more open here.

One of my favourite photos from the day.

Shane doing some posing.

Susan posed too, of course.

Almost at the end of our walk and the dogs (and the humans) were a bit tired.

Susan jumped up on this wall all by herself. The sheer drop on the other side didn't seem to bother her! Very glad she was safely on a lead.

Gosh, I love autumn.