February is finally over

We have three foxes that walk passed our stable, in the mornings.

The snowstorm, earlier in the week, brought along some new white stuff and it carries these three visitors nicely. With the sun coming up and the snow glittering around them, they are a magnificent sight. Unfortunately, they are checking out if any of our hens happen to be around.

It's colder again so our dear dog Ebba is in a brilliant mood. She is ploughing through the winter wonderland with us in tow, finding our speed to be lacking in so many ways. Apparently, snow means even faster walks and all you can see of her in the paddock, is a diving, flying tail. Ebba is getting a bit more confident and is putting on some weight. Most of that is muscles from pulling us around the countryside, but it is making her look more beautiful by the day. She does eat a lot and that is a good thing, too.

We have never had an animal who has stayed skinny for long, in this house. It has always been about weight control and thinking about what kind of food to get in. Now we go searching for fatty food and bones made of elk skin, to help dear Ebba build up her strength. It feels funny in a world that's gone completely diet crazy.

Ebba still hides her treats in our bed. To avoid constantly sleeping on chewy bones, I bought our dog a 60 cm long one to tackle. I thought that we would at least see it coming. Ebba was very surprised and not at all impressed. Apparently, it's a nice bone but a tad vulgar. That told me!

Mindy, Mandy, Molly and My are not too skinny. They look like four round balls of wool and they should be slimmer. It's not good for their legs and joints to carry too much weight but how do you diet a sheep?! They eat hay and some vegetables in the morning. Without their dry bread that they get because they are so sweet, they would get sad. Maybe we’ll have to diet in the spring. All five of us can take up jogging when it gets warmer. Or not. I look like an elk when I run and our sheep would probably start rolling down a hill, never to be seen again. So, joke aside, dieting is hard work and Ebba should just continue to enjoy her full fat diet.

I had a birthday this week and got lovely presents. I'm spoilt and very happy about it!

Now we have amazing coasters with pictures from our blog on them, that are too pretty to rest a mug on. I sit marveling at our friend's artistic talents and end up looking like I'm trying to get a card game going. I'm also counting our blessings, having such dear family and friends. My lovely husband bought me the book "Nigel: My family and other dogs" by Monty Don that I will enjoy immensely. The vegan chocolate that was part of the gift is calling out to me and will probably not last that long.

It feels like spring is finally around the corner.

We have sunny days with the snow melting, just to freeze again during the night. Molly skidding around the corner makes my heart stop for a second and the blackbirds bob around the place. Molly the sheep doing her version of ice skating is an annual sign of spring to come. She has a sixth sense for spotting the slippery places and heads for them with speed. Her broad, ape like face alight with pleasure when she glides past me makes me think how lucky we are to be able to spoil our friends. All sheep should have the chance to be ice princesses if they wanted to. Molly's three friends find eating hay, outside in the sun, to be the more dignified way to be a happy sheep. Each to their own.

Eric, our friendly cockerel, has grown up to become a friend of machines. Last I heard he had taken to driving small tractors and is probably reading the manual on how to start a car, as we speak. Eric's father was always telling us about all the dangerous things in life but his son seems to have missed these lectures and is enjoying himself immensely. He could not have found a better home and I expect our dear Monty to put in a request for transfer, any minute now. All I can say is that it could not have happened to a kinder cockerel...

Ebba is sleeping next to me, tongue sticking out and legs going hundred and ten. Her dreams seem to be as active as her days. She looks like an oversized squirrel and she is hogging the bed with her long legs flying about. Her tail is also flying from side to side. Life with Ebba seems to be a lot like that, long legs and speed which is fine. Life with sheep is more about calmer pace and woolly hugs and the hens bring the noise and the mess into the mixture. And when you think about it, who needs that much space in bed.

Have a lovely week and enjoy the beginning of March, everyone!