Carrots and parsnips

Nothing the boys like better on a frosty morning than a good nibble on some carrots.  Faro is always first in line with Fyta behind, followed by Fergus and way at the back - Fidget!

Fergus: "Ah c'mon mum, please can I have another carrot?!"

Faro, left, and Fyta picking the carrots off the frosty ground. It's always warm in the sunshine but very chilly in the shade.

Having demolished the carrot supplies the boys are getting ready to head back into the sunnier part of the paddock.

Some of the afternoons during the week have been really warm - sunbathing weather for Fyta in the sandpit with Fidget close to him.  Fergus and Faro are in the adjoining paddock.  Beaufort Castle is right in the middle of the picture, surrounded by trees.

Great interest being shown in the activities of the grumpy gardener today, just in case it's a swede he's digging up.

And finally................. not a swede, but some parsnips being dug up.  They are good this season having had plenty of frost on them.  Gardener - take a bow!

White stuff's gone, green stuff re-appears!

The snow has all gone this week so the boys are pleased to have more green stuff around to nibble.  The nights have been frosty but the days have been lovely and sunny.  From the left, Faro, Fyta, Fergus and Fidget waiting for the humans to arrive mid afternoon with the feed.

These guys don't need watches to tell the time, they just seem to know when the grub will be dished up!

Fergus, photogenic as always, stands watching the human trying to work out of there may be just one more morsel of food available!

And finally.............mid afternoon, long shadows as the sun sinks and Fyta has a drink after his feed.  Only a few photos this week as we both recover from bouts of this nasty cold which has been doing the rounds across the country.

Fun in the snow.

We've had a covering of snow for most of this week, not massive amounts, but enough to disrupt the normal routines. From the left, Fidget, Fyta and Fergus keep an eye on neighbourhood dogs.

Faro (left) and Fergus get up close and personal when swede is on offer.  The lack of grass means that the boys are always on the lookout for tit-bits.

Fyta in front with Fergus behind.  The boys don't mind the snow at all but the fact that they have no green stuff to nible means they get a bit bored when they can't graze.

As the week wore on the snow got a bit thicker on the ground so the grumpy gardener had to swop spade for a snow shovel!

We find that by clearing a few 'lanes' across the paddocks and clearing an area of snow, this keeps the boys interested.  They really enjoy the grass even though it must be freezing cold so they probably get fed up with just hay and haylage to eat!

We also feed them sugar beet pellets soaked in water when we get a snow covering - again, it gives them something interesting to eat when there is no grass.

And finally..............Fyta showing off his new facial look after having his mouth in the bowl of sugar beet!

Swede appreciation!

All the boys love swedes and carrots and its great to hear them crunching them up as they eat them.  This is Fergus, getting to grips with a bit on the ground.

All four boys are tucking in.  When the Grumpy Gardener heads to the veg garden with a spade, the boys know that there must be a crunchy vegetable coming their way and watch what he is doing from the fence line!

Fidget - 'always backwards in coming forwards' as they say in this neck of the woods, but also enjoying his swede.  The thickness of his fleece can be seen well in this photo.

Fyta enjoying his swede.  As he gets older we notice that a lot of lighter coloured fleece is now encroaching on his black 'trousers' whereas when he was younger, the blck and white were more clearly defined.

A couple of shots taken today in the sunshine and chill wind - Faro in front with Fergus behind. The wind has made the boys all nice and dry this week.

Fidget looking alert - now that's something to savour!  He usually lets the other boys do 'alert' then he just follows the gang!

And finally.............the last one of the trilogy of Christmas jigsaws (honest!) which the old soldiering gardener needed to complete!

Muddy boys

Yesterday was a day of continual rain which didn't bother the boys too much, but they have a habit of having a good roll when wet - this is Fergus who was obviously rolling, head first!

The photo is not really showing how dirty Fyta actually is - lots of dirt hidden by his dark trousers.

Faro as usual didn't want to stand and be photographed, but he is also covered in mud.

Fidget is certainly not bothered about his looks - so if his pals all have a roll in the dust, he'll just join them!

Their present field shelter is the preferred area for rolling at present - top right corner is a favourite spot.

And finally.................another week, another 1000 piece jigsaw which 'Cupcake' likes very much.   He's sure he can spot some of his relations in it!  A good New year to all blog readers - best wishes for 2017.