Blame 'Dennis' for the weather!

Late afternoon sun shining on Faro (left) and Fyta.  We've had a real mixture of weather again this week so any sunshine is welcome!

The boys also had their third and final treatment for mites this week, so here they are in the pen awaiting it's application.  Thanks again to neighbour Dave for helping us out.

After the treatment, the boys just wander off to another paddock - we find that they are very forgiving animals.

Of course, cheeky Fyta likes to show off for the camera - any opportunity will do for a photo to be taken!  He would take 'selfies' if he could!

The boys can be seen in a paddock, bottom left of photo, whilst Ben Wyvis covered in snow lies to the north of us.

This long range shot was taken from our house down to Tigh Mhor just after a heavy rain shower had passed and the boys had taken shelter in their field shelter.

And finally............ here they are in the shelter where they have spent lots of time this week dodging the very stormy weather.  This weekend we are suffering the effects of Storm Dennis with strong winds and torrential rain so the boys have not strayed too far from their shelter.  Sugar beet, haylage and carrots keep them happy however!

Just a regular week.

The three boys earlier this week - Fyta (left), Faro (rear) and Fergus at the front enjoying some haylage.

Fergus enjoying his daily carrots.  All 3 boys enjoy them and at this time of year, it is a welcome nibble.

Not the most complimentary photo of Fyta but here he is also enjoying a bit of carrot!

The boys have had a mixture of weather again this week - gales, rain, frost and this weekend we are suffering Storm Ciara.

Fyta used to have a very distinct black rump but as he gets older this is turning grey and the white midriff fleece is spreading to his rear quarters.

And finally.............our neighbour, Dave, gave us a welcome hand to pen the boys then give them their second treatment for mites - they will have another treatment later this week.  Normally the boys go into their pen with little problem but this time they were ready for a bit of amusement so it was a bit of a rodeo and we had to deploy a length of Dave's white tape to get them penned!  Thanks, Dave.

More white stuff!

We've had a bit of a mixture, weather wise, this week with everything from sunny days to gales, horizontal rain and snow.  Fyta is making the best of the sunshine and is looking at a neighbour's dog two fields distant - great eyesight!

Of course it is winter so we have to expect snow any time and this overnight fall came at the start of the week.  Faro is looking for more sugar beet from the human!

Haylage is being consumed in great quantities with hay being sidelined - pity, as haylage is much more expensive!

The boys all jealously guard their food, whatever it is.  This is Fyta eating his sugar beet and Fergus has finished his bowl and would like some of Fyta's............

Fergus is swiftly reminded by Fyta that there is no way he is going to get any more!  No spitting, just a threatening move of the head and a camel noise as a warning!

It's easy to see where any of the animals have lain outside overnight when snow or frost is around.  In this case this is where Faro and Fyta where lying whilst Fergus enjoyed being under cover in the field shelter.

And finally..........crisp winter's mornings always give pleasure.  The sun is just coming up from the east behind the photographer and shining on the hills to the west whilst the boys are having their haylage breakfast in and around the shelter.

Mite be a problem..........!

We were a bit concerned about a scab which had appeared on the inside of Fergus's left rear leg.  We suspected mites and arranged for the Vet to visit but Fergus (left) and Fyta don't look over excited about it!

Here are all 3 of the boys, penned and waiting for the Vet.  We usually pen all three to keep them calm then release two before working with the third.

Fergus wearing his halter, checking out the Vet's equipment for taking skin scrapings from his lower legs to identify the mites.  We put Fergus flat on the ground whilst doing this and he was well behaved during the procedure.  Treatment started two days later and will continue.

After the Vet's visit Fergus (front) was unconcerned as were Fyta and Faro.  Grazing re-commenced immediately.

A late afternoon photo of Fergus (left) and Faro taken mid week at the top of one of the sloping paddocks.

Today we changed the boys' field shelter and the one they have used for the last 6 weeks will now be cleaned and disinfected.  Here they are enjoying the replacement shelter.

And finally.......... the rhubarb is making an appearance once again, getting ready for Spring.  The fruit bushes are covered in buds too but Winter isn't over yet and we can expect frosts and maybe snow in the coming weeks.

Storm Brendan pays a visit!

The 'dynamic duo' - Faro (left) and Fyta, the best of pals and always together.  Where one goes, the other will be sure to follow.

The start of the week saw Storm Brendan raging over the north and north west of Scotland with very high winds and accompanied by horizontal rain at times.  When the wind blows hard, the boys 'go to ground' in a dip in the ground and sheltered by a nearby hedge.

Whilst Brendan was doing it's best to create problems for humans, we decided to give the boys some extra feed of sugar beet.

Fyta making a meal of his beet!  He usually tips the bowl over with his foot after a few minutes and eats from the ground.

When the wind and driving rain and sleet get too bad there is always the field shelter to which the boys can retreat.

Fergus forgets all about the bad weather and concentrates on eating his hay.  As the boys grow older we note that they spend more time in the shelter during bad weather - clever boys!

And finally................this photo of sunset was taken late this afternoon, looking towards the south west - perhaps we'll have a calmer day tomorrow.

A cold and windy week.

Fyta, well fleeced up for the winter, keeping an eye on the human and hoping that he brings some tit-bits to eat.

Fergus, still limping very slightly after last summer's injury to his front left leg.  It doesn't appear to bother him however and he keeps up with the other two boys on their wanderings around the paddocks.

Faro in his classic 'ears back' pose.  He presently has a wet right eye which he often has in winter and sometimes a teardrop will roll down his cheek.  We bathe his eye if it appears to become a problem.

Haylage time for Fyta (front) and Faro with Fyta showing just how much he enjoys munching his way through the feed.

And not to be left out, Faro poses too with a mouthful of haylage.  The boys have been on Verm X granules with their feed this week.

This has been a wet and windy week with gales so the boys have been eager to get at their feed when it is offered.  This picture was taken today.

And finally...........it's always a great sight to see bulbs pushing their growth through the surface at this time of the year reminding us that we are slowly working our way through Winter towards Spring.

New Year greetings

A happy New Year!  Another year, another decade but just another day for the boys as Faro comes to the fence to check out the human activity.

Fyta (left) and Fergus decide to be 'nosey' too in the expectation of juicy carrots being available - maybe!

I think the boys have made a New Year's resolution to eat as many of their favourite carrots as they can!

This has been an exceptionally mild week with temperatures sometimes up into double digits.  Very unusual for this part of the world at this time.  The boys are unconcerned by the mild weather - as long as there are carrots, they are happy!

A long range shot of the 'old soldier' Faro, who like the other two boys will be 14 years old soon and we will have had them for 13 of those years.  How time flies!

And finally............ the Grumpy Gardener was 'excavating' some seasonal veg in the garden this week. You don't see parsnips like this in the supermarkets!