Where does the time go?

Where does the time go as Winter creeps on with its grip slipping towards the spring? Each day has developed a rythm at Ednovean Farm, the rythm of the country side and the promise of new life. The brood mares contently munching their breakfast each morning, rocking their triangular mangers from side to side so that the oats gently roll out of the corners before ambling out into the feilds swathed in rugs, dreamily somulent, with their swelling bellies promising new life. They grow more careful in their movements as the season draws on - Diva the original yummie mummie with her thouroughbred daughter Dolly, now at once elegant yet gangling, sweeping along in her wake. Our new mare Belle has become an honary Aunt to Dolly, the two mares wedging the young filly between them if the rain slants in but still disciplining her with sharp nips of their teeth as she learns the manners and disciplines of horse society. Lizzie and April no longer racing carelessly across the front feilds but staying close to their stable through the day -popping back to check if we have serviced their stable - dubbed "No 1 and No 2 The Lane" by Charles and then settling back in once again to pull contentedly on the haynets and dream of the Spring. I spotted and young fox the other morning as I walked up the lane to them - lean from the winter and at first I thought it could be a Cat until it trotted away with its unmistakable gait. The lingering odour in Lizzies box (lets call it No 1) told of another creature grateful of the stables shelter and warmth - sure enough, a deep depressed circle in the far corner told of a cosy and comfortable night for the little creature in the company of the two brood mares.

And with the dusk we bring Diva, Belle and Dolly back to the main farmyard to be casually greeted by Sootty and Danni and the stables setttles to a steady rhythm of muffled munching interspersed with the occasional soft "prrrrffff" of their contentment and Ollie the Cat escorts us back to the house with the promise of a soak in a hot bath as a reward.

Todays photo was kindly taken by a visiting guest and sent to us just before Christmas and shows Danilon in our car park quite at home with the Date Palms to remind him of Spain