(These photos are from a few days’ back.)

Every morning Gussie and Dahlia magically appear at breakfast time.  They are rewarded for their commitment with two big bowls of food and TurmerAid which they have to eat in the big shed.  This has recently been deemed scary since there can be Shetland ponies in there.  But appetite overcomes fear every time and they go inside.  I want them in a routine.

Then I put Gussie and Dahlia back out into their big field with the help of rattling some supermarket-own-brand-low-sugar Cheerios, which they love.  They willingly follow me and the box of cereal back to their field.

Later, I go out to feed Turriefield mishape carrots to the Ancient Icelandics and I try to keep some back for Gussie, who is very partial.

Gussie is a huge character.  Inquisitive about everything with a big sense of humour. He has a good bounce on him.

Dahlia is always around to just keep a careful eye but she mostly lets Gussie make his own mistakes now.  He is old enough to learn.

I know I keep saying it, but for wild hill sheep, Dahlia and Gussie really are very tame.  Possibly tamer than the others we know of who now refuse to come up for breakfast and are treating this place like a hotel with a very biddable doorman – (that would be me!)  They sometimes appear at night and would like supper – “jog on” was my last message to them.

(and Gussie and Dahlia have lovely smiles too)

Everyone should have a Dahlia and a Gussie if only to know that some rescue animals are incredibly grateful, which warms my heart because I could not feel less loved by the others.