Fighting the Festive Spread

Now I don't mean to be rude FH but errrm well you look like you've eaten one too many chocolates over the festive period, I think you have put on a few festive pounds around the middle..... you know the bit that you are always saying wobbles on me, well now the wobble's on you!

Whilst you've had us minis on a strict fat fighters diet you seem to have neglected to take the same advice on board for yourself.  Typical human, what double standards!

We know Christmas is all about the food, and more food and friends and family but now it's nearly New Year and we need to think about getting you back in shape..... this may take a while.

So here I am ready for action, fancy a festive walk?





I heard you got new walking boots for Christmas from MH?  Yes, very nice, now let's go try them out up the lanes and on to the moor to look at the view and maybe have a wee munch on some grass (me not you!)

Up and off we go, I spy with my little eye some monster sheep in the distance. Can we please go do some herding FH, can we huh? Quicker come on, let's canter!  Honestly, keep up! What do you mean you can't go this fast? Ooops you are rather out of puff....

Just at this very moment a galloping horse came round the bend chased by a canine companion, oh and yes there was a human on board.  If only I was a little taller FH we could do that and then you wouldn't be out of puff.  The horse got a little fright when it saw us, anyone would think it's never seen a mini mule before..... come to think of it, it probably hasn't.  After the runaway horse calmed down we could go on our way.

A lovely look at the blue sky view with the sea in the distance, we've had great weather today although we've got more heavy rain and high winds coming tonight and in to next week so best make the most of it!

Alas I think it's time to take our tired feet home, don't want to overdo it too much, I can hear the others calling for us.... Dragon sounds like an asthmatic Darth Vader with her funny voice, best go save the neighbours from her rendition of 'Mini Come Back'!

Going back home is always so much easier, come on FH your extra pounds will help gravity to wobble you down the hill!  

Wait though! What's this I sniff?  A careless walker has dropped their apple core right in the middle of the lane!  How very wasteful!  Well have no fear clear up Mini is here!

Nom, nom, nom, mmmm don't mind this clearing up thing at all actually; all apple cores, banana skins and orange peel welcome!

Well that was a fun little jaunt on a sunny day.  Now then FH hope you've been thinking about your New Year's resolutions?  A few less chocolates maybe? Not to mention a few more Mini walks please ;-)

Hope you all had a fabulous festive time friends!  Sorry for our lack of blogging, the human was too busy stuffing her face and celebrating to bring up the required laptop!

No doubt we'll be seeing you all soon in the New Year - Neighbrays to you!

Berry Nice!

There is one thing that all Muleteer HQ inhabitants share..... a love of food!

Imagine my despair when I looked over the fence and saw what those naughty puppyteers were up to!  They had spied the juicy blackcurrants all ready for picking...

FH had picked a lovely box full of blackcurrants and that naughty puppy was trying to help himself! Well FH spied him and soon put a stop to it.....

Blackcurrants are not suitable food for dogs.... they are much more appropriate for herbivores.... like Mini Mules!

Hmmmm try telling that to the Pocket Sized Labrador.






The PSL has had many years of perfecting his fruit picking technique, he is a successful picker of apples, blackcurrants, blackberries and well anything that he views as edible (which is most things, he is a Labrador after all).  He dived right in to the blackcurrant bush once FH had picked what she wanted..... a few unripe berries or slightly squishy ones?  Delightful if you're the PSL!

And then..... can you believe it?  He decided to teach the puppy the skills too, apparently it's important to pass on these techniques to the next generation of fruit picking connoisseurs. Hmmmmm me thinks that PSL might regret this, Milo can reach rather higher than he can these days!

The blackcurrant bush provided plenty for all, nearly two kilos for the humans, scraps for the dogs (and entertainment!) and I even got to taste some berries too, mmmm :-)

I was not to be outdone by those pups though, anything they can do I can do better!

Attention FH this berry picker is ready for action, let us go searching!

I spy with my little eye something beginning with 'S'

Look!  Some wild strawberries, these are my favourite!  They're all hidden away in the hedgerow like perfect little jewels.  Much smaller than the ones you humans normally eat but so much tastier, all in a tiny package, they say good things come in small packages..... I'm sure they're right ;-)

They're a little hard to get to.... could you oblige please FH? Yummy!

What's that I see?  Surely humans don't like strawberries too? I'm sure they're not good for you.... only good for mini mules in need of extra condition (stop giggling FH).

Only one thing for it.  I'm going in.  Berry picking lips at the ready, time for 'Pick Your Own'. 

Do you know, I think strawberries may be my new favourite thing.... mmmm, maybe I could find a full time fruit picking job, I'd be very dedicated!  

Have a Berry Nice Weekend All!

No Bull Mule

I had high hopes this evening of some fun.

Maybe a ride?  But no... FH said as it was raining I had managed to plaster myself with sticky, wet mud and there was no way my finest mule saddle was going near that mud pack.

That was ok though because FH took me for a walk, I am practising that agility, obedience stuff on her so it was a good chance to show her some moves.

So off we pottered up the lane to check on the hedge growth, the neigh-bours and the weather, FH says these last two topics are what most people chat about, so it's not just us mules then?

Catanian decided she needed a walk too, she has been hiding away in her cat palace as she didn't want to get her paws wet but a little persuasion and she was ready for a hike.  That kitty cat is game!



So I tested out the hedgerows and munched on the hogweed, think this should be called 'mule weed' I like it so much, FH says I could be a giraffe in disguise in that first pic, well how rude!

Catanian started out well but then realised quite how wet it was, she was miaowing and complaining but wouldn't go home on her own, she decided the best place to hide was on the human's feet as she could make the most of her coat overhang!

Nearly home and I spied some newcomer neigh-bours.  Hey boys, how you doin'?

Well really anyone would think you'd never seen a mule before, don't stare it's rude!

Mmmm.... that grass near you looks really good to eat, don't mind if I snatch from under your wet noses do you?

Yeah, yeah Catanian I know it's wet and you're not happy and sat there all cat like and sulky but I'm like busy chatting up these boys....

Hey there boys, no wonder you are stunned by my mulificence, think you need some better ears though.

Check out my finest half-ass!

Check out my half-ass!

Nah, looks like there's no bull in this field, all about the bull-ettes I think.  FH says I'm a terrible flirt, not fussy and an embarrassment to mulettas everywhere..... whatever, I am just keeping up with the neigh-bours.  

Time for home Catanian we don't wanna be around when the real bull arrives......

Save The Best 'Til Last

Sunday evening had come and I had watched everyone else have their fun....

I was starting to wonder if my fly shield was making me the invisible mule?

I had tried neighbraying, I had hung around the yard a lot, I had rolled around in my most becoming fashion and had finally resorted to sulking.

When was it going to be MY turn?

Every time I asked FH she kept saying, don't worry I haven't forgotten you, wait until later.... wait until the flies have stopped buzzing and it's not quite so hot.   She promised that I would have the nicest time of all...







Dragon had gone out not once but twice.  She had not been on best behaviour on one occasion, hmmm well if you want a good mule you should look no further than my handsomeness - hint, hint!

Roller had been pampered and had a bath (I did too but that's not the point), he had also escaped like the slightly naughty pony he is.  Someone had left the fence unelectrified so he took firm advantage,  I however am perfect and would not think of doing such a thing....  see FH, pick me!

So there I was, late Sunday, everyone had been and gone, gone home for dinner, off to drink tea and eat cake.... looks like I missed my weekend fun :-(

But wait what's this?  My shield of steel has been removed and I'm all dressed up with somewhere to go!

Off we went for a lovely evening potter.  We walked to the moor gate and looked at the view, checked out the new arrival sheep and I had a spot of moorland delicacy grass.

FH said it had been a busy weekend but she couldn't let it end without the perfect walk with her perfect mini mule.  Oh yes, I like the sound of that.  FH reminisced that not too long ago I would not have been up here with her.  Apparently I would've thought this was all too exciting or scary (probably true) and tried to get loose which would not be the done thing in such a big open space.  No such problems anymore.

It's always important to sample the local delicacies when you travel.  I took this advice and snacked a while as FH sat and looked at the view.  

So eventually we had to go home as it was starting to get late.  I decided to try to pick some flowers for FH.  There was a 'little' problem though.  They were very tasty.  Mmmm I really like the taste of these flowers.  Just one little taste.  Oops I guess she doesn't want my chewed flowers.  Oh well.

So there we have it.  Maybe the best things do come to those who wait?  I sure had fun.  Hope your weekend was a good one too!

Searching for Piskies......

Searching for Piskies on Dartmoor.

There are Piskies in our neighbourhood.  They are tiny little fairies known in other places as Pixies.  They have lived here on the moor for mules years, they were here before them humans and will be here long after they're gone.  Them Piskies are little people with a mischievous sense of humour and secretive ways.  Many moor folk have been led astray by the Piskies when they were being bad or rescued by the Piskies when they got lost in the notorious thick Dartmoor Fog.

Right near to Muleteer HQ is a notorious Piskie Haunt here on Dartmoor.  Human legends have it that when they used to put their ponies in to the walled enclosure (known as a Newtake locally) overnight to stop them straying they would be ridden by the Piskies. The local folk would find them sweaty and with saddle marks in the morning.  I reckon being ridden by a Piskie would be fun! I'm about the right size for a Piskie rider..... I'm off to see if I can find them!

Come on FH I've had my bath and need to dry off so let's go hiking.  All that fitness work we've been doing should mean that this Piskie Hunt is a piece of cake!

So up, up, up on to the moor, lots of climbing to be done, stop huffing and puffing FH, you've got no excuses as those legs of yours are much longer than mine....

OK here we are in the Newtake!  Trips on to the moor are not just for Dragon, Minis can manage hikes too!  Isn't it pretty?  That grass looks yummy..... oh whoops forgot we are on the trail of Piskies not snacking.

Those look like Piskie sized trees over there! They are stunted hawthorns that won't grow any bigger because of the wind on these exposed slopes, I wonder if that's why my little legs didn't grow much?

Let's follow this track!  Looks like it's going somewhere.  Mmmm must just stop for a little snack, this Piskie searching is hard work!

Interesting!  The Piskies have left us a clue!  Look at this row of stones!  Surely too big for you humans to lift but the Piskies with their super powers could have made this Stone Row.  I wonder what it means? Maybe it's a marker to tell me I'm close?  The suspense is making me...... hungry!

Must just have a little snack. FH I don't know why you bother with that watch thing.  Don't you know that here on the Moor there is only Piskie Time or Mule Time?  Always time for a snack!

That's right, time for snacking and sitting and dozing and looking at the view.  This Piskie Search is pretty fun isn't it?

OK energy reserves are replenished!  Time for some serious searching...

This looks suspiciously like a Piskie Hole!  Hello Piskies are you there?  I'm here to take you for a ride!

No one there..... maybe this looks a bit better? I'm sure this is a Piskie Hole!  Look.... that little entrance there looks very neat and tidy.  What's that FH?  The Piskies might not want to go for a ride today?  But why not?  I like Piskies and want them to come play.... maybe having a human with me is the problem, those Piskies are secretive....

OK Piskies I get the message... no rides today but I promise to come back soon!  If you want to find me I'm just down the road and always happy to take you for a ride.  Just one thing left to do before heading for home.  What moorland walk would be complete without a picnic?!

I'll keep searching for the Piskies.  One day I'll find them.  In the meantime I reckon what better reason than Piskie Searching to persuade FH to take me on some more moorland walks?