" Shelby the Shetland Pony : Episode 5 : The Coming of Winter "

C-c-c-c-cold. The warm joys of Thanksgiving had passed by. Shelby, Bimo, and the livestock had to stay in the humid basement; at least their manure can be used to fuel the furnaces.

Winter has strengthened its hoary hold in Idaho.

Nonetheless, it's now December, and the Bjørnsons were preparing for Christmas. The blizzards, at least for now, were over. Ever since day one, the family cleans up the spacious basement, moving out all the animals (save the weaker ones and Bimo, who can still visit anytime), and taking out the decor. There was once no fuss on using the same old Christmas tree for 4 or 5 years, nor was there any on using the same old decorations; yet this year, some ornaments were put away in recycling bins, and newer ones, of blue, white, and yellow-or-gold, were used. Days later, they went out to stock up on DVDs of older and newer classics, from cowboy films to anachronisms galore. They also decked the house with Christmas lights, arranged in geometric patterns, to beat the Olafsons' intricate snow forts, and the Leifsons' wood sculptures of reindeer and Saami folk. These lights are what the Bjørnsons spent (or "wasted", if you say it) $4,000 for.

"Now, what about Shelby?" you ask. Shelby's been galloping through the snow, rolling by his fur on this whitish blanket. He loves it!

Suddenly, that "little blue bird" is at it again!

"What's up, fatso?!" he screamed in blue-jay-speak.

Shelby did not answer. He's been digging the snow for grasses, while half-way thinking about sandwiches.

For a few hours, the little blue bird, pestered Shelby again, as usual. Even he had to run away to the back-yard of the house when —

The bird sniffed. Nuts!

Natalie's mother has brought a box of nuts. Nuuuuts.

He flew away from the frightened Shelby, towards the kitchen window at the back porch.


This Christmas involved a Christmas visit to the Montchalons Lutheran Chapel, where a service is conducted. The church is decorated with Christmas lights, arranged and depicted in a manner that is filled with beautiful greens and yellows, celebrating the birth and the life of Christ. On the next day, the Bjørnsons had their little Christmas party. This time, there was no turkey, and no videogames for the (teenage) children. Only sweaters.

How boring.

"What about SHELBY?!!"

Alright. This winter, Shelby was allowed to wander around, even at night, to find a nice place to sleep, away from that massively ridiculous spectacle of Christmas lights. The apple orchard might be a good spot.

No matter that Natalie and Jonathan, Reginald, and Arthur were playing a snowball fight past both sides of the fence - Shelby will just push off Natalie with his snout!

By the way, after the fight, Natalie whispered something to Shelby. He did not understand what it was.

Four days later, Natalie came out, this time in her blue (her favourite color) jacket. She had a red, triangular-shaped present, jingling with a bell. She approached Shelby, who was relaxing, snoring, and drooling, as usual, in his nicely-cleaned stable.

"Sheeelby! I've got something nice for you!"

But it wasn't the sound that called his attention. It was the smell. The smell of ...

 crumple crumple crumple

 ... a triangular plastic box, with a SANDWICH.

Shelby's eyes locked on the package. As Natalie opened the box, he licked his lips. This sandwich is much more tastier than the last, and the rest.

He then happily dug in, feasting on his festive reward (?) like a wild animal pouncing on his prey.

The resulting mess was smaller.


Past the blizzard and the New Year's celebrations (Shelby hates fireworks!), yadda-yadda-yadda, let's move on to next March, and on (ward) to newer adventures!

(Updated on 28 November, A. D. 2014.)