My darling little Pepper-Pot is exactly one year old today!

After spending many wee small hours (mostly awake at night) deliberating whether I could ever face getting another dog, this one has burrowed her way into my heart.

She is very persistent, going through her life shouting “You Must Love Me”!

So we do. Because we have no choice and Pepper is such a happy little dog, making me laugh (most of the time even after her latest heinous crime – and believe me, there are many).

Still, Pepper hasn’t killed any chickens or ducks (*** cough *** BeAnne was a enthusiastic little murderer given half a chance) and she can also herd sheep with the best of ’em, instantly knowing what to do.  She spots the hill-sheep in my field, sends them out while being best-friends with my woolly lot.

And her tail never stops wagging!

(Ted has helped hugely)

For her birthday, I have just ordered her a large box of chewy things from Hairy Pop-Ins! She does love a chewy thing.  Ted is less keen. He takes one politely and then hides it in the clean washing!

I suddenly thought that Dreki and Taktur hadn’t loaded into the van for a while and, as it is a useful (neigh, necessary) skill to have, it wasn’t one that should be lost or forgotten.

I brought inspiration.

Dreki first.

He was a very good boy. The pea-sized brain cell whirred and clicked into life and in he walked.

His reward was a nice little visible bucket of mix and carrots.

A quick “worry” about the flappy door thing but Dreki had a good look and decided it wouldn’t kill him.

Oh, those ears!  Click, click, whirr, whirr – you can almost hear the pea rattling around.

I put Dreki back in the field and caught Taktur who said he had never ever been in the horsevan, don’t even ask him, nope…. “oooh, is that a bucket?” and walked in.

I think we will keep practising this speshul skill.  It can do no harm.

Live and learn – that’s my motto.

And I learned that this doll is a Boudoir Doll. I think she belonged to my Great-Great Aunt Kate (the one whose diaries I transcribe in my spare time).

I found her curled up in a box in a cupboard when I was clearing out my mother’s house and I vaguely remember the doll from my childhood, though she looked less moth-eaten in those days.

So I brought her home to Shetland and put her on my chaise longue in my studio and wondered what to do about her.  She was in desperate need of a good clean and some tlc.

I searched about the internet and found a lady who restored cloth dolls but she had retired. She recommended another lady.  So, after a phone call, I packed up the boudoir doll and posted her off.

Not long later, my box arrived back in the post and my doll had come home.  She looks so much better now – hair washed, new shoes, dress washed and she even has a beauty mark that was hidden with the grotty hair. She also had a beautiful pair of drawers made for her!

There is not much history that I know of to this doll. She is wearing Regency fashion (1811-1820) but is not as old as that. I think Aunt Kate must’ve made her as there is no maker’s mark but the restorer lady said she was well-made.

Now for a name?  I quite like Beatrice or maybe even Aunt Kate.

The Queen of Sheep, aka Flossie, is leaving tomorrow.

There is one who will miss her very much.

And possibly others too.

Luckily for Lambie I am staying home, apart from dropping Floss off at the airport tomorrow afternoon.  I might even go and look for puffins afterwards. We’ll see.

Anyway, I know I will sorely miss my Flossie.

But apparently I can’t keep her home forever.  Who knew?

Meanwhile, ‘Bert has not been well. It is a foot thing so he sits down a lot while we try and sort it all out.

And Harrel-the-Barrel-who-is-now-bigger-than-his-Mum-Maggie does not help.

We had words about this.  Note the face of one who has been told off – ie Harrel.

Anyway, back to Flossie, Queen of Sheep – she has worked hard and been very busy and I can’t thank her enough for holding the fort.

Wish her luck and we send all our love too as she embarks (again, but this time après Covid) off south to live her life.

Edna says she will miss her too (but she’d gone back to bed).

Well, a whole morning on the phone and we finally have some semblance of internet back.  Woohoo! (I feel drained).

Anywho, here are some photos of the old men who were blagging food from any passer by!

Aged 28 and 26, these two still argue, which makes me smile!

I love these two guys so much.

Very alike – cousins (you can tell). And can you see Klængur in the background?

I was followed to the gate.

And Klængur noticed that he was on his own and possibly Haakon and Iacs were being fed chocolate cake.

And there we are ….. Klængur is the boss of everyone these days.

(there was no chocolate cake)