What Colour is Gussie?

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Just a quickie, because I am going out tonight (I know, get me. I have a social life!)

My question is what colour, in Shetland terminology for Shetland wool, is Gussie?

His mother, Dahlia, is “sholmet” – “In Shetland sheep, sholmet means a sheep of any colour other than white that has a distinct white face” (The Shetland Sheep Society).  That sums up Dahlia fairly well then.

Last year, Gussie was 100% black, even when he was sheared under all that wool but this year some greyish sides have appeared (ignore katmoget ‘Ster in the background looking hopeless).

Anyway, I have no idea. I know Lambie is flecket, and ‘Bert is moorit, Barrel and Maggie are Shetland black, Madge is natural white, ‘Ster is katmoget, etc  but it would be nice to have a name for Gussie’s colour. He is very handsome, after all.

? Bersugget  – Having irregular patches of differing colours.
? Blaeget – Having a lighter shade on the outer part of the wool fibre, especially in moorit and dark brown sheep.
? Iset – Black or shaela with many white fibres, giving a bluish hue from a distance.

Or Shaela – a dark steely-grey sheep colour, often described as looking like “black frost”.

All suggestions welcome. Thank you x

Eplekake

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Making cakes is not really my thing but the ducks have been laying well and we have a lot of eggs to use up.

So I made my variation of a Norwegian Eplekake (apple cake).

Leftovers were the mixing bowl to clean, which OH duly obliged, and some peel/cores plus a rogue banana skin I added as it needed eating up.

So, while the cake was cooling, I went out with my bowl to find someone(s) who might like it.

Apparently Haakon doesn’t like cooking apple cores anymore.

Luckily Kolka, Iacs and Fivla do.

Vitamin wasn’t interested. She probably couldn’t hear what was going on behind her.

On my way back to the house, I met a Shetland bumblebee (Bombus muscorum agricolae) or “drummie bee”, as they are known here.  My first for this year.

And finally, here is my Eplekake of which I am rather proud.  A firm favourite in this house.

Recipe: (if anyone is interested and it is incredibly easy).

4 apples
3 tbs brown sugar
2 tsp allspice or you can use cinnamon.

200g caster sugar
200g butter
170g plain flour
1tsp baking powder
4 eggs

Oven 180 °C or Gas 4/5

1. Peel and core the apples and chop them into 1cm chunks into a clean empty ice cream carton with lid.  Add brown sugar and allspice. Put lid on and mix it all up.

2. Blend caster sugar and butter until creamy.

3.  Break eggs into jug and add slowly to butter/sugar mix in one at a time.  Blend well.

4.  Sieve flour and baking powder into big mixing bowl.  Add sugar/butter/egg mix – fold in thoroughly.

5.  Add apples and fold well again.

Quickly pour mixture into large baking tray that is already lined with greaseproof paper.

Put in middle of oven for 50 minutes.  Stick a knife in and see if it is done. If not, give it a few more minutes.  It can take an hour.  The knife must come out clear with no cake batter on it.

When done, put tin on cooling rack. Delicious warm or cold.

It doesn’t have to be just apple – sometimes I add crystallized ginger because I love it or if I have no apples, I use blueberries or rhubarb or anything you like really in cake. Be warned, all the blueberries sink to the bottom but it is still delicious and you can call it an upside down cake at that stage!

A New Trick

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I learned a new photographic trick today and I tried it out on the Shetland ponies (and even Lambie), who were around alternating between eating their afternoon haynets and sheltering from the sudden and  heavy rain showers.

It was a rather good trick.

It worked on almost everyone, though Albie was unhelpful following me around trying to mug me so I couldn’t get him to stand still.

This is my most favourite photograph of the day.

I like all my photos of horses and ponies to have ears forward.  Ears back always looks so miserable.

Like I said, the trick mostly worked except for Newt who was having none of it.  Of course, he wouldn’t.

Waffle, again, so handsome.

This trick even worked on Lambie who was busy guarding his bedroom/shed because of the heavy rain.

And he even left his bedroom to show me his ever-Winning Smile and bat his beautiful eyelashes at me. I was, of course, smitten.

And the trick?  Always carry in one hand a brand new crunchy packet of Vetwrap (stretchy, self-adherent bandage) while you’re taking photos of disobliging animals. I had to fetch a new one from my stores in the shed for Pepper’s poorly paw and was carrying it around in my coat pocket to get it to the house.

Albie and Tiddles heard the crinkly noise and instantly pricked up their ears!

“Follow me for more tips!”

A Few Odd Ones

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Nothing much to say today as in absolutely nothing has happened except for the weird photos I found that I took throughout the day.

This was Monster first thing in the morning telling me all about his night out and how he worked hard protecting the homestead. Those borders don’t repel themselves, you know.

So he went to sleep.

The old Icelandic horses were all lined up.  A lesson in perspective.

And back inside with me trying to eat my breakfast while catching up on stuff or not. Monster had finished his morning nap.

There was no moving him now. He was settled for the rest of his morning.

Tiddles and Albie.

Silver with glorious windy hair.

Lambie’s rather gruesome Winning Smile.

Lambie told me he wanted to go inside the house now, thank you, please.  I followed him.

And I honestly think he would’ve gone straight in and made himself at home if it wasn’t for the dastardly (but prettily painted) door.

But there was absolutely no way, no how that Lambie was going to let Gussie inside.  If it is anyone’s house, it is Lambie’s (apparently).

Back to Dog Walks in the Flowers

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As Pepper has now had her two stitches out (and, apparently she was a very brave soldier), I thought she could start going for a walk again, but only short ones and strictly supervised.

So I decided Pepper and Ted should go to Clothie, my 5 acres of long grass and flowers which forms part of the old horses and ponies’ winter grazing.

At times, it was difficult to see the dogs.  They were easily lost in the long grass and flowers.

Nearly impossible at times.

Pepper was loving her new freedom.

The two dogs bounded over the grass together, trying to see over the top and where they were going all at the same time.

Meanwhile, having walked to the top of the hill, I sat on a windowsill of the old crofthouse not watching the world not go by.  There wasn’t a soul to be seen, just the long grass swaying in the wind to the sound of the curlews shouting.

I think the short walk was a success.  The daily bandaging less so, though. She hates that and fidgets horribly.

I still don’t trust her not to go a-visiting – strict supervision, remember!

Now, Ted I mostly trust. He has a good track record and stays around the house.

While Pepper is always looking for the chink in our armour.