Temperatures Going Down

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The forecast is not looking good – rain tomorrow, the temperature dropping and then sleety snow. Ugh.  Not my favourite.

I am not looking forward to this but hopefully it will all be over by next week some time.

But every weather forecast says something different so I don’t know who to believe.

Erring on the side of caution, I went out with all the rugs and gave Tiddles his while he ate some little carrots that I had scattered to lure everyone down so I didn’t have to walk miles. It worked. They came, they saw, they ate. I rugged and left.

As ever, Tiddles was my very good boy and just stood there while I put his brand new 100g rug on.  He has Equine Metabolic Syndrome so finds regulating his body temperature difficult.  I hate seeing him struggle in bad weather.  He gets very miserable.

Tiddles’ new rug, fresh out of it’s packet, fitted like a dream (a huge thank you to my friend who brought it over from USA – it was the last one in the whole world (I know, I checked) and they don’t make this type anymore).

Then I loaded up the Eggbox with the other rugs and Pepper and drove over to Clothie – my 5 acre croft that is over the hill (open grazing).

This lot behaved beautifully and I quickly threw on the rugs (it was raining by now and ok, not ideal, but they will dry underneath before the low temperatures and snow arrive).

That was everyone except for Iacs who made a point of running (ok, walking fast, there was no actual running) away from me.  I shouted at him to “stand still” so he did and I got his rug on him too.  He will thank me later when the next few days descend into a F10, windchill factor of -10, and sleety snow.

Shetland Ponies and the Mirrie Dancers

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The “Mirrie Dancers” were out last night and I managed to capture a few glimpses by precariously hanging my camera out of the upstairs bathroom window – our only good northerly view!

It was stunning, so I consider my strenous efforts worth it.

And then this morning, OH and I mucked out the sheep shed (10 barrowfuls) and afterwards I filled up the pony’s water in their field.  Although there is a stream running through the entire field, I like everyone to be able to have easy access to water rather than forget.

I realise I am probably making extra work for myself but I worry, especially when the older horses and ponies are in this field and the fact that everyone drinks from here after breakfast also makes me think that they need it.

So while the water was filling up, I had a little chat with the little chaps.

Newt


Tiddles

Waffle

Silver

Albie

These two – Tiddles and Newt – are not the greatest of friends and I would even go so far as to say that Tiddles can be a bit of a bully while Newt has a Napoleon complex.

This is not a great combination.

Albie and Silver tend to stay away from any trouble.

And Waffle is actually the herd leader, if there has to be one, I think.

Being with the chaps made me wonder if the Shetland ponies look up at night and see the “Mirrie Dancers” or whether to them this is just a normal night sky.  We’ll never know.

Shetland Christmas Craft Fair 2026

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It’s that time of year again – Shetland’s annual Christmas Craft Fair held over 2 1/2 days at the Clickimin Centre.

So obviously you know me, I love a Craft Fair. I went with my usual Craft Fair shopping friend, Mandy, aka my flute duet partner and Mandy drove us in (as my car was now ready to collect so we did that too).

We decided to go when the Fair opened, to avoid the crowds as it does get very busy during the day.

I did a lot of my Christmas shopping there so I am feeling pretty smug now.

Sadly, the Craft Fair is full of Things I Want – like these fabulous salt pots with spoons.

And I always say this, but for an island of only 23,000 folk, there are a lot of very talented people.

My favoutie soap stall – I bought a few for my secret soap stash (currently running at 3 drawers but I love and need it all!)

I had to pull myself away from the this little chap.

This is my friend, Monika’s, stall – Collaster Croft (website construction still in progress, I think).

As well as using mainly her own sheep’s fleeces to make the most gorgeous wool pads, I also give Monika mine – at the bottom right you can see the round pad made from Lambie (I always feel smug when everyone says his wool was only “carpet quality”.)

And the top one is Dahlia.  Always beautiful.

Anyway, the crowds arrived in swarms and Mandy and I finished up, went to get my car, had fish and chips (delicious) as is the tradition and then I drove home in my newly MOT’ed car without it’s check-engine light.

This afternoon, I took to my bed for a rest, drank hot chocolate and had a 20 minute sleep. A great day.

I Feel Tired Today

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I feel very tired while I write this blog lying on my bed trying to get my back to behave itself.It has slowly been deteriorating again, (immediately after my anaesthetist phoned to discuss the situation and I glibly said I was fine).  It was like my back heard me and started to disintegrate again. So I now have a hospital appointment for caudal epidural steroid injections under sedation on the 16th in the hope that I get in there first, I won’t fall to bits like I did last winter.

Luckily, animal-wise, everyone is being pretty self-sufficient. I just throw food at them n the morning and then leave them to their own devices for the rest of the day.  They all seem happy enough with this arrangement.  All the fields have lots of grass.

After breakfast, I set off to pack vegetables at Turriefield, where I volunteer.

It was a busy morning but definitely worth it for the veg that is available to buy.

I was even sent home with a sack of unsellable carrots for the ponies.  They will be pleased.

I went Into my shed after lunch to make a hand-felted sheep ready for another large order.  When I looked up from my stabbing, I noticed it had clouded over and there was a rainbow on my house.  Well obviously we all know what that means.  Now, to find that shovel and go and dig up the upstairs bathroom!

(there is very hot water tonight so I will have a long bath with epsom salts/lavender and consider that my “pot of gold” – utter heaven).

A Magical Morning

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This was the view from my front door this morning.  Not too shabby, is it?

It was such a beautiful light and so calm.  Perfect for taking photos of five grubby little Shetland ponies scarfing their breakfast.

Here’s a little known fact – there are five rubber feed-skips all with a large scoop of breakfast in them.

So that’s one each and no one needs to share.

Not that anyone would ever share with Newt.  He does not do sharing. It’s not his thing.

Silver is in a very precarious position but for the moment Newt decided to behave himself – his back end has a nasty little weapon (he kicks out with both barrels).  It hurts. I know.

And Waffle is a ruddy saint while Albie is the thorn in his side.  He refuses to eat by himself so   Waffle has a bit extra in his bowl.

Poor Waffle has no choice in this matter. Albie told him it was non-optional.  It’s like this every single morning and Waffle never objects or says anything.

But the morning mist coming off the sea was magical.  I could’ve stared at it forever but I wanted my breakfast too, so I went inside.