Look what arrived in the post for me! I am thrilled. I have NEVER won a trophy by myself that I get to keep (I hope I can keep it. Please can I keep it? Pretty please).

There was also a useful and most excellent hoodie which I will live in, a keyring and a car sticker.   The last two look good in my new horsevan.

So a huge thank you to Haynet for my trophy and gifts.  Happy, happy, happy.

The other night the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis or Merrie Dancers, put on an amazing show.  All these photos were taken from the back door.  It was a very cold crisp night.  My camera and I spent the evening watching this majestic mysterious light display.

I have always said that the Northern Lights should be accompanied by a soundtrack and that night I was in luck.

Lambie and Lambster were in their bedroom-garden burping and baa-ing gently to me.  Perhaps not the magnificence of Elgar’s Enigma Variations or Wagner’s Die Walkürenritt but still it was certainly atmospheric in a different way!

I am easily pleased and my duet was done with love (and some complaining that they couldn’t “help”).  My exotic life!

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Lambster Buttons Pack Of Small Button Covers by Boysenberries

Lambster Temporary Tattoo Temporary Tattoos by Boysenberries

Lambster Apron by Boysenberries

There are a few types of nose kisseys.

This is Tiddles demonstrating the “top of the nose” kiss.

He will lift his head to be kissed.

Silver and I are demonstrating the “full front nose” kissey.  Notice the preparation – you should keep your hands away.  They are not needed.

Silver approaches me for the kiss.  I would never go and ask him because that would be rude and an invasion of his space.  If he wants a kiss, he will come and ask politely.  My boys are brung up proper, they are.

Ok, so now we have Hjalti who is a bit of a novice at this but, even so, a nose kissey from Hjalti is the equivalent of a Blessing from El Papa.  Again, note, hands away.

Hjalti likes to touch noses first.

And then in for a full front nose kissey.

Now this is me and Lambie who refused to show anyone that he is the Maestro of Nose Kisseys so I lifted his nose and planted one on him.

But, after my initial smacker, he gives me a kiss back because I am his Mum and I love my Lambie.

Lambster, again, is a novice nose kisser but he is doing his very best to learn our ways.

Again, if I look casual and like I just happen to be in the area, he will come up to me and lift his nose to give and receive a kiss.  He expects one every day.

So that is what I mean by a nose kissey and almost everyone is very good at it except for a few exceptions – Haakon, Iacs, Kappi – I think they are old-school!

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Three Shetland pony stallions NOTEBOOK Memo Pad by Boysenberries

Three Shetland pony stallions in a field Poster by Boysenberries

Three Shetland pony stallions – Jumbo Tote Jumbo Tote Bag by Boysenberries

It was a lovely crisp quiet Winter’s day.  My back was hurting and I find going for a walk can help – gets it gently moving again rather than locking up.  I would rather exercise than reach for the painkillers.

Having been to collect Lambie and Lambster home from the hill on a few occasions, I don’t trust Lambie not to pack his spotted hankie and set off (ungrateful so and so that he is).

Lambie gets very narky if he is walked with a collar and lead so I fashioned a very effective harness (Patent pending) for him by putting Hetja’s headcollar on him backwards.

It worked a treat.

Flossie led Lambie using an extendable lead and we had a very civilised walk to Watsness and back with Lambster dutifully following, because he is a good boy.

How we struggled looking at this view!

The way home.

And this, I think, is Lambster’s small-bounce-of-happiness!  He is getting much tamer now and we spent time this morning talking and stroking him.  Such a darling boy.  He does long runs of lambie-bounces with all four legs on the way home  Boing, boing, boing.

What a wonderful walk it was.  BeAnne is somewhere – don’t worry she didn’t disown us. (Loki did not go with us because he had gone on a long walk with OH).

That Lambie harness was very effective.  The way forward for Lambie, I think.

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Shetland pony belt buckle by Boysenberries

Shetland pony football soccer ball by Boysenberries

Shetland pony table card holder by Boysenberries

Today, I have been relaxing and pottering around the croft.

Lambert is officially a hill sheep now.  He almost came back to the house this afternoon and, when I went out to bring him home, he said no thank you and walked off with his friends.

Lambie is on top form.  He is over his sulk and enjoys eating (and wearing) the Rosa Rugosa (Shetland Wild Rose).

Lambie’s horns grow inward and a crofter friend told me that they will grow into his head unless I trim them.  I did not know this and I was nervous but I managed to cut the ends off with the dogs’ nail clippers.  Lambie was very good and stood still.

Lambster is Lambie’s devoted follower (as Daisy says, he is doomed then!) –  a darling boy who has come out of his shell, relaxed and well behaved, with lovely manners.  Such a pleasure to have around.

Though not hugely tame with folk he doesn’t know, he will talk to me.  He likes BeAnne very much.  I think he must’ve grown because he is much bigger than her now.

I left the horses to do their own thing as they were far away and not watching out for me.

Iacs and Haakon especially need a day off after yesterday.   Being nice is always tiring.  They must be exhausted!

Les Grandes Dames are allowed to wander around the place.  Vitamin wants to be with the others so she can boss the little ones around.  I might let them through sometimes.

Delia is very stiff but has started supplements for that.  She potters about.  I think she looks good and she always demands and enjoys her food.

I don’t think this is a bottom that is too thin.  Just right.

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Tiddles Car Air Freshener by Boysenberries

Tiddles Napkin Standard Cocktail Napkin by Boysenberries

Tiddles Envelope by Boysenberries

Having fed everyone very quickly this morning, we packed up the horsevan with Iacs and Haakon.  (I love my van, I do).

We were going on a 2 1/4 mile Christmas ride at Levenwick.  It was a fancy dress but, as we didn’t know we were going until last night, there was no time to dress ourselves or the horses up.

Once the van was packed with tack, extra carrots, etc, we loaded up the horses.  It was at this precise point, I remembered that Haakon does not load and that all our plans would probably come to nothing.

Surprisingly, after an initial sniff and a rear, he went straight in (a first).  Iacs, of course, didn’t give it any thought at all and would have probably shut the door behind him.

So, off we drove down to Levenwick (about an hour away) and the weather was looking good.

We unloaded, tacked up and led them to the getting-on place.

We had opted for the shorter of the two rides and set off to meet the longer ride coming home.

My main priority was to look after Flossie at all times and to keep her out of trouble.  She did brilliantly and Iacs looked after her like the gentleman he is.

The rest of the ride were spectacularly dressed up, and yes, that is a Christmas tree on a horse!

As the timings of each ride got a bit muddled, everyone voted to fill in time by going to the beach for a blast.  I did not think either the horses nor Flossie (or I) were up for that so we rode back up to the horsevan, packed up and went home.  We will save the beach for another time when Floss is more experienced and the horses are fitter.

Well done Floss – her first horse riding adventure.

I am exhausted now!  Painkillers. I need painkillers.

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Shetland pony stallion dancing bib by Boysenberries

Dancing Shetland pony stallion tray Serving Trays by Boysenberries

Dancing Shetland pony stallion Lunchbox by Boysenberries