This is primrose season.  Primroses everywhere.  They line both sides of the burn (stream) and no one seems to eat them, which makes a change.

Even Lambie is not interested and he eats the post, if he can get it.

‘Ster went off this morning to find Bert who lives in the scattald with his chums.  ‘Ster is obsessed with either beating Bert up or asking to join his gang.  Last time he did this, ‘Ster came back but, who knows.  He has always wanted to be a real sheep.  I hope he returns.

This time Lambie does not care.  He has BeAnne and me and that’s is all he wants.  In a way, he always resented sharing me with anyone.  So that is my little entourage.  They follow me everywhere.

I wonder if anyone would notice if I took Lambie shopping in Lerwick!

    

Nothing going on in the Maternity Ward.  I check the bewbery every day but there is not much of an udder.  Having said that, a year ago there was suddenly one extra (Hjalti) who seemed to just magically appear giving no warning of this arrival.

Taktur is looking as handsome as ever.  He is a big powerful boy who occasionally stares at girls in the other field across the hill.

Kappi looks like he is due any day now.

I keep remembering this time last year when Lambie was a little Lambie.  He is a huge Lambie now.  There were definitely times when I wondered if he would make it.

(but still, and always, Mummy’s little boysenberry!)

You can see it was a beautiful blue-sky day.  I love being outside with my animal family.

I went a-visiting today – (though, everyone is checked every day).

First on my list was the newly weaned Hjalti, with his bezzies, Storm and Tiddles.

Tiddles came trotting up to me and I secretly gave him some of my well-hidden carrot.

Lyra was happy and I put a secret carrot behind my back for her.

Tiddles is very busy making friends.

He has changed into a very sociable little boy, though I quickly checked his “nose-kissey button” and am happy to report that it is still in good working order.

Storm has taken on the role of Hjalti’s body guard.

They are going everywhere together with matching foot-falls.

Storm is takes this job very seriously (that is his serious face).

Hjalti is still a lovely boy, bless him.

It was interesting to see that, out of all the ponies in the field (and there are a few), Lyra was talking to Hjalti.  Interesting. The other ponies are not Thordale’s.

Anyway, Hjalti is fine.  I did some tickling and told him what a good boy he is and how proud I am.

Then off to see the “Fat Fighters” in the hill park.

Everyone was on good form and I thought Klængur looked particularly beautiful today.

Is it, is it my imagination or has a tiny ounce or two been lost?

Lastly, but not leastly, I went to see Vitamin, who is sharing a bare hill park with a fat gelding. They are firm friends.

Still fat.  No, my bad, Vitamin seems to have turned into a hippopotamus while I was not watching.

I fed her far too much last winter (but, to be fair, she is a bargey greedy pig) so being on this hill park with next-to-nothing food will have saved her from laminitis.

Vitamin was in a vile mood.  She was shouting something about starving around here!

 

Today, I packed up Hjalti’s red spotted hankie, hung it on a stick and send him to live 4 miles away with Storm and Tiddles for company.

Everyone loaded nicely and we released them into a nice big field where they ran about a bit.

Backwards and forewards.

More endless running.

And Hjalti said he wanted his mummy back please.

So we opened the adjacent gate and let in 28, or so, filly yearlings and Lyra.

Hjalti dug out his ancient Arab ancestry from under his bed (yes, he has a Masters of the Universe duvet cover).

And with that he shut up and denied all knowledge of being with his mother not 10 minutes previous and still nursing.

So Bjørn and I watched the ponies and one horse galloping about the three fields.

We had opened all the gates so they have access to a very large area of grass.

At one stage they all turned round and cantered towards me.

I did start to wonder if they would flatten me but reckoned I would be safer if I just stood my ground.

At this stage, I was praying they would go round me!

Tiddles and Storm are in seventh heaven and everyone was beginning to calm down as we left.

I took this photo in November 2014 when Tiddles (he was called Stardust, in those days) first met the three original Minions.

Pot Pourri or Pol Potterie?

Now, nearly 18 months on, things have changed drastically.  That scared little foal, who was depressed and dejected, has turned into Tiddles, The Mighty!

Tiddles spends most of his days trying to get the better of his second best friend (only second because no one could ever replace Storm), Hjalti, the Icelandic horse yearling.

Hjalti is tall for his age but this doesn’t deter Tiddles in anyway from reaching those bits that must be hung off the most.

Whatever it takes.

Tiddles will give it his best shot.

And Hjalti loves it.

If you have a bored foal.  Get yourself a miniature Shetland pony gelding.  They make wonderful toys.

I honestly think Hjalti has learned more from The Minions than off any other member of the herd.

I always hoped Tiddles would find his sense of humour and I think we can concur that is in abundance.

Playing is good for everyone and it makes me smile to see Tiddles being the extrovert now. Such a change from that miserable little boy who arrived saying don’t ever look at me.

In fact, I think every home should have a Tiddles.  Folk would smile more.  It would be The Law.

 

I go and visit Fat Camp every day to check up on my boys.  I don’t like them being so far away (4 miles) knowing there is no one nearby in case something happens.

Today, as OH was doing his messages (shopping) in the Big L (Lerwick), I took Loki and BeAnne with me for a dog walk while we checked Les Fatties.

Since it is lambing time, we are very restricted at the moment where we can take the dogs and I don’t want to upset any ewes, let alone crofters.

This 35+ acre park is mine for the year and there are no sheep and/or lambs present (though I have to add, as the dogs live with Lambie and ‘Ster all year round, they don’t think sheep are food, more family).

Anyway, the dogs had a lovely walk/swim and galloped about.  We all enjoyed ourselves and the dogs loved the freedom of a huge field to play and run around about.

So, back to The Fatties.

I felt everyone for any potential ribs. I really did.

I tried so hard to find weight loss but there was nothing of the rib variety to be felt, let alone seen.

I am not saying they are fat but to be honest, I suppose I am.  None of these guys can come home.  They are still fat. Having said that, they are also very happy in their huge hill apportionment.  I suspect they are probably blagging sandwiches from the passing tourons (tourists).

I thought we would be seeing some results by now.  Obviously not.