Tuesday morning is, and always should be, Flute Lesson Day.

I have been playing the flute since I was 13 and my weekly flute lesson is the highlight of my week.  I get to exercise my little grey cells.

Since Daisy is home, she comes with me and we torture, sorry play, as a trio.

Afterwards, we go to Lerwick for our messages.

Despite being almost winter, Lerwick strives to be colourful.

This is probably the world’s smallest Boots, the Chemist – a UK pharmacy chain, with outlets in most high streets, shopping centres and airport terminals. Did you know it is owned by Walgreens?  Now I never knew that!

We don’t have the big name shops names up here.

I like that.

Individuality.

And some of the best (or interesting) window-displays too!

Vitamin and Fivla are still featuring in the shops.

They certainly made a lasting impact.

Taktur is even there too (so proud, sniff).

Commercial Street is the main shopping street in Lerwick.  These days, it is not busy.  I haven’t been during the weekend for a while, so I can only hope that more folk use it or we will lose our high street, which will be a bad day.  I try as hard as I can to support The Street.

From Commercial Street, there are lanes that run at right angles from it leading to houses and join other streets.

   

There is also a tree growing in a wall!

Daisy asked me to take this photo.  It is grows on Fort Charlotte.

Anywho, here are a few happy snaps from today.  Wool (leftover from Wool Week) and Hallowe’en are the theme.

The vet visited this afternoon to microchip Efstur.

We have not done anything with him.  He has worn a headcollar twice – it was rather a fight each time to get it on.

So I was a tad nervous today.

I tied up Brá and approached Efstur with his headcollar, waiting for the usual fight. Efstur stood nicely while I put on his headcollar!

A carrot slice was given for good manners and I was amazed.

The vet did all he wanted to do – microchip – more carrot slices given, headcollar off.

And then he remembered he wanted to record his whirls, swirls and markings so back on with the headcollar.  Again, no fight = more carrot.

Done.  So off came the headcollar when the DNA sample was mentioned.  I knew my luck was not going to hold but I went in with the headcollar and, again, on it went.

This resulted in endless carrots!

I am so proud of Efstur.  He was a good boy.

Brá is doing a very good job with her baby boy (and yes she is pregnant and not fat!)

(btw, his nose has a perfect golden hue)

After Efstur, it was Tiddles’ turn.  I had taken on board all your comments and thought, as the vet was here, it would be good if he could give Tids a check-up.

All was deemed fine and that was good to know.  So we will now concentrate on Operation Make Tiddles Smile Again.

We’ve done it before, when he arrived as a very depressed little foal, and we can do it again.  Toys.  I will get the toys out.  Tiddles loves toys.

Hjalti was a good boy as well. He led beautifully through the fields without pulling.

I love it when everyone is nice.  Makes it all worthwhile.

Albie is fed twice a day.

Although he is very much part of the herd, he knows that twice a day (morning and late afternoon, just before it gets dark), he is fed.

No one else has this waiter-service.

Just our little Albie.

The others would like to be fed.  When I say “others”, I mostly mean Storm and Tiddles.

They only get a look-in when the bowl is empty.

Albie, though small, is a very determined little chap.

And we love him for that.  His determination is what has kept him alive.

That, and a pile of milk and hard feed, over the last six months.

We pre-mix the milk in the house and it is brought to the field in a one litre pre-washed bottle.

This bottle is a source of constant entertainment to those that think they too should be fed.

Of course, there is nothing left but some (ie Storm and Tiddles) won’t be told.  The word “no” is actually not in their vocabulary,

Meanwhile, Tiddles continues to worry me.  He is, by no means, his usual self.  I spend many hours hugging him and telling him that everything is alright now.  He is very down and I can only think that such a near-death experience has left him scars that will take a very long time to heal.

However, BeAnne continues to go from strength to strength.  I have halted her riding career, though she can go out in a basket saddle if she insists, but no more horse-riding for Her Maj.  She continues to follow me everywhere, come Hell or high water.

As I walked back home, I turned and saw a beautiful rainbow.

So there you are – proof.  There is a pot of gold for the ponies of Thordale!

Lyra, Vitamin, Waffle and Silver have been moved back to another field in Sandness.

I hate them being so far from home.  These days, I am filled with dread when I drive to Sandness but some of my fields are there and I can’t waste them.  There is nothing I can do.

So, taking Her Maj for company, I drove over to check everyone was happy and healthy.

Here in Shetland, we have been having the most amazing Autumn.  The colours are beautiful and I can’t seem to do them justice. I find it quite frustrating.  I see such wonderful hues when I go riding but can’t capture them.  Gah!

   

Anywho, sitting in the field with half of the Minions and mother and daughter on a sunny still Autumn afternoon was lovely. Noses to kiss, lots of chatting and my little friends all around me.

We visit them daily to check everything is ok (as well as receiving phone calls from caring neighbours if there are problems).

I still hate them being away from home, though.  In a perfect world, I would have them all around the house (and possibly in as well).

❤ Waffle is in lerve with Lyra ❤

He follows her everywhere and, if he looks at another woman, Lyra gets all narky!  It is very sweet to see.

Vitamin is still head of the herd.  Fatly and happily looking on.

 

So all well but still I wish they were home.  It makes me sad and worried.

🗣 💬 👩‍👩‍👧‍👧 🌈 🗣 💬 👩‍👩‍👧‍👧 🌈 🗣 💬 👩‍👩‍👧‍👧 🌈 🗣 💬 👩‍👩‍👧‍👧 🌈 🗣 💬 👩‍👩‍👧‍👧 🌈

I hate to nag but……..

(and please tell your friends!)

After the boredom of trying on their winter rugs, I let the Minions run round the school for fun and to stretch their legs.

They love playing liberty ponies and we do this whenever they are in the school.

I popped a pole down to see what would happen.

I often seen the Minions jumping the ditches when they are playing in their field so I know they like jumping.

Look at Tiddles’ earnest little face (Storm went round!)

They jumped the pole a couple of times with huge enthusiasm.

They preferred this rein and jumped as if the pole was a jump from a Puissance Class at HOYS – a competition where the fences are raised for each round.  The current indoor record is for  2.40 m (7 ft 10 in) so the Minions have a little way to go.

Dear little boys.

And then I made a little jump – just one bucket high.  Nothing huge.

Of course, I let them walk the course.

It is very important when show-jumping because they need to work out the striding to the jump.  Usually it is the rider who does this.

And then off they went….

Wow!

They flew!

….. until they all, to a pony, worked out they could go round without much effort!

Typical little Shetland ponies – always finding the easiest way round.

Still, they had the best fun and it was wonderful to watch.

My flying Minions.  The little pocket rockets.

✈️ 👐 🚀 💓 ✈️ 👐 🚀 💓 ✈️ 👐 🚀 💓 ✈️ 👐 🚀 💓 ✈️ 👐 🚀 💓

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