Every evening I repair to my shed to create needle-felted little animals and birds.

These are my recent creations and, if you are interested, they are for sale.  I have built a Heart❤️Felt For Sale page. First come, first served.

Heart❤️Felt For Sale

I happily work with donations but felt it might be better to put prices on each creation based on the UK hourly national living wage rate.  Money is a difficult word to us English but I thought it might be easier if I did.

I am very happy to post anyone anywhere in the world.  Being made purely of wool (and my ❤️) the little chaps are light and so far, have not cost a huge amount to send.

So, there you are. Please don’t feel obliged to buy but if you are grabbed by a wee small blue bird or a sheep, let me know.  If they are already sold, I can make similar.  I will keep making these little friends as my muse takes me and every so often, I will add them to my shop page.  They will also probably travel to a Lerwick shop – in discussion.

All moneys go towards the animals but mostly to the Minions who live their life of rescue Shetland pony luxury.  I will also replenish my wool stocks and equipment with money made.

This was yesterday.  A training milestone for Hjalti.

Iacs was brought in for moral support.

He took his job very seriously.

Zzzzz……

Firstly, Daisy and Hjalti went over a few basics in the indoor school.

Walk, trot and halt.

With some steering.

And then we went outside.

We had originally planned to go to the end of the track and home.

But as Hjalti was such a good boy – all interested but listening – we kept going.

Down the long and windy road (ok, this bit is straight but it winds later on).

I led Iacs so Hjalti didn’t feel he was alone in the Big Bad World.

We got as far as the first passing place, which is a good distance along entirely new territory for Hjalti.

And then we turned around to go home.  On our travels we met one car.  Daisy and Hjalti parked in a field gate entrance with me and Iacs between him and the car.  I signalled to the car to go about as slowly as it could and, luckily, the driver completely understood and crept passed (thank you to whoever you are.  I may actually ❤️ you and your comprehension of the situation).  Afterwards we shovelled carrots into Hjalti for being a good boy and yes, Iacs had his fair share for just, well, being there.

We pottered calmly home again.

So, well done Hjalti and Daisy (and possibly Iacs).

Hjalti was a very good boy and next time we shall go further.  Going outside, ridden, is a huge milestone in Hjalti’s training.

I might ride Iacs next time, though.

I started Shetland’s Foal Milk Service a few years ago for anyone in Shetland who needed an emergency supply of replacement mare’s milk as well as Foal Stim, a unique colostrum and prebiotic (FOS) nutritional supplement. 

Anyway, I have my stock ready for this year’s foaling season in Shetland and if anyone needs it, they can find the supply in my porch.

The cost is £15.00 for the Aintree Foal Milk bucket (it is a kit containing is a rubber foal teat, sterilising tablets and mare’s milk replacer milk powder along with full emergency feeding instructions.

And £16.00 for the Foal-Stim (a 20ml oral syringe – you give it like wormer).

I am absolutely no expert but I have used both products and do know the Foal Stim (or what I call, Red Bull for foals) buys you time.  It is an instant energy drink for newborn foals that are weak, underweight, failing to suckle or initially thrive.  Foal Stim has saved many foals’ lives and is an essential in my foaling kit.

And the Mare’s Milk Replacer is exactly that.  We used it for Albie and he grew into a big and strong foal.  Albie preferred a bucket to a bottle, but that’s just him.

I fund this service because it can take a long time for anything to get here and that could be the difference between life and death.  I don’t care if the stock is never used.  That is fine.  Never used means it was never required but if you urgently need these emergency supplies in Shetland for your foal, phone me on 01595 809 432 any time, day or night – 24/7 – and I will do all I can to help.  I am not here to replace the vet.

For more information – Thordale Stud website

 

 

Efstur and Dreki the other evening chewing the fat, as we say.

It was on February 26th of this year that we called the vet out for the first time to look at Haakon who was slowly declining and showing signs that something was very wrong.  As you may know, I was hugely worried.

Haakon

Anywho, last night Haakon said he didn’t want to go to bed in his stable and broke with routine to go out in the field with the rest of the horses.  He has spent the last couple of months either standing/lying in his stable on very deep bedding or outside where he could see his friends but was not actually be with them in the field.  We wanted him kept as peaceful as possible and out of the deep winter mud that is everywhere.

Last night, Haakon wanted to be with his herd.

And they were pleased to have him back.

Haakon was his usual anti-social self.

But I don’t care, Haakon had asked to go out for the first time and he finally wanted to get back to normal.

You have no idea what a huge weight fell off my shoulders.  Suddenly I can breathe again.

I have been so worried and scared about the whole ordeal.  I am not good when a beloved animal is ill.  Not good at all.

We are still taking things slowly.  This morning, Haakon came out of the field so he could graze without standing in the now quickly drying mud.  He has gone back out again tonight and, although tired, seems much happier.

Little steps – that’s Haakon’s annoyed stop-hassling me face!