Every day I drive past this croft on my way to see the Minions.  It is not a busy road, but still there are cars every so often.

It is also home to the croft’s make-shift crö.

(a sheep pen in Shetland dialect)

And sitting on that post is an oystercatcher (shalder).

When there were sheep in the pen, the oystercatcher had flown away so I asked if I could have a look.

Yup, three beautiful eggs in a ridiculous “nest”.

The oystercatcher was close by watching the sheep shearing goings-on.

She was immediately back sitting when everyone had gone.

Apparently this bird does this every year.  I have no idea what her hatching success rate is because that is a horrid drop out of the nest for anyone trying to leave who can’t fly.  It can’t end well, I think.

Yesterday, when I was visiting the Minions, I noticed Tiddles was kicking his belly all the time.  He wasn’t in any discomfort (ie colic) but obviously something was annoying him.

So, today, I went to the field armed with kit….. to clean Tiddles’ sheath.  I had everything ready – towels, hot water (thermos), ky jelly, gloves ….

I also had Floss with me to hold Tiddles in his head-collar as I could see he would be less than co-operative with this procedure.

We decided to “act normal” and feed Vitamin first.

After that, we would catch Tiddles and take him to the stream (cold running water) and tackle this potentially rather gross problem.  If you want to know how to clean a horse’s sheath, go look it up on Youtube.  Suffice to say, this is not my favourite sport.

These days Tiddles is having a bit of a thing about being caught and I put it down to the fact that he hates being brushed.  It’s the time of year.

I even have to bribe him to put cream on his nose.  Another necessity.

The others were perfectly normal…. ie taking an interest and trying to help.

And we watched Tiddles and he didn’t kick his belly once. So we left him alone and went home with our all our buckets of stuff unused.  I am rather relieved.  I hate that job.

Today, an old friend, Andrew, came to visit the Minions.  He has been our stalwart this winter, bringing and lugging water, feeding carrots, brushing endlessly, helping with clearing and burning the crofthouse roof at Leradale – the list is endless and none of the tasks were easy or much fun.

Under there is an Andrew!

He was very pleased to see his little friends again and amazed at how they had lost most of their long hairy winter coats.  We gave them all a bit of a brush and tomorrow I will put on some a long lasting insecticide and fly repellent which should help with the endless itching on my poor fences.

And I know the ponies were glad to see Andrew again.

He agreed with me that Vitamin, although looking old, had put on weight (phew!)

Everyone was pretty well behaved.

Even Newt!

(Tiddles was keeping well away in case I brushed him!)

Despite the menacing sky, I found the old men all resting in their field (apparently it had been raining on my OH at work all day so he gave up and went into town – sucks to be him!)

I love this photo. I feel that Haakon is telling Klængur how to take over The Mantel of Responsibility.

Haakon: “Now, what you do, young(ish) Klængur, is you lull her into a false sense of security and then you spook about a blade of grass that looked at you in a funny way!  Do you understand?”
Klængur: “Yer, yer, yer. I’m good at that!”

Haakon (to himself): “I don’t think he’s listening to me for a second”.
Klængur (to himself): “I wish the old fogey would realise I’ve got this!”

Meanwhile in Iacs-land, he is doing his unexpectedly handsome face.

With added Good Looks! I do not know this horse.

And so I left them all to it, happily chatting away.

Dog grooming – that’s the title – well, we don’t bother with some people. There is just no point. She would only eat the ruddy brush.

So, this afternoon, Ted and I set off to Scalloway to see Sharon at The Foxy Dog.  Our aim was to come home with just that – a Foxy Dog.

This is a Before photo.

I think you will agree, more left-over Muppet than Foxy.

But I came home with this….  seriously Foxy and gorgeous.

Ted looks so much better. Much younger, much happier and much cleaner.

I have booked Ted in for a twice-yearly dog groom.  I think it makes sense.  Lighten Ted’s load and make him happy. We all love it.  He looks so different.

Meanwhile Pepper is now sulking because she has no need of pampering and is the scruffiest dog around here.

And Monster swiftly went on a diet!