Everything has calmed down now and we are all going about our day saying “Phew” to ourselves.  The past few days have been quite the ordeal and I think the animals are very tired from the storm.

To make up for it, we had a beautiful sunrise this morning.  Very dramatic.

Finnigert (where the Minions live)

From the track at home, where we live.

The oldies were digesting their breakfast and hoping I would pop by with more.

OH and I made a quick dash into Lerwick to retrieve my now mended car.  I am so relieved  to have it home and it was a back brake thing – so now I have new set of rear brake pads.  Happy days.

Once home, while OH stayed in Lerwick shopping, I took the dogs out. I wanted to check the back gate into the scattald (common grazing) to see that it was still shut after the storm.  Sometimes gates can wiggle open after a few days of a constant Force 11.

The sheep were all having a bit of a snooze there too.

It was still closed, phew because it’s a bore when everyone goes off into the hill.

I had a quick chat with the sheep.

Dear Barrel had acquired a “necklace” of old dried dockens.

And Maggie, his Mum, was nice and smiley.

The gates checked, noses kissed and we walked back through the field home feeling grateful we could stay upright without much difficulty.

The gale is finally on its way out, if slowly. Just very slowly.  We are all very bored of it now.

The sheep are staying around the house. This is their choice. I opened up a small uneaten paddock which I was saving for emergencies, so they could go somewhere different.  They are easily bored by restricted surroundings.  I was thinking they seemed to be staying in the wee paddock a long while when I realised the gate had blown shut in the wind!  Of course they all rushed out when I opened it vowing never to go back.

If they see me, of course they all come over for something to eat because they are always hungry and possibly starving.  Here, I was in the feed-shed putting buckets away, etc. when I could feel the eyes.

Lambie got out his Winning Smile to see if I would fall for his charms.

And then there’s Madge. Always a little way away looking rather ashamed of her friends’ blatent begging or she may be just trying hard to disown them, particularly her mother, Edna at the front of the queue.

Blatent, I tell you.

Sigh, Oh Lambie.❤️

I am followed back to the house because yesterday I generously opened a packet of Ginger biccies sent by a kind friend who knows the way to all my sheep’s hearts.

I dished out the biccies – two each because it’s cold. I even went and gave Madge her’s. She never misses out. I make sure of that.  Fairness for all.

Finishing up, I pushed Harrel and Edna back outside and went indoors to count my fingers.

So, as the weather is beyond words now, you can imagine we are spending a lot of time indoors going out only when necessary.

Outside is pretty rough.  All the animals were checked and fed.  They seem to find the most out-of-the-wind spots in their fields and are grazing happily – including “my” blackbird who I have noticed is now always around.

He is doing very well, living with the sheep in their stable.  He will let me stand about a metre from him.  Very brave.

From today:

Sunrise

The middle of the day – the rain or hail comes in violent fits and starts.  Horrible for a few minutes and then gone as quickly as it arrived.

Sunset tonight.  Don’t be fooled the blue sky. It’s brass monkeys now and we are not at the end of this storm.  There is the wind-chill factor too of -3.

Being indoors, means I am working hard on the sheeple stock and thinking about the preparations for Christmas.

One last thing, I thought it would be nice to have a little chat with Monster.

Awww…..

Ewww…….

Everyone is still alive (phew!) and the new fields that they are currently living in are completely still – very well sheltered as opposed to us on the top of the hill, where we get every gust.

Despite there being the burn (stream) that runs through all my land, I also moved the bucket of water for anyone who found it difficult to get to.  Water should be a necessity, not an effort.

Vitamin was grateful. I knew she would be.

Once breakfast was finished, I stacked up their now-empty bowls neatly, put them to one side knowing full well they will be scattered by tomorrow morning but hopefully not floating down the burn. Then I told everyone to go back to their field to the grazing and shelter.

To do this, the ponies have to cross a narrowish bridge.  Note how the ones at the front – Storm and Fivla unhelpfully cause a bottleneck in the traffic.

Then Silver remembered everyone was leaving so rushed up too, pushing them through.  Tiddles had a go at Vitamin (fool)…..

And Vitamin told him in no uncertain terms what she thought of him and any ideas he might have.

The next two days will be bad (much colder too) but I am now more confident that everyone is fine.

“Red sky in the morning, shepherds warning“.

We have ahead of us three days solid of gales, ranging from moderate to fresh (understatement of the ruddy year – it’s going to be bloody awful out there).

So I went into action and moved the Minions to a much more sheltered field. I led Waffle and Vitamin as I knew the others would follow.

They were very pleased with the move.

Next up were the Old Folk.  They weren’t particularly thrilled with yesterday’s move so I tied back the gate and shouted for them to come up.

They now have the choice of either field and can find their own shelter.  OH also made the big shed safe (ie van, trailer and henhouses in for mending now have hurdles around them) so if anyone is shivering, they can come in for a bit.  The temperature is due to dive and even snow is forecast.  Add the wind-chill factor and we may need the big shed so good to have it all ready.

For the sheep, I added more grotty bedding hay and put up some haynets too so it is nice if they have to spend the whole day(s) inside.  The door is always open so they can come and go.

I think everyone is hopefully sorted now and I pray we can get out to give them food.  Sometimes it all gets a bit much outside, ie seriously unsafe, and you just have to give up and pray that everyone will be ok.