The weather is pretty horrid here and I spent the day swithering about whether to put rugs on the old ladies and Tiddles. Part of me thought it was not that cold (around 13 degrees but lower with the wind-chill) and the ponies do need to grow their winter coats, and then there is the part of me that feels so sorry for them huddled and looking miserable in the rain and gale-force wind.
At lunchtime, I was strong but then I gave in and rushed out with the rugs for Fivla, Vitamoobag and Tiddles.
I think the ponies were grateful as they didn’t object and walk off while I was fighting with the straps in the F8 wind.
Hopefully at the end of the month, I have two 20′ shipping containers arriving and these will be used as field-shelters for the ponies. First, I have to get the ground dug out, levelled with hard-core/quarry waste put down. My aim is to make our lives easier in winter.
Everyone will be very happy to help with the building/construction work – now, why am I suddenly imagining small ponies wandering around with little yellow hard hats on?
So while my vivid imagination was working over-time, I put out more haynets as fibre = equine central heating.
I did a quick walk round the croft just to check if all the sheep had come home (they can scoot under fences in certain places) and found this lot sheltering.
It really is a nasty day, today. Apparently it might stop raining next week sometime.
Wow, two new houses, how exciting! And lots of work to get ready. Right now I envy your cold, wet, windy weather: we’re still having high 90’s F here. It cooled off briefly last week but the heat is back, that was just a tease. Since the nights are a tad cooler I do feel like Fall may come someday.
You poor lady! However, you are so wonderful to all your fuzzy four foot family members. I was just thinking this morning that all you need to do to make my day is to talk about yours & what’s happening. Your pictures are always so great of the gang at home, the lovely scenery, the town,etc. The one thing we have in common, unfortunately, are bad backs. Mine was not great from birth & I lost count of all the spinal surgeries: therefore, some days I’ll be in fairly substantial pain, but your daily blog is something to look forward to & it always makes me smile. Thank you for your delightful daily updates.
Mother Nature is crazy this summer.
Poor you! It’s time there was some nice warm sunshine in Shetland. We are having a pleasant breezy but sunny day. The night before last we went to watch “Hamlet” in the open air at East Riddlesden Hall (a local National Trust Place). It was wonderful. They made it a bit more pantomimic rather than completely tragical. All the actors were male, a group called The Lord Chancellors’ Men, so it does give a slightly comic feel when the blokes playing Queen Gertrude and the lovely Ophelia are speaking. A big vote of thanks to my (probable) cousin Will, although it is heart-rending to think of him losing his little lad Hamnet so young (11 years old) which may have given rise to the writing of “Hamlet”.
Shipping containers are a great idea! I look forward to watching that project evolve
Sounds to me like it was chilly enough for blankets and extra food, especially since they are all growing winter coats. I know that once I get soaked by rain that I feel chilly, even if it’s not all that cold. Also all the sheep were sheltering with the chickens, so it was certainly time for blankets and indoor shelter and more food and more food and… I’m looking forward to seeing how you use the two containers. I’m sure that it will be good for the ponies. BTW, I love your use of the word swithering; I’ve been known to engage in swithering too.