Author Archives: Frances

Different Sheds

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I felt sorry for Fivla this morning.

After her breakfast, I found her queueing outside the closed door of the little shed, along with Vitamin and Kolka.  I opened it up so they could go in and Vitamin nipped in whippet-like, swiftly followed by Fivla.  Good, I thought, they are inside and can get some shelter from today’s windy/rainy day.

And then Kolka barged in, possibly uninvited, and there was pig-like squealing which I knew came from Fivla as she doesn’t do social pressure.

To give her her due, Fivla stayed inside for a little while but, when I came back with my phone to take photos, I found her back outside again looking very disgruntled.  She just hates crowds.

Buckets collected, washed and tidied, I put all the sheep out into their field.  They lasted a couple of hours, until they saw a cyclist coming down our track and all, to a sheep, ran to the gate in pure terror, asking to be let out so they could cower in their shed.  I have no idea who that poor cyclist was as I watched him turn around and leave.  He was obviously not here to see us.

After letting the sheep out of the field, I found Newt alone in his residence.

The other ponies were long gone down the track looking for non-existent grass to eat.

Newt said he wasn’t moving and no one could make him.

So I told him he couldn’t stay there all day, and it was clearing up nicely now.

(I may have not been telling the truth – it’s been a pig of a day).

Fog, No Fog, Then Fog

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We woke up to Shetland covered in thick fog.  I know no flights got in or out this morning.

But, still, the horses, ponies, sheep, etc managed to find me.

There is no escape.

I’m sorry, but I don’t have much to say mostly because absolutely nothing has happened all day.

And, at the risk of boring everyone including myself, here are a few photos of my nothing day…..

The baby bunny I saw from the door of my shed – Pepper was on a dogwalk with OH so this little sweetheart made the most of the absence.

It was very cute, like one of those Chinese toy adverts that nothing like the real thing that arrives in the post.

These three Muscovy Ducks have taken to sitting on the outside table.  They meet me at the front door and waddle behind in the hope I will lead them to food.  I think they are Mum (on far right), son (middle) and daughter (left). They were the ducklings from last year.

So that’s me really. Not very enthusiastic at the moment.  Fog does that to me – mentally. It just sits and I lose all inspiration and thought.  But the wind is coming back in force tomorrow so that should liven things up.

Ted is on good form, though.

Does Madge Miss Edna?

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After a lovely morning in Sandness, Pepper had a grudging rest in the afternoon while I made another hand-felted Shetland sheep to add to my collection.

It is that time of the year, again, when there are not enough hours in the day to do everything on my list  This is all my remaining stock – the little sheep are selling very well and I can’t keep up with demand despite making a sheep every day even in the quieter winter months.

This just proves to me that Pepper is feeling better.  She is waiting to go and get her tea.

And is impatient for me to let her out.

I decided to give myself a break and went to sit in the real sheep field.  I remember worrying about Madge when her mother, Edna, died.  I didn’t think she would manage but she did and I am pleased she is not desolate without her mentor to guide her.

Madge has made her own friends now and is comfortable and settled in the flock, which is all I ever wanted for her (though if she could be a bit tamer (read grateful) that would be nice).

After wolfing down her supper, Pepper found me sitting in the field.  There is no escape.

While Pepper sat quietly looking for intruders, I chatted to Gussie.

Now Gus-Gus never has to be asked to be tamer or more helpful.  His one aim in life is to be by my side at all times and if I could just trip up over him too, then that would be perfect!

Sick Dog Day (again)

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I have a headache, so I will keep this short.

Monster “helped” me to fail to complete my morning quiz (NY Times Connections). In my defence, they were very weird words today – I hadn’t a clue and neither had Monster. He was absolutely no use.

Pepper was also having an off-day.  She woke me up at 4 a.m. being sick and I immediately took her outside. I then spent the remainder of the night hugging her in bed, while she shook and her tummy made alarming noises.  Poor little soul was very unhappy but she managed to sleep a bit while I was now wide awake, which probably explains my headache.

I have just about finished my daily chores, which are kept to the bare minimum because it is summer.  The Shetland ponies who live on the track, however, do have two haynets in the afternoon.

They approve of this routine and come racing up.

It is not easy, though.  The haynets are small-holed, double nets so the ponies have to work very hard for every piece of hay they can prise out.

Today Newt said he couldn’t be bothered with the hay and he is fat so there must be something on the track.  I refuse to worry.

And then suddenly Pepper felt better, raced inside the house for her tea and everything was back to normal.  OH says there are many rabbit corpses lying around (thank you Monster), so I have a feeling they might be the problem.

More sighing *** oh, Pepper ***.  Early night for us both, I think, to get rid of my headache.

Back to Bumble Bees

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I took your advice and went into our garden yesterday evening, in the late sunshine, looking for more bumble bees to photograph.  It was much easier as they were slower.

There is a huge pile of comfrey plants which the bumble bees love and I spent my time trying not to get in their way while they buzzed into all the flowers.

I was captivated while they flew their figures of eight around me and the flowers.

I must admit that I do love their fuzzy little bottoms.

Later in the day, I returned to my comfrey patch and my bumble bees.  I like bee-watching. There is something relaxing about watching someone else work very hard!

It had been raining in the afternoon, too.

Now I think I have identified my bees as being the “Northern White-tailed Bumblebee”
(Bombus magnus) – This is a common visitor to gardens and crofting land throughout Shetland, except Fair Isle. It is the earliest species to appear in Shetland in spring, and can be seen anytime between April and September. The Northern White-tail is a very neat, clean-looking species. It has a black thorax, with a single yellow band at the front. The abdomen has another yellow band, and a white tail; hence this is Shetland’s only ‘double banded white-tail’. – Shetland Amenity Trust.

Bombus Magnus is a very fitting name, I think.

Oh, those little fuzzy butts!