This is the final rush before Wool Week starts at the end of this month – the 28th, I have just found out.

So every spare minute I have is spent in my shed (‘scuse the mess) making sheep to sell at Jamieson’s Knitwear, Commercial Street, Lerwick.

My daily routine has changed and it is full speed ahead – I make what I can in the morning, finish it after lunch and then start another, keeping going until 9pm.  I can usually make two sheep (more and I go boggly-eyed) a day as there are always other things to do as well like animals to feed, the track to poo-pick, meals to cook, etc.

After Wool Week, I can then slow down a bit and concentrate on the commissions that I haven’t done (I feel very bad about them) and even possibly get my Great Great Aunt Kate’s diaries out of her little suitcase to transcribe.  I am just in the process of putting up 1944 (which is very grim) and I have been picking away at them all summer at odd times.  I feel bad about this project too.  I really want to finish it properly.  Only 18 more diaries to go …..

An interesting day that started with the weather piling in bigly time.  Wind and horizontal rain.

All the sheep refused to go into any field and the dogs never had their walk as I couldn’t get them outside for long enough.

Still, I did have a fabulous Winning Smile from my best boy.

And ‘Bert was, as ever, enchanting.  Such a dear chap.

And then in the afternoon, I went to Turriefield to weigh, pack and label veg.

Apparently this is a Convolvulus Hawk-moth – an annual, rare migrant to Shetland from southern Europe, appearing most years in the autumn with a large wingspan of over 10 cm. This “spectacular” species is a powerful flyer with a distinctive grey and brown marked body and is attracted to lights, though it cannot overwinter in the UK. It’s a regular annual migrant to the UK, with Shetland being one of the northernmost points it reaches.

Sadly, it got to Shetland and died but still what an amazing example.  it was huge.

And then out of nowhere (well, probably in the mint laid out drying for tea), a beautiful Red Admiral arrived.  After I had taken a few photos, it was taken outside to flutter away.

So, an interesting day for me.  The weather has calmed down and all the sheep have gone out now and found a field.  The dogs are none the worst for their day of rest.  It will probably do Pepper’s some good too.

While we were packing veg this morning, someone asked how I write the blog.

I replied that I take photos during my day of things that look appealing, upload them to my computer, take the ones I like the most and then write the dialogue to go with them.

So here goes……

The light this morning was dramatic while the horses and ponies ate their breakfast.

I went inside for my breakfast and to gather the troops for a dog walk before going over to pack veg.

By now the sun was shining and the sky was blue.  It was a lovely autumnal Shtland morning.  Storms are forecast, though.

Dear fat Vitamin looking very solid.  Long may she keep the weight on this winter.

I have decided that the old ladies will winter out in this big field, where the grass is just the right length for their teeth and they have the wee shed to take shelter in if required. The Icelandics will live in a different field as it can get a bit snug/close in the wee shed when everyone wants to pile in.

Of course, I will get the ponies inside properly the minute the weather is deemed revolting but I honestly think the more the old ladies can walk around outside, the better it is for them.

The Icelandics will spend their winter in various fields with shelter full of long grass that I have been saving.

I haven’t dare tell Fivla my winter plans.  She is also obese and I am hopeful winter weather will get some of that fat off.

Homeward bound and we were met by Monster.

He was pleased to see Pepper.

And I took this photo to send to Daisy and Flossie – I like to think I made their day.

This morning, on my way home after taking OH to catch the bus to town, I met a small ginger dog wandering along the road.  OMG, it’s Pepper!

Feeling somewhat surprised as I knew that before I’d left I had put the dog-gate across the back door and secured the front with Pepper inside (all proven anti-Pepper-escaping measures), I decided that I had no choice and would have to take Pepper with me when Ted went to Scalloway for his quarterly hair-cut.

Pepper could not be trusted.

Of course she was thrilled at this.  Ted less so as he had to travel 3rd class.

We dropped off Ted at the dog-groomer and headed off to Lerwick to fill up the sheep field at the shop.

There was a boat in – AIDAsol – 232m long carrying 2,192 passengers, most of whom were either cycling around Shetland or trudging up and down Commercial Street.

I feel Pepper and I met them all.

Pepper was surprisingly good, having achieved her main objective of coming too.  We shared fish and chips together in the car at lunchtime.

And then to Scalloway to fill in some time before we collected the hopefully now-beautiful Ted.

And, yes, Ted is very beautiful and fragrant too.  The dog-groomer (who was new to us) said he behaved very well.  At least one dog did then.

Once I’ve finished making sheep for the afternoon, the ducks/hens have their afternoon meal – hopefully the last one before bed.

After all that stabbing, I give myself the luxury of sitting down on the container step to watch everyone eat.  I could watch them forever. It is so peaceful. The flock have a social strata set-up that is fairly rigid and I make sure everyone who wants to eat, gets to eat.  I do not tolerate bullying and will put out lots of food buckets so everyone can eat without worry.

The hens are pretty good at sharing with the ducks.  I tend to feed them from used TurmerAid buckets, which are perfect, so that little is wasted – until someone tips it up or the wind catches it. They now all recognise the bright orange buckets as something to look inside for food and water.

The two new ducklings are almost adult in size but still live with their mother.

Mother remains a tough old dragon-duck but she’s done a good job of bringing them up.  They still hate being hugged.

The “ducklings” are currently at the stage of running around with their wings out hoping for lift-off.  It is very funny especially as nothing happens and they look surprised at their lack of not being airborne.

I also leave out a bit of food for my resident fan-club of sparrows to clear up.

And then I take Pepper in for her tea, which is she is currently very enthusiastic about.