After constant grazing by the Icelandic horses all winter, I try to let my little 5 acre croft, Clothie, rest and grow back, ready again for the next winter.

It’s been a slow start this Spring – quite cold with a constant brisk north wind but the flowers are finally beginning to appear.

This is my favourite walk and the place I like to walk the dogs. I wander around marvelling at the amazing flowers and the huge variety, while they climb over the old dry-stone walls trying to  find out where the incessant chirping (the birds nest in the walls) is coming from.  There are also bunny rabbits to chase.

I have been in contact with someone local from the RSPB about seed collection/conservation to help the native Shetland bumblebee.  Clothie might be an ideal location for this.  It will be interesting to hear any suggestions from them.  I’m not really sure what is involved and will confess that I’ve lost the original email too (my email had a hiccup and I had to clear it out to get it to work again).

Meanwhile, the flowers are beautiful and good selection of what grows here in Shetland.  I made a list in my original email and it looked fairly impressive and varied.  Clothie is pretty much undisturbed this time of year.   It also hasn’t been “improved” with lime for a long time either.  The horses won’t go back until winter descends.  This is a good winter field for them because it has lots of shelter.

So hopefully someone will get back in touch with me soon and we can move forward and I can show them Clothie.

A lovely morning and after nice dog-walk, I cleaned out the ducks’ swimming pool and went to sit in the field as it takes forever to fill up again.

I sat next to ‘Ster as I thought he would appreciate some company and a chat.  He’s still not 100%.

It didn’t take long before Lambie thought I could be his best friend.  It’s that time of year when he hates all his wool and wants to be scratched.  He is too hot.

Lambie never talks to me.  I am his Muzzah after all, and, because no one in the family ever believes me when I say Lambie was nice to me (ie acknowledged my existence), I took photos as evidence.

Then Maggie wanted some attention.

Gussie came up for a bit I threw him out of my “Friendship Circle” when he snuck behind me and started to eat my hair!  Ouch!

But continued to Maggie stand close by smiling a lot.  She is wee jewel.

Then ‘Bert was suddenly standing next to me.  I didn’t hear him arrive.  He was just there.

And promptly sat on my legs so I was now stuck while the water was filling up the duckies’ swimming pool.  I was going nowhere according to ‘Bert.

It was lovely to have so many sheep. I think there were 5 in total just hanging out with me, or eating my hair (that habit has to stop!)

The weather has brightened up again – not that I am obsessed. Ok, ok, I am totally obsessed and live my whole life looking at the many (and I mean many) weather apps on my phone.

Having said that the weather has improved dramatically, I found Vitamin and Fivla had taken up residence and the shed and Vitamin said No One was coming in.

Not even Kolka, who is the boss of Vitamin/Fivla and does love a shed.  I could see Kolka was asking nicely and yet Vitamin would not budge.  She was the Queen of her Shed.

Meanwhile, in a different garden, King of his Castle was Monster on the much-needing-paint/restoration garden seat.

Note-to-self, I must find something to plant in that croft house planter soonest. I would like to construct a mind-your-own-business (Soleirolia soleirolii) roof. I just have to figure out how.

Monster was very happy.

Basking, like a giant white whale, in the much-needed sunshine.

So I spent my afternoon making the white sheep on the left to add to my collection to go to town for the visitors.

Every morning, without fail, since they have lived here (which is nearly 10 months!) Dahlia and Gussie turn up at their field gate for breakfast.

Today they weren’t there and so of course I started worrying.

Finishing up with everyone else, I set off across their field, which they share with the oldies, to look for them while clutching their breakfast in two bowls.  In my head, I was imagining Gussie with one of his horns stuck in the wire fence, or Dahlia was dead and Gussie would refuse to leave her.

Nope, they were actually quite close by and had forgotten it was breakfast time.  They seemed pleased to see me and came running up. I put their bowls down for them to eat.

Luckily, the others didn’t want to join in with this which would’ve made life tricky.

These two don’t hang about with food (not like Lambie who dithers for hours, picking out the bits he likes best).  Breakfast is a big deal for them, always has been, so I have no idea why they didn’t come up and ask.  Perhaps they would’ve turned up later.

In fact, they would’ve been pleased if I had brought more.

But I hadn’t so they will have to appear at the gate tomorrow morning.

In a Force 10 with horizontal rain, the equine vet and vet nurse from Ardene House Vets came to us for our annual visit.

I had scheduled her to see the five old horses/ponies because I want to know that they are ok in their ever-increasing years.  I also added Silver too as he has an odd growth just under his ear.

I got them all inside and separated them into little ones and big ones. It seemed easiest.

First up was Fivla.  She was given a clean bill of health despite her EMS but I was told her eye-sight was not perfect due to her age.  In the depths of my mind I have lately been wondering about that.

Then Vitamoobag – possible sinuses causing the not-eating episodes.

And lastly, of the little ones, Silver.  His growth was diagnosed as very likely a sarcoid, which is not great.  There is lots to think about there.

Then were the Icelandics.  Kolka was deemed 100%, as was Haakon.

And lastly it was Iacs’ turn.  He was sedated and inspected as he has penile squamous cell carcinoma.  The best news – there were no new growths – a huge relief.  He will remain on his daily million-pound medication as it is obviously doing it’s job.

The lump under his neck has become much bigger and harder.  I worry that it will soon infringe upon his eating/breathing so they scanned it to see what was actually going on.  It was full of fluid.

We decided to drain the cyst and about 300ml came out from the needle which went into a variety of pots, test-tubes and syringes to be sent off.  Most odd. We will know more when the labs come back.

Anyway, everyone was very good and I am so relieved they have all been seen.  I was told they all looked very good for the age.