Category Archives: Something different

Give me Strength!

15 Replies

Apologies for radio silence yesterday.  There was an unexpected hospital-type emergency which is still ongoing.

Anyway, my morning started as it meant to …… ie, badly.

  • I could only find 5 sheep – Maggie was missing.  Dahlia and Gussie had vanished too.
  • ‘Bert and Barrell were at war and wouldn’t go into the sheep shed for breakfast as they were too busy beating the crap out of each other.
  • Pepper vanished.

So I ignored all of that and continued as normal hoping I wouldn’t find any other awful messes along my way.

  • I decided I would find Maggie et al on the dog walk later.
  • I gave Bert and Barrell their breakfast anyway and noticed someone ate it as the bowls were empty later. I also gave both of them free-rein with the TurmerAid box in the hope they would be too drugged/relaxed up to fight! I hate it when there are arguments in the flock.
  • Pepper turned up, just I was about to find the car keys and go round all the neighbours apologising.

My day continued in this disastrous theme when I broke the washing machine and Monster’s timer bowl (for his very early morning snack).  At that stage I just decided I would not react to anything the world was going to throw at me.

Later, on the dog walk, I found Maggie who was in the wrong field (just why?) I brought her home and she very gratefully rejoined the others. Dahlia and Gussie were at the furthest point of the field possibly gazing at a newly arrived hill-ram. I gave them the breakfast I had brought so I knew they were moving and eating fine.  Oh, yes and then it started to rain and I got home totally soaked through to the skin.

And then I discovered my Advent Calendar, which I thought I had been so clever about was showing all the pictures despite me trying to only show the one for the right date like a paper advent calendar.  Hopefully I’ve put a stop to that and I hope no one’s peaked.

Give me strength!

Advent Calendar 2025

20 Replies

Here is my 2025 Advent Calendar (we haven’t had one for ages so I think it is time).

Click on the appropriate date number and up pops one of my photos. It may take slightly longer to show because it is a larger picture (1280 x 1024 pixels) but it is given with my love free to you for your own personal use.

Thank you for all your support this year.  You have no idea just how much it has meant.  xx

I will try and add this as a page on the top bar but will probably make a mess of that.  If I fail I will just keep doing a link to the appropriate advent window (if I remember, hopefully – no promises!)

ac11 ac14 ac1 ac19ac23 ac12 ac16 ac2 ac10 ac13 ac7 ac21ac24 ac3 ac17 ac8ac6 ac18 ac4 ac20ac15 ac5 ac22 ac9

More Rørosmartnan 2017

4 Replies

I have a bit of a headache (probably from fighting with the weather this morning – I am just thawing and drying out now).

Anyway, I didn’t take any photos today as we were de-worming/fluking sheep and none of them helpful.

So, in the spirit of going through more of my photos from our trip to Norway in 2017, I found the bit where we travelled by horse-drawn sleigh from the encampment to the local village.

Upon arrival, we found all the horses were resting up after their hard work during the opening procession.  They had blankets on to keep them warm and were given food too.

      

We chatted, made friends, wandered about the camp and then it was time to go.

The horses were hitched up and our drivers made us very comfortable under huge sheepskin rugs and we sat in the back of the sleigh.

It was like travelling through Narnia or being the Snow Queen.  This was the home of every fairy tale.

We were accompanied by lots of singing, jingle bells and laughing.

  

I could not have loved this time more.  So beautiful and perfect.

After a while of sedate travel, we reached our destination.

The light was beginning to go by now and the horses had worked very hard.  It was time for their rest for the nigh. It was a memorable journey.

Looking Back at Rørosmartnan 2017

18 Replies

Outside is revolting. It started with a nice but ominous sunrise (red sky in the morning, shepherd’s warning) and the weather got worse from then on.

So, these photos are from February 2017 when Daisy and I went to Norway with a Norwegian friend to see the market and horse event at Rørosmartnan.

Obviously I took my camera and had a wonderful time indulging all my main interests – shopping, horses and taking photos.

“Røros is is a town in Trøndelag county, Norway, known for its historic copper mining, traditional wooden buildings, and status as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Located in the interior uplands of the country, it is one of Norway’s coldest places and has a rich history dating back to the 17th century.”

I can vouch that it was very cold but good clothing solves all problems and we came prepared.  We are from Shetland, after all.

It was a busy place but folk were friendly and helpful and we wandered around just looking at everything.

I loved it.  It was very pretty.

The horse bit of the festival was opened with traditional dancers – it was a winter painting by Pieter Breughel.

Next the reindeer arrived.

They were all very well behaved and I can’t begin to tell you just how much I wondered if I could bring one home.  Just a baby one. Who would even notice?

And then the horse driven sleighs came.  Around 80 horse-drawn sleds arrive with visitors from Sweden and the surrounding mountain villages and they paraded through the village while the crowds watch.

These are just a few photos from the thousands I took.

It was all beautiful.  I can still remember every minute of our fantastic trip to Norway and am now feeling very nostalgic. The photos are a good reminder of possibly one of my very best holidays.

Non Christmassy

2 Replies

It has been a lovely day.  The light, peace, no wind….all glorious.

I fed the Shetland ponies who insisted on coming down afterwards into the little paddock, which was a bore because I wanted to get the sheep out while convincing them that they could all live together in perfect harmony.

Waffle was not helpful and insisted on stalking with a hint of chasing but I am hoping Gussie will stand his ground and make friends with them all and Waffle will give up.

The rest of the sheep are pretty scared of the ponies and rushed off into the bigger part of the field for the rest of the day.

I know Tiddles wouldn’t be horrid. It’s just Waffle. He can be difficult.  We’ll see how it goes. If the sheep refuse to go into the field tomorrow, then there are plenty of others to eat in.

And so to town for a spot of Christmas shopping.

I didn’t feel particularly Christmassy but I like to be organised and to know I have options.

Failing dismally, I went to see my sheep field.

I added more sheep and rearranged it a bit for good measure.

On my way home, the views were spectacular.  So good, in fact, that I stopped the car twice to take photos.

My spirit was soothed.  Now to find my Christmas one.