Out first thing with the buckets. The Icelandics are doing ok in this horrendous weather. I have been keeping an eye on them from a distance knowing they have lots of shelter, grass and a full belly.
The old croft house and the outbuildings are invaluable on days like these. They don’t go inside (I don’t think but you never know with Iacs) but use the shelter they offer and can choose where they want to be.
Ted refused to go outside for his dog walk so we didn’t push the point.
Pepper has been my constant companion, braving some pretty fierce wind and rain. She thinks it is her job to be with me. I find it comforting though I do sometimes worry for her safety.
All the Shetland ponies went out for a few hours but when I found them all sheltering in one container with the rain lashing down, I opened up the big shed doors and shouted, praying to the Gods that no one had a fit of the Silly Buggers. But, no, they all went inside without a second thought….
… though Waffle struggles with the thought that Fivla and Vitamin get regular buckets of hay replacer. He would like that too, yes please and thank you very much.
I’ve just been in mucking out the grubby little boys’ pen and Tiddles wanted to be with his friends, so I have opened the inter-connecting gates and they are now all the together. He is much happier.
I gave the sheep some hay nets to nibble on. Gussie and Dahlia are hard-core and staying out – their choice, though I had to shut their shed as otherwise we would probably lose the roof. There are other sheds they could go in, though and they know this.
I think tomorrow is going to be worse. I may not get over to see the Icelandics but have to hope they are ok. Sometimes the wind prevents walking.
Smart of Ted to stay put in front of the heat. Sorry Gussie & Dahlia want to stay out. Hoping every one and every thing is fine during the storm.
Stay safe Frances.x
Ted has the right idea.
The only times I have been outside today was to chase after things which had been secured . . . against our usual storms. This one is a whole different level of nasty.
Storm Éowyn is so bad it made the news in America.
Hope you guys are safe and dry.
We are having cold for us, an arctic blast weather. – 13 C in the morning and then there is wind chill. Those winds go blowing across the plains 😉 We go out multiple times a day to take hot water, which freezes within 30 min. Lots of scratch seed, new shavings but the geese want to stay outside. The ducks hunker down and know how to be warm. I feel for the cranes but I try to make sure they have liquid water to drink and seed. Out 4 feral cats have learned to use the insulated houses we bought and put together, supplemented with straw and they are as toasty as you can get. They are warm and dry. I mix up their canned food and heat it so they have a chance of eating before it freezes. I feel for folks who have dairy cows in this weather. I am a weather wimp.
Frances stay safe, hope storm EOWYN leaves you alone.
I don’t live in Shetland, but my ancestors did. They mostly lived in the Dunrossness area and were crofters and fishermen. I’m not really sure why they left, but I imagine life in the 1800’s was not easy–and maybe they wanted better farmland, as they settled in Wisconsin, US. Their surname was Williamson and I’ve heard that there aren’t too many, if any, left there at present. Your pictures are wonderful and they give me a better idea of what the Dunrossness area might have looked like.
As you might know, I am into genealogy and I have traced the Williamson sept (Clan Gunn) back to the late 1700’s. Anyway, thanks so much for your site. It gives me a little bit of an idea as to what the climate and terrain held for Shetland citizenry,