BeAnne, Celt, Jack and Wu

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I think these photos come from 2009 – 2013.  So many memories and actually, you know what, I am happy to see them all again. I’ve stopped being sad about the past.  They are all still in my heart.

So, in this blog I must introduce to you….

Celt – a lurcher whose ancestry went back to Brian Plummer’s Merle. A renowned and respected lurcher breeder.

A dear gentle dog who was beautiful to watch in action.

Then there was Jack(et Potato), a stray from possibly Ireland – a Patterdale of course –  who was described to us as “very vocal” and had an iron-like grip on all toys.  He was a sturdy little chap who resembled a black pig when he was wandering off over the horizon, which was often.

Then there was Wussums, or Wu for short.  Another rescue from Shetland’s Cats Protection League.  Wu was very much an outside cat. He liked being  part of the family.

 

And lastly and by no means leastly….. BeAnne Duvet Soufflé Princess Chantelle Shaznay. My precious love.

She was always by my side, unless she had somewhere else to visit.

She was a determined little girl who always made her own decisions. We all just followed along hopefully.

Another one who liked to come too.

And, yes, this photo has Daisy riding Iacs accompanied by BeAnne and Wu, who walked with us.

BeAnne and Wu were good friends.

As in, Wu enjoyed chasing BeAnne.

BeAnne’s passion was riding.  She loved it and went out on horseback regularly.  She had very good balance and could walk and trot with ease.

Look at that little face of happiness.

It was a very good way to train a pony or horse to be ridden because we would start them with BeAnne on their back and they became so used to BeAnne that by the time they got a human rider, they didn’t honestly mind or notice!

(this is BeAnne backing and riding our stallion)

Lovely old memories.

Shetland lambs by the door

Lambie and Bert Baby pics

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This winter, I have the unenviable task of going through all my digital photographs as my hard disk is full and my computer is full. I will admit that I have been putting this job off for about ten years but the time has come and it must be done.

Yes, there are lots of photos to throw away, but there are also a few to keep too.  Amongst everything for 2015, I found Lambie and Bert’s old baby photos.

This is Lambie, probably a few days’ old.  He is still dirty.  He loved the open oven door.

Heat from anywhere was always welcome.

This is Lambie and his “Mum”, my darling BeAnne.  It has been very strange seeing photos of her.  I struggle and still can barely say her name out loud.

Lambie and our stallion, Taktur.

Lambie meeting the Shetland ponies. Seeing photos of Storm has also made me very sad.  There is a huge gap in the herd.

OH, Loki (another sadness) and Lambie in the garden listening to the music.

This was Lambie’s favourite box for being outside.  He hated fresh air but this was the compromise.

And when it became very obvious that Lambie needed a friend to teach him how to be a sheep, we got Lambert.

When he first arrived, ‘Bert was a hard nut.  He had lived with other sheep, like in a proper flock, and he thought Lambie was a total drip.

(he may have had a point!)

Daisy and I took them on a dog walk.

‘Bert’s favourite food was Daisy’s hair (he had an eye infection).

Yup, definitely a bit of a drip but a pretty one.

‘Bert and Lambie quickly became friends.

    

I love seeing these photos.  Other photos of animals that were loved but now gone is very hard, still.

No Words

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I spent my day spent changing routers so we are now using mobile wifi.  In some ways, we are much better off by having faster internet speeds, but there is a downside too – we have now lost our ability to use Mail (Apple) so no emails.

GIVE ME STRENGTH!

So, I have no words and I feel like taking up smoking again – I gave up in 1993.

(photos from yesterday – taken with the big camera, which I lugged over to the old horses and ponies’ new field.)

      

 

Moved them All

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I decided that no one really needed to be in the “storm field” and I want to save that for when the weather is revolting so the old horses and ponies have access to the best shelter and grass.

So, I moved everyone. First I gave them all their breakfast and then I led Haakon and Kolka, while Iacs followed behind across the hill to Clothie.

And then I took Fivla and Vitamin over. Everyone was very pleased to be in their new field so I am glad I made that decision for them.

Obviously the big shed is ready for when we need it but I don’t want to shove them inside for every bit of bad weather, especially when it has not got that cold yet.

It was interesting that none of them were asking to come inside during our most recent storm and were very happy out and about so I am listening to them and watching. Obviously, if they were struggling outside, it is easy enough to get them in or put a rug on. I am saying all this because the bush telegraph is buzzing about the way I keep my old horses and ponies.

Apparently I should be rugging and/or getting them inside.  Not yet, not if they don’t need it.  They all have a good coverage of fat and a thick coat.  They are built for this and when they start to show that they are not, then obviously I will do something about it.  Now I hope that ends all the speculation that is apparently doing the rounds in Shetland.

Crofting Chores

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(lots of photos – sorry!)

I was just heading upstairs to bed last night when I thought to myself “I wonder if the Merrie Dancers are out?”

So out I trudged outside and looked north. There was a definite glow.

But it was very cold, so rather than freeze, I went and ran my bath, which takes ages.  While I was waiting, I turned off the bathroom light and opened the north facing window to see what I could see.

Yup, much better and less cold.  At least the bathroom is warm, even hanging out of the open window.

This morning was beautiful too.

Off to work at Turriefield packing veg and the rain poured down outside.  But a good almost double rainbow, though.

As I had more chores to do when I got back home, I didn’t go into my shed to make a sheep. I spent my afternoon cleaning out the water troughs/buckets in Clothie, ready for the horses and ponies when I move them over.

I used “the Eggbox” and in full four-wheel drive we trundled over the hill backwards and forwards four times with the very full and heavy water containers.

It saved my poor screaming back.

I say “we” because of course little Miss Pepperpot came too and every time I got back in the car, and put my seatbelt on, she would lick my nose!

Once done, I put Eggbox away and got Skippy out to take my final load of water to the Shetland ponies’ track.

It is almost dark outside now and I think the Merrie Dancers are forecast again so I will probably spend my evening popping in and out of the backdoor (or the bathroom) checking to see if they are dancing.