I am learning so much at Turriefield, where I volunteer when they need me to help.

These are “my” tomato plants that we transplanted from their little starter pots to bigger pots yesterday.

Once we had repotted nearly 100 plants, we took them down to the polytunnel and put them under a light on top of a heated blanket, which they need because it is very cold here at the moment – minus 9 degrees tonight (windchill temperature).

The aubergine seeds are growing too.

I am enjoying the learning curve too. I find out why stuff is done not just doing it because. I don’t learn like that. I always need a reason and then hopefully I take in more information.

I remember planting the peas and nearly all of them have sprouted.

Seeing the results of my work, makes me feel that in time I would like a polytunnel at home so that I can grow vegetables.  I don’t think it will be immediately and I need to save up too but I do think it could be a possibility.  Gardening outside in Shetland weather can be a thankless task sometimes.  You can plant a whole vegetable garden and not one thing comes up – I speak from experience – and then you can’t be bothered to try again because all that initial effort has gone completely unrewarded.

So I am feeling inspired. I really am.

So now we have a new breakfast area because of the endless mud that is everywhere.

Bowls ready for the Vandals and the Visigoths.

Yesterday, while waiting for the farrier, I built a damned gorgeous electric fence from the track up to the breakfast area.  Straight lines everywhere.  I feel very proud of my achievement.

My track is full electrified too.  Zappity zap!  Oh yes, they know I mean business.

It worked a treat.  The Minions wandered up there to find their breakfast.

And the two old ladies stayed behind, because they couldn’t be arsed with the arguments and ate their breakfast (which is different in a calorie plus sort of way) happily without interference.

And everyone was happy with this new dining arrangement.

So, after breakfast, I flipped all the bowls over to keep the birds off, and yes, you and I know what happens next…..

Newt, no!

Leave it!

Really?

Sigh!

So I flipped them all back once I had evicted the ponies back down to their track for the rest of the day.

Continuing on with the theme of visiting equine professionals, today our farrier came to trim those that needed a trim.

This is Pepper’s favourite day – she loves it when the farrier visits.  Obviously, he adores here and then there is the supply of endless hooves to eat as well as getting in the way.  The perfect combination.

Haakon was dismissed as being fine, but Iacs and Kolka were trimemd.

Then it was time for the little ones.  I had herded them all into a small paddock so I could easily catch and bring them out one at a time.

Albie was done.

One scruffy Newt next.

Tiddles had his nose licked constantly. I had stop Pepper in the end. Tiddles was starting to mind and I could see this was not going to end well.

Waffle, Vitamin, Silver and Storm were put back in the field with nothing done (cheap dates!)

And lastly Fivla.

I think this photo sums up today beautifully.  Everyone’s hooves were declared fine with no signs of laminitis or anything more desperate.  So I am pleased.  We are quickly arriving at the  the spring grass season so I am trying to be strict and keep all the ponies on the track now.  It is for their own good.

And everyone behaved, which was remarkable too!

Iacs is doing fine after his vet visit last week.  I’ve been watching him carefully and decided to take off his rug now as he’s not needing it.  He’s back to as normal – whatever that is.

Although they are not all together, the horses and ponies are in next-door fields which I am also keeping a close eye on.  Sometimes a fence is not enough to separate anyone.

Sadly the track is turning to mud but I am hoping the ground might start drying up again in the near future.  Today will not be that day – all it has done is drizzle annoyingly.  Not enough for rugs on, but enough to make me wonder whether I should’ve put the rugs on.  Gah!  I just can’t get it right.

So the mud is everywhere, even in my what was once a perfect dining area for the ponies.  This week, I shall extend this bit up to the hard-standing at the top.  Can you tell I am fed up with all this mud?  It is very depressing especially as it had started to dry up a few weeks’ back.  I may be a tad obssessed with the weather but you knew that.

The rest of my morning was spent being recorded. I had the usual followers but it was a tough one – everyone’s a critic.

So we gave Monster a spot to sit on (and also something rest the headphone splitter box on! – though we won’t tell him that).

It’s been a quiet Sunday, the best kind for me, though we are missing a duck. Only 11 at feeding time which is worrying.

Excuse me, Miss Pepper, what do you know about this?

This afternoon found us back in the recording studio for Part the Two of our stab at making a cd for Mandy’s Dad (because he wanted to hear us – I am reluctant to say “Oh, the fool”, but honestly “why, just why?”)

Of course, Monster was hugely involved but unceremoniously picked up and carried outside again.

We did plead with our record producer to let him stay but it was not to be.

This was our half time break and all the animals piled onto Mandy.

And so, after playing and recording all afternoon, I went outside for a breath of fresh air and also fed the ducks and chickens their tea.

They are fed twice a day and are all getting on fairly well.  7 Muscovy hens to 5 drakes is not an easy ratio to have but it is what it is and everyone is making the best of it. The 9 chickens don’t have a cockeral because he was a bastard rapist who had to go (and we all breathed a sigh of relief when he did).

Arguments are not tolerated but luckily there are no obvious bullies.  They muddle along fairly amicably and there is definitely a pecking order to be adhered to by everyone.  I am just there to make sure everyone has their fair share of food.

So next Saturday will be another recording session and I will work during the week with OH putting down my flute part (ooh, look lingo, I think!)