I think that the Shetland ponies may be losing a teensy tiny bit of weight.

I hope I am not fooling myself but I think I can almost see a “waistline” on Fivla.

I found all the ponies after breakfast having a bit of a kip in the spring sunshine.  Although, quite cold, the sun was making an effort.

For a brief moment, I honestly thought Albie was dead.

I love this photo – Vitamin, despite her advanced years, always has perfect posture and stands very upright.  Such a gorgeous mare.

And that is why her son, Indy Ping-Pong won Best Black Stallion at the SPSBS Breed Show in 2007.  He was gorgeous too – obviously a family trait.

Less gorgeous, but always a laugh, are Storm and Waffle, with a hint of Albie in the background, who had now stood up after his death-like nap.

Silver was busy being wind-swept by the harsh south-easterly.

Newt looked like he was settled in with his entourage for the rest of the day.

They are still very hairy mostly because I can’t be bothered to brush them yet.  It’s too cold and the wind will take care of most of it anyway.

So the way forward this spring is the encouragement of waistlines.  I will do anything to keep  laminitis at bay.

We are not going through that again.

This year’s wall of wild primroses is in full bloom now, though it is possibly not as good as previous years, but it’s not too shoddy.  I can’t complain.

I love seeing these flowers making such an enormous effort. I think it is because they grow on either side of the stream on a very steep bank, that they do so well.  And, also it means no animal can graze them.  This is the only way to survive here.

The celandines are now out in force too.

As well as the “blugga flooers” (Shetland dialect for marsh marigolds). They are also just starting. I saw one or two on my walk.

Soon, they will be everywhere.  They are very invasive once they get going and no one eats them.

I had a little play with my camera at the two waterfalls.

Then I found a duck sitting on the table, like you do.

And so back into the shed to make more of these guys.  Spring is officially here!

It was a bright morning so I went out with the big camera to see who I could see.

These three were enjoying the Spring sunshine.

Dear old Haakon – he’s 30 this year.  His birthday is 10th May 1994. I have the notes from my original phone call with his breeder all those years ago (27) – it says “Haakon Stallion 1 year”.

And then there’s his cousin, Iacs who is two year’s younger. A 1996 baby.

(so that means, if Iacs is younger, Haakon can boss him around!)

Anyway, Haakon was looking relaxed and peaceful as he sat enjoying the sun on his back.

My little prehistoric horse. We’ve been together a long time – he arrived here when he was 3 years old, I backed him and we’ve been through everything together.  My rock and best friend.

Now Haakon is retired because his back legs are not great, though recently he as become much, much better due to having very expensive supplement.  I have noticed a spring in his step and the farrier said his back hooves were clearing the ground when he walked.

There’s a little part of me that wonders if I could ever ride Haakon again, and then I remember he has been retired for a few years now, and is 30 years old and I am no light spring chicken either.

Still, it is lovely to see Haakon happy in the field with his friend and relative.

I tell myself that I would give anything to see his happy smiley face every day rather than anything else so the cost of the supplement is worth every penny (think over £100 a month).  I just need him to live forever.

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.