After breakfast (and yes, the ponies all went back into their field by themselves – woohoo), I made myself a long list of things I really must get done and drove into town for two hospital appointments and various bits and pieces.

I collected my beautifully printed out (thank you Camera Centre) point of sale banner for my sheep field and then, armed with glue, I went and put it all together. I think it looks nice and I am pleased with the results.  Who wouldn’t want to buy a sheep from Bert?  He has such an honest face.  Apparently the business cards are popular too.

This will stand out in the “lovely things” of the shop part.

It was quiet in town, but folk were enjoying the breather before the cruise ships arrive. Two were in last weekend and it will now only become increasingly busy.  I think in May there is almost one massive ship visiting every day.

Still, that’s good for the local economy and keeps Shetland on the map – or at least somewhere in a box in the Moray Firth.

And then I went and did something very wicked. I went and bought myself a cold-smoker (no, not a motorbike) as I love cold-smoked fish, chicken and cheese.  And apparently I can smoke sossages so I am going to have a shot at that too.

My lunch view was good (fish and chips watching the Bressay Sound) and then off to Tesco’s to buy things to smoke and all the necessaries.  I had a nice day out and about by myself just doing lots of stuff.  RIght, off to look up brine recipes and set it all up ready to start…… exciting times.

This morning everyone worked out how to get out of the field, which was very encouraging.  Storm was almost first out too.  Yay, go Storm!  Yes, please go.

The old ladies stayed behind to eat their bucket of food.

Once they had finished, and I’d swilled out Vitamin’s mouth for debris and put her back, then cleaned Fivla’s eyes and told her she was special, I clambered up the hill to tell everyone to go back down to the field again.

So they cantered downhill, all enthusiastically, and missed the gate totally.

I followed them down (not cantering) and told them they were a bunch of idiots. Silver lead the charge and off they went again.

I was hopeful…..

And bingo!  They did it.

Albie and Waffle brought up the rear and still my hope remained…..

Nearly there…..

Almost in (and I am holding my breath now)…..

But no. Waffle went in and Albie did a massive swerve and ran back.

Oh, Albie.  *** sigh ***.  Why, just why?

So I caught him and led him back through the gate.

And he cantered off to join Fivla.  Let’s see what tomorrow brings.  Let’s hope it’s Albie’s turn to have the one brain cell they are all currently sharing.

A certain small dog knows there are baby rabbits out there and, yesterday, Pepper spent a few hours, unbeknowngst to us, digging up a rabbit’s nest.

Not good.  She brought a baby rabbit home in her mouth and dropped it so, as it was still moving and looked relative unharmed, I picked it up and popped it back in what-I-thought was it’s nest.

But I was not sure if it was The Nest because there are so many rabbit holes about….. and what if it wasn’t and what if it’s mother didn’t know where it was and it just stayed there and died and it would be all my (Pepper’s) fault?

So I phoned my wonderful rabbit-rescuing neighbour and asked her if she could help.  She said she would so I went back to the nest, now with a small cardboard box, took all the fur and hay around the baby rabbit and took it to my neighbour.

Things are not hopeful because baby-rabbit is very young (a few days old at most) and these things never go well but we have to try.

And my neighbour does have previous.  Meet Bugsy, who I rescued last year from Pepper’s hunt in the muck-heap.

Bugsy was a few weeks older when I handed him over to my neighbour asking her if there was anything she could do to help, but here he is as a very happy house rabbit who is totally wonderful and much loved by the whole family, including the dog and cats.

So thoughts and prayers for wee bun.  We can only hope (Day 2 – eating plus a pee and poo but it is early days).

While I was waiting for a friend to get back home, I sat on a rock with the sheep and we had a lovely chat.

Mostly I talked to Harrel-the-Barrel and his friend ‘Ster.  And then Lambie came up for a scratch and so did Maggie.  They were brief as there was something going on with them two.

Harrel was practising his best photographic pose.

He was trying to convince me that he would be this year’s Easter card.

He even gave me his best Winning Smile, which is good but not as good as some.

(Lambie from yesterday)

But I have to admit Harrel’s is not too shoddy.

So I gave in and said, ok, you’re it!  Happy Easter everyone! xx

As it was such a lovely morning, I walked down the hill to the ponies’ field where I found Lambie had snuck in by himself.

We had a bit of a special moment together (I got to hug him) – which, of course, no one will believe as they weren’t there. He was in an especially good mood.

And then I moved on to talk to the Minions who were very happy eating and enjoying the wonderful, if rarely seen, sunshine.

Waffle

Magnificent Silver, who was surprisingly friendly too. It must be the sunshine.

And Tiddles’ nose.

Newt was standing uphill on the other side of the valley and, for once in his life, he was taller than me.  He liked that idea and kindly helped me climb up the hill with me hanging onto his tail.

Albie was in pensive mood.

And Storm *** sigh *** – yes, you guessed right, I did spend the first part of my morning trying to catch him so he could eat some breakfast and then try and catch him again, to put him back with his friends.  He is not learning the routine. Not even slightly.

I don’t think he intends to while I am there to run after him.