It was a lovely morning and everyone was fine.  All fed and watered.  How it should be.

So OH and I drove the big horse-van over to collect some willow tree cuttings that had been set aside especially for us.

We got home and laid them in piles along the old partially rumbled stone wall that surrounds my shed. I think it must’ve been the croft’s old enclosed garden once.

When the sheep came home from their day in the hill field, I told them there were willow trees waiting for them.  Now if there is one thing I know is that my sheep love willow because if they get into the garden, it is the first thing they aim for.  Not the grass, no, the trees.  Poor OH. They are his pride and joy so I try to keep the sheep out.

Everyone was looking very “Suspicious Aloysius”……

….. so I put one of the branches into an old wire roll that has taken root.

Bert knew what to do.

As did Maggie (which I am surprised since she is a hill sheep so where on earth would she find out about trees – there are none on the hill. Absolutely none).

But she tucked in looking at each pile as if she could make it her own.

Well done, Maggie.

So, pleased with the success of one strategically placed branch, I decided to “build” a whole tree, or perhaps bush.

The sheep looked on while I worked hard dragging my branches over.

I wonder if Maggie and Bert will convince the others that willow trees are delicious.  I noticed Bert was quickly stripping the bark.  I doubt it will take very long before they’re all at it.

The nights are drawing in now – this is the sun at 4pm.  It is almost dark by 7pm when I go out to do the last feeds and kiss everyone good night.

After making three sheeple – I started early today – I did afternoon snack buckets or haynets and then went to call the real-life sheep home.  They didn’t need asking twice.

We had a small chat and a few hugs – mostly Barrel, Edna and Bert.  Lambie was having a thing because I want to take off his fly collar, so of course I can’t get near him.

And then the sheep all went on their merry way again.  They cover a lot of ground during the day, which is good, I think.

After I’ve written this, I will go and find ‘Ster who, no doubt, has lost everyone to the bottom field.  I know my job.  Actually, I am surprised I can’t hear him complaining outside the front door that he’s all alone in the world.  He usually shouts very loudly.

Yesterday afternoon, while my Wool Week friend and I were chatting to the sheep in the field, the Icelandic horses came up to join us too.

We turned to go home for a well-earned cup of tea and looked back to see this…..

Kolka sniffing ‘Ster, who was looking straight at me, as if to say “what do I do?”

So I told him to do nothing and just go with it.

But Kolka went too far and ‘Ster made it very clear.  Sniffing only please, madam.

And she understood, determined to find out what these woolly creatures are that she shares a field with during the daytime.

I don’t think ‘Ster minded.  He decided he could trust her and obviously Kolka loves the smell of slightly damp wool.

What’s not to love? ‘Ster smells like a lovely brand new pure wool sweater.

And then ‘Ster decided he’d had enough and I understand that but it was nice to see them both communicating with each other.  Some horses and ponies will kill sheep if they share a field, but I actually know and trust that my lot won’t.  Well, certainly the big lot.  I’m not that convinced by the Minions, though.  They can go about with a gang mentality and I remember them making a point of chasing Lambie when he was very little.

Ponies, sheep, horses, dogs, ducks were all fed quickly this morning.  I threw their buckets at them and then in a made rush I drove to Lerwick for the 2023 Shetland Wool Week Makers’ Market, where I was meeting an old friend from New Mexico, USA.  We were going to shop!

There were two large rooms full of lovely things and today I am not ashamed to say I started my Christmas shopping.

The Market was in two rooms and we wandered around looking at all the amazing wool-related items.  I saw some friends too and stopped for a chat.

And this was my absolute most favourite stall, for obvious reasons – possibly all things sheep related.

The ease of which I spent money was positively scary but I tell myself this is for Christmas and I am just getting in early and being efficient. Yer, go me!

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We had a nice lunch and then onwards home where I put my friend to work!  So, all good and Christmas is on its way to being sorted.  There’s a lot of talent in Shetland I didn’t know about.

Every Friday in our local village Walls, about 4 miles away, the Methodist Church plays host to a lunch time café.

It is a great place to see folk, meet up and have a natter accompanied with delicious soup, the best bacon roll I have ever had, along with a selection of excellent homemade cake.  Apparently they serve other things, but that’s always my go to, along with a pot of tea.  Today I dragged OH with me.  I try to go most Fridays just because I always see friends and enjoy myself.  It makes a change.

After a very nice lunch, we drove home and I was back in my shed making sheeple.  I am going into town tomorrow so want to take in as many as I can.

All day the rain has been on and off – the rule is if I leave the big shed door open, then the rain is torrential and soaks everything, and if I shut it, the sun shines and I then regret my decisions for the whole day.

I can’t win.

I know that.