The Saga Continues

When I came outside this morning, I found Lambie was still very much attached to his marsh marigold boutonnière even though it was looking a bit more tired but definitely still attached.

I took a few more arty-farty photos just because I think Lambie looks lovely and very special.

He wears his flower well, I think.

And he found his charming Winning Smile too today (I had to work hard for that)…..

….as well as some other danglements – possibly a few stalks of heather.

(apologies for the photo over-load of one silly looking sheep wearing a flower but it is Lambie and he was smiling today – I have to make the most of that)

After my ridiculous photoshoot, OH and I finished the annual sheep shed muck out and putting down new bedding for another year.  It needed doing and as I type this, I am contemplating which painkiller to take.

Still, it is a job well done and it’s no longer looming over me.

I like to think I have made a lot of progress since my back going in December/January and am nearly back on track.  At the time, I did wonder if I could.

 

Lambie and his Flower and his Biscuits

OH and I were at a party tonight and have just come home.  Therefore, I was late giving out the ponies’ haynets as well as late getting the sheep in. Everyone was standing at their gates waiting and disaprovingly tapping their watches.

However, I noticed Lambie came in wearing a flower – a delightful marsh marigold.  So beautiful.

I gave the sheep their goodnight ginger biccie and then returned with my camera to try and capture the magic of Lambie wearing a flower.  I think this was possibly my only good photo.

Upon reflection, I can see it is rather a manky flower.

But Lambie was more interested in trying to get another biscuit than the flower he had acquired.

He totally ignored my demands to turn around and look pretty and stomped off into the house.

No biscuits in evidence (quietly hidden by me), he came back outside looking like a devil sheep.

At this stage, I gave up but I will admit I located my carefully hidden biscuit packet and nipped out and gave him a secret biccie because Lambie is my special boy and I luffs him most.  Tell no one.

Mostly Lambie

A few evenings back, I went outside to find Lambie sitting close to the house, albeit in another field – you can see the gap behind him where all the sheep, except ‘Ster and Dahlia, elegantly crawl under!  I don’t mind. It saves me opening gates.

So I went to see if I could capture the famous Winning Smile.

It is Lambie’s best feature.

The next day was nice and I was on a rest break after mucking out the shed, so I went with my big camera and sat on a rock.  The ponies were miles away on their track.

But again there were sheep around so I peacefully snapped away trying to capture their personalities while they came up to chat, or not.

‘Ster who is feeling a bit better, thank you for asking.

‘Bert – he has a very good fleece this year.

Harrel-the-Barrel – read thug, a total opportunist who steals chicken food.

And my little Lambie.  Always enchanting.

Possibly a diva.

And an equilateral triangle.

He nodded off while I was taking photos.

And lastly, Gus-Gus.  No words just Gussie.

Iacs Today

The vets from south (Ardene House Vets) were in Shetland and Iacs was on their list.  He sees them annually for a check up after his operation a few years back for penile squamous cell carcinoma.

Iacs’ appointment wasn’t until the afternoon so OH and I got on with another looming chore. We finished sweeping out the sheep shed and left it to dry.

Afterwards, I took some painkillers and went outside to sit in the sunshine.

It was a beautiful day.

Later on I received a message saying that the vet was on her way to us so I went into the field and led Iacs out so he was close by when they turned up.  Haakon followed too.

(I have no idea why Haakon has to stand like a giraffe).

I was already feeling windy about Iacs having a general anaesthetic at his great age so I had a chat with Daisy (who is Iacs’ owner) to decide what was the best way forward.

The vet arrived and we discussed the pros and cons of sedation bearing in mind his age (31yo) and possible complications (colic).  Because Iacs’ last examination had been clear, the vet gave him a good clean/feel and said it all felt very normal and no obvious growths.  Ok, she couldn’t see because Iacs would need a general anaesthetic for that and, as there has been absolutely no signs or symptoms, we decided to leave it with the view that if I observed anything over the next year, then obviously we would do something if it was considered necessary.

Colic is an ever-present enemy at their advanced ages.

So that is what we decided.

(and the vet said she wouldn’t have known Iacs and Haakon were 31 and 32yo and they looked amazing – I breathed a huge sigh of relief).

Some Piccies of Today

A few photos (ok, more than a few) from last night and today with explanations of why I took them….

This is the face of someone who has been caught visiting a new neighbour recently – “oh yes, I saw her first thing the other morning” was what we heard.  *** sigh *** The thing is, no one even knows she’s missing!

Monster at breakfast lounging over my iPad, as per usual.  The bluebell is a nice touch.

The annual clean out of the sheep shed.  My poor back screams.

At last, blue skies.

My new business cards.

Waffle, while I was poo-picking the track.

Galloping down the hill – a favourite sport for Shetland ponies.

Tiddles’ being bouffant.

Brushed but still hairy.

Monster eating his supper in his usual spot tonight.