I got the shock of my life today.  I know one day it will happen and I must be prepared. I mean I have five horses and ponies over the age of 30, I have to be a realist.

But this was a step too far.  I felt sick.  Was it something they had eaten?  What had I done wrong?

I crept closer, worrying, my heart racing.  Miserable thoughts going through my head.

No one was moving.  A Shetland pony yin and yang, I told myself.

Dear God, please let them be ok …..

By now, I was preparing to do a deal with any God listening.

And then Vitamin gave a giant harrumph and got up.  She probably farted too.

Apparently she didn’t appreciate being woken up when she and her friend were having a delightful snooze in the autumn sunshine.

Fivla just stretched herself out sideways.

She thought about getting up.  Only thought, though. She’s probably still sitting there. I was long gone feeling more than slightly relieved, I can tell you.  My poor heart.

All I did was say “No” today to just about everyone.

This was Iacs’ attempt at going to steal Fivla’s breakfast bucket.  I was holding onto his chin hairs, trying to do my daily Wordle, while saying “No, absolutely no, you cannot have Fivla’s food!”

Luckily Iacs is used to this method of restraint.

When Fivla had stopped chewing and was looking into the middle distance, I released Iacs from my vice-like grip and he wandered over.  Note Fivla’s swishy tail of annoyance.

There was nothing in the bucket apparently, so Iacs told me.

Back in the house, it was “No, Monster, you can’t have my breakfast.  You know this”.

And then later, “No, Pepper you can’t come with me to pack veg”.

Oh, the face on that.  I felt awful and went and locked the catflap on the backdoor as Pepper has learned how to get over the tall stair gate blocking it and then races to join me as I am getting into my car to drive off.  Apparently this is a dog deterrant no more.  ** sigh **.

Luckily, I was forgiven when I came home a few hours later.

And lastly, there was Barrel who spied me giving the hens and ducks their afternoon grain.  He came racing over in the hope I would let him out of his field so he could raid all the buckets or tidy up, as he likes to call it.

I even got his best Winning Smile but it was still a no from me.

Nice try, though.

Our internet is playing silly-buggers. It is very slow so I am not going to write anything much because I am going mad here.

Anyway, this morning on my dog-walk I found all the Shetland ponies in a pile, fast asleep, which was very sweet.

There was definitely snoring!  Zzzzzz……

So, I left them to it, not wanting anyone to stop sleeping or to get up.  Go back to sleep, Silver!  Enjoy the rare sunshine.

Then I popped into the horses’ field to find these two enjoying the sun on their backs.

Pepper loves talking to these guys….. or she wants to be the centre of attention. You choose.

Right, I am off to switch on and off the router, give it a good kick and reprogramme everything with a large axe to see if that makes my life any better.  Maybe it’s solar flare activity.

I went outside last night just to see if anything was going on as I had heard there might be some aurora activity.

There was a bit but also a massive non-moving cloud was in the way. Dammit. Push off, please.

After standing on the compost heap in my dressing gown (post-bath) and OH’s cut-down wellies, I got fed up and feeling rather cold I went inside knowing there was much more going on behind the immoveable cloud but I wasn’t going to see it.

This morning was quiet and peaceful.  It is lovely waking up to no wind and rain.

Just the sound of the waves from the distant sea, the birds singing and the quiet munch, munch, munch of everyone eating their breakfast.

It is a very calming sound, until Kolka finishes and goes on a raid.

Today really has been a glorious autumnal day – with no wind, but very occasional drizzle.

I can’t pretend I did anything different from my usual day – wool-felting sheep  a.m. and then wool-felting sheep p.m.  Poo-pick, haynets out, write the blog…. and then I will cook supper, finish the last sheep of the day, get the real sheep home, put the ducks and hens to bed.

Boring?  Yes, but essential.  After Wool Week everything for me goes fairly quiet and I will do other projects, like finishing off my winter track (electric fencing) for the Shetland ponies.

Always things to do here.

As you may be aware, these are my last few days to get sheep to the Lerwick shop in time for Shetland Wool Week 2025.  I am busting a gut here.

Today I made these three. I really like the spotty Lambie Lamb.

I spent all day in my shed stabbing away while listening to the radio or watching another Netflix show.

And then after dog tea, I went outside armed with my bucket and rubber gloves to poo-pick the track. This is my daily exercise and fresh air.  I was met by these five who said they would like their tea early, please, thank you.

As it was raining, I told them they could have it but there wouldn’t be anything later.  They agreed to my terms and I went back to get their haynets telling myself I would not give in later with more.  Absolutely not.  No.  Albie is fatty fat fat but winter is coming and he will shiver it off. And how did he manage this weight?  There is eff-all on the track.

So I put out the haynets – they now have two because Newt can’t share very easily or nicely.

Silver is the only one to tolerate Newt and his awful ways.  It is not a happy relationship but it is working for now.

These three just get on with the task of eating.

Anyway, when I go back out later, I am not giving in and putting out more hay. They’ve had their daily ration.