Today was summer.  Yes, while everyone south is frying in the excessive heat, we in Shetland have had no summer until today.  It was very nice (max 17 C or 63 F) and about as hot as I like to go.

The wild flowers are glorious and everywhere.

The air has a lovely sweet smell to it.  This is the clover in full bloom.

The Shetland Bumblebees (yes, we have our very own special species with a gorgeous orange bottom) – were out in force when I was walking the dogs this afternoon.  They adore the flowers.

It really was a glorious day.  Tomorrow we move on to Autumn, I think.  And so that was our Shetland Summer. It was brief.  Thank you very much.

On a roll, I went out this morning and did more brushing.  There is actually no one in my house that has not been brushed now (even Pepper who hates it).

Everyone looks beautiful.

With no nasty bits.

I brushed and brushed.

Even Haakon’s imaginery forelock (so sad it’s gone).

They all lined up to be brushed, which was very sweet.

I was surrounded by horses putting their heads wherever my brush was.

And I think I have achieved.

And then I told them to go back to their field, looking better for the brushing, while I thought “well, that’s me for another year” and went indoors to have a lie down!

Once a year I brush a horse or pony.  Today, I brushed my Minions.  I had wormed them yesterday so I was on a roll.

I can’t remember who was first up. I just brushed anyone who turned up.  Waffle turned up a lot. He adores being brushed.

And Albie.

Fivla was not enthused at the prospect of being brushed but she had to stand still and be done.

Tiddles was hard work. Firstly, for the rest of the year he does his absolute best to avoid any hint of grooming ever and hates it, so it was a head-collar job and I attacked his horrid matted forelock.

“Why, Miss Tiddles, you are beautiful!” I told him.

He agreed.

Storm was around, always ever helpful.

Silver was handsome afterwards.

Err… Newt.  Still like a small beligerent yak.

Albie followed me everywhere.

Vitamin looking her absolute best.

Everyone was made to look bouffant. Originally, I had intended to brush only four ponies but in the end, I was enjoying myself so I did the lot.

Yup, Storm still “helping”.  He had everything out.

When Pepper first arrived, I could see everyone was very wary of her and even nervous. No one likes change.  And I thought to myself “they will never settle” and worried about this.

How wrong I was.

Obviously, Monster never thought that. He adores little Pepper-Pot.  But he is a bit weird.

And the older horses have always been used to having a dog around.

Pepper is an excellent vacuum cleaner.

It’s because she is a Patterdale Terrier.  They exist to vacuum.  It is why they were put on this planet.

It was the sheep I was worried about.  Lambie dearly loved his BeAnne. She was his Mum from his Day 1.

So when I see the sheep just accepting Pepper being around, I think everything will be alright.  She is always with me when I go outside.  However, Maggie is less than generous and she and Pepper play a “game” that involves butting but never too hard and to be fair Pepper loves it and taunts Maggie in return.  We have words about this and Maggie knows if she wants to stay here, she has to tow the line and try and be nice.   Pepper could get out of the way if she wanted.

I haven’t introduced Pepper to the Minions. Albie was not good with BeAnne so I would keep her away. We will see what happens when they come home this winter.

Dear sweet Vitamin puts up with a lot.  Every day I bring her a bucket of food as I want her to put on weight ready for the next Shetland winter.  She lost so much with her teeth problems.

And this is Albie happening to be in the area, optimistic (or stupid) she will let him have her bucket of food.

She didn’t – she just kept her head down in the bucket eating knowing that if she took it out (to breathe) someone else might have a go at stealing it (good luck with that!)

So the “vultures” have to content themselves with going through the second bucket I bring. It is full of my necessary equipment.

It is duly trashed. There goes the headcollar, the sunscreen, the wee purple bucket, the water bottle, the teeth drench thingy etc.

Today Storm chose the little purple bucket.

Waffle and Fivla were sensibly keeping well away.

As was Silver.

I never let anyone steal Vitamin’s food. They don’t need it and she does.

But Albie is definitely on a hiding to nothing!  He never learns.