Edna was shouting for the hill ram by our boundary fence.  The hill sheep come and go past our croft and we have an electric fence at just the right height to stop any spring lambs potentially appearing.  But, to be on the safe side, I put my sheep in the small paddock behind the house, away from temptation.

Everyone happily went in, with the promise of biccies galore, except for Lambie who decided he was different and no rules applied to him.  The minute you want him to do something with everyone else, he gets suspicious, then stubborn with a hint of hysterical, and then sometimes resentful because he is on his own!

Lambie of course proceeded to make things worse by boasting about his successful freedom due to his bloody-mindedness.

You did, Lambie, you know it!

He was so pleased with himself.  I was less so.

But everyone else had lots of biccies (I pay my debts) because they are good sheep who do as they are asked…. sometimes.

You had one job, Lambie. One job!  Yes, of course he got his biccies too.  How can I refuse that Winning Smile?

Last night I lay in bed and listened, for what felt like all night, to the wind and rain howling and crashing down outside.  All I could think was that the horses would be suffering horribly as it sounded so violent.  By the time it was morning, I was convinced we would be met with dead horses everywhere.

I told the troops (aka Daisy and Flossie) that we would bring whoever was left alive inside to rest and eat their hay.  The boys went into the stable (Daisy’s problem) and the old men and girls into the indoor school.

Of course, they were all absolutely fine and wondering what all the fuss was about.  Being Icelandic horses, they probably thought it was a normal Icelandic summer!

My lot had their breakfast – everyone gets the barest nothing apart from Haakon and Iacs who have their TurmerAid.

Haakon had been wearing his new no-fill waterproof rug last night and was, incredibly, absolutely dry.  This is the most amazing rug. It works!  The first one ever that is properly waterproof.

And then, because they were in the sand school, everyone finished their food and decided to roll.  Iacs started it.  The school is large but yet he had to roll behind Haakon and preferably under his back legs too.

I mean who does this?  Iacs does. That’s who.

Haakon politely stepped to one side to let the idiot finish and we agreed that Iacs stands for “I Am Completely Stupid”.

The others chose more sensible places to roll. So we tied up five haynets, put out lots of buckets of water and left them all to eat and rest while they wondered why we had brought them inside.

As I type, it is gusting at an ambient Force 10 now.

Earlier the weather was slightly better so I took these photos while I was with the Minions this morning and am now struggling with our pathetic interweb to load the photos.  If I go, we had a powercut!  Candles and matches are already put out for the inevitable.

Slightly windy…..

Very windy!

Again, slightly windy……

Very windy!

Waffle sticking his tongue out and hoping I wouldn’t notice, which I didn’t until I got home and looked at the photos!

Vitamin – in charge, as ever.

Sheltering from the wind around the old croft house.

Newt who followed me around counting the carrots he thought I had in my pocketses!

When I got home, I took Ted out for his walk and we didn’t get very far before we both gratefully turned back. It was too much for both of us.

Pepper: Am I your best friend?
Daisy: Of course!

Pepper: Can I have your breakfast?
Daisy: No!

They are just two guys enjoying the breakfast haynet.

Me: Smile for the camera, ‘Ster.
‘Ster: But of course!

Taktur waiting.  Always waiting.  Why does the food not come?

A watery winter Shetland sky.

Pepper: I think I have been shouted at (again). I will sit on Dad.

Pepper: I am now pretending to be asleep.

Monster: I am not as comfortable as I might be.
Pepper: Zzzzzzz……..

Monster decamped to his Fortress of Solitude.

These two *** sigh *** – note the paw! As I type 20 minutes on, they are still at it!

I was sitting in my sh’shed busy stabbing away at a sheeple this afternoon when I looked up and saw that the fading afternoon light was utterly beautiful.

So I left the four legs and a torso, grabbed my camera, wellies and went out.

I was feeling thankful for 2021. For me, it has been an emtionally hard year in so many ways (Mum, BeAnne) but I knew deep down that was beyond my control.   So no surprises and I got through it. I am thankful for that.  It was difficult.

However, Haakon remains a mainstay in my life.  Ok, I don’t ride him but that is irrelevant. He is my boy. He always will be.  He is around.

As Floss just said (as she passed me writing the blog at the kitchen table, drinking gin, eating plain crisps and watching Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (great film)), “he is wonderful – a good boy who went off to eat rather than wait for hay!”.

Waiting for hay shows just how easy we are! The rest were waiting for hay. Ok, read Iacs.

…. and he told told his friends – Sóley and Lilja.

So, then with my big camera and perfect winter light, my attention was turned to Lilja who really is a lovely lady and I know I must find her a new home.  The right home. Not just any home.

She is lightly backed and such a sweetheart.

And she looks very like her dad.

Life moves on. I know that. I can change what I can change. I can try my hardest but life will keep going with or without me.  (apologies: I seem to have gone all philosphical).