First up was Vitamin. Every morning, she keeps an ear and eye out for me and my buckets.  I think cantering up is the only exercise she actually gets.  Still, she is very enthusiastic and that is good to see.

Fivla prefers a more sedate approach, confident in the knowledge that I won’t give her bucket to anyone else. I wouldn’t dare!

I put Vitamin’s bucket in a little fenced off bit so she can eat at her own speed, at a relaxed pace and without the threat of her bucket being stolen.

Storm, I said “without the threat of her bucket being stolen.”  He wouldn’t dare. He is not that stupid. Optimistic, yes, but not stupid.

Dear old Vitamin.  It is only recently that I can see that she is looking her age.

But there’s not much I can do for her apart from giving her a regular meal, swoosh her teeth (so no debris lingers) and observe her actual quality of life.

We had a quiet chat about this and she is still happy.

Vitamin would be the first to tell me when she’d had enough. I know that.

Meanwhile, Waffle was feeling the heat horribly.  He eventually came over huffing and puffing and complaining bitterly about the “hot” Shetland summer.  So I got one of the now-empty feed buckets and drenched him in the cold stream water.

He loved that!

It made a huge difference and he was much happier.

The others entertained themselves.

Newt tried to squish the two beautiful orchids I was trying to photogragh.

And then he had a discussion with the bucket.

Life is seldom dull with the Minions.

Floss and I are off south on Monday evening’s boat and so I am busy washing (car, clothes, anything that moves, etc) and making massive lists, which I then instantly lose.

The garden is just beginning to come into flower – of course it jolly well is, just as I won’t see it!

Meanwhile, I am trying to get to grips with my new camera – it still remains a bit of an enigma to be honest. Maybe while I’m on the boat, I can spend 14 hours learning.

Monster is “helping”.  Always beautiful, mostly around especially at mealtimes.

And random sheeple.

Still the weather today is perfect for drying and I have realised that my summer clothes haven’t seen the light of day for 2 years!  I don’t bother being clean and tidy here. There’s no point.  Not with Minions around.  I don’t stand a chance.

So, practicing with this camera will hopefully make perfect.

Poor Daisy is kindly going to look after everyone.  I will have to bring her back something nice from down south to say thank you.

And next…. the ironing!  Now where did I put the iron (must dust it off first)?

Dear old Haakon.  I saw him having a little sit by himself a few day’s back.  He has his daily TurmerAid and then at around 10.30 he sits down to enjoy the peace and quiet of his life.

Of course I happened to have a carrot about my person and his ears twitched forwards – he always knows.  While he was sitting down, I noticed his hooves needed trimming.

So, this afternoon, I went up to find him.  The little herd were all waiting for me…. at the top of the hill obviously!

I love the way they all stood in an equally spaced row.  From L-R – Lilja, Sóley, Klængur, Iacs and Haakon.  I took Haakon out of the field and we walked companionably together across to where the feet trimming stuff was.  He was very stiff in his backs (holding them up was difficult) but really he is just the same horse as he has ever been in his head.  We had a good chat.

I hope Haajon’s enjoying his well-deserved retirement.  He looks good on it for 27.

A little while back, a friend took ‘Bert and ‘Ster’s fleeces. She said she would make me a rug – et voilà!

A Visitor

A Trip to Yell

From two large bin bags of raw fleece, this incredibly beautiful rug was made.

I love it, utterly love it (in fact I will admit I had a little sniff and a tear – it just is so beautiful and perfect).  Every last bit of ‘Bert and ‘Ster’s perfect fleeces is here, even ‘Ster’s darker underneath bit.

As well as ‘Ster’s little curls too. Heaven.

My rug was created by Helen, from Hart of Shetland – it is a “woven raw fleece rug”.  She also makes lovely felted sheep fleece ones too. Using only palm oil free olive oil soap and water, my rug was lovingly made by hand.

Here is the Hart of Shetland website link and Instagram name (hart_of_shetland)

At present, the rug is living in the sitting-room – Lambie came in this morning for an inspection.

He was very taken with it, I could tell.

And Monster adores it too.  He has decided to leave Her Maj’s blankie for this much more comfortable place to sleep.

Off to Yell soon to give Helen all of this year’s fleeces, bar one (Lambie’s) which is now spoken for. I need more of these rugs. They are gorgeous.

There are lovely orchids in the fields now. They are all shades of purple but I do adore the darker ones.

Meanwhile, this morning, armed with food, carrots, sunscreen, brushes, conditioning spray, etc, I went over to check the Minions.

I managed to catch each one and give them a good mane-and-tail brush.  Everyone mostly, behaved.  My worst was Silver (dapple grey) who didn’t want to be caught, despite taking my enticing carrot.  I wouldn’t let him get away this bad behaviour and made a point of catching him, tying him up and grooming him. And then he wouldn’t leave me alone – typical!

Waffle, of course, volunteered to be brushed at every opportunity.  He would. He loves being brushed (as does Albie).

Fivla was looking her very best.

Everyone’s dream fairy-tale pony.

These days I a new job – to sloosh Fivla and Vitamin’s mouths with water after eating to get rid of any surplus gap-filling debris.  It will help with future dental nasties.  They have only the teeth they have. There is nothing more to work with.

After slooshing, brushing, hugging and kissing, I splurged those that needed with their sunscreen, just in case the sun made an appearance.

And another orchid, just in case!