A grotty day.

I have been putting off and then putting off again, ad infinitum, the miserable task of going through my photos to slim them down. I take so many and want to keep very few.  Apart from taking up too much space on my Hard Drive, most of them just need to go.

One of the reasons I have been procrastinating was because it would involve Missy’s short life.  And the other was Her Maj. Still with us, but only just and it is breaking my heart.

So I gave myself a good talking to, found a bottle of Rescue Remedy and set myself the task over the next few days of sitting at my computer going through over a year’s worth of photos, deciding what to keep and what not to knowing that when BeAnne goes, I will never do this.

The Rescue Remedy is down to the last dregs and I will admit there have been many tears. In fact I am struggling to type this without crying.

When it was all too much (this was after lunch) and I needed a change of scenery, I took myself off for a walk.  Suddenly I had a little friend – Harold. He had squozed himself under the gate, much to his mother’s horror, and happily walked with me for about 1/2 an hour. I turned for home when we had gone up the road a bit, and I reckoned he should go back to his Mum (though he would’ve kept going).

Anyway, here are a few photos from around and about – more diversions. Any excuse.

4 a.m. the other morning.

Bogbean

My first orchid.

Clothie – you can see how I am currently feeling.

Squill by the roadside.  I hope the Council don’t start mowing.

Efstur.  Like Harold, always there!

I woke early to see beautiful sunshine but it quickly disappeared as the haar arrived.

A haar is a cold sea fog, a sea fret that rolls in from the sea.  It’s that time of year.  We have to wait for the haar to be burnt off by the sun and probably, just a few miles down the road, everyone is sitting in glorious sunshine.

Despite no sun, the sheep were all very hot and they want to be sheared (note-to-self – ring shearer).

These past few days, I have noticed that we seem to have been adopted by a single Faroese goose.  It lives mostly with the visiting greylag geese but today it was on its’ own and in a different field.

We used to have Faroese geese many years ago.  I rather like them so if it wants to stay, that’s fine.  I told it that – I think it is a male.

My search with my camera in the fog eventually revealed some horses.

Haakon and Iacs.

Klængur (who I later took out for a ride – he was an arse!)

And Lilja, with Sóley following – always following.

As I said, a total arse – Klængur tripped, spooked and then danced on his tippy toes all the way there and back. He even managed to spook at his own fart!

I’m still here though – well, someone’s got to finish that cake! I think I deserve it.

I am not a huge cake-maker. It is a rare event at best but once in a blue moon, I feel the urge and today, I created this creation.  My strawberries-and-cream cake.

As we are now in Level 0, we had some friends around for supper.  I also spent the day cooking.

When there was a brief interlude, I snuck around the house with my camera.

Her Maj was her usual unhelpful self.

I don’t actually think Monster moved all day. I must prod him to see if he is still alive.

And Maggie and Harry want to come and live in the house. I said no and sent them away with a biccie. Animal Crackers are just the right size for Harrel the Barrel.

Inside my flowers are doing their best. For the first time, I am growing sunflowers.

And, as usual, cornflowers.

Meanwhile, in horse-world, Daisy did something pretty amazing.  She took Lilja into the little paddock on her own.

Sóley hovered around outside.

Interestingly Lilja didn’t mind leaving Sóley one bit. All good practice.

She was very cool about everything – so that’s the saddle on for the first time with just slight interest and barely a reaction.

So, back to that cake then.  Time to celebrate!

I am trying very hard to get to grips with my new camera and it is not all that easy, but Chapter III was hopefully mastered (or at least watched) today.

Afterwards, using my new skills, I tried to take photos of Monster and BeAnne.

BeAnne was not very helpful.  She has an aversion to being photographed and, no, she doesn’t even remotely fit into Monster’s bed but she gave it her best.

So me and my camera went over to Clothie to see what we could photograph.

Cuckooflower, also commonly known as ‘Lady’s-smock’.

The marsh marigolds are everywhere.  In Shetland dialect it is ‘blugga’.

The “red” campion is just starting to arrive now.  More pink, really but very pretty.

I enjoyed wandering around. I really need to watch Chapter IV and maybe find a mentor to guide me.

Afterwards, on my way home, I hopped over the fence to go and talk to Harry.

He has developed a new skill – he eats everything!  Those little teeth never stop. We had words about biting me.  Not good. Not nice.  He was very cross with me and sulked.

He has changed shape too.  Growing up far too fast.

Harry was such a sweet little lamb and now he is a determined thug!