Floss (my youngest daughter) came home from University for the Christmas holidays yesterday evening, which is lovely.

A good night sleep and we set her to work the next morning.

While Daisy rode Efstur out, Floss walked alongside with Iacs.  I trailed along at the back grinning from ear to ear at my little family all together.

Efstur was a good boy and walked, trotted and halted, all beautifully.

We even met a car which was his first ever and, again, he was hoof perfect. A dear boy. Daisy is very proud of him and rightly so.

We walked a few miles with the usual carrot rewards dished out at regular intervals.

After lunch, Floss and I went to check on the Minions.

They were all very pleased to see Flossie or possibly was it her bag of carrots?  Hard to tell.

So that’s us now. Another hurdle over and soon we will start getting the Christmas decorations up, despite some bah-humbug grumbles from the back that Christmas begins on Christmas Eve and not a day before. Yer, right. Get the deccies up fast, we say!

Now, to start thinking about the Thordale Christmas card…

I wonder if Newt still fits his antlers?

I went out this morning, armed with my big camera, determined to take better photos of the my sheep.  Yesterday’s effort was pathetic.

But it’s not easy and I feel I should share this artistic pain. I am always being followed.

I try and stand at the right distance away and then take as many photos as I can before anyone spots that I am not next to them.

‘Bert

‘Lambie

‘Ster

Madge and her sticks!

She has truly mellowed.  Kind eyes now.

Edna

All filled out and looking good.

With this photo-taking-thing, it’s a bit like grandmother’s footsteps because when I say something, everyone denies all knowledge that they are following me.

But I know…… (when I looked back!)

Is this love or is this the lure of the ginger-biscuit. Who knows!

Let me start by saying that in my defence I’ve had a headache all day that wouldn’t budge.

It was a lovely still day and I asked Daisy to check everyone outwith the croft.

Meanwhile, I went out with my big camera, set it up wrong and took some fairly bad/mediocre photos of the sheeple coming home early.

They were sharing a field with the horses and not enjoying themselves much.

Festooned with old dock branches too!

I need to inspect Lambie closer. I suspect he may have lost one of his “magnificent” horns.  The girls are a bit lovely at the moment, and I saw Lambie making amorous advances to Edna!

I tried not to be shocked but I failed.

‘Bert is besotted with Madge.

And ‘Ster is totally oblivious to everything.  Probably just as well.

This is ‘Bert the other evening. I was playing my flute and he was sitting outside my shed listening.  Awwww…..

And then Daisy sent me this shocking photo!  My poor camera.  My poor eyes.  More shock.  I can’t unsee this.

Her Maj has found a “fing”‘ in our old vegetable garden (now a sheep paddock).  I know it is something interesting as she keeps sidling off and eventually coming home with revolting “digging” whiskers.

Of course, when asked about it, BeAnne denies all knowledge.  I am not optimitistic it is anything nice.

So after lunch, I opted for a diversionary tactic and took her for a short walk on the hill.  She enjoyed that, put up a bunny, which left in a leisurely fashion barely breaking into a run but BeAnne bounced with happiness at the thought of the thrill of the chase.

On our way home, I spotted the old men in the top corner of their field so I threw a carrot over which, of course, Haakon missed.  What to do?  Leave him or climb over the fence and find it for him. Yes, I climbed over.

And apparently one carrot is never enough.

“Honestly, that’s it. I only brought one each”.

“It’s no good making that face.  There are no more”.

“You’ve all had one!”

(Iacs was the other side of the wall)

The afternoon Shetland winter sun made a beautiful backdrop.

A gorgeous light. Like rose gold.

BeAnne waited patiently for me while I was retrieving carrots for doitin’ old men and then we went home.

We had a wonderful sunrise this morning.  It was perfect.

The first ray

Getting ready

Amazing clouds help too

Almost there

Daisy and I were in the middle of feeding the Old Men their bucket of TurmerAid.

Iacs was unhelpful, so Daisy had to take his bucket to him.

Meanwhile, Haakon was in the ideal spot.

I tried to work out what would look best.  The sunrise doesn’t give you much time to think.  It is suprisingly fast.

And I settled for this shot.  Bingo! I love it.

Our day started well.