I took the day off today from everyone and everything and drove the van to town to get some hay.  After all the storms, we are running low.

Afterwards, I did the last of my Christmas shopping – yes, you read that right. I think I am done and am now sitting here feeling very smug. Floss comes home on Friday and then we are all in isolation for two weeks so it made sense.

The street was busy, which was good.

This is busy for us these days.

And the tree from Norway was up – a fine tree.  A good shape.

I popped into the Jamieson’s Knitwear and left some more curly sheep for their field.

With the addage that I was determined to shop local, I found what I had written on my list.

I am not sure what this was all about. They were scattered down the street.

But I very much liked the owls at The Shetland Times Bookshop. (I have linked to my two photographic postcard books, if you”re interested).

Yes, this is a real ram!

Another of these talking things.

Christmassing scene with things moving

Having finished and feeling awash with my smugness, I went and got some fish and chips for lunch and ate them in the carpark with a friend.

And then the weather closed in.  I finished up with the inevitable Tesco shop (sadly not local) and drove home.

So that’s me done (I hope).

For the last two days, Daisy and I have been trimming and rasping hooves.

It is very hard work and we aim to do three ponies per session as that is about as much energy as we both have.

Trimming and rasping hooves is arduous, but it is also fending off “help” that takes up most of our time and energy!

Believe it or not, there is a Daisy in there trying to work.

Being on the front end is no better. While Daisy trimmed a hoof, I held the lead-rope and kept the Minion still (we swap when I do the rasping). I was constantly hassled by someone.  At least he had a nice smile.

And then of course there is the equipment.   Well, that is doomed too.

The boys just can’t help themselves.   Maybe we should bring toys.  They would love that (goes off to look for the squeaky chickens!)

At one stage Newt stole the hoof-knife from Daisy’s pocket and ran off with it giggling so she ended up handing it to me while she worked.

I have to say, though, in Newt’s defence, when it was his turn to have his feet trimmed, he was a total jewel.  He stood politely and was a model citizen – he has form with our original farrier.

Daisy and I decided we need a very good sense of humour when we’re trimming feet.

Today Waffle was my favourite pony. He stayed well away.  That’s my boy. ❤️

This morning we had a spectacular sunrise.  Always nice.  We feed the animals at sunrise, which sounds earlier and much more impressive than it actually is.  Sunrise is currently at 08.37 and Daisy and I are up by 8.30 (just!)  Sunset is at 15.10 so we have just slightly over 6 hours daylight, into which we cram as much as we possibly can.

We start the day with me feeding the sheep (Daisy is on ducks/hens) and I put them in their field for the day. Then Daisy and I walk over to Clothie (my 5 acre croft over the hill) with our buckets of TurmerAid mixed with nil-calorie fibre.

Her Maj sometimes comes too and today she was in a very bouncy enthusiastic mood. We encourage this happiness. It sets her up for the day.

In Haakon’s bucket is also a hoofy supplement – Farrier4Feet which is brilliant and our farrier could see a huge difference in the quality of his hooves so worth every penny then.

Klængur is usually the first to finish his food and he happily entertains himself with his bucket!  He always does this and I have no idea why.

He reminds me of Eeyore – “But Eeyore wasn’t listening. He was taking the balloon out, and putting it back again, as happy as could be….”

So that’s what we do in the morning.  Today was beautiful so it was no hardship.

Sometimes the urge overtakes me and I go all black and white.

So here you go….

Vitamin (and her white muzzle and the cutest little teddy bear ears, which always make us go “awww!” ❤️)

The beautiful Lilja.

Little Tiddles (and a grubby muzzle – I dread to think where that’s been).

Newt – all alone in the world.  Nobody loves him, everybody hates him. Possibly off to eat worms.

Ah, but no.  Within seconds Newt was attached to my side trying to get more carrots by adopting his pathetic orphan face.  He too has the ears of a teddy bear.

The noble profile – Tiddles again.

When I see these two, the song “Sisters” always starts playing.

♬ Sisters, sisters
There were never such devoted sisters …

All kinds of weather
We stick together
The same in the rain or sun
Two different faces
But in tight places
We think and we act as one….. uh-huh. ♬

Storm *** sigh *** (just sigh because that is what I do when Storm is around. He always up to no good).

And some more Newt.

Little spiky Newtidge.

So that’s today’s efforts. The other ponies were around but not particularly chatty. Fair enough.  Someone usually wants a hug.  Today it was this lot. I hope you liked the photos.

A lovely morning and Daisy asked me to accompany her on foot while she rode Efstur for the first time outside in his new bit.  I took Haakon with me as a Steadying Influence for Efstur.

Haakon knew I had carrots in my pocketses!  He had sniffed them out.

And then he told Efstur I had carrots in my pocketses (while Daisy had one in her mouth to give Efstur as a reward for standing nicely while she mounted).  Haakon was on the carrot mission.  Stuff the steadying influence lark. He wanted a down payment!

We all set off.

Haakon’s left ear tuned into the vibrations of carrots in my pockets!  He never gives up and he never forgets.

We were quickly left behind.  Efstur has longer legs than me.

But, I was with my best friend, so we had a nice chat and followed along.

Onto the road.

Efstur and Daisy waited for us to catch up.  Stopping and waiting is an essential life skill for any young horse.

More blagging from Haakon. He does ask in the nicest way and it makes me laugh.

I think the smiles of these two says it all.  Efstur was a very good boy and he loved going out into the big bad world.  Best day ever!  He was very enthusiastic about everything.

A long walk home and Daisy dismounted.  Note, Haakon wanting his payment.

He got told to wait until we got home, ie we had all run out of carrots!

And then, when no one was watching and we were home, I gave my old horse a big handful of carrots as payment for his help as a Steadying Influence.  Payment received with thanks!