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.

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. ❤️