I’m not feeling brilliant, as I type this.  My back and eye are giving me gyp but I have done all my animal chores morning and afternoon so soon I can kick back and relax.  I just have the sheep to put to bed later or they can stay outside like normal sheep if I decide to go to bed before they do.

To be honest, I am dreaming of my bed.

But this morning took me town to get Iacs’ prescription as well as some horse and hen food (different bags).

Then home and the dogs and I went into my shed.  I made a sheep.

Then I poo-picked the track and reminded myself that Albie is fat, and possibly getting fatter.  On what, I am not sure. I am not going to extend the track anymore.  This is it for them this summer.  I will not waiver.

I took both the dogs with me and told them that this was their dog walk, which they seemed perfectly happy about.  Ted does not talk to ponies. He has a healthy respect for them instead.

I’m sure I will feel better after a good night’s sleep.  I usually do.  Sleep is my go-to cure.

(sorry for the whinge).

Yesterday was a lovely day.  I spent my morning at Turriefield with the bumblebee and in the afternoon showed friends around my croft.

Everyone had to join in too.

I think these two were watching in amazement at Monster arriving after a long walk through some hefty long grass and it’s not easy when you’re not very tall.  He sings/whines while he walks too so there is always a vocal accompaniment.

Monster was very determined, though.

Everyone was introduced and it was such a gorgeous afternoon.  Tea and cake afterwards too.

Later, while I cooked supper, I found these two sitting outside.

They also did the washing up.  Ted is nervous of situations like this so doesn’t participate.  He gets a separate treat.

And then, I took this photo while the sun was finally leaving us – Pepper just watching and waiting for me to finish up with the animals.

I spent my morning at Turriefield (my local community growing project) sowing beans and purple sprouting broccoli seeds.

Oh, yes and spring onion seeds which are irritatingly small and exactly the same colour as the compost. Gah!

It was good to see some basil, “that I had prepared earlier” make an effort.  Yay me!  If you knew just how hopeless I am around the garden, then you would realise this is a huge achievement.

After lugging everything down to the polytunnels where they could keep growing, I wandered around taking photos of the gorgeous herbs.  I never knew sage could do this.

And then I heard a loud buzz and found a Moss Carder bumblebee (Bombus muscorum agricolae).  This is our very own special bumblebee unique to Shetland.

He or possibly she was a large little chap and so after some internet research I am thinking he is a she.

The Shetland bumblebee has a distinctive bright orange thorax and yellow bottom.

This one was looking for water.

She was cleaning herself up and drinking, using the water that had accumulated on the skin of the polytunnel.

She didn’t seem to mind me getting up close to take the photos though I was wary when she was flying around as I didn’t want to be stung.

These bumblebees are essential pollinators and can be a good indicator of overall environmental health in Shetland. In the other polytunnel was some of the seeds I had planted that had moved on.  I did this, I told myself. Yay me, again.

I was cleaning and filling up the field’s water barrel when I felt Shetland pony eyes on me and saw that Fivla had taken up residence in the little shed.

Our water pressure is not the greatest and filling takes forever so I grabbed a brush and went to strip off some more of Fivla’s winter coat.  It is not a job I enjoy but it had to be done.  I got a lot out and I she looked much better for it.

Being Fivla, of course she didn’t move and just let me brush and brush and brush her.  She and I would probably still be there if the water bucket hadn’t eventually filled up and I had to leave to turn the tap off.  And the brushing ended when I decided to clean out the shed – I had to evict her first.

She looked gorgeous.  My fairy tale pony.

Now on a mission, with brush in hand, I decided to brush Vitamoobag who was not helpful and couldn’t decide whether to walk away or to stay and be brushed.

We compromised and I got to do her mane.

And then, in the afternoon, I made a sheep who looks particularly like Gussie.  There is a definite likeness there.

After constant grazing by the Icelandic horses all winter, I try to let my little 5 acre croft, Clothie, rest and grow back, ready again for the next winter.

It’s been a slow start this Spring – quite cold with a constant brisk north wind but the flowers are finally beginning to appear.

This is my favourite walk and the place I like to walk the dogs. I wander around marvelling at the amazing flowers and the huge variety, while they climb over the old dry-stone walls trying to  find out where the incessant chirping (the birds nest in the walls) is coming from.  There are also bunny rabbits to chase.

I have been in contact with someone local from the RSPB about seed collection/conservation to help the native Shetland bumblebee.  Clothie might be an ideal location for this.  It will be interesting to hear any suggestions from them.  I’m not really sure what is involved and will confess that I’ve lost the original email too (my email had a hiccup and I had to clear it out to get it to work again).

Meanwhile, the flowers are beautiful and good selection of what grows here in Shetland.  I made a list in my original email and it looked fairly impressive and varied.  Clothie is pretty much undisturbed this time of year.   It also hasn’t been “improved” with lime for a long time either.  The horses won’t go back until winter descends.  This is a good winter field for them because it has lots of shelter.

So hopefully someone will get back in touch with me soon and we can move forward and I can show them Clothie.