Is there such a thing as too many photos of Lambie?

I think not.

Please note The Winning Smile.  Be still my beating heart.

Lambie’s “Monarch of the Glen” moment.

Or, as Daisy put it, his “Pillock of the Glen”.  She knows nothing.

Lambie has obviously had a slight altercation with the red container – aka our feed shed.

I am sure it came off worse.

He can be ruthless when he is in a mood.

Possibly my favourite photo of Lambie today.

And a surprising “Elvis” impersonation or was he channelling his inner Game of Thrones?

Sadly, today was slightly marred by Lambie’s utter loathing of Missy who was following me around like a devoted slave.

This was not to be tolerated.

Lambie hates Missy and says things like “There is only one little lamb in your life, Muzzah. Never forget” before he biffs his Nemesis down the hill.

Luckily Missy seems to be fairly indestructable and enjoys laughing in the face of danger.

I was telling Lambie off while he made this face.  Bullying is not permitted. He knows that.

And then ‘Ster arrived for the photo session.

My album cover.

Poor Lambie. He was unimpressed after all, there is only one Lambie.  He keeps telling me this.

Thankfully.

Her Maj was fast a-bye-byes in the shavings, where the horses are usually tied up indoors.

Monster patiently waited behind the door of our indoor school to “get her”.  That is not kindness and generousity in his eyes. That is plotting and scheming at its very worst, or best, depending on your perspective.

My flock of sheep being actual sheep in an actual field, all together. A rare sight.  Boyzens on the left, Girzlens on the right.

The daily flog up the hill to see Minions in their field.  It feels like ruddy miles because it is.

I took carrots.

“Did someone say carrots?”

“Because we love carrots!”

I went for a lovely ride on Klængur. Daisy rode Iacs and then I had a little potter on Haakon too.

So all good. The sun was shining, it was an excellent horsey day.

Last night the alert was given….. the Merrie Dancers (the colloquial Shetland term for the Northern Lights) were out.  Some friends told me and pointed me towards a northward facing webcam.

So this time, having learned my lesson from a few nights’ past, I had my camera kit set up and ready.  As you can see, it is all fairly glamourous staring outside into the pitch dark at the backdoor next to the vegetable rack and the floor mop.

I was just trying to work out where to point the camera.

I managed to miss the bit when they were doing well – dammit – the problem is I can’t actually see anything through the view finder so I am just vaguely pointing and praying.

And by the time I had got everything back under control…..

The clouds were descending, the dancers stopped dancing and then it poured with rain.  Still it is looking good for the next few nights so I will keep trying.

I remind myself of my moment of glory – taken in January 2012 when I was featured on the BBC website.  I know I can do this. I have before so I can do it again.

Anywho, also, now feeling fairly awful about leaving the little hedgehog from the other day, I then saw another (could be the same one) yesterday but all I had to carry it home in was my riding hat and I didn’t think that was a good idea.

Today I vowed to go and look for small hedgehogs, weigh them and decide whether to bring them home or not.  The plan is to fatten them up and release again before hibernation.  I drove around at dusk but saw nothing. I am leaving my kit in the car and will try to do this regularly.

I brushed my horse and, if you know me well, you would realise that this is something I don’t do very often. Hardly ever actually.  A bit like cleaning the house.  It’s just not for me.

There was a good reason for this sudden rush of blood to the head.

I was already tacked up when Daisy arrived back from work, so I waited for her to fetch Taktur out of his field, tack him up and then we went out for a lovely Sunday afternoon ride together.

I even brushed Klængur’s “chrystanthemum” bottom and trimmed his tail as its winter and I hate tails trailing in the mud and being stepped on.  That must hurt.

However, I did not brush the dog.  That would be one step too far.

We were all slightly less beautiful upon our return.

A sudden rain shower on our way home.

After the ride, we moved the Old Men to their Winter field which is across the hill – 5 acre “Clothie”.

They all love this field and it is perfect for spending winter in, as long as it doesn’t turn to mud. Then life just gets depressing. I am not hopeful.

The thing I learned today….. that the photos I took of the Aurora last night were total rubbish mostly due to the fact that I had no tripod or remote gizmo thingy (in my shed and I was not going out in my dressing gown to get them).  And holding my breath for 15 seconds with the huge camera around my neck is not as good as using a tripod.  But still, live and learn, and I have now got the tripod and remote gizmo thingy in the house set up ready to go if the Aurora ever appears again.  Apparently Sunday is hopeful.  I don’t think I could’ve made a worst job if I had tried, to be honest.  Shameful.

This morning was a full on gale complete with horizontal rain so I made a massive pot of vegetable soup to do us for next week’s lunches.

And as quickly as it arrived, the gale was gone and this afternoon was splendid.  We couldn’t ride because my horses were stuck the wrong side of a very full and flooding burn (stream).  I had to visit the Minions anyway.

All were fine.

None the worst for the morning’s inclement weather.

And yes, I had carrots about my person.

I took this photo to show just how small and teensy-tiny Newt is by comparison to Sóley.

No one must ever show Newt the photo as he thinks he is 17hh.  Oh yes, and rather an attitude on him at the moment.  Something about wanting all the carrots.

On my way home, as the sun was setting, I met a hedgepig on the side of the road.  He is a bit small for the time of year and now I am going to worry about his future.