On my way home from the shops, I went for a little exploration to a place I haven’t been for possibly 20 years.

I visited Sand beach tucked out of the way in Sand Voe.

Sand beach is well named – it stretched out invitingly and I also clocked that the track to the beach had been made much better.  The last time I was here, all those years back, it was rather a climb to get down to the beach. This time a horse could easily walk down…… you get what I am thinking now, don’t you!  It’s not that far, an easy drive and I think two old men would love it and possibly two ginger ninjas if they can stop long enough to stop spooking!

So that’s my plan anyway.

After I had had a good inspection of the beach and its access, I wandered a little way along to a small chapel ruins.  This was St Mary’s Chapel and it’s churchyard.

From Canmore – “All that remains is the semi-circular chancel arch which finishes in a gable and may be of late 16th century date. It is of rubble and mortar and is about 2′ 10″ thick. The lengths of the nave and chancel are unobtainable, but the nave has been 12′ wide. According to Hibbert (S Hibbert 1822) the chapel was built by Spaniards shipwrecked in Shetland (? from the Armada) but Muir (T S Muir 1885) believed it to be some hundreds of years older than the late 16th century.”

I had a little wander around.

This grave particularly grabbed my attention.  I’m not sure I want to be there at night.

So I know what I want to do.  I’ve just got to tell Haakon my latest plan of action. I am sure he would love it.

Yesterday we looked like this.

Today we look like this.

Anyway, I am at war with the hooded crows (or hoodies or “craa”) who are raiding the sheds for eggs.  There are four of them and they are working as a gang.

I am finding empty shells outside and nests raided which is infuriating.  So far, they have stripped out three nests and are now, on a daily basis, taking a duck egg from a nesting duck. They even take plastic eggs for crying out loud!

So it is war. OH put up this as a deterrant but to be honest, I am not hopeful.

It is a tough one for me. I love corvids (remember the carrion crow I rescued when south) and I do think we should live peacefully with nature but I draw the line at feeding cheeky crows our precious eggs. I am not sure where the line is drawn.  Everyone shares sheds with everyone else.  This is the Boyzenberry shed so they must be able to go in and out.

A few years back I was wandering around and found this crow nest in a gable end of an old building in my field, Clothie.

I thought “how lovely” until I walked closer and saw what they had built their nest out of…..

Gruesome little buggers!

So the war has begun and, in the kindest possibly way, I want to give my poultry their usual freedom while curtailing the crows’ egg diet.

It’s not easy.

Floss and I were sat in the Minion field this morning and of course were dutifully mugged with those that wanted hugs.

I was taking a few snaps with my phone when I managed to press the wrong button and suddenly found I was taking photos of myself, well Albie really attacking me from behind.

(I had words with Albie about those teeth).  Wicked boy.

So then I thought why not – I never take photos of myself and I quickly saw that the hatband had to go.

And here you are, this is me, once hatband off. A very rare photo.

Silver wanted in on the selfies too.

It was not an easy task, I can tell you.

But there were rewards (note-to-self – must keep finger out of lens).

And some look nicer than others.  Little Albernon was being very “loving”.

So there you go – some exceedingly rare photos indeed.  Enjoy x

The girls and I go out first thing this morning to do our chores, which we divide fairly:-

• put sheep flock in their field and give them brekkie (TurmerAid and a smidge of food)
• feed Lambie separately as he is speshul
• feed the old Icelandic horse men the last of a hoof supplement plus their TurmerAid, and check fill their water
• feed the ducks and hens, including one nesting duck who has her own private pile and clean water
• sweep out the puddles into the drains to keep the sand in the indoor school from getting saturated
• refill and/or clean water buckets in holding paddock
• look for small Patterdale terrier who has taken the opportunity to bugger off looking for rabbitses
• remove cat from every shed
• check every shed for cat and/or dog, neither of whom can be seen
• return sheep flock to their field after they have discovered the hole in the fence and come back to mooch around the front door, all swearing to a sheep that they haven’t had breakfast and oooh, is that a ginger biscuit?

After the chores, I went with my camera to try and capture just how beautiful everything was, while the girls went in for their breakfast.  The rain/mist/haar/drizzle had left water droplets on the wild flowers and grass and, as the light changed, it glittered like expensive jewellery, which I totally failed to capture with my camera.  Still, I tried.

And this was in our garden.

At least the midges didn’t arrive, so that was a plus.

Today has not been a brilliant day.

It has rained consistently and is very miserable outside. I was going to ride my horses but we postponed for tomorrow.

Poor BeAnne has not been feeling her best either and so I wanted her to be warm, calm and sleep.  I am a great believer in the theory that sleep is when your body heals.

I had rearranged my shed yesterday when I was given some valuable advice – my plants needed more light.  They are now in front of the big window.

And my work-table is to the side.

It took a little getting used to but BeAnne still has her special place and that is all that matters.

So while she slept, I made a sheeple to add to the collection.  He is ‘Bert.

Despite looking rather serious, ‘Bert has a kind (and honest) face!

And then Her Maj woke up (after a good 3 hour snooze) and told me we could go back to the house now.  So I packed away my work tools and wool and we went indoors whereupon BeAnne ate a big tea with very little encouragement, and then the cat’s as well.  Good girl.