I thought I would go black and white today. Something different.

There was a brief lull in the rain so I went out with my big camera to capture the magic. Shetland is always beautiful, I remind myself.

Monster was squozing himself from under my car. Knowing his feelings for me (or lack thereof), I suspect he has cut the brakes!

What me?  No! Never, of course not. I’m innocent, I am. Drive it and see. Go on!

These days, everyone is outside again and I am trying not go down the always-in-a-stable-and-feeding-hay route.  Fresh air is better for horses.

But, for me, it is a very easy trap to fall into and theoretically we are not really into a full-on proper Shetland winter yet (though it feels like it).

I am also trying hard to keep the Boyzenberries at home despite their constant attempts to escape.  I put them in a field every day and then they spend it looking at me malevolently and trying to catch my eye to ask if I will let them out because apparently sheep don’t live in fields. I gave in today and let them out early.

Lambie is in a very odd mood. He goes round just looking, well…..odd!

He appears to be cross-eyed. Like I said, odd.

(I quite like this black and white – better than filters)

Anyway, the rain is giving up now for a few days and hopefully we will all dry out, eventually.

Though, I am still not convinced that my car has not been tampered with!

Everyone has been moved to Clothie, 5 acres of field that hasn’t been touched since Haakon and Iacs left it over a month ago.  After the storm, I thought it would be a good place for the youngsters to be for a bit.  We lug hay over daily.

Efstur and Taktur are still being fed their smigeon of hard-feed.  With five horses in the field, I took some headcollars to fend off any circling vultures.

But I didn’t need them.

We put the two buckets out and Efstur and Taktur instantly knew they were for them.

As the others didn’t bother, Floss went and gave them each a carrot to say “thank you chaps”.  Dear boys.

Dreki came over for a little chat but he knew better than to ask his father for his food.

So once Floss had distributed evenly and fairly her carrots, she kept Dreki occupied pratisicing a very important Thordale training technique – the Nose Kissey.

As you can see, Dreki has mastered and loves this method of training (he is a very good kisser or perhaps that is too much information!)

Yesterday, on my very wet travels, I found Sóley-the-Foalie with a swollen and streaming left eye but, at the time, I could do nothing because there was no way I was going to be able to catch her in a Force 11 Storm. I didn’t even try.

So, today, armed with Flossie, eye-cleaning equipment, eye wash (cold tea), eye ointment, a headcollar and rope, plus a good pile of food, we prepared to do battle.

Floss was my best weapon.  She was brilliant.  Having spent most of her summer talking to Sóley when she first arrived, Flossie easily caught our Little Buttercup.  With Floss hanging on for grim death, I tried to clean the eye but Sóley was having none of it – there was rearing and she is quite big now.  So we tied our unhelpful foal up to the gate whereupon she broke the rope.  Floss caught Madam again (I was nicely surprised by that), I retied the rope and this time I mean she was really tied her to the gate.  We also distributed the food in large quantities with Floss shovelling it down Sóley while I cleaned away and then, somehow (the Gods must’ve been smiling) I got in a good dab of eye ointment.

Little Sóley did settle down and we let her eat her food peacefully.

And she even came to talk to me afterwards, which was good.

So I am feeling relieved. We managed. The eye is clean and already looking better and at least she has had one good dose of eye ointment.

Meanwhile, back at camp, guess who turned up off the hill having been missing since Sunday asking for their breakfast?

I am very relieved to see them. I had been worrying.

We are all very fed up of this terrible weather now.

We long for our freedom again – ie to go outside safely and, if possible, to stay dry too.  My kitchen is festooned with our waterproofs trying to dry.

Today, we managed to get the Icelandic boys up into the stable (they stayed in their field yesterday and refused to be fed) and they had a morning of rugs off, peace and quiet and unlimited hay. Then dry rugs back on and into their field. Meanwhile, Haakon and Iacs amused themselves around the house rattling the front door knob when they wanted treats.

I managed to drive around and dish out carrots (very quickly, though) to those that live outwith my croft.

I felt bad as I would’ve loved to have spent more time with the little ones.

I also noticed on my travels that one of Sóley-the-Foalie’s eyes was streaming but there was nothing I could do. Tomorrow, Floss and I will go with a headcollar and try to catch her, examine it, clean it up and put antibacterial eye-drops in.  There is absolutely no point trying this in a Force 11 gale.  Apparently the weather will calm down tomorrow.  I am fed up to the back teeth of this to be honest.

On my way home, I went to see what the waves were doing at Dale Beach.

The whole car shook with the full force of the wind so I didn’t stay long.

I was also covered in sea spray even from this distance.

Still, it looks fairly impressive.

Yesterday, Floss declared that she was missing the Minions so came along for the ride clutching a bag of carrots.  Of course she was instantly Miss Popular.

Therefore, I used the opportunity to use my big camera.

Usually I am the one dishing out carrots while at the same time fending off Albie (he always says he has not had his share – such a liar) and I just can’t take photos as well.  I don’t have enough hands.

Newt was on very special form.  He has seen the error of his ways and the bouncy bottom is no more – or so he says.

Despite this lot standing away from the desperately starving, Flossie went around and gave everyone their fair share.

The wind was howling, but still stand-uppable in.  However, today has been fierce and dangerous so, apart from brief checking (thank you to my friends – you know who you are and I appreciate your help), no one got much. It really has not been safe to go outside.

This morning BeAnne vanished so I went outside shouting her name and found the “Wee Dug” howling to herself cowering behind a shed in the garden.  Now she only goes out on a lead. Having said that, she managed to squoze herself, with absolutely no one noticing, through the cat-flap to follow us when we were putting Haakon and Iacs back in their stable for the night (*** sigh ***)

Anyway, please enjoy the photos.

It was nice to have two spare hands.

And then Newt followed us home.

Anyway, it has been a good day to do the diaries – I have started on 1896 now. Kate and Alys are learning to ride bicycles – ooh, the excitement! – The Diaries of Aunt Kate