Today our Shetland ladies, Fivla and Vitamin, tried their Fair Isle sweaters on.  It’s been a while but it had to be done as they are on show at the end of the week for Fair Isle Friday at the Shetland Museum.  They had originally worn them six years ago in 2013 for the Visit Scotland advertising campaign..

We cleaned off any obvious dirt (I had stood them in the stream first to wash the mud off their legs).

First we tried on Fivla’s red Fair Isle sweater.  It had been knitted for her.  Other’s might have worn it but it was her very own sweater.

Then it was Vitamin’s turn. Her’s was the brown Fair Isle sweater.  Vitamin remembered the procedure and had her usual little “talk”.  I love her for this.  She has always done it.

It was pretty clear that the sweaters were much smaller than they once were.  I think they have been washed a few times and shrunk quite considerably since we last saw them.

The Minions watched in their field. Their eyes were on stalks.  Albie was green with jealousy.  He could just see himself in his very own sweater.

We undressed the girls and put them back into the field, happy in the knowledge that the sweaters would be fine for Fivla and Vitamin’s return to the limelight.

Next everyone needed a good brush and tails were trimmed too in case we have any Wool Week visitors.

Now the sweaters are currently hanging up drying in my kitchen.  We seem to have gone back in time.

A few days ago, I went and learned the traditional craft of hand weaving.  I was having this stunning Shetland wool rug made for myself by Christina Smith of Shetland Handweavers.

It is perfect, even with the added dog hair.

I asked for the rug to be finished with the cotton ends twisted.  You can have plaited.

The flip side is equally beautiful.  I can’t decide which side I like best.

I laid my new rug on the floor of our sitting room and it was instantly sat on.

Monster thought it was an excellent new addition to his extensive collection of beds.

He gave it his Seal of Approval.

BeAnne went for the more attention-seeking approach. She “played possum”, as a friend calls it.

Yin and Yang.

Always jealous of anyone’s attention straying, Her Maj adoped her most interesting attitude.

I think, at the end of the day, this rug is far too beautiful to be on the floor.  I did originally think I would have it for my creation-station, she-shed, studio but the thought of Lambie even looking at it with his muddy hooves is too much (and he has been known to pee on rare occcasions when flustered).

I am going to see what my unicorn looks like hung behind my office chair instead of the curtain that doesn’t quite match.  I want our visitors to see this incredible piece of art rather than tread on it.

I wove the tip of his horn, which is the most magical bit!

And so to Lerwick this morning to leaflet everywhere before the 2019 Wool Week hoards arrive.  I went into my usual shops and left piles of my very special leaflets offering folk the opportunity to visit the Minions and the Old Ladies.  I sincerely hope someone visits.

The shops have been working hard in preparation for a very busy week ahead.

This is the Wool Brokers.

Outside, the weather was disgusting but dodging the torrential downpours, I went in and out leaving leaflets here and there. This is the Shetland Museum’s outside bit.

And when I went into the Museum, I also collected a box.

A box I know well.  I should say Fivla and Vitamin know well.

And so you might be able to guess what is about to happen….

The girls will be back (weather permitting and if I can also get them squozed into their sweaters – it has been a while).

‘Bert (short for Lambert) and ‘Ster (short for, yes you’ve got it, Lambster) were spending a nice  morning relaxing and chewing their cud. This is always their routine.

Meanwhile Lambie, *** sigh ***dear Lambie, was mooching around nearby having an independant thought – not something we ever encourage.

You can almost feel the peace and quiet and there is the occasional burp.

Meanwhile, Lambie was yawning.  He was bored of all this tranquility.

So, as I was going over to Clothie to check the girls were still there, I let them follow me across the hill to the field.

I love seeing my sheep in the hill except they don’t look anything like hill sheep.

Not even slightly.

They might be *** cough ***, as my postman always says “looking very well”.

Obviousy Her Maj came too and I left her outside the field with the sheep.  Lambie always takes a huge interest in whatever BeAnne finds.  At times, he behaves like a dog.

Lambie would follow BeAnne around if he could.  After all, she is his “uvver-muvver”.

Horses checked, all is well and back home I go, again followed by three sheep.

Lambie did a superb scopey (a show-jumping term) jump over the ditch.

While ‘Ster threw himself across and ‘Bert walked over.

I am not sure why I take my camera really but I do it when everyone comes too.

Under the ever-watchful eye of Vitamin (wearing a rather jaunty stick in her mane today), the Minions are always looking for an opportunity to cause mischief.

They can’t help themselves.  It makes me laugh.

Nothing is safe.  Everything is investigated.

And, unless it is tied down, dismantled.

If a Minion can wear it, he will.

Today Waffle put my bag on Storm’s back.

Making sure it would stay in place.

Eventually Storm had an opinion about this.

But I think it was because Storm wanted to play with the bag himself.  He coveted it “his neighbour’s bag”.

Storm’s Cunning Plan meant that he had a lovely time throwing the bag around preferably back at Waffle.  Possible revenge for putting it on his back in the first place.

That poor bag.  It is suprisingly hard wearing.

After a while, I told the ponies to go away and find something else to do.

And of course there were more shenanigans.

Like little boys everywhere, the Minions can’t actually walk in a straight line without bothering each other (I know it looks like it).

They remind me of the boys in the school corridors pushing and shoving.

And someone always has to get their teeth out.

I am forever shouting “put him down”!