We braved the weather to spend a lovely afternoon at our local agricultural show – the 2019 Walls & District Agricultural Show.

To be fair, it didn’t actually rain despite the looming grey clouds, much rain the night before, no breeze on the day with the added potential threat of midges.

So bathing in a DEET and citronella mix first (I found two bottles in the car), we walked around the showground.

I will let the photos do the talking.

Here is the serious bling which all the competitors want to win, obviously.

I started with the sheep – well you know why.

The usual different breeds.

Then up the field to the see the cows.

Pet Tent

Meanwhile, outside there was the annual parade of Up Helly Aa squads from various regions of Shetland.  They walk behind the Show Princess and the Attendants and a band.  It is very impressive and there is lots of cheering and Viking-esque war cries!

This year it was a lad who had been nominated as the Show “Princess”.  Brilliant.  I am so impressed.

Now the Show Hall for the crafts and cakes.

Outside past the lovely lovely tractors (always useful).

Into the nearby Church used on the day for the innovative floral exhibits.  It always smells lovely in there.

And then lastly into the Wool and Vegetables Tent.

I was not exhibiting this year.

And then lastly the Shetland pony ring that was just finishing up after a long day.

Tomorrow……. the Vegetable Creations – my absolute most favourite part of the whole show.

Our daily check of Brá found her at the furthest corner of her field with her two compatriots, Harvey and Kolka (an old Icelandic lady).

Brá is looking well.  She still has the leftover zinc cream (Sudocream) marking her face.  It did help when it was needed.  The midges and flies have gone now.  The wind is back and it is much cooller.  I think that was summer then.

Brá was pleased to see me and my carrot.

Don’t worry – I brought one for each of them.

Despite her neck still being huge and cresty, Brá’s body has changed shape – there seems to be less of it and she is beginning to look more normal.

So we had a little chat and I had little prod at the fat layers to see if there was a rib under there (not very evident yet).

Brá didn’t rush off, which was nice.  Maybe she is mellowing in her old age or too fat to leave quickly.

We walked back up the hill and over the stream knowing Brá is losing weight, if slowly, and that hopefully we have warded off laminitis in time.  A good Shetland winter will slim her down further.  Fivla came home fat a few years back and after one winter she had lost weight.  That is what winter is for.  Bring it on then.

Here are some wonderful photos that I was sent by yesterday’s photographer and/or victim, Julia Gregory.  She was the one who was mauled while lying on the ground while achieving these amazing shots.

© Julia Gregory 2019

I love receiving photos of my chaps taken by visitors. It is always fascinating seeing what they see in my ponies (there is quite a lot to see of Waffle – he is very *** cough *** wide!)

© Julia Gregory 2019

I love it when folk “get it”, ie understand why I love the Minions so much.

© Julia Gregory 2019

These next photos of Storm are perfect.

© Julia Gregory 2019

So a huge thank you to Julia for providing the photos for my blog today.

© Julia Gregory 2019

It is rather nice having a day off from taking pictures.

© Julia Gregory 2019

Though, I think I may try lying on the ground.  I am worried, though, that I might never get up again!

© Julia Gregory 2019

A few days ago, when the sun shone (I remember that – it was brief. I think it was called Summer), we had some visitors who were also keen photographers.  They met the Minions who “helped”.

I doubt there was much actual photography going on as all I could hear was laughing.

The Minions were very loving, if distracting.

I managed one nice picture of the pretty round purple flowers (devil’s-bit scabious) growing in the field.

Silver was intrigued by this photo taking lark.

In fact they all were and took a keen interest.

It was lovely spending time with folk who clearly adored, appreciated and understood my ponies.

For some, it was exhausting!  ZZzzzz…..

I have been trying to take photos of the youngsters to update the Thordale website as I realise it is looking rather shabby and out of date.  Do folk look at websites these days or are they very last year?

Today, Daisy and I went out to take pics of Lilja, etc.

There was help while Lilja was being positioned.

And then Hetja was in the way.

I have settled on this photo which does not nearly show just what a lovely mare Lilja is.

She is such a genuine lady.

So loving, easy and kind.  Every home should have a Lilja.

Little Herself, aka Sóley the Foalie, stopped for a minute so I could take a nice pic.  She is ever changing.

Hetja stayed well away. I want a better photo of her but when she has lost her pregnancy body.

It was a spectator sport.

So Efstur has not been photographed since he was a foal.  He is just coming out of his 3 year old giraffe phase and has grown/filled out hugely this summer.

Efstur is Daisy’s potential dream horse.

And then lastly, Taktur looking a bit gorgeous.  It has been a while since I have put up a recent pic of him.

So off to work on the website now.  How do I write gorgeous, lovely, kind in many different ways to describe everyone?