I had a lovely day with Karen, my crafting friend.  She knows everything I need to know and is willing to teach me, and provide lunch too!  Excellent.

Flossie has been working hard with her Su (Suzhou) embroidery and this is her second piece.

I wanted to know how best to preserve, mount and frame her work.  I have first dibs on it all – mother’s perk.

I had been given some left-over foam board (from the Turriefield veg boards saying “hello”/”thank you”).  They were still perfectly useable and Karen cut the right sizes for each piece of silk and showed me how to stitch behind to stretch the beautiful works of art, including corners (hospital I shall do).

Then it was the turn of Lambie’s now-washed fleece.  I had brought it over to learn how to flick card (now about to order one for myself) to open up the locks.  There was of course the beautiful Breagha, the sprocker, on paw at all times to “help”.

And offer enccouragement.  I was suitable encouraged!

Lambie’s fleece is a double-coated fleece which means he is part carpet (coarse hair) and part curly useable wool.

So I watched and learnt my new craft.

The useful bits – lovely opened up wool and locks (note the lingo).

The hair will be useful – I will take it south with me for my mother. She said something about making Shetland ponies.

I tried to divide everything into black or white – wool or hair – and I think it will be good to felt with too.

Anyway, we have plenty of the raw material in its natural smelly state to work with.

Part the 2 tomorrow, when Karen demonstrated more carding with a drum carder and English combs (it was a scary instrument of torture to me).

I am loving this.

Feeling nostalgic, I was looking back at Lilja’s baby photos.

In my eyes she is still the same little Lilja as when she had just arrived.

Just a bit bigger and she definitely has her father’s gorgeous head.

Lilja’s one aim in life is to be by your side.

She spies me and comes from one end of the field to say hello, happily leaving Hetja and Brá without a second thought.

We haven’t done much with her recently.  I went round picking up each foot and she happily lifted them up like it was an every day occurrence.  No headcollar, no nothing.  She needs a good brush but half of me thinks while it is still hailing (in June?) then it would be unfair to her so she remains a happy scruff-bag.

Lilja has been brilliant these past few days supporting Brá in her hour of need.  Between Lilja and Hetja, they have gently guided and stayed with Brá, giving her space and time.  She knows they are there for her.  I am very proud of them all (*** sniff, wipe and blow ***).

You can tell who is the boss in this film.

After a nice chat with Lilja, some carrot distribution to them all, a quick check up on Brá and look at Hetja’s progress, I went home, followed of course by Lilja (you are never knowingly on your own!)

A dear girl.  A real credit to her family.

A day in Lerwick, which actually did me the world of good.  I had an appointment with the Consultant Anaesthetist at Gilbert Bain Hospital to discuss my pain control and future epidural steroid injections in my spine.

We also discussed my own methods of pain control. I have chronic spinal pain with intermittent agony.  Sadly, it plays rather a huge part in my life. I hate it.

During the day time I use a Painpod – a portable “physical therapy medical device”. Like a tens machine, but much, much better.

For my back, I wear a kidney shaped pad on my lower spine attached to my small machine that electronically blips, tweaks and squeezes all day long.

I can change the settings according to my pain needs.   Brilliant for sciatica and has seen me through many desperate times. I can spend my day feeling capable and happy without thinking “I hurt, therefore I am”.  This machine is worth every penny to buy, easy and cheap to run (charges off a USB port), while efficient and discreet.  I love it and happily showed it my Consultant who was very interested.  I cannot rate the Painpod highly enough.  It changed my life.   They are also a very helpful company to deal with.  If you want to buy one, tell them I sent you!

Before I go to bed, I lie on an acupressure mat  for at least an hour. I sleep very well and very deeply throughout the night. When I don’t use it, I don’t sleep.

Plus the Turmoil – turmeric capsules from The Golden Paste Company. Lambie is living proof their turmeric works and now so am I.  I wouldn’t take any other brand of capsule and would panic if I ran out.  I can feel the pills working.  One in the morning and one in the evening.

The combination of these three essential things in my life are what keep me upright and active during the day, and give me a good sleep at night. I love sleep. It is the answer to all my prayers.

Anyway, it was a very useful appointment. We decided I could have more injections when my usual options stop working.  Shit happens and then my back gives up (this I know) so I am glad to have Plan B.

We are all very lacklustre today.  I keep telling myself that we need to get over this and get on with things.  But it is not as easy as it seems and I am struggling.

Today Flossie and I did our horse and pony checking – we have three lots to do at the moment (owners away) so we just “do it in a oner”, taking the car and driving round to the various places with animals that need a visit.

We took some brushes and attacked the last of the winter wool on the Minions.

Newt is clinging onto his fur and resembles a recalcitrant yak.

Storm has lost all his and is now wearing his summer dresses.

Tiddles is another but he gets stroppy if you try to brush him.  It is a case of one hand clinging onto his mane and brushing as quickly as possibly before he walks away.

I guess I could take a headcollar.

Most of Silver’s fur has gone except for under his chin.

Tiddles could tell that Floss and I were not ourselves so he prescribed his best treatment.

They know when you are sad and I think that is what I love most about animals – their empathy.

The rounds finished, we went home and I popped into the ladies’ field.  Brá took a carrot from me and I had a quick look at her.  Her baby belly is slowly going down now and she is physically fine.

When the vet was here, he did say Hetja was definitely pregnant.

It was raining so I didn’t stay very long. At least it is washing away all the traces.

While BeAnne spends all her time with me, a certain weird cat is in the house being busy.

Monster regularly plots world domination.

I think it is safe to say he has taken over us at the very least – this is OH’s sofa spot.

Just not anymore.

Monster has many names and answers to none.

Perhaps not the most elegant, though.

Monster manages to make himself known and reminds me far too much of the cartoon Simon’s Cat.  It is scarily accurate.  OH looks just like Simon and the cat is no one other.  It’s like someone is watching our house and knows us very well.

Daisy took this film.  I think it is wonderful.

🐈🐩🐶🐱🐈🐩🐶🐱🐈🐩🐶🐱

A quick Brá pdate:  She is doing ok.  No sign of toxic shock or infection.  We have buried the foal now and made sure she didn’t know and, more importantly, couldn’t smell it.  It was not a happy job but it is done and we move forwards. Brá is subdued and we had a chat while I gave her a huge bucket of diverting food.  She understands what has happened and if anyone thinks animals don’t grieve, please think again.  You are very wrong.