We currently have some friends’ horses living at Leradale so I check on them daily.  It is nice to go back to Leradale in warmer months. I see the fields with new eyes.  Today I noticed two small birds shouting at me.  They alternatively pipped at each other in two slightly different tones very loudly.  Enough to get my attention.

I think, and I am happy to be corrected, that they were European Golden Plovers (Pluvialis apricaria) in their summer plumage.

Apparently they are widespread breeders in northern Europe, which constitutes >50% of its global breeding range, so that would be in Leradale then.

I am pretty sure they were Mr and Mrs as they did a lot of shouting ….

…. And running around!

They looked like government secretaries with important business to attend to.

I didn’t do too much investigating in case they had a nest somewhere.

But I was pleased to see the birds. We have fields of them in autumn but I have never got close enough before despite trying to creep up on them many times.

So today was my chance for a good look and listen.

Dear little birds but very shouty!

And so to town first thing this morning for a very important and essential routine appointment.  I would never miss one of these.

How is that for a view for the NHS wagon?  I bet they love coming here just to see the Clickimin Loch with the Clickimin Broch (an 8th century Pictish fort) in the distance.

We drove around Lerwick distributing Minion meet-and-greet leaflets and getting our messages,

A boat was in and the town for once was not deserted.

It makes such a difference to see folk about, peering through the windows, going into shops, taking an interest.  Lerwick is very pretty little town.

One of my main tasks was to fill up my field.  Since I started this venture of selling to the shops, I have sold 12 sheep since 7th May.  I am very chuffed.  Still only one puffin, though. Words fail on that score.

Never mind.  Shopping done and swifly back home – my favourite place.

I have just been to see Les Girls.

It can’t be too long for Brá now and, well, who knows what with Hetja. 

The spring Shetland flowers are beginning to take off.  Everywhere there is colour.

Madam followed me up the field to the gate, ever hopeful I will say “let’s go and do something”.  She would come into the house if she could.  One of those.

The rest of my diary for this week is beautifully empty so now I can spend some real time with my horses and ponies.

Every evening I go to my little she-shed, creation station, studio, craft shed….. whatever – basically, my space has no name without one member of the family sniggering.

This was my view yesterday.  Perfect.  I really love my little room.  It was a good idea.

I am making my sheep for the shop in Lerwick. I like to go in every week to add to the decreasing flock, rearrange the display and add or take away some.  This is my latest herd getting ready for their trip into town.

I have also Wensleydale curls/locks in gorgeous black and white to work with and I love them.  .   They can transform anyone into a sheep of beauty.

I have the best fun with it.

These are my three curly-wurlies ready to travel.

So all is good.  I enjoy my sheep making. I listen to the radio and happily stab away.

I have not forgotten my animation – I am doing an online beginners animation course (university, dontcha know) so I have lots of homework.  I am enjoying it all very much.  Note-to-self – must buy some plasticene tomorrow for next film).

My back is giving me jip.  I am due my spinal steroid injections hopefully very soon – note to self, must phone up and ask.

So today I am having a cop-out and putting up some arty-farty photos from yesterday.

I am not a huge fan of Instagram, mainly because I don’t “get it” – and you can add LinkedIn to the don’t-get-it list as well – but sometimes filters have their place.

Fivla looks lovely with a wafty filter.  She just lends herself to it.  Always has.  She is a fairy pony.

In real life she is just as special. I think it is her beautiful eyes and her soft nose.

Vitamin is just as magnificent, but in a different way.  She is very expressive and definitely the boss of everyone.  No one messes with Vitamin.

Little Tiddles and his docken patch.  He was rootling through the big leaves looking for nice new grass.

His beautiful combination of colours goes very well with the solid dark leaves.

You can tell I brushed them!  The floofies. And yes Tiddles has one blue eye.  He is not blind or deaf.  If you breed for specific colour variations, you will inevitably breed ponies with this feature. It is not a deformity and I know Tiddles has no health problems because of this.  Sadly Shetland pony foals in Shetland with blue eyes are not wanted.

Everyone should want a Tiddles.  He is a gorgeous chap and much loved part of my family.

And darling Newt.  “A lonely little petunia in an onion patch” with thoughts of world domination.

So, there you are. I will go back to whinging about my back and I must make that phone call tomorrow morning to the Anaesthetic Department.

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