We’ve had some gorgeous sunsets recently.  The benefits of winter.  This was yesterday’s looking over to Foula from Watsness.

Today, having done all my chores, I took Haakon out for a ride, avoiding the ice which appeared again overnight.  Haakon is pretty sensible so I put my trust in him and my hands in my pockets because it was very cold.

Daisy came too on Kappi, who has started being ridden again after his holiday.  He is not very fit which suits Haakon fine.  We had a lovely ride.  Very easy going.  I can take photos when I ride Haakon.

The skyline was looking very beautiful.

After that calm ride, Daisy and I saddled up again.  I rode Klængur (pronounced prat).

And Daisy rode Taktur, her stallion who behaved like a dream. We, on the other hoof, spooked, rushed off and in the end I got off and walked home because ice + spooking = potentially me falling off. Never a good ending for anyone when that happens, Haakon will tell you.  Taktur was a donkey, almost fast asleep.

I think I will to do some work with Klængur to get him listening.  He needs to remember that I like bending, stopping and manners not vanishing off into the sunset at a break-neck speed.

Oh well, Monster is very calm.

He loved the BBC Wild Shetland tv programme last night and tried to climb into the television.  Most odd. He has never done that before.

Before the snow melted, it was beautiful – now we are back to the mud with some added sleet.  Nice (said sarcastically).

Everyone looked clean and floofy.

Newt looked particularly gorgeous.

We had a special chat about his wonderful Newtiness.

And he agreed with me that he was doing his very best.

(When I think of this time last year when Vitamin was being a total biatch and attacking Newt and Albie non-stop, trying to drive them from “her” field, resulting in them coming home when I found them shivering in the middle of the bog.)

I Hate Bullies

Anyway all is calm and peaceful now. They are one happy little herd without an independant thought between them.  After the brief Appreciation of Being Newt Society meeting, they rushed off to watch some children sledging down a hill in the next door field.

The ponies stood transfixed, totally mesmerised and also possibly thinking they would like to have a shot themselves.

Now, feeling totally ignored, I continued with my chilly walk.

I am not complaining. I am pleased all is well with the little ones.  This is what I wanted – exactly how it should be.

I am getting my arse into gear for potential Shetland visitors to meet the Minions and the “famous” ladies, Fivla and Vitamin – thems from the ad campaign when they wore those sweaters.

I have finally found a very reasonable insurance company who can offer public liability insurance for anyone who wants to come into the field or stand outwith, which is good news.

I have emailed all the Shetland tour companies with some enthusiastic results (and some ‘interesting’ ones too).  Anyway, I have decided to give it a year and see how we go.

I have to check the ponies daily and it is always lovely to introduce them to interested folk.

I am busy designing a DL sized leaflet to distribute to the tourist office and other places but I may have to actually kill someone now as I am fighting with f&*$-ing Photoshop Elephants due to the fact I never use it unless I have to so have forgotten how it works, even the basics.

Can I extend a background at the bottom or the top?  Can I?  Can I?  Can I hell……
Can I get the wording in a visible colour?  Can I?  Can I? Again, Can I hell……

I am becoming, or have become, hysterical and am beginning to hate the whole wretched idea.  I am now listening to Mahler.  Nuff said.

(if anyone has any expertise with Photoshop or similar and can help me, please let me know.  I will forever be in your debt and will happy send you a pony of your choice in the post by return in exchange).

Also, if you can think of better wording, please say.  I am losing the will to live over this.

(the reverse – which I like)

Also, will I be sued by Universal for using the word ‘Minion’?

Fer cryin’ out loud!  How difficult can it all be.

The snow has just about all gone now but before it left, I went home the scenic route after seeing the Minions and Icelandic ladies to admire the view.

It is in this particular spot the best icicles “grow”.

They are fabulous.

I love the way they look like sharp teeth!

Vampire icicles

People are starting to notice that it is getting darker a little bit later every day.  Since the shortest day, I would say we have gained about an hour of daylight – a bit in the morning and the evening.  It does make a huge difference knowing we have gone through the darkest part of winter and are coming out the other side, slowly but surely.

Once home, the Boyzenberries had woken up from their afternoon siesta.

The Monarch of the Glen by ‘Bert

Lambie wanted me to know that he hates silage but, as there is nothing else, he will grudgingly eat it.  But I have to interpret this by the baleful glare he insists on giving me.

And ‘Ster, who had found a new spot to continue his slumbers in, saw me and rolled over like a seal to give me his most beautiful smile..  He is enchanting.  Lambie possibly less so.

As it was a super blood wolf moon last night, Monster was annoying OH on an hourly basis.  In the end I gave up trying to sleep, remembered the eclipse and went and stood outside in my dressing gown to watch it.

This is the best of the terrible photos I took.  You don’t want to see the others.  It was commented that they looked like someone had spat on my camera!

I don’t know why I bother.

Yesterday was a beautiful calm day and the pale winter sun shone.

Lambie and his friends were back in their normal field for one day only.  They love this field.

I shall title this picture – The Noble Profile

‘Ster went to sleep in the sunshine (you can almost hear him snore).

Lambie practiced his Winning Smile at me – he knows how to make his Muzzah’s heart melt.

Zzzzzzz……..

‘Bert was on the move.

Blue Steel or Magnum?

Exhausting work after being “really really really ridiculously good-looking” so a little forty winks was the order of the day .

There was nice and comfortable grass, with a hint of snow.

A bijoux Winning Smile in his sleep.  Dreaming of what do you think?

So two of the boys were sheepie-bye-byes.

And ‘Bert found the morning silage – he was stuffing his face.

This is the face of a sheep who knows his friends are asleep and all the silage is his, if he wants it.

I love my sheepie boys.