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.

When it snows, the light is beautiful and I go out to take photos (now, there’s a surprise!)

So here are today’s pics……

Efstur – a sweetheart and a delight. He is three this year and I am shocked.  Time is flying by. I never noticed.

He has a famous dad – Álfur frá Selfossi – but to us, Efstur is just one of the boys. 

A desperately honest chap, possibly too honest at times for his own good.

Here is Haakon – my old friend, companion and “the one”.  25 this year but still bouncing.

Iacs, aka Bibble, he of the silly-frilly.  Much loved and Haakon’s cousin.  They may look similar but that’s about all.  Daisy ❤️ her Bibble.

Dreki Dragon (2 years old – wow!) – growing up to be a very nice chap.  I love the way he thinks.   Nothing worries him.  The herd is teaching him well, padwan.

Haakon (sticking his tongue out!) and Hjalti – who will be next up on the training roster, but it won’t be until next year as he needs to mature a bit more.  He is 4 this year.  We don’t rush our youngstock. We wait until we think they are ready.

Taktur, daddy of Hjalti and Dreki (and the lovely Lilja). He is a the best dude ever. If all stallions were like Taktur, life would be so very easy.

The gorgeous Kappi just returning to work after his much deserved holidays.  He loves training. It means he gets fed.  Reason enough in my book.

I put out a salt-lick and they all shared nicely.  Not a cross word between them.

Dear boys.

Efstur sees Tatkur as a father figure.  Well, you would, wouldn’t you?

So, that’s us, in the snow.  All happy.

I woke to this sunrise from my bedroom window at 08.51 heralding a new, if freezing, day.

After we had fed the Icelandic horses their silage, I stayed out with a little camera to take photos of the icicles in the hill. I also made a small film.

The shapes made by the movement of the water with the low temperatures create fascinating little watery sculptures.

As ever, BeAnne came too.  She likes my expeditions especially if they don’t involve either the horses/ponies in their field or the car.  Sheep and chickens are fine, though.

Monster, on the other paw, is struggling with his inner demons.

He is enjoying the snow but, to his disappointment, remains still visible.  He wants a full refund on his Harry Potter Invisibility Cloak.

Who knows what he is up to here. Was he a garage mechanic before he came to us?

Monster was determined to follow us walking calmly on the ice while I tried to find a safer, less-slippery route.

He even managed a little game with himself, pouncing and sliding on the sheet ice like a Disney film.  It was very funny to watch. He is certainly a candidate for Dancing on Ice – yes, I am addicted (don’t judge me!)

The audience were bemused at Monster’s antics.  Sheep are not good ice dancers.

Sunset today was at 15:42 so this was a bit before.  Always beautiful.

Blimmin’ freezing, though.