I haven’t been over to Leradale for ages so this afternoon I popped over with some friends, who happen to be interested archaeologists, and BeAnne for a lovely walk.

I also wanted to show off my Bronze Age settlement, like you do!

I tend to leave the land alone when it is not in use so the grass gets to grow undisturbed.  The Minions and the pregnant Icelandic mares will probably arrive in January or earlier if necessary.

It was nice to wander around, though, and remember how it was last winter with all my ponies and horses living here.

After the winter decimation, there is now plenty for everyone to eat.  Amazingly, the grass always grows back easily.

The archaeological sites of interest are still there.  Phew. This is our Bronze Age round/oval house.

And it was a good dog walk too, which is important to me and BeAnne.

I have missed Leradale.

It is such a special place and showing it off to my archaelogical (and very knowledgeable) friends was fascinating.  I want to learn about this place and understand how the Bronze Age folk lived here.

My quern-stone is still where it always is.

You know that idea I had about letting visitors meet the Minions?

Yer, that one (my blog post about my great idea).

Well, it can’t happen. I can’t get public liability insurance for this venture.   No one can go in their field accompanied by myself.

Today, I was putting eye ointment in Newt and Fivla’s eyes (they go gooby in the wind) when some nice visitors from Switzerland stopped their car to watch me.

They got out of their car to take photos of the ponies and we got chatting.

I tried out my best school French and they replied in much better English.

They also showed me photos of their Bernese Mountain dog and we instantly bonded as we used to have one called Lotte, many years ago.

I am sad that insurance companies see my Minions as a “High Insurance Risk”.

I tried to do this the right way. I was honest but it is not possible.

So that’s it.

No visitors for Minions chats allowed because my “High Risk” ponies are gonna eat you.

I think this is about as “high risk” as we get, to be perfectly honest.

Nuff said. I tried.  The world’s loss.

En route from seeing my pregnant Icelandic mares I noticed in the next door field that all the black standard Shetland pony mares were fast a-bye-byes.  These are the beautiful Bergli Stud girls belonging to our trainer, Bjørn.

So, of course, being me, I climbed over the fence with my camera to take some photos as I adore seeing sleeping ponies.

I was barely noticed.

Well, no one moved – they just looked drowsily at me.

Everyone appreciates the Shetland sunshine – probably because it is such a rare occurrence this time of year.

Lovely long bottom lips of total relaxation.

Barely open eyes.

They were all very relaxed.

Meanwhile, along the road, some of my lot were enjoying the break in the weather too.

Albie and Newt were happily sitting in piles of pooh.  I dispair, I really do.

And Tiddles was “en garde” for the sleepers.  Like he would deter anyone.

Everyone happily snoozing so that’s all that mattered.  I love sleepy ponies.

I have a secret yearning for a little shed of my own.

Somewhere I can make my own workshop and not have to clear up after any project so that others can use it afterwards.  Space is a valuable commodity here.

One of the reasons my films are so short is because I only have at most a couple of hours to work in and have to clear up afterwards so that the area can be used for something else, like horses. I do find it very frustrating but am using the short time periods to learn the process of animation rather than launch into my epic film.

In the long getting-darker evenings, I peruse Pinterest looking for ideas and inspiration on how my little studio would look inside and out.

My Dream Workshop Cabin Pinterest Board

I might even put in Loki’s old enormous comfy dog bed for a certain visitor to recline in if he felt like it.

I might also have to make a cover for the bed, though, as certain folk are not 100% continent!

(yes, you Lambie)

One day I will realise this dream.  It is at the imagining and planning stage at the moment.  It will be definitely insulated, with an electric supply and wifi.  Probably wooden.

I need a shed!

I drove over to the other side of the island to drop off some horserugs for mending and afterwards I thought I would take the scenic route home and enjoy the autumnal colours.

The sea was very blue but the wind was described today as a “strong breeze”.

It is a north-westerly so there is a bit of a nip in the air.

All of a sudden Summer feels like a brief interlude.

The colours in the landscape have changed as quickly as the weather.  One day it was Summer, the next Autumn.  Too quick.

I drove past some Shetland ponies grazing in a hill park.  I quickly stopped the car and took a few pics.

They looked very at home in their natural environment.

Driving southward along the Lang Kames to “Halfway House”, there was a viscious squall coming across the hills.

And yes, we have trees in Shetland. Who knew?

This is a small copse in Kergord. I found this article on t’net, which made interesting reading.  It is about the tree management here.

I enjoyed driving around, listening to an audio book as I go, and seeing a different part of Shetland.  It was a nice peaceful way to spend an afternoon.