Honestly, this lot.  They make me laugh.  What is it with the rescued hill sheep?  They always want more food and then some more. There is never enough.

(I took this photo having lured them all into the field with Iacs’ barley rings and of course they wanted more).

Dahlia had been at the lick bucket, which I was pleased about.

Edna was hopeful but the others knew they had already had their ration – two barley rings each.

And eventually the flock went up into the hill field to graze for the day which is where I went to find them later when I took the dogs out for their walk.

I might have had in my pocket some more barley rings and I think Gussie knew that – he is part sheep, part hay bale and part scrounger.

Dahlia is very partial to all things edible too.  Like mother, like son, only she has far better manners.

It was lovely to see Dahlia and Gussie as part of my flock of sheep.  No bullying anymore, no arguments, just sheep together. What I always wanted but seemed to take a long time to achieve.

And little Gussie had not forgotten his friendship with Pepper.

So sweet together.

And if you count them all, there are nine sheep – all together, all grazing happily, all not arguing.

Even Lambie!

Up and at ’em at the usual time (8 a.m.) to feed everyone animal.  The mornings are becoming lighter, which is much nicer for us all.  The sheep have tummy-clocks worthy of NASA and are always waiting for me.

Ditto for every horse and pony that I own.  They are all waiting for me to arrive with their individual buckets.

A rushed breakfast and off I went to Turriefield (“Terry Field” according to my phone).

Planting today – this time broad beans, I think – and then down to the polytunnel which was blissfully warm (the planting shed had been freezing) and we picked out seedlings.

I could’ve set up home in that polytunnel if only for the warmth.

I was home in time for lunch and resentment from a certain smelly little dog – I brushed her which immediately increased the level of indignation.

So I went into my shed to add another sheep to the collection that will eventually get to the shop in Lerwick when they need more.

(I’ve been cold all day and am currently sitting at my desk with a hot-water bottle on my lap to try and warm up.  The cold really got to my bones when I was putting the ponies to bed this afternoon so I gave up and came indoors leaving my poo-picking chores until tomorrow.)

The temperature is dropping this week and there is even snow possibly forecast, though hopefully not much.  We’ve just started our last round bale of hay, so I decided to go to town to fetch another.  I like to have a spare hay bale especially this time of year otherwise  I like awake at night and worry about this sort of thing.

I did a brief supermarket shop too and then onto the street for a quick shufty just because it feels like I haven’t been out and about for a very long time and there might be something new around.

There wasn’t.

Still the same stuff and the place was deserted.  I got the feeling everyone is just preparing themselves for the oncoming cruise ship arrival.

I got home at lunch-time, said hello to those that had missed me and unloaded the van.

Then I spent the afternoon doing all the chores I had completely failed to do yesterday because the weather was so vile (a cold wind and endless rain).  The old ladies were around offering help and getting in the way.  I had to bribe them to leave with an early tea.

Luckily, the little boys were’nt about.  They remained in their field.  They are never allowed to help.  They wouldn’t know how and it most definitely wouldn’t be helpful, either.

It was a relatively calm morning, so I texted my friend, Monika, to see if she wanted to go on a dog-walk. The reply was yes so I drove over with Ted and Pepper.  We would walk around her croft.

Monika has two Shelties – Shetland Sheepdogs – a youngster called Harry as well as a senior dog called Copper.

My lot have met Copper and Harry but this was the first time we went on a proper walk all together.

And I lugged the big camera around with me so I could take some photos.

Harry was quite taken with Pepper.

I hope Harry was not learning any bad habits from my two.  Pepper had already left home this morning and had to be collected (oh, the shame).

Copper tended to do his own thing at the back.

These two were very funny together.  Harry was desperate to play and suddenly Pepper was a boring grown-up, a terrier on a mission determined to do terrier things.  Harry devotedly followed her everywhere while Pepper just ignored him.

Harry so wanted to play.

Ted was just happy to be somewhere new and enjoyed his walk very much, probably glad to have Pepper off his case.

We walked around Monika’s croft and ended up at the horses and ponies.

It was a good walk and someone is going to sleep well tonight.

Last night, Tiddles refused to be caught and said he wanted to stay outside with his pals.

So, I consulted the weather runes to find it was going to be a calm and relatively warm night.  I said ok, he could stay outside, thinking it would be good for him to start to reacclimatize anyway.

Of course, I didn’t sleep a wink worrying that Tiddles was now colicking and probably dead because he had been outside for a whole night.  But this is what I found in the morning – one miserable Tiddles who rather regretted his choice.

Newt tried to brighten his spirits by being very annoying and bitey.

But I could tell that Tiddles was fed up.  He had probably been hassled all night by Newt and, crime of crimes, had to share his own private haynet which he is not used to.  He remembered that he likes his little stall and home comforts.

Albie told tales on everyone and I believed him.

So, this afternoon, I opened the gate, and Tiddles without being asked trotted, yes trotted, into the big shed and straight into his bedroom, no questions, no arguments. I could almost hear him say “home, sweet home” as he tucked into his bucket and then onto his own private haynet that he didn’t have to share with anyone, ever.