Shetland in Autumn is special.

It is my favourite season.

So, this morning, after a lovely ride on Haakon accompanied by my two daughters on their Icelandic horses, I went out to collect a prescription from my doctor.  Afterwards I decided to go for a little drive about with my camera.

I didn’t go very far.  Just around the block, so to speak.

The rain was coming in too.

I saw many things I have never noticed before.

If the rain was not on its way, I would’ve stayed out for longer.

I enjoy driving around, watching the world or being watched – whichever.

I see these views most days but, as the light changes, so do the colours.

Driving through the scattald (open hill) is always an adventure.

This landscape is a mixture of sandstone and granite.

Foula was looking mysterious today.

Enjoy the views.  I always do.

It was a beautiful day yesterday.  The sun shining, barely much wind and now we have the beautiful Autumn colours.  Shetland in Autumn is, I think, my favourite time of year.

So I volunteered to check on the herd that live a few miles away – Four Minions plus the girls.

Everyone wanted to talk which makes the drive very worthwhile.

Silver was very kissey.

Fivla wanted a tickle.

Storm was happy pulling his idiot face.

Tiddles was happy stuffing his face.

As was Waffle.

Vitamin was in a regal frame of mind.

I adore her whiskers.

And Lyra laughed at me!

Delia is looking good.  Spot on, for this time of year.  The others are all very large and wide!  Grass bellies.

As the weather starts to deteriorate, they will all need all the heating and insulation their bodies can give them so I am not worried.

Up here, fat is good.  Fat works hard.

Earlier this year, you may remember that the Boyzenberries were expertly sheared.

We carefully rolled up their fleeces and stored them each separately in a bag with the top open, so they didn’t sweat and turn nasty.

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First up, we have ‘Ster – who is a two year old pure Shetland sheep, with a katmoget Grade 1 fleece – the best you can have, so I am told.

(Handsome Sheep on the right)

Katmoget – having a light colored body with dark belly and legs, and moget facial markings (Shetland sheep markings).

‘Ster’s fleece has a natural curl and is considered very good and of the best quality.

Ster’s fleece weighs 3kg.

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Then we have Lambie.

What can I say?  He has an honest face with a Winning Smile but perhaps a not-so-good fleece.

Grade 4, to be perfectly honest.  Apparently he is “double coated”.  If someone is happy to separate it, the undercoat is fine to spin – or it could be spun together to make a rug!  (from my expert spinner)

His fleece weighs 1.5 kg.

Lambie is a two year old pure Shetland sheep with a flecket or yuglet fleece.

The underneath is pretty.

So, to recap….

‘Ster – Grade 1, katmoget fleece = 3kg
Lambie – Grade 4, flecket fleece = 1.5kg

‘Bert’s fleece has already gone to be turned into something beautiful

Make me an offer. My email is frances@fstaylor.co.uk – all contributions will go to The Minion Fund.  I am happy to send a fleece anywhere in the world, if you are happy to pay the postage.

The closing date for offers on these two fleeces is a week today – 14th September.

Yes, dear reader, I found the ruddy photos!

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I have been corresponding with some visitors to Shetland who requested if they could meet the “Shetland Ponies in Sweaters”.

So we went to meet the famous ladies but minus the sweaters. They are not mine to use and to be honest, I think Fivla could take someone’s eye out with the buttons popping as she has put on a bit of weight since then.

Lyra did not understand why anyone would want to speak to her old mother and her little fat friend.

I mean, come off it, Lyra is far more beautiful….

….. And Lyra wanted the attention on her.

So photos were taken.

(Delia stayed well out of it – she does not do The Fame Game).

I also introduced everyone to our visitors, ie the four Minions.

Yes, Lyra, we see you.  You’re a Minion too and so’s your wife!

Some were a little bit busy.

It is always nice to meet fellow enthusiasts and to tell them about the ponies.  I enjoy that.

I think everyone behaved themselves.

And, yes, Lyra is very beautiful.

Today, I was all set to write the blog about yesterday’s visitors who came especially to see The Shetland Ponies in Sweaters (the ponies were nekkid as I don’t keep the sweaters).

I took lots of photos and then promptly reformatted the memory disk before I could remember to download them.

So now I am trying to recover the pictures using my trusty software while hoping for the best as it is always nice to meet new people and introduce them to everyone.

Maybe tomorrow, I will write about them.

Anywho, today has been a day of weather (BeAnne hates it and goes into one of her declines).

There was a gale and a huge amount of rain so, apart from checking everyone, I have been indoors putting my life on Ebay so that I can pay an eye-watering silage bill and Albie’s gelding operation.

Anyone fancy a first edition of James Agate’s Fantasies and Impromptus – my father collected his books as he thought he was a relative.  My maiden name is Agate.

Or perhaps a first edition of Evelyn Waugh’s Love Among the Ruins, which I am almost loathe to sell and rather fancy reading.

Or how about a Soup Dragon from the Clangers – brand new with tags (kindly donated).

Or a very large book about China?  Floss says it is very interesting.

An authentic Egyptian clay figurine complete with two sheep?

How about an Arora Wolf trinket box complete with matching necklace.  Rare and discontinued.

I apologise for the lack of photos from yesterday. I reckon it will be around midnight by the time my software may or may not have found them.

Anyway, you can always go shopping – My Ebay Stuff!