Over the past few days, I have been trying to teach the foals to eat carrots.

First up was Dreki.

He wanted to like carrots.  He really did.  But his answer was yuck, no thank you.

He was not a fan of carrots.

Now Lilja totally gets it.  She loves her carrot slices (her mother’s daughter).  It didn’t take long to teach her.  She had the best role model.

Dreki came back to try again.

Ten out of ten for effort.

Zero for the actual eating, though.

Meanwhile, Lilja was happily eating all my supplies.

The foals are doing very well – developing and growing nicely.

They wanted to “play with” (read chase) BeAnne who knows how to stay out of their way as their intentions are not always honourable.  The foals don’t chase the sheep who wander in and out of their field, though, which is good.  I hate horses that kill sheep just for fun.  It has been known.

Dreki is still very much a Mummy’s Boy.

Obviously, both foals are still nursing.  They won’t be weaned until next year.

Lilja is much more independent than Dreki.  She followed me around the field as I was the one with those nice little edible orange pieces.

They are both very gorgeous, carrots or no carrots.

Bribery is always a useful tool to have in one’s arsenal and one I full intend to use and exploit!

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.

🐑 🐏 🐑 🐏 🐑 🐏 🐑 🐏 🐑 🐏 🐑 🐏 🐑 🐏 🐑 🐏 🐑 🐏 🐑 🐏 🐑 🐏 🐑 🐏 🐑 🐏 🐑 🐏

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.

🐑 🐏 🐑 🐏 🐑 🐏 🐑 🐏 🐑 🐏 🐑 🐏 🐑 🐏 🐑 🐏 🐑 🐏 🐑 🐏 🐑 🐏 🐑 🐏 🐑 🐏 🐑 🐏

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.