From Daisy, this afternoon via email (thank you very much x)

“More photos coming your way……..

(the story behind them)”

“Everyone was out out grazing…… except for Lambie.”

Today, Daisy “decided to experiment with Sheep Portraiture.”

(I had left my big camera behind, all set up for her to play with)

I think she caught Lambie’s best side.  He is, indeed, a noble beast.

“It’s harder than it looks.” wrote Daisy.

“It needed biscuits, too” (well, we’ve all had to resort to bribery!)

Everyone likes biscuits – Rich Tea, to be precise.  We have a supply in a tin by the front door for those that like them!

“Also, Dreki has discovered that he likes chasing geese.”

(good boy, Dreki – we hate the greylag geese – they poop every 12 minutes and are everywhere.)

Aha! The Thordale egg shop is now open.  If you want fresh free-range eggs from happy hens that can roam anywhere they want, please come to the end of our track, by the road – Thordale, Mid Walls, Shetland ZE2 9PE.

Honesty is the best policy!

(I miss home!)

I have had to go south to England for a while – a bereavement in my family.

Yesterday I was travelling, hence Nick kindly pitching in on my behalf.

Anywho, I have left Daisy and my OH in full control of everyone and holding the fort.

Before I left, I set up my posh camera for Daisy and I can see she has been out and about on my behalf.

Thank you Daisy.

She has 21 horses/ponies, 3 sheep, 2 dogs and 1 cat to look after.

So not much to do really.

She can sit in the field with the foals all day!

I am not sure whether the little ones have met properly yet.

When I asked Daisy she wrote back “The little ones don’t actually like each other“.

“They are ears back and kick each other, over trying to talk to me”

“Then Lilja tells on her mother who then clears the area for her so she can have me to herself”

“Dreki won today though, he was there first”

(Probably trying to decide who is the most beautiful or who gets to keep Daisy!)

Little Himself, aka Dreki (Dragon) wants to make friends.

So, Daisy sat down in his field and waited.

(I love his lugs (ears) in this shot) – Dreki is inquisitive++++!)

And so the little dragon approached.

Daisy knows the drill – do nothing.  Let the foal come up to you.

And the little black dragon approached.

He sniffed.

Then he let Daisy give him a scritch.

And with that, Dreki melted.

Lots of investigations of the new human.  He tried to eat Daisy’s hair.

Et voilà.

Dreki now owns Daisy (as does Lilja, Lyra and just about every horse and pony at Thordale).  They all adore her.

Tis the way.  Dreki says so.  He is a determined chap.

It is that time of year again.  When the Boyzenberries are given their annual haircut.

First up was Lambie.  He had a huge fleece.

Underneath he has soft pink skin with black splodges.

Then it was ‘Ster’s turn.

His fleece was huge and very good quality – apparently Grade 1, according to Chris, the professional sheep shearer.

Last up, was ‘Bert.

Chris graded his fleece as a 2, so pretty good.

He also clipped ‘Ster’s horns as they were about to grew into his skull – what a terrible design but now all sorted.

Each sheeple had their feet, teeth and horns examined and sorted, where necessary, and everyone was given a clean bill of health, which is always a relief because who knows what is going on under all that wool.

The Boyzens were rather odd afterwards.  They had to get used to the sudden loss of their wool coats as well as seeing each other looking completely different.

BeAnne was on hand offering her support.

Afterwards, ‘Bert took himself off.  He was very upset.

Lambie wanted to be with me, eating biscuits and enjoying the freedom of no fleece.

‘Ster just wanted to scratch or be scratched.  Everyone was very itchy and I asked Chris whether I should use some Spot-On insecticide for sheep but he said their fleeces were clean and there was no evidence of ticks or lice.

‘Bert took to the muck heap for comfort and refused to talk much.

Lambie came and sat beside me.  He wanted lots of hugs and to know that we didn’t think he was ugly or that anything had changed.

‘Ster was very needy and just wanted to eat as many biscuits as he could but I notice that, of the the three, he is perhaps the fattest!

Shearing really changes everyone.

Lambie’ fleece score was 4.  Carpet quality. Nuff said!