I have been worrying all weekend about my pregnant Icelandic ladies – Hetja and Brá

They are due to give birth very soon.

So, with Daisy’s help, we went to fetch them from Lyradale and all my hard work with Brá paid dividends.  Previously, she had been a cow to catch, but now, because I had worked with her daily, I could walk up to her, put her headcollar on and lead her anywhere I wanted.

…… that would be into the van.

(I will admit that increasingly I have wondered whether two pregnant Icelandic mares would actually fit because they are both very, very wide – but, phew, they did!)

And now they are home and living in Clothie, for the time being.

I drove home very carefully and they travelled well together.

When we got home, Daisy and I led them into the indoor school, tied them up and gave them a pre-birth spa morning.

They loved it.

We brushed away their winter coat, trimmed tails, gooby ears and generally made them feel special.

So, in two weeks, it will be Hetja’s due date, if Taktur was on form.

Brá is a week later.

Hetja and Brá probably won’t stay in Clothie long – I will move them nearer to home and then start Foal Watch.

The grass is growing now (huzzah).

There is fresh water in Clothie (for the time being – it does tend to dry up if there is no rain).

And a certain person knows his girls are home.

Oooh, exciting times ahead.

From the Shetland Amenity Trust website

“Da Voar Redd Up is the UK’s most successful community litter pick, with over 20% of Shetland’s population volunteering their time annually. This annual spring clean makes an invaluable contribution to Shetland’s natural environment and wildlife, clearing Shetland’s beaches, coastlines and roadsides of litter and the debris washed up by winter storms.”

Voar = Spring (Shetland dialect)
Redd Up = to clean up (old Norse/Middle English dialect)

So OH, Daisy, me and Haakon, complete with kishies to carry the bags and went to redd up the roadside we ride along almost daily.

We also went far into the hill for our litter.

I was on horse duty as picking up litter is a back-killer.

Haakon was a very good boy.  He carried full bags and he didn’t mind them flapping behind him or lurching unevenly on his sides.  He is used to our mad schemes and I had a pocketful of munchy-crunchies which he was happy to relieve me of.

Haakon was a bit surprised by the noise of this iron grill when OH pulled it down the road but he didn’t run off.

Some of the time, I would let him go while I disappeared into a ditch after rubbish.

His reward was all the roadside thistles he could eat.

There was some litter we left – silage bale wrap in barbed wire is impossible.

Why are folk so revolting?

Haakon took an interest in everything we picked up.

He had the occasional nose-kissey as well.

Everyone worked very hard.

OH even pulled a dead sheep out of the drain.  It would be polluting the water downstream.  The birds will finish it.

Once we had filled a good few bags (8, I think) and left them on the side of the road for collection, we went home.

Rewards for all.

Mostly Daisy or OH walk the dog – Loki.  BeAnne refuses to go with either of them.

Today, OH was working off-shore and Daisy had hurt her knee (excuses, excuses), so I took on the mantle of The Dog Walk and BeAnne accompanied because today it was me.

Obviously, I took a camera.

The oil is rising in the soil – time to cut peats if you have your own peat bank in the scattald (open hill).  Hard work at the best of times.

Today, I took the dogs round Lyradale – 50 acres of hill and in-bye pasture.

It is lambing time so dogs have no place anywhere, even well trained dogs.

I love Lyradale.  This is the most perfect place ever.

Everywhere, the grass is trying to grow.

Currently, apart from the Shetland ponies and Icelandic horses who live there, Lyradale is home to three caddy (bottle raised) sheep belonging to my neighbours.  One is called Colin, which I think is possibly one of the best names ever for a sheep!

Loki and BeAnne were very happy on their walk.

BeAnne even took herself off for a little swim.

She adores swimming.

Loki is not so keen.  In fact, now I think about it, I have never seen him swim.

Dip his toes, yes, but swim – no.  You can only ask so much.

The statutory roll in god-knows-what, possibly otter vomit or worse.  Whatever it is, it will linger like nothing else.

It was a good walk and lovely to see plants starting to grow.

Happy days.

At last!  We have made a huge discovery.

We have finally found Lambie’s favourite food (apart from Rich Tea Biscuits, like the Queen, Meadowherb Glucosamine treats and roasted kale chips).

Lambie loves crunchy peanut butter (organic) on toasted homemade brown bread.

Or, as it is better known, Daisy’s breakfast.  So much so, she had to go and make another round for each of them!

This morning, after his second breakfast (he had his usual Sheep Crunch outside with the others), Lambie came indoors as my OH’s car was driving away!

He even found a new bed that he quite fancied, although it smelled a bit doggy.  I hope he didn’t make it his own!

Lambie found a nice spot and listened to his favourite radio station (Classic FM) while I pottered about doing some cleaning.  I was also keeping an eye on Lambie as he can be quite destructive when left unattended.  His second favourite food was Apple cables when he was little Lambie, hence his eviction from the house.

As always, Lambie seemed very happy indoors.  He even found the dog’s water bowl and had a good drink.

The usual routine, please – say nothing!  OH doesn’t know.  No evidence is ever left and we thank the Gods for Febreeze!

This is the latest game between Albie and Newt.

The basic rules are when in doubt, sit down.

I am exhausted. I have had a long day, so enjoy the film and photos.

First there is the chase…..

Then the negotiations……

They go up….

They chase….

They pull funny faces…..

They go for the knees…..

(I love, love, love Delia’s face!)

There are teefs, muchos teefs…….

Then there is the side-swipe …..

Attack the knees….

Up and up ….

A little bounce (that is so cute!)

And then down they go…

A brilliant new game.

Darling little boys.  While I was out, Daisy caught the exhausting games on film.