I love the way the Minions* still love to play.  It makes my heart warm.

*The Minions were rescued in January, 2014 from near starvation in winter.

And now they are fine, still all together and doing well.

Waffle and Storm are cheeky and funny.

All the Minions are my darling little boys.

I never want them to stop playing or to grow up and be responsible adults – so boring.

Meanwhile, on the “beautiful girl” front, Flossie was talking to Silver.

Then Hjalti moved in for attention.

This is a safe field to sit in.  No one kicks, bites or argues.  We sit and talk to those that come up for chat.  So that would be everyone, then.

Sometimes Tiddles just needs some quiet time with someone who understands.

Flossie always listens.

I am the luckiest mother on earth.  I have two wonderful daughters who totally get and understand the love of our horses.

This is not something you acquire, it is something you are born with.  Empathy for animals.

Then again, there is being mauled and still smiling!

I am so pleased Daisy and Flossie understand and want to be part of this world.

Daisy came off the boat this morning, having finished her job at Kise Islandshestgård in Norway. She was employed for ten months doing stable work and training young horses.

So, after breakfast, we went straight out for a ride and then I introduced Daisy to the newbies.

First up was Efstur.  He was very happy to be introduced to Daisy.

Next was Taktur’s turn.  He was thrilled to sniff his owner.

(he has always adored Daisy).

Then this year’s “bebbies” wanted to make Daisy’s acquaintance – Camus and Brisk.

Brisk instantly made a friend.

Kappi was very happy with our new arrival although, Daisy rode Iacs this morning, as she had missed her silly-frilly.  This pair of old friends went out together with ears pricked (Iacs) and a silly grin (both).  Tomorrow I am sure Daisy will ride Kappi.

After lunch, it was off to Sandness to see The Minions et al.

Lyra calmed down instantly and her world was was at peace.  She struggles when Daisy is not there and though she puts up with me and Flossie, she constantly reminds us that WE ARE NOT DAISY!

Then it was time for the invasion of the little ones.

Waffle sneaked up when no one was looking.  I am sure Silver got a look in too but I didn’t photo it.

So that is me, all happy because I have my daughters home for the summer.  At Thordale, life doesn’t get better than everyone together and we are looking forwards to much riding, laughing and appalling jokes.

Happy Summer days ahead.

So here we are, two weeks on.

As you can see, Tor (mother) has a happy little family of Camus (her own son) and Brisk (her adopted son).

They are getting along brilliantly and we are all very pleased, if not relieved.  It could have gone horribly wrong but the Gods smiled and it didn’t.

Floss has put in much time taming down the foals.

It is her holiday job.  As she said, when asked, “it is a chore, but someone has to do it.”

And I think we can all agree that Floss is doing very well with her trainees.

Always fully committed to any job, Floss has put in the hours of being loved (Brisk) and nibbled (Camus).

The Award for the Softest Belly fur goes, this summer, to Brisk (or Little B, as he is now known, said with an Australian accent).  It is like stroking velvet made by angels (but only if angels were in the velvet making business).

Camus and Brisk are good friends. Camus is the bossy one and Brisk is the gentle one.

Please don’t let me fall in love with Brisk.  I do not need another Minion.  Does anyone want or need a perfect companion for someone, who is a an absolute delight to have around?  Brisk is kind, calm and very gentle with never a nibble or harsh thought/word.  He just wants to be loved and kissed on his soft velvety gentle nosey and have a friend to look up to.

Brisk is not a show pony nor stallion potential. He is perfect companion pony potential and worth his weight in gold.

I want the best home for him.  He deserves that.

Contact me if you are that home.

The peat is being dried out, having been cut.  Once dried, it will be brought home to be stored and then burned.

The peat bank is allocated to the croft and the peat is cut out of the peat bank using a tushkar (special tool).  Once stacked, It is then left for a few months to dry by the Spring wind.  There are various stacking methods and this is one way. – a precisely built wall.

Another method is small pyramids – this is how I was taught by my neighbour.

And there is this another – larger pyramids.  New to me but, apparently,  used all over Shetland.

The hills and pastures appear to have a slight scattering of “snow” on them.

It is everywhere and very beautiful.

On closer inspection, it is not snow but bog cotton/cotton grass (Eriophorum) or “lukki-minnie’s oo” – and this summer seems to be a particularly good year for this strange plant. Apparently, in very early times, children did not wear nappies during the day but at night they had a wad of bog-cotton heads to help keep them dry.  Poor things!

On another note, Lambie is doing very well, now he has come to terms with being sheared, shorn or whatever.  Although underneath, he is a different shape, he will always be my little lamb. Some days he is more aloof than others but deep down he still a Muzzah’s boy and I will always love him.

I have never met such a sensitive animal.  Only a mother could love him.

It rained and rained yesterday.  We drove past the herd in Sandness, quickly counted legs, heads and tails and then drove home.  Not ideal but yesterday was not a day to be outside.

This morning, to make up for it, we went to visit everyone properly.

They were very pleased to see us – we did not bring food, just ourselves.

Lyra is the head of the herd.

She is not popular as she is so bossy and the boys do not appreciate this.

Hjalti is grow(ing) like Topsy and is a nice amenable chap. Not a mean bone in him.

He is still happy to try and see if he can fit a whole miniature Shetland pony into his mouth and Storm, of course, is happy to retaliate.

Darling Silver.  All growed up – calm and approachable.  A real dude who manages to keep away from the arguments.

I seem not to have taken any photos of Waffle.  He has a nasty cut/bite on his jaw and he is feeling sorry for himself.

Little Tiddles seems to have turned feral in the past few days.  I have no idea why.

He was very wary of people, which is not like him.

Luckily Floss’ magic worked its charm and Tiddles remembered that he liked us.

Delia is looking fabulous this summer.  Her weight is spot on.  Not too fat and not too thin.

She potters about and her legs are much less stiff, of course, in the summer, with the warmth. She still appreciates a cuddle.

So, I think, we are going to have move the Minions + Hjalti away from the two mares.  They don’t need the hassle and I don’t my little boys to be bullied by bossy women.