I pulled my sleigh round Lerwick for the last time before Christmas (I write hopefully).  I filled it up with bags of horse food and various things I deemed a necessity rather than a luxury, like Chinese ingredients for Floss’ immense cookathons – she is very good.

With my camera slung round my neck, I wandered the deserted streets of Lerwick looking for Christmas inspiration.

I doubt any high street in Britain looks like this two and a half weeks before Christmas.  It is very depressing.

The shops had made a Christmassy effort, which was lovely.

Lunch was spent sitting in the car, eating fish and chips (with extra vinegar, please) looking at the waves crashing down in front of us.  There is nothing better, in my opinion.

The very definition of awesome.

I am not very good at shopping these days. I get bored easily, talk myself out of whatever it was I wanted and then give up and go home.  Which is exactly what I did today.

The horses are all happily outside and although it is very windy, it is also quite warm (10 degrees celsius) so they can stay out tonight.

However, my best surprise today was this…..

Yay.  Get me!  A huge thank you to everyone who voted for me.  I appreciate it hugely and winning means a great deal (it is not just the taking part, you know – never believe that!)

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Puffin Poker Chip Poker Chip Set by Boysenberries

Puffin Coaster Ceramic Knob by Boysenberries

Puffin Ipad Case iPad Cover by Boysenberries

Floss came home a few days ago and today I found her mucking out the big shed while I played rookie and had gone out for a ride hoping no one would notice.

I will admit to feeling guilty so, to make up for my disappearance, I offered to give Floss a riding lesson on Bimble.

She caught and tacked Bimble up and I could see he was very happy to finally be doing something.  He loves being ridden and has spent many weeks with his head hung over the gate waiting to see if it will ever be his turn.  I am not a huge fan of riding Bimble as he trots and that hurts my back.

Bimble was a very good boy.  He enjoyed himself and I hope Flossie did too.  She remembered everything and the pair of them happily bimbled around the school.

There were even moments of controlled speed with added steering and control!

I think they look very good together and I sincerely hope Floss goes on with this riding thing as I think she has good hands and a lovely seat (though I might take her stirrups up one).

Bimble, of course, after all his hard work, was exhausted and adopted his nose-wheel gait.

I love seeing my daughters ride.  It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

And is this, could it possibly be, dare I say it?  Tölt?  Maybe, almost. There must be a full moon.

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Haakon and Tiddles Fannypack Nylon Fanny Pack by Boysenberries

Think Big Laptop Case Computer Sleeves by Boysenberries

Think Big T-Shirt by Boysenberries

Storm Desmond seems reluctant to leave us but everyone needs fresh air after a night indoors. This afternoon I only happened to say “Do you….” and whoosh, the whole lot zoomed up the hill.

This morning I put Delia in her lovely new rug.  It is perfect for her – fits beautifully and she is much happier in it.  She didn’t even argue when I put it on – usually we go round and round a bit first.  This rug has given Delia new life.

I can still see the sparkle in her eyes and she is walking, trotting and cantering with the others and is very much part of the herd, bossing the youngsters about.  It makes me very happy.  She is a dear old girl.

Her friend, Vitamin, is the complete opposite.  She is the most determined Shetland pony I know.  The word “No” does not feature in her vocabulary.  She barges past to where she wants to go and God help anyone who gets in her way.

Hetja is still the boss, though.  She leads the herd and they follow.  Very much Queen Hetja.

“Bring ’em home, Hetja” is what I shout and home they all go.

I then went to the back field where Kappi and Taktur were perfecting their psychic messaging to me – they wanted to come in too.  So I shouted for the stragglers and whoosh, there they were!

The boys are all in the big indoor school with hay and silage out.  I also moved the Minions in there as they miss their big guys and are getting rather bored of being bossed around by the girls.

A  mega-mucking out tomorrow.  Yay (said with no enthusiasm)

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Storms Waterbottle 18oz Water Bottle by Boysenberries

Storm Bathmat Bath Mats by Boysenberries

Storm on a postcard by Boysenberries

I moved everyone around again this morning – round and round they go, where they stop nobody knows!

The boys went into the field over the hill.  I moved 15 horses/ponies using two head collars (I am very proud of this achievement).  I put headcollars on Haakon and Taktur and warned Iacs, Klaengur and Kappi that if they strayed into the hill, I would shut the gate and leave them to it.

Surprisingly, they all followed nicely and happily galloped into their field – success!

The girls were moved by opening the gate, shouting and they all went straight in.

I then spent the next 3 hours mucking out while managing to fall into the muck-heap!  It took forever because there was a gale going on which makes everything take twice as long.

This was me.

My youngest daughter, Flossie, came home for Christmas from university.  Last night her flight was cancelled because of the storm so I was mightily relieved to see her today.

I immediately put her to work.  I have a terrible habit of just throwing stuff into my shed, rather than find it a place and keeping it tidy there.  So “stuff” needed sorting.

We tried a small quilted dressing gown on Lambie (well, we told him that is what it was).  He loved it and happily wandered about wearing it.

Purple suits him.

You can do pretty much anything with Lambie and he thinks he is more special.

Flossie spent time renewing her friendship with Lambie and introducing herself to Lambster, who we may rename Lambikins as his name does not suit him.  He is not a tough boy.

So one down, one to go and then drawbridge up!

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Chocolate Vitamin Chocolate Dipped Oreo by Boysenberries

Shetland Pony Watch by Boysenberries

Shetland Pony Bag Duck Canvas Bag by Boysenberries

Black Shetland Pony Coaster Stone Coaster by Boysenberries

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Well, as you can see Lambie is doing very well now.  He would like to rule the world and get his own way.

His new love of carrots means he has to mug everyone in case they might be in possession of this magical vegetable.

Carrots are good for sheep.

I am sure they make his eyelashes curl and even more beautiful (he does have the loveliest eyes in the world and I am not just saying that as his mother).

Lambster is also doing very well.  He is nearly tame and understands most sheepie-like things.

Although, perhaps, not a huge love of carrots, Lambie does feign interest.

I took the dogs out before the latest storm started and Lambie and Lambster (Lambert was down the pub with his mates) diligently followed us all the way along the road and back.  Lambster has never been on a dog walk before but, because Lambie is a regular, then Lambster came along too.  I am sure it will help his back legs which are horribly crooked.  The boys both came running when they were called to catch up – they like to snack along the way and Lambster even managed two happy bounces as he ran to us.  I have never seen him happy-bounce before, so that was a lovely first.  He is now a normal sheep – he baa’s, he bounces and he gives nose kisseys.

And here are a few snaps of The Minions, just in case you were having withdrawal symptoms.

Waffle looking, well, “odd” really.

Silver looking, cough, fat!

And Storm not looking like Storm at all.

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(Tiddles was hiding, I think – probably just as well).

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Lambie’s Wallet by Boysenberries

Lambie Wrapping Paper by Boysenberries

Lambie Apron by Boysenberries