“A day between weathers” or “atween wadder” (Shetland dialect) is what folk say up here for what we have had today.  A slight reprieve, before it all starts over again tonight.

The horses are exhausted from the last 48 hours but so I gave them a big meal to make up for it.

Rugs were taken off Storm and Taktur.  Everyone was drying off.

Taktur spent his morning gazing at Hetja in the other field.  She, of course, took absolutely no notice and continued to stuff her face.

Rather than disturb them by fussing, brushing and riding or lungeing, I left everyone to enjoy the peace and quiet.

Stormy weather is exhausting.

Tiddles made it his mission to own and personally eat the entire contents of the lick bucket.  He was wearing quite a lot of it while I was in the field taking photos.

We have had Lambster a whole week.  My OH remarked, when I mentioned this “Oh, really? I thought he has been here forever”, which I shall take as a huge compliment to Lambster as he has fitted in very quickly.

He is definitely one of the boys now.  He looks less bewildered and has learned how to bleat.  He can’t run yet – his legs don’t seem to go in the right order but he is happy to follow Lambie and Lambert about in a fast walk yelling for them to wait for him, which of course they don’t.

(I removed the blade of grass which I think was some sort of initiation rite by Lambert – I have my suspicions!)

And so off we go again. The next storm is on its way and I don’t think anyone is looking forward to it.

Boysenberry Update

Lambert has almost stopped being a bully.  He still butts a bit but Lambster butts back (do not read this sentence aloud or try to say it fast).

(and yes, he is one fat sheep)

Lambie (pronounced Lamb-Bee) is, of course, perfection in every way.

Lambster (say the B if you can), is doing magnificently. His happy little smiling face comes to talk to me more readily if accompanied by Lambie (his hero). I can tickle his sideburns and he loves that.  As Lambie is his role model, Lambster will learn only gentleness, trust and kindness with perhaps a hint of silly-billy galloping sideways when life is good.

I also think Lambster has put on weight (Monday is no-knacker day).

Esja Update

She, too, is doing brilliantly. This is the fifth time she has been ridden.

We are very pleased with her progress considering her age and how many times she has been ridden or handled.

Note the loose rein and her head carriage.  This is a lovely sight from such a young horse.

Esja learns quickly, uses her whole body and engages her back.

Bending is an important exercise for her and she didn’t take much asking.

Esja has a huge amount of “willingness” and she loves her training.  She looks forward to it (perhaps because she gets a bucket of grub afterwards as a reward) and would probably put her own headcollar on and lead herself to the indoor school if she could.

Esja is a lovely girl.  I am very happy with her.  Remember, this is her 5th time – the very definition of awesome in my book.

Apparently today is World Kindness Day.

And Wu has finally decided that Loki is not going to kill him.

This is an omen.

You have no idea how much I have wanted to see Wu and Loki actually existing in the same room together.  This is almost peace and harmony…..

….. and it has been a long time coming.

Just over two years, if I am honest.

A long road, but definitely one worth travelling.

Wu is still very wary but he has learned that if he runs, he gets chased.  If he walks carefully, he will be left alone.

Do I trust Loki 100%?

In the house – yes, actually I do.  Outside, in the garden – well, Loki is not quite 100% yet but we have come this far so perhaps, just perhaps, we will achieve.

Little steps but steps none the less – that is what Wu has to do.

BeAnne and Wu are the best of friends but it is different with Loki.

If BeAnne attempted to chase Wu, he would turn around and thump her.  He lies in wait for Her Maj and then blocks her route.  She doesn’t dare jump over him because she knows he will get her!

Hetja and her son, Hjalti, live in Clothie – or Clodie as it was called in the dim and distant (apparently, according to the Shetland Museum Archives, Clodie was the location of a school in the 19th century prior to the school at Mid Walls being built.  From what is left, you can see how it was arranged.)

Anywho, Hetja rules this kingdom and obviously her son, Hjalti is Heir Apparent and very apparent he is too.  Always rushing over to see what is going on!

His two besties are Waffle and Silver.

Hetja has given up minding about the Shetland Pony contingent and often can be seen spending time with Waffle away from the rabble (Hjalti and Silver will play forever).

Perhaps Waffle is the more mature of the two Minions and can relate to the loneliness of command and responsibility.

Hjalti is a lovely baby.  He is clever and funny, all at the same time.  He would love to have hysterics about everything but his natural curiosity always gets the better of him and he does love a nose kissey.

He is always watching, taking it in and deciding whether to react.

However, Silver and Waffle put him right.  Their basic theory is nothing is worth galloping off for because there could always be a potential calorific or hugging situation and Hooman-Mum is a good person, even if she doesn’t always appear with food.

Hjalti would love to be exciting and to fly but realistically (and genetically) he just doesn’t have it in him and, if he did, everyone would walk away and leave him to it.

They are a happy little bunch and I am glad they are together for the winter.

It is the day before another storm so i took the dogs down to the beach for their walk.

BeAnne immediately took herself for a paddle.

The beach was all ours, which makes everything perfect.  I hate sharing.

Lots of whiskery spectators around, always watching, always swimming alongside as I walked.  Sort of like a swimming version of BeAnne but with better whiskers and probably smell more fragrant too!

Although the waves weren’t very high, the sea was roaring.  Someone had turned the volume up and the noise was all-consuming and magnificent.  I think it was either the last gasp of the storm we had a few nights’ back or the introduction to the one that is on its way tomorrow.

Loki and BeAnne have become better friends and now almost play together.  Almost, but not quite.

We are very pleased with Loki.  He has come along leaps and bounds (see what I did there, geddit?)  WW3 appears to be over and Wu (the cat) can walk past Loki in the sitting room and even sit on the back of the sofa in the evening, without being chased.  They have touched noses so I am cautiously optimistic that we have had a breakthrough.

This time, unlike most trips to the beach, no stones were brought home.  I resisted the urge even though this pretty one caught my eye.

So we are battening down the hatches again for Storm Abigail.  I hope she is kind and that we come out the other side safely and with everything intact.

If our electricity holds out, i am going to spend the grotty days putting the contents of my life on Ebay!  I was also thinking about making a Zazzle Lambie range too.