Anyone missing the Minions?

These past few weeks, they have mostly been left to their own devices, so we called them down and put them two at a time in the school to be brushed.

The first two “volunteers” were Tiddles and Storm.  Tiddles is still determinedly keeping his winter foal coat on.  It refuses to budge so we attacked him with BeAnne’s coat stripping comb and a brush that was bought to refluff sheepskin rugs!

Everyone was looking very good, fit, the right weight and happy.

It is a relief especially after this grotty winter, which took its toll on both Storm and Tiddles.

Anyway, the Minions enjoy their pampering session.  They are such sweeties and, as always, very easy to work with.

I am just waiting for a phone call from the vet à propos Tiddles’ castration. It needs to be done, the weather is nice and they are coming off!

Sorry Tiddles. It is for your own good.  Everyone else will thank me especially Storm who is fed up of being jumped on!

(Storm has a sunburned nosey so I put Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream on it – only the best for my special soldier.  He may still be a bit of a Mummy’s boy).

I was asked to go to see and photograph some of last year’s fillies from Bergli Stud.

They were enchanting, grubby, tatty, wild but beautiful.

Everyone was in a mad gallopy spring (I just can’t say it is summer yet) mood.

They happily hassled and barged each other.

At one stage one filly walked into a small pond in the field to stand up to her belly water.  We looked on in astonishment.

And then she jumped out and off they galloped again.

Anywho, I am feeling a bit grot today so I won’t rattle on but please enjoy the photos of these lovely little girls.

As usual, I fell in love and met a very special girl – Dimma.  She had the most hypnotic eyes and perfectly sculpted face.

Suddenly we looked at the time and it was way past what either of us had thought and so we had to leave.

The Sheepie boys (Lambert and Lambie) are doing very well.  They remain the best of friends and the same size.

Lambert’s wool is very tight curls while Lambie looks rather unravelled.  I don’t know why.  They are also both growing horns.  We are trying to wean them which is not easy.  The lunchtime feed has been dropped and the boys complain very loudly about this.

The lads have been moved into a small garden shed attached to the house so they can come and go as they please.  There is an old vegetable garden attached which they have the run of.  We let them out to go anywhere they like during the day.  Mostly they try to come into the house or Lambert takes Lambie on adventures!

Lambert is an excellent friend for Lambie.  He has taught him to eat grass and they are still very tame and loving.

I love my boys.  Lambert uses the Land Rover to scratch his back and is the comedian.  He plays with BeAnne and she is very happy chasing him around while he butts her in return.  Hours of entertainment, though there is always an eye kept on BeAnne.

Lambie is a bit of a wet and a weed and still wants his cuddles from his Mum.  He would really like to be carried about everywhere.

They are both a wonderful addition to my little crofting life and even though they do not behave as real sheep, they are very loved (if you sit down outside and read a book, they always sit beside you).

Tomorrow, I will tell you about these lovely ladies.  Scruffy, wonderful and beautiful.  I have not give up on Shetland ponies – there is always a place in my heart.

(I just thought you would like an update on Lambie and Lambert!)

We visited Hetja and ?♂ today.

Hetja would have nothing to do with us last time but today she came storming up to us demanding payment if we wanted to talk to her beautiful perfect son.

We had stupidly come empty handed so, after a cursory sniff of us, she stormed off again taking her boy with her.

Note:  Next time bring carrots.

I went and stood in the field by myself and Hetja soon returned.  She approached me slowly and cautiously, pretending to eat but never actually taking her eyes off me.  I, in return, kept my shoulders sloped and looked at the ground, hopefully showing her I was no threat to either of them.

I was rewarded for my patience and she brought him back although we did not talk.  The little colt is very inquisitive and I think it won’t be soon before we make friends.

I have always thought Hetja would make the best mother.  She adores her son and he knows this and takes a few liberties like walking underneath her and rubbing his back on her belly!

We didn’t want to outstay our welcome, so I put out a bucket with a Himalayan salt lick (only the best) and left Mother and Son to it.

Exciting times ahead……

Daisy graduated on Wednesday, 24th June with a BSc Hons in Biology.  Four years of hard work and we are all very proud of her.

The Graduation Ceremony was full of tradition.  The graduates are allegedly tapped over the head with a piece of very old cloth by the Vice Chancellor, thought to be from the breeks of John Knox but since proved otherwise (now the cap bought for the graduation of Sir John Arbuthnot in 1696. He went on to become private physician to Queen Anne).

Despite not being John Knox’s breeks, it was still a wonderful ceremony and I was full of pride.

I also sat next to a very nice assistant and we quickly made friends (yes, I did ask first).

Afterwards we all met up on the quad of St Salvator’s for photos, etc.  It took a while for us to find Daisy amongst all the other graduates and their families.

We found a suitable background for the “official photo” (one for the local newspaper).

We were with Daisy’s housemate and her mother and we had previously arranged our own celebration at home away from all the riff-raff. So we went back to “Sallies” (St Salvator’s) to return the gowns, but not before I asked for the girls to indulge me.

I was going for the academic bat look!  It was all a bit Harry Potter really!

And to think, when Daisy stayed at Sallies in her first year, she had Kate Middleton’s famous room – A34 (yes, go and look that up on Wikipedia, tis all true).

A good day full of success and a huge amount of relief for all that hard work over the last four years.  If you think university life is just party, party, party, then think again because it isn’t if you want to actually achieve something.

Daisy achieved and I am probably the proudest parent on this earth.

***** sniff *****