This is Daisy’s last week at home before she goes south again for her last year at St Snotters.

I think there are three little fur Minions who are going to miss her desperately.  I have been given my instructions to do extra hugging (always happy to oblige) during her absence.

This summer, I noticed that the one who came out of his shell most was Silver.  He is so tame now and adores Daisy.  Always first up for hugging and has forgotten about being silly.  I think this is all Daisy’s doing.  She has spent many hours with him and they are good friends.

Of course there is always BeAnne who Daisy described today as ” a Gremlin in her little rock lair”.  I am trying hard not to take offence on BeAnne’s behalf.

While Storm loves his canine gremlin more than anything, and searches her out, BeAnne is perhaps not so keen on this close relationship.

She gets quite narky with him when he wuffles her fur with his nose.  He doesn’t care at all and continues to annoy her and so BeAnne has given up exploding as she knows it does not any good – he doesn’t take no for an answer.

So that is us until Christmas.  All my fledgelings flown the nest.

It has been a very good summer for us all.

The girls are all back together in the hill now.  Mothers and daughters.

I love traipsing up there with my camera.  It is such a natural place, if you know what I mean.  This is where Shetland ponies should live and thrive very successfully.

They just seem to fit into this landscape perfectly.

The herd hierarchy is still very important.  The older ladies look after the teenagers and teach them their manners.  Vitamin has taken over since Velveretta’s tragic death.  She guards and watches over everyone making sure they are a credit to her and their mothers.  Any rudeness, and she would immediately go wading in to sort it out.  She is a tough old bird and law and order is kept with minimum discussion.  Everyone knows it is better not to argue their case with Vitamin.

(I am probably anthropomorphising hugely but that is how it seems to me)

Politics, socialising and conversation are continuous.  No one is not just standing there eating ignoring the each other.  You only have to watch their ears twitch to see that they know exactly what is going on around them.

Daisy is off south at the end of the week (all my birds flown south again) so it was nice for her to see Lyra again.

Everyone was very happy to talk – there is a person in there, honest.

Well, after yesterday’s equine debacle, today was a very horsey day.

First we rode out.  Daisy rode Iacs and I rode Klængur.  I wanted to find out what was frightening him on the canter track (where he has spooked twice).  Today we had as much time as it would take and I had carrots in my pocket.

When we reached the canter track, Daisy dismounted so Iacs couldn’t bomb off, as was his want.  I didn’t want a bomb, just peace and quiet and to get to the bottom of this spooky mystery.  Daisy and Iacs loafed around while Klængur and I walked up and down.  When we reached the spooky place, I asked him to wait and gave him a carrot.  We did this a few times and then Daisy re-mounted and we went home on a long rein at walk.  Let’s hope we have exorcised that particular ghost.

To make up for Iacs losing his canter, we went out again with me, this time, riding Haakon.  There was much bombing and came home with huge smiles on their faces.

I popped into the field afterwards to take a few pics of the guys.

And then I lightly backed Storm.  He didn’t care at all as he and BeAnne are good friends.

All in a day’s work!

Occasionally, and it is rare I will admit, there are some days when I look at the horses and think “No, maybe not today”.

And we don’t ride.

Just leave them well alone to calm down and sort themselves out.

Today was such a day.

Everyone was in rather a silly mood and Daisy and I, while brave, are not stupid.

So, instead, we went to watch Jo and Robert fly their Harris Hawks on the hills in Sandness.

It was a pissy awful day but I still managed to take a few snaps of these incredible raptors.

As you can see, Vi and Freyja are off their creances and flying free.  A remarkable achievement as well as me learning some of the terminology (get me!)

The wind was not helpful so we tried to find more sheltered spots for them to fly without being dragged off.

Despite the weather, I enjoyed taking the photos and to watch them soar so cleverly in the gusts.

Anywho, let’s hope for a less silly day tomorrow and Daisy and I can go riding again.  Birds is nice and all that but they isn’t ‘osses and you can’t hug them apparently.  They don’t like that.