Tag Archives: My Shetland

Them’s the Breaks

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I’m not really how sure to describe my day.  Mostly waiting. The weather’s not been great (cold, occasionally wet and very, very windy) and I’ve been expecting to hear about the horsevan’s fate too.

I wasn’t brave enough to phone the garage so I procrastinated beautifully by doing other things instead to keep myself busy.

I didn’t want to hear the inevitable.

So, I picked some rhubarb out of the garden and made a rhubarb and ginger cake, which is not bad, even for me – cakes are not really my thing but I was trying to use up eggs, of which we have loads.

Then I pickled some duck eggs – the ducks are in full laying mode at the moment – and tried one from my previous batch – not bad, if I don’t say so myself.  I am very partial to a pickled egg.

Then with some more eggs, I made a quiche, which we ate for lunch. Again, I’ve eaten worse!  We are now down to only 6 eggs and that is quite an achievement.

Then into my shed to make another hand-felted Shetland sheep while trying very hard not to think about the van.

After that, I went poo-picking in the continuing “moderate gale from the north”, which is becoming increasingly irksome to all.

And then I finally phoned the garage.  Unsurprisingly, the van had failed, and deemed unfit to go again.  Dammit.  A little part of me was surprised since it had driven into town very easily but the other part of me was not surprised since it is over 14 years old and was rather “pasta la besta”.  Ho hum, them’s the breaks.

Sheds and Hostages

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To town this morning – physio assessment for me and the annual horse-van service/MOT which I am confident it will fail. When OH and I got home, we were given a huge welcome by everyone.  This is Monster’s feed-me face.  He was two hours early for his tea but optimistic.

After poo-picking the track in a Force 9 – moderate gale – which can only be described as difficult, I had a quick glance at the weather forecast and decided to lug out the carefully put-away rainsheet rugs for the elderly.

As it was so windy, I thought the easiest method would be to open up the little shed and put the rugs on one at a time in there.  No wind = no flapping about.

I successfully did the big ones and thought I would leave it at that but Fivla and Vitamin turned up and looked hopeful.

So I put rugs on them too but just thin ones to act as windcheaters more than anything else.

Iacs quickly made the shed his home.  There is room for others but that can be a tight squeeze.

I decided not to rug up Tiddles. He has the container for shelter. But I also noticed a miserable brown little pony held captive.

Tiddles had stolen the haynet Newt had been eating, blocking him in.

So, being the nice person that I am, I went and got Newt his own haynet.

And I asked Tiddles to try and be a bit nicer to Newt.  He said that wasn’t going to happen any time soon.

So those were my good deeds for the day and can we all pray that horse-van gets through its MOT/service relatively cheaply and eventually passes without me having to sell a kidney or my first born.  I am not holding my breath.

Newt (sigh)

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Over the years, Newt has not endeared himself to anyone in his herd and he only has himself to blame.  He can be very mean spirited, especially in winter, and mostly about food, kicking out at anyone in his firing line.  He may be small but that little ginger bottom is very quick and quite powerful.  He likes to wheel round and give out both barrels so therefore nobody wants to be near him.

I think it is Tiddles who gets most cross with Newt and tries to keep him in his place.  I know, Tiddles, who hasn’t a mean bone in his body but the exception is Newt.  He hates him.

Luckily for Newt, Silver will just about tolerate him and share the haynet.  I guess it’s because he is so much bigger and, if Newt starts acting up, he can swiftly put him in his place.

The others swap around with food and buckets and eventually reach some sort of peace.

Just not with Newt.  If he can’t be nice, he can’t be their friend and he only has himself to blame.  I refuse to feel sorry for Newt as I’ve seen his little bottom in action – like a tank turret firing as it goes round and round, regardless of aim, just making his point.

Wall of Primroses 2026

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It was rugs off again this morning and I heaved them into the shed to hang up and dry.

I have realised that I must wean myself off the rugs as the horses and ponies don’t need to be wearing them in the sunshine and the temperature has gone up a little.  I am the one with the problem. I admit it and I need to tell myself that no one will actually melt if it rains.

So, after giving myself a stiff talking to about my rug problem, I took the dogs down to the stream, which is very peaceful.

Whenever a therapist tells me to think of quiet place, this is where I always go.  There is absolutely nowhere better.

  

And I know I was whingeing on about how the wild primroses weren’t really very good this year, well now I take it all back.  They have suddenly gone mad and are everywhere.

They grow like scrambled eggs on both sides of the burn’s banks, in huge voluptuous clumps.

They seem to compete happily with the celandine too.

So, a very good effort this year from both celandine and wild primroses. I am very impressed and love the fact that this abundance of colour is in my field totally unaided by anyone.  Nature at its best.

Meanwhile, in sheep-land, ‘Ster’s medicine has finally arrived, though he has been living off my homemade version while we waited.

I am encouraged that he is a bit brighter now – he has had two doses of antibiotics and the homemade drench daily.

Tomorrow ‘Ster will get his measured dose of the packet stuff syringed down and let’s hope it breaks up the renal calculi.  I did also note that he is now peeing ok (ish) and seems much less miserable so, please God, that he is on the mend.

To Town (hay) and Ponies

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I’m not sure what really happened today.  Nothing huge – so really my type of day. I started by going into town in the van (mostly to see if it still ran) and brought home a huge round bale of hay because the Shetland ponies will be eating that all spring and summer now.

The ponies need something because absolutely no grass is growing on their track and they mustn’t starve (apparently).

It’s the unforgiving north wind. Temperatures are right down.

Anyway, the van did start and went fine which was a big phew for me.

I have a headache now which possibly means I was stressing about the van as it is 2012 so 14 years old and can be a bit grumbly at times.

So I drove in, bought the hay, and came straight home, stopping for no one. I took Pepper with me as company and she was very good, saying hello to anyone who wanted to talk to her.

And then I’ve been practising “hairdo’s” on Newt.  None of them work very well, though.  He is difficult to find the right style.  I haven’t nailed it.

Little “bovver” boy…..

There are no words.

And then Jedward?  Oh dear.

I think my headache just got worse.