Tag Archives: MyShetland

Sick Dog Day (again)

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I have a headache, so I will keep this short.

Monster “helped” me to fail to complete my morning quiz (NY Times Connections). In my defence, they were very weird words today – I hadn’t a clue and neither had Monster. He was absolutely no use.

Pepper was also having an off-day.  She woke me up at 4 a.m. being sick and I immediately took her outside. I then spent the remainder of the night hugging her in bed, while she shook and her tummy made alarming noises.  Poor little soul was very unhappy but she managed to sleep a bit while I was now wide awake, which probably explains my headache.

I have just about finished my daily chores, which are kept to the bare minimum because it is summer.  The Shetland ponies who live on the track, however, do have two haynets in the afternoon.

They approve of this routine and come racing up.

It is not easy, though.  The haynets are small-holed, double nets so the ponies have to work very hard for every piece of hay they can prise out.

Today Newt said he couldn’t be bothered with the hay and he is fat so there must be something on the track.  I refuse to worry.

And then suddenly Pepper felt better, raced inside the house for her tea and everything was back to normal.  OH says there are many rabbit corpses lying around (thank you Monster), so I have a feeling they might be the problem.

More sighing *** oh, Pepper ***.  Early night for us both, I think, to get rid of my headache.

No Poppy Film

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After breakfast, I collected up all the buckets – I usually leave everyone to get on with eating rather than wait around – and I noticed their big water container was half full or half empty, depending on your perspective in life.

Anyway, while everyone was snoozing as it was a big breakfast, I decided to wait around for the container to fill up.  I had Pepper for company.  She was unhelpful.

Depressingly, the field mud still hasn’t dried up but there’s nothing I can do about that.

Meanwhile, Pepper precariously perched on the wobbly drystone wall that “rumbles” (disintegrates) while you look at it.

At one stage Pepper decided to clamber on my shoulder, which was not helpful either.

Once the container was full and I knew everyone was in the right fields, I went into the house for my breakfast and to decide whether to continue with trying to film the poppies again.  But that choice had been taken away from me.  All the poppies had opened by themselves apparently earlier this morning.  I now officially give up.

So I contented myself with trying to take arty-farty photos of them instead.

So, again, here is a plethora of Monster photos to make up for another day without the poppy-opening film.  And that is that.

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.

My Westside Tour

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We had a visitor and I asked her if she would like to go for a drive to see a little of the Westside of Shetland, ie all the places I think are pretty spectacular.  The weather was vile.  Most of our photography was from the warmth and shelter of the car.

So we started with the Dale of Walls beach, which is set in a perfect little cove with Foula in the distance dead centre.

Then to Norby beach in Sandness.

Lots of lovely colours and we had a quick walk and then the weather descended into sleet.

If you think it looks cold, I can confirm that it jolly well was.  We had the beach to ourselves most of the time too.

Sandness hill in the background from Norby beach.

Loch of Norby

Bousta, Sandness

A bird of some description. It was huge – I thought was an otter at first.

Peats stacked, ready to dry out.

Looking over Brindister Voe to the east. Every single wind turbine was switched off.

My favourite kirk – West Burrafirth Chapel

It was sadly closed and slowly falling to bits.

More scenery.

These are Horizontal Mills – there are three of them.

From Canmore – “The Norse, or horizontal, mills ….. are typical examples of a once-common type of water mill found in Shetland, Orkney and Lewis. The mill used one wheel (tirl) with blades mounted on a horizontal plane, driving a single pair of grindstones. This simple design meant that multiple mills could be built on a length of stream, with a family or small partnership each owning their own mill.”

So, if you come and visit and you want to see some of my favourite local places, this is where I will take you.

Twice a Day Feeds

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I had the dentist (for me, not the horses) first thing this morning. Afterwards, I took one look at Lerwick (there was a large cruise ship in), quickly turned tail and went home.  I had that sudden feeling wanting to go home, though I did manage to nip into the feed merchant on my way.

Anyway, everyone was waiting patiently for me to get back.

I was needed, in my own special way.

After making the statutory hand-felted sheep with feline help (gosh, he was annoying), armed with my bucket and gloves I went outside to quickly poo-pick the track.  Everywhere I went, Haakon was watching me. He kept popping up on my eyeline.  It was as if he was trying to tell me something.

After the track was cleared, I mixed up two buckets of fattening food and quietly put them out into five bowls, hoping I wasn’t noticed.  It is much easier to dish out food without everyone crowding me and arguing.

However, I could see Iacs had already clocked that something was going on.

I distributed fairly and shouted …..

For once, Haakon was right. There was something going on – unexpected food.

While the cold north-west wind continues to blow, the rugs are staying on.  I think we dodged the sleet, though.  Anyway, everyone is very pleased with this new twice a day feeding routine.  They think they are onto a winner.  I think it is not going to be forever.