Tag Archives: Shetland

Awful ‘Haviour

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Well, we are just back from our visit to the vet.

I would love to say Pepper behaved like a dream but she didn’t – it involved a cat in a box and words were said. I was ashamed of her and had to apologise to the owners.

I thought Pepper liked cats.  I was wrong. I saw a side of Pepper I haven’t seen before.  It wasn’t pretty.  She was high on adrenaline and wouldn’t listen as I forced her to sit on my lap.

Anyway, the upshot of our visit (apart from a certain 7.5kg Patterdale terrier possibly being banned due to bad ‘haviour), is that Pepper’s chronically itchy ears (no better despite regular drops) and her troubled guts could be related to each other – ie digestive allergies. So she is now on a special (read £££) magical diet, new ear drops and we are going back on Monday for a review.  Blood was taken and she was a very good girl about that.  Thinking about it, “terrier gut allergies often stem from food sensitivities, leading to chronic inflammation, itching (ears) and recurrent ear infections”.  Now that I can believe and that’s Pepper. As for the limping, that’s for another day but she has different painkillers that won’t aggravate her tummy.

Meanwhile, in other worlds, this morning found me getting my old Etsy account a bit more up to date and I put a few things on to sell.  I am going to try and keep going with selling stuff I no longer want or need.  Money is much nicer than other people’s clutter in a box.

I had company.

I might even put the sheep on Etsy if they are not selling many in town.  It is early days as the cruise ships are not here yet.

Comes in Three’s

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Bad luck comes in three’s.  That’s the saying and my Monday was no exception.

It began well, and I was lured into a false sense of security as I started the fully-loaded washing machine.

1. It stopped working half way through the cycle – soaking wet clothes and no obvious reason.

2.  I am still stressed about Skippy dying – so that counts in my book.

3.  And, lastly, Pepper refused her breakfast and is back to wandering lonely as a cloud.

Luckily OH got the washing machine going. I know not how (something about the plug) and I can stop worrying about that.  I feel sick when the washing machine dies and would rather have no tv than no washing machine.

Skippy now has a very proficient doctor who is busy diagnosing the problem – possibly battery – and he says Skippy is basically an electric mobility scooter by any other name so hopefully it can be mended (pretty please God – a broken Skippy just makes me hear the words “a total waste of money”).

And as for Pepper – well, she ate her tea – huzzah, but apparently she doesnt like the brand we have so I opened an expensive Lily’s Kitchen tin which she loved and obviously cat food.  I can see where this is going so I phoned the vet surgery and made an appointment for Pepper to have a complete blood count done.  Then, at least, I can rule out anything suspicious and know she is just a bloody-minded wee dug who has me under her paw running around in circles for her and not IBS, pancreatitis, kidney/liver disease, cancer, Addison’s, etc…..

The washing-machine and Skippy I can let go of, but not Pepper.  I think this eating/not-eating has gone on long enough now.  Tomorrow afternoon is the appointment. Taking blood should be fun.

What a Difference a Day Makes

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Well, someone is feeling 100% better and would happily eat all the meals she missed on her day off.   I must admit I do try and feed her slightly more when she’s hungry because she’s already a skinny little dog.

But the happy light in her eyes has returned and she is back to bouncing like Tigger so I am relieved. I can worry about something else instead like Skippy, (my electric wheelbarrow) who died this morning – dammit.

You would think I would just get used to Pepper’s eating difficulties and learn how to harden my heart and wait it out but I find her visible suffering difficult to watch. I take it very personally and it reminds me of BeAnne’s slow demise which broke my heart.

Anyway, again, Monster’s medical skills obviously worked.

“The best thing we can do is go on with our daily routine”

Meanwhile, outside it goes from the sun shining to violent hail showers in seconds.  Floss and I were tidying the big shed when this arrived.  The noise was incredible and then as quickly as it arrived, it stopped.

Fierce Weather

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I can only described today’s weather as fierce.

Trying to get to the feed shed this morning proved nearly impossible in the gale force winds.  At one stage, Flossie and I just couldn’t move forward but in the end, we managed.  The shelter from the lee of the big shed was helpful.  I worked out that if I could reach there and hung onto the side of the corner, I could cope with the full force of the wind as I had to walk into it.

We finished feeding everyone in record time, possibly because we were blown everywhere!

This time, i found it tough both mentally and physically, which then made me anxious so have been drinking chamomile tea to try and calm myself down all day.  I should be used to this by now.

The horses and ponies are fine, which is the main thing. The rugs are doing their jobs and those without are plenty fat.

I also saw the sheep in the far distance of their field later this afternoon – I had left their field gate open and told them to make their own decisions.

I spent my morning adding another page to this blog for the handmade felted sheep.  Please give it a look.

And I also joined Substack and have absolutely no idea what it is for or does – a bit like Linkedin – that’s another website I don’t have a clue about but am on.

Tomorrow’s weather is not much better.  I think we are just now in a never-ending round of storms for the rest of our lives. Snow apparently tonight. Yay (not). Winter has not gone.

The Dream vs The Reality

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This was the dream.

And this is the reality.

When I opened the parcel, a small flat pancake of a bed was inside, but as it was vacuumed packed, I prayed it had potential and would spring/fluff up into the bed of dreams.

“Pamper your cat with our self-warming and soothing Cat Nesting Bed that is finished with a luxurious faux shag fur and mimics the cosy comfort of a mother’s fur coat! Paired with deep crevices that allow your pet to burrow, your fury kids will have a full and restful sleep! The Cat Nesting Bed is designed to give 100% comfort for that Pawfect kip!”

Spring, it did not.

Was it the bed of dreams?  Ummm, not really.

This is their LARGE size.  Seriously?

And this is what happens all the time – ditto for this bed bought to fit a collie.

On the islands we don’t have a pet shop so can’t actually see anything in real life.  I know if I had seen this, I never would’ve bought it.

I am very fed up, on Monster’s behalf.  Off to look at dog bed caves now for him.  Poor old Monster.  He’s not very impressed either.  I don’t blame him.

Sudden thought – It might make a good foot warmer in my shed or a little Lambie warmer.