Tag Archives: Shetland Islands

Rainbows’ End.

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I was out first thing this morning to feed the starving hordes.

⬇️ This starving horde is Gussie ⬇️ (who is rotund and lying!)

Anyway, there was a faint but definitely-visible rainbow and I swear the end was on the container.  I was sorely tempted to go and find a shovel and start digging for my pot of gold but sadly there was much work to be done, ie the starving hoards to feed.

(though I do wonder just how much would be in hard cash – and, look, another faint rainbow on the other container.  As far as I was aware there was only Shetland pony poo from the night before).

Monster supervised in a condescending way.

Later two ladies from Wool Week came to see the sheep.  As per instructions, they arrived with a packet ginger biscuits and took photos of everyone eating them. Of course Lambie was being mysterious and aloof so I had to go and find him separately to give him his ration.

Obviously I mentioned Fivla and Vitamin, who had worn those Fair Isle sweaters many years ago for a Visit Scotland (Scotland’s tourism board) advertising campaign.

The old horses and ponies were resting down the bottom of the hill, so we clambered carefully down and were duly ignored.  Such is the way of the celebrity some days. Too busy eating.  Still, there’s always the gold from the rainbows.  Off to find a shovel then.

A Huddle of Horses and Ponies

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Today was much calmer, weather-wise.  Phew.

It makes a huge difference to everyone when the weather is nice. Everyone can regroup from the past few days.

I was on dog-walking duty this morning, so decided to incorporate an electric fence check as well.  I like to know there are no bad bits or problems as there are a certain five Shetland ponies who will know in an instant and then take full advantage.

Upon my return from the fence-check-dog-walk, I found all the horses and ponies together, which was interesting considering the big ones have absolutely no interest in the little ones.  I know this because the minute they were all in the same field together when it snowed earlier in the year, Kolka, Haakon and Iacs behaved about as badly as anyone can.  Rotten dinosaurs.

Luckily for everyone at the moment there is a fence separating both herds.

I won’t lie – I am dreading winter. I hope it is kind to us and all the animals get through it. I am trying to be prepared as much as possible and thinking ahead with supplies and stores.. It can be very tough on the animals, especially if they hate going inside.

(though Vitamin and Fivla love going inside.)

As it was now a flat calm, I gave the Shetland ponies a treat. They had their two haynets emptied out so they could stuff their little faces.

No one needed asking twice if they wanted this.

And there was a lot of shovelling accompanied by happy munching sounds. Very satisfying.

We are reaching the time of year when we take every day as it comes and adapt accordingly.  That’s all we can do.

It’s Blowing a Hoolie

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It’s been blowing a hoolie all day (hoolie = fierce wind, gale).  Tis the season now and the autumn equinox.

As it was so blowy, I decided that I would put all horse/pony food out in their flat “storm” bowls – they don’t blow away as easily and I hate chasing after buckets in the wind. It’s a thankless task.  They can go for miles, always just that bit in front of you and difficult to catch.

 

Obviously I had Pepper with me offering to hoover up any leftovers.  She is such a wee pig and useless on the bucket catching front.

I had a quick glimpse at Kolka’s scar, which I think is healing up as best it can.  As long as it is not infected or painful, then there really is nothing more to be done.   She wasn’t really into me looking at it for too long as the wind made her reactive and nervy at the slightest movement.

I left the field, clutching all my buckets to wash and put away, finished up and went indoors for my breakfast and my daily difference of opinion with Monster.

Along with my daily Wordle and Connections which I failed at dismally.  Monster was absolutely no help.

A True Tale

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This is a true story. It happened two days’ ago.

There has been a stray hill sheep in the back field that can’t get out and desperately wants to be reunited with its mother – she went back to the hill a few weeks ago.  It has made friends with Dahlia who stays back at night to keep it company.  I have tried, on many occasions, to get this sheep to leave but it always panics and runs hysterically back into the field.

On this particular morning, the hill sheep followed Dahlia into the shed for breakfast and I quickly shut the door leaving them all to it, while wondering, as I walked away, just how would we get this sheep out.  It was far from helpful.

OH had finished his chores and I asked him to come with me to catch the sheep in the shed.

We walked in and couldn’t see this sheep anywhere but all my lot were just standing there looking at us.  It was eerily like “The Sheep Detectives”.  If they could’ve said something I swear they would have.

And the hill sheep?  It was caught between the inter-stable gate and the wall while the other sheep were keeping it there for me.  It was like they knew I wanted to catch that sheep and for once I wanted it to be easy.  It never is.

But today it was. I slipped a headcollar on upside-down, like a harness and OH and I clipped two ropes to it and we walked/dragged the sheep out depositing it into the open hill, where it rushed off to find it’s mother.

So, if folk ever tell you sheep are stupid – the answer is that they jolly well are not.  My lot are intelligent and helpful (at times).  Especially Dahlia. ❤️

Scunnered

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At the moment, my whole day is spent in my shed with Pepper making hand-felted Shetland wool sheep to sell.

All my current stock has been bought and I am meeting myself coming back while trying to keep up with demand.  It is Wool Week so extra pressure too, but in a good ££ way.  I have to keep my little field at Jamieson’s Knitwear full.

This will be my life for the next week and then I go to London on Thursday 8th October for a whole week of rest, seeing family as well as possibly a lot of shopping and a trip to the Bayeaux Tapestry.  I am very exited – I need this break very much.

All the animals will be left in Floss’ capable hands – she arrives Saturday- and she has lots of local back-up if needed too.

I may even give myself a break from the blog as I am feeling fairly scunnered with everything. (scunnered is a great word – it means fed up).

For now, however, I am just putting my head down and trying to make three felted sheep a day while the demand is there. I won’t lie, I am finding it exhausting and I barely see daylight except through the window.

Roll on the holidays. They can’t come soon enough.