Tag Archives: Shetland Islands

Internet Headache

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I have a headache.  It is an internet one.  Everything was running smoothly and going well until the last few days.  It is all over the place now.   I thought I had everything sorted. I was feeling so pleased (read smug).

And I don’t know if it is us (EE) or them, if you know what I mean.

So I will go off around the house, getting all the extenders in one place, re-setting them and the router with a unravelled paperclip, and see if that makes any difference at all.  It couldn’t be much worse.

This does not put me in a good mood.

I am feeling very fed up now (as I am currently writing this of a dodgy phone signal in my shed).

Hence the headache. Life was so much simpler without all this.  Why is nothing ever easy?!

What Colour is Gussie?

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Just a quickie, because I am going out tonight (I know, get me. I have a social life!)

My question is what colour, in Shetland terminology for Shetland wool, is Gussie?

His mother, Dahlia, is “sholmet” – “In Shetland sheep, sholmet means a sheep of any colour other than white that has a distinct white face” (The Shetland Sheep Society).  That sums up Dahlia fairly well then.

Last year, Gussie was 100% black, even when he was sheared under all that wool but this year some greyish sides have appeared (ignore katmoget ‘Ster in the background looking hopeless).

Anyway, I have no idea. I know Lambie is flecket, and ‘Bert is moorit, Barrel and Maggie are Shetland black, Madge is natural white, ‘Ster is katmoget, etc  but it would be nice to have a name for Gussie’s colour. He is very handsome, after all.

? Bersugget  – Having irregular patches of differing colours.
? Blaeget – Having a lighter shade on the outer part of the wool fibre, especially in moorit and dark brown sheep.
? Iset – Black or shaela with many white fibres, giving a bluish hue from a distance.

Or Shaela – a dark steely-grey sheep colour, often described as looking like “black frost”.

All suggestions welcome. Thank you x

A New Trick

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I learned a new photographic trick today and I tried it out on the Shetland ponies (and even Lambie), who were around alternating between eating their afternoon haynets and sheltering from the sudden and  heavy rain showers.

It was a rather good trick.

It worked on almost everyone, though Albie was unhelpful following me around trying to mug me so I couldn’t get him to stand still.

This is my most favourite photograph of the day.

I like all my photos of horses and ponies to have ears forward.  Ears back always looks so miserable.

Like I said, the trick mostly worked except for Newt who was having none of it.  Of course, he wouldn’t.

Waffle, again, so handsome.

This trick even worked on Lambie who was busy guarding his bedroom/shed because of the heavy rain.

And he even left his bedroom to show me his ever-Winning Smile and bat his beautiful eyelashes at me. I was, of course, smitten.

And the trick?  Always carry in one hand a brand new crunchy packet of Vetwrap (stretchy, self-adherent bandage) while you’re taking photos of disobliging animals. I had to fetch a new one from my stores in the shed for Pepper’s poorly paw and was carrying it around in my coat pocket to get it to the house.

Albie and Tiddles heard the crinkly noise and instantly pricked up their ears!

“Follow me for more tips!”

A Few Odd Ones

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Nothing much to say today as in absolutely nothing has happened except for the weird photos I found that I took throughout the day.

This was Monster first thing in the morning telling me all about his night out and how he worked hard protecting the homestead. Those borders don’t repel themselves, you know.

So he went to sleep.

The old Icelandic horses were all lined up.  A lesson in perspective.

And back inside with me trying to eat my breakfast while catching up on stuff or not. Monster had finished his morning nap.

There was no moving him now. He was settled for the rest of his morning.

Tiddles and Albie.

Silver with glorious windy hair.

Lambie’s rather gruesome Winning Smile.

Lambie told me he wanted to go inside the house now, thank you, please.  I followed him.

And I honestly think he would’ve gone straight in and made himself at home if it wasn’t for the dastardly (but prettily painted) door.

But there was absolutely no way, no how that Lambie was going to let Gussie inside.  If it is anyone’s house, it is Lambie’s (apparently).

Back to Dog Walks in the Flowers

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As Pepper has now had her two stitches out (and, apparently she was a very brave soldier), I thought she could start going for a walk again, but only short ones and strictly supervised.

So I decided Pepper and Ted should go to Clothie, my 5 acres of long grass and flowers which forms part of the old horses and ponies’ winter grazing.

At times, it was difficult to see the dogs.  They were easily lost in the long grass and flowers.

Nearly impossible at times.

Pepper was loving her new freedom.

The two dogs bounded over the grass together, trying to see over the top and where they were going all at the same time.

Meanwhile, having walked to the top of the hill, I sat on a windowsill of the old crofthouse not watching the world not go by.  There wasn’t a soul to be seen, just the long grass swaying in the wind to the sound of the curlews shouting.

I think the short walk was a success.  The daily bandaging less so, though. She hates that and fidgets horribly.

I still don’t trust her not to go a-visiting – strict supervision, remember!

Now, Ted I mostly trust. He has a good track record and stays around the house.

While Pepper is always looking for the chink in our armour.