Tag Archives: Shetland sheep

The Rain It Raineth Every Day

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I know all I do is complain about the weather but honestly, it hasn’t stopped raining for months now (or at least it feels like that).  We all live in a state of permanent mud, wet clothes/hair and are miserable.

The sheep were hanging around their field gate so I opened it early. I think they possibly never actually left to go and graze and I felt sorry for them.

So straight into their shed they went….

….along with some chickens who were also sheltering.  One even laid an egg!

Later, when I went back in the afternoon to shut up the hens and ducks for the night, Lambie followed me back to the house looking hopeful.

Obviously I let him in and sent Daisy off to find him a biccie.

Lambie knew this or at least hoped….

And I might’ve told him too (note the charming smile of happiness at the thought of the arrival of something nice and, even better, edible).

“Lambie, could you possibly manage a chocolate chip cookie?”

Oh, he thought he could (such beautiful manners too).

Sadly, I had to push Lambie back outside telling him to say nothing when he rejoined his biscuitless friends.  I think OH would have a complete hissy fit if I fed all his supply of elevenses’ biscuits to the sheep!

But I had one happy Lambie and that’s all I want.

(he has his mouth full so he can’t smile!)

Bloomin’ Cold!

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It was my turn to walk the dogs today.  OH had gone to town, shopping, as we were down to our last carrot – apparently it was pandemonium in our two supermarkets.  As fast as the shelves were being filled, they were being emptied again.

Anyway, I was on dog duty so off we went into the hill field, recently vacated by the Shetland ponies and where the sheep like to spend their day, good weather permitting.

I found everyone at the far end of the field sitting in the heather.

A few came running up to see if I had brought chocolate cake with me. I hadn’t.

Dear little Maggie. Always a lovely surprise.

‘Ster, because if anyone is having chocolate cake, he is not going to miss out.

And not-so-small Gussie who is probably now my biggest sheep.  He maintains his figure by travelling with food in case of emergencies.  Somewhat like a woolly St Bernard dog.

Even Dahlia came up to be stroked.  These days, it is more of a case of where Gussie goes, she follows.  I wonder if she is glad he is still with her.  Probably not.   He can be very annoying.

I saw another potential album cover.

And the others were far away refusing to be hospitable so I left them to it.

It was far too cold to be hanging around being nice. I was freezing and my hands were cold despite new gloves (the kind with a second lining that is determined to turn itself inside out the minute you take them off and you can never get them back on properly again – the fingers will always be just that bit too short with a muddle of lining at the tips!)

Sheep, “Fit the Second”

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Last night after supper, I went back to the sheep shed in the pitch dark (I am scared of the dark) and quickly checked there was no more fighting.  Everyone was peaceful.

This morning the weather remained truly revolting.  Not to be trifled with.  Floss and I threw food at everyone and ran back indoors as fast we could.  We did the whole lot in under 3/4 of an hour, which is quite an achievement.

Later, I went out again.

Even though I had left the field gate propped open, the sheep hadn’t gone out, preferring their shed along with three full haynets, and two lick buckets.

They were happy and calm, so I found myself a spot and sat down on the straw.

(Even Barrel was behaving himself).

First up were the new double-act – Maggie and Gussie.  They are the best of friends.

Lambie is in love with Dahlia, who is not in love with Lambie…..

… even though he is an obvious catch.

And this was as near Madge got to me.  The words “Hell freezes over” sound familiar.

But Gussie was surprisingly chatty.

And this is as near as Lambie got to me today.

Maggie was also demanding attention.  She smiled so sweetly, it was hard not to be her friend.

Bert snuggled up on my left side.  I gave him many hugs, pleased to see he was feeling happier.

….. while these two were on my right.


And then Gussie plonked himself down and settled into the task of chewing his cud.

And then Bert plonked himself down on my left and was very settled too.

Lots of cuddles and stroking.

I stayed for an hour, playing classical music on my phone so we could relax.  I always enjoy being with the sheep like this.  So peaceful, even though it was raging outside.  The gap between Gussie and Bert was where I was sitting, propped up against the wall.

Lambie’s Not Right

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Lambie has been acting strangely over the past few days. How do you tell, I hear you ask.  Well, as his Muzzah, I just know.

I am telling myself it’s the weather, and everyone is cooped up which Lambie particularly hates.  He likes his personal space and avoids hassle.  He not eating his regular food, says he can’t use his private dining-room and just stands there looking even more confused than usual.

So he is now eating a combination of horse beet flakes (dried) and a handful of hen food (whole wheat grains), plus TumerAid and he seems to like that better.  As long as I can keep him eating, I think there is hope.

This afternoon, Floss said Lambie was grinding his teeth when she saw him so tomorrow, when I’ve got him by himself, I will give him some Inflacam – painkiller.  Maybe it is the cold weather affecting his arthritis, which he’s had since he was a very young lad (bone on bone, the vet said after many bouts of Joint Ill).  Maybe Lambie has come out in sympathy for me and this sciatica.  I don’t know so today I let him have a Duvet Day along with ‘Ster for company.  I left them a big bowl of food and the end of the haynets to finish. I think he just stayed indoors, a bit like me then.  I don’t like when Lambie’s not himself.  Hopefully as the weather turns back to normal and so do all the routines, he will feel himself again.

We are one. ❤️    ❤️ (he did manage to choke down an Animal Cracker or ten which I gave to him when no one was looking).

Coming Home

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My evening chores (photos and film taken by Daisy)……

It is around 3 p.m. and the light is going fast.  Firstly, the ducks come and find me.

I call out for the first three to go to bed. They are my original duck family from this year (mum, son and daughter).  There is food in their shed waiting.  It makes a good incentive.

Then I feed any ducks who are still outside.  Some have already gone to their shed early to join the chickens.

Then I tell the remainder to go to bed and I take extra food for the others who didn’t come down earlier.

Next, if the sheep are not waiting at the gate of their field to come in, I shout for them to come home.

(They are only running fast because the ponies have heard and are following them, which Lambie finds very scary.)

“I am running Muzzah, I am running so fast!”

The reward for returning home is some Animal Crackers that I happen to have about my person – a Christmas treat for everyone sheepy.  They love them.

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