Tag Archives: Shetland sheep

Lambie Wants Biscuits

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Lambie: I wonder what the biscuit situation is?
Pepper: I don’t know.

Lambie:  Muzzah, do you have any biscuits  (asking for a friend)?

Monster:  She might. I don’t know.

Me:  Guys, I think I’ve run out of biccies.  You finished them last night pratting about going into the wrong fields.

Lambie: What do you mean “run out of biccies?” This cannot be possible and it is not an acceptable situation for any sheep to be in.

Lambie:  Let me look. I need proof.

Lambie: I demand biccies, Muzzah!

Lambie: Pretty please.

And, yes, of course Lambie got a secret biccie (I had to go and raid another biscuit tin and no one is to tell OH). I had no choice, apparently.

Flooding

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Dahlia had the right idea today when she asked if she could come inside.  Sadly I had to say no, because apparently sheep can’t live in our house.

Pepper also had the right idea. The fire was on, again apparently, and I felt nothing.  Not a joule.

So I made myself a nice cup of tea and ate my statutory two Tunnock’s, as is my right and felt much better.

I am glad I put the rugs on the old horses and ponies because we have had a huge quantity of rain all day.  All the bottom fields are flooded but luckily no one is living there so apart from the electric fence, nothing should be too damaged.  I will do a fence check once all the water has subsided.

I fear for the old bridge, though. It will have taken quite a battering.  I don’t think I have seen water this high before but never gets over the top of the bridge. Even so, it is pretty impressive.

The sheep are all mooching about looking for any food opportunity, especially the duck food.  We have had words.

The old horses and ponies, in their rugs, are happy enough eating on the hill of their field.  I have sewn extra tape into the tail flaps of their rugs to keep them on better in a high wind.  It is good to see everyone totally ignore the weather.  It means they are all fine. So I shall stop worrying about them.

Ditto for the little boys who are grazing next to their shed, which remains empty so obviousy no one needs it. I haven’t put a rug on Tiddles as he is fat now and there is plenty of grass.

So that’s us braving the filthy weather.  Coats and waterproof trousers are festooned around the kitchen, dripping water onto the floor.  The shape of things to come this winter.  Lerwick is flooded, apparently.

Lunch in Town

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To town today because it was Floss’ birthday. We went out for lunch and then did a spot of shopping (mostly food for supper, even though we felt very full).

Lerwick was deserted.  The cruise ship season has finished now.

(though, there were a few boats in probably sheltering from the current strong winds).

Floss and I mooched around and checked the field at Jamieson’s Knitwear for stock levels.

When we eventually wended our way home, I went back outside to feed the ducks/hens their tea and get the sheep home for the night.

The ponies came careering up because I had shouted for the sheep.  I could that they were in a very silly mood.

The sheep also came careering out of that field because they hate the ponies, which is not a bad thing because they do tend to dawdle if they possibly can.

Naw, Lambie – the King of dawdlers.  He owns it.

And even Dahlia came home – because I had shouted that there was a fresh packet of ginger biccies waiting.  She does love a biccie.

⬇️And then there are the “idiot children”, as they are currently known. ⬇️  (Tiddles was late to the party).

Back to Reality

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I left London first thing on Thursday morning.  Door to door on the way back it took me over 14 hours – because Loganair’s Edinburgh to Sumburgh “went technical” and I had to fly home via Orkney.  A stressful day because the cancellation wasn’t mentioned on any airport flight departure board until the gate (that was never called) was closing…. and I had to make a run for it.

So I am rather thankful to be home again away from everyone and everything.  It was a good holiday but one week is enough.

And I also have a very large order of sheep to fulfill.

So it is back to the grindstone with my usual help.

The Shetland ponies are now officially off their summer track and on their winter grazing.  It is the field that has been eaten all spring and summer by the others so perfect for them.

They are currently sharing with the sheep who are not impressed but coping….. so far (remember, Lambie hates the Shetland ponies – they chased him (hereinafter known as “The Incident”) many years back when he was a little lamb).

As for the old horses and ponies, Flossie and I spent the morning lugging 20 litre containers of water over in the Eggbox and filling all their troughs.  Plus we left full ones by the gate for later. It took 3 trips.

Then we led the Icelandic horses (Haakon, Kolka and Iacs) while the Shetland ponies (Fivla and Vitamin) followed along nicely – they trotted enthusiastically in through the gate.

I doubt anyone has lifted their heads yet.  There is grass enough for all, at the moment.

Meanwhile, Lambie would like it to be known that he is not that happy with this new plan.  He has not forgotten The Incident.

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.