Tag Archives: Shetland Summer

Different Sheds

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I felt sorry for Fivla this morning.

After her breakfast, I found her queueing outside the closed door of the little shed, along with Vitamin and Kolka.  I opened it up so they could go in and Vitamin nipped in whippet-like, swiftly followed by Fivla.  Good, I thought, they are inside and can get some shelter from today’s windy/rainy day.

And then Kolka barged in, possibly uninvited, and there was pig-like squealing which I knew came from Fivla as she doesn’t do social pressure.

To give her her due, Fivla stayed inside for a little while but, when I came back with my phone to take photos, I found her back outside again looking very disgruntled.  She just hates crowds.

Buckets collected, washed and tidied, I put all the sheep out into their field.  They lasted a couple of hours, until they saw a cyclist coming down our track and all, to a sheep, ran to the gate in pure terror, asking to be let out so they could cower in their shed.  I have no idea who that poor cyclist was as I watched him turn around and leave.  He was obviously not here to see us.

After letting the sheep out of the field, I found Newt alone in his residence.

The other ponies were long gone down the track looking for non-existent grass to eat.

Newt said he wasn’t moving and no one could make him.

So I told him he couldn’t stay there all day, and it was clearing up nicely now.

(I may have not been telling the truth – it’s been a pig of a day).

Fog, No Fog, Then Fog

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We woke up to Shetland covered in thick fog.  I know no flights got in or out this morning.

But, still, the horses, ponies, sheep, etc managed to find me.

There is no escape.

I’m sorry, but I don’t have much to say mostly because absolutely nothing has happened all day.

And, at the risk of boring everyone including myself, here are a few photos of my nothing day…..

The baby bunny I saw from the door of my shed – Pepper was on a dogwalk with OH so this little sweetheart made the most of the absence.

It was very cute, like one of those Chinese toy adverts that nothing like the real thing that arrives in the post.

These three Muscovy Ducks have taken to sitting on the outside table.  They meet me at the front door and waddle behind in the hope I will lead them to food.  I think they are Mum (on far right), son (middle) and daughter (left). They were the ducklings from last year.

So that’s me really. Not very enthusiastic at the moment.  Fog does that to me – mentally. It just sits and I lose all inspiration and thought.  But the wind is coming back in force tomorrow so that should liven things up.

Ted is on good form, though.

Back to Bumble Bees

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I took your advice and went into our garden yesterday evening, in the late sunshine, looking for more bumble bees to photograph.  It was much easier as they were slower.

There is a huge pile of comfrey plants which the bumble bees love and I spent my time trying not to get in their way while they buzzed into all the flowers.

I was captivated while they flew their figures of eight around me and the flowers.

I must admit that I do love their fuzzy little bottoms.

Later in the day, I returned to my comfrey patch and my bumble bees.  I like bee-watching. There is something relaxing about watching someone else work very hard!

It had been raining in the afternoon, too.

Now I think I have identified my bees as being the “Northern White-tailed Bumblebee”
(Bombus magnus) – This is a common visitor to gardens and crofting land throughout Shetland, except Fair Isle. It is the earliest species to appear in Shetland in spring, and can be seen anytime between April and September. The Northern White-tail is a very neat, clean-looking species. It has a black thorax, with a single yellow band at the front. The abdomen has another yellow band, and a white tail; hence this is Shetland’s only ‘double banded white-tail’. – Shetland Amenity Trust.

Bombus Magnus is a very fitting name, I think.

Oh, those little fuzzy butts!

Summer vs. Winter

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While the rest of the UK is basking in incredible high temperatures, Shetland is not.

I took this photo this morning – and we have enjoyed an ambient but overcast 13℃ all day, which is fine by me and my animals.  I am not worrying about anyone over-heating.

It got me to thinking, though, and I asked my OH this question. Which would you hate most – a bonkers hot English summer or a cold Shetland winter?

OH went for the bonkers hot summer saying that it would only be for a few days here and there and he could cope with that.  I couldn’t. I know – I used to live in London and the heat was awful and the pavements smelled of baked dog poo.  Gross.

I said I preferred a rough cold winter because, although it was difficult, it was much more bearable.  It is easier to get warmer than it is to cool down – both animals and people.  Though winter is very hard work.

Ok, this photo is of an extreme day in Shetland winter – Flossie and I were trying to convince our two new sheep to come home and have some food. It was Gussie and Dahlia who were being unhelpful and “lost”.

Having said all that, looking at the photos of winter, I am now not so convinced by my argument!

But Shetland summers are perfect – rarely too hot – and the wild flowers growing everywhere are beautiful.

All the animals are happy – no one is too hot and I am not worrying.  So I think I am saying that I can cope better with a Shetland winter because itis not as bad as an bonkers hot English summer, which would be unbearable for me.