Tag Archives: spring

Rug Indecision

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I have spent the day looking out of the window wondering if I have got it all wrong with the horses and ponies’ rugs.  Sometimes it is hot, sometimes cold. I can’t win.

This morning started with sleet, so I felt that everyone was keeping dry and warm in their rugs.  They all have rainsheets on – with no fill.

But then, to spite me, the sun came out and it was lovely.

The horses and ponies still have their rugs on because it is a back-killer to keep nipping out to take them off, put them on, take them off, etc.  It also isn’t very warm (a constant vicious north-west wind) and that sleet was a nasty shock.

And the minute I decided everyone could keep their rugs on, until the wind changes direction and it gets warmer again, the sun beat down unmercilessly.

Of course it ruddy well did.

But I have felt under everyone’s rugs and they are either slightly warm or cool so no one is over-heating – I changed everyone’s rug yesterday and it was very hard work, lugging etc.

At night the temperature dips and the range is about 10 degrees. Tonight is no exception  – the forecast is for -5 °C (RealFeel).

Anyway, Fivla says I can take her rug off in August.

Rugs on?  Rugs off?  Rugs on?  I am very uncertain and tomorrow there is rain all day.  I might be slightly obsessing about this, which doesn’t help.

Anyway, here is today’s hairstyle oeuvre.

Gussie (oh my! swoon)

And Lambie (oh dear)!

Spring Birds

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This time of year, the Dawn Chorus is very loud and tuneful.  So, I did a little experiment today – I decided to record all the birds I could hear in my garden by putting my phone on the bird table and leaving it there for 15 minutes.  Usually when I try to record and identify every bird, they all vanish, hence leaving the phone on the bird-table and walking away (hiding).

My first attempt I have decided to ignore on the grounds of a carrion crow being in Shetland are pretty much nil.  They are rare (and I would love one).

Screenshot

Screenshot

We do try to encourage birds in our garden. There is also a massive bird table above.

But there is also a massive cat below, though to be fair, I have never seen him bother with a bird – he prefers bigger prey like whitterit (stoats), rabbits and our neighbours (who I, funnily enough, haven’t seen recently).

I had a wander around the garden to admire plants actually growing.  A wonderful sight after such a god-awful winter.  We favour the wild garden look rather than cultivation.

After my wander on this gorgeous calm spring day, I had another shot at trying to record the birds.

With 12 breed of birds in just the garden and its environs, you can see why our Dawn Chorus is a loud experience, with everyone shouting their heads off trying to be heard!  It is very beautiful, though.

(is it just me, or do these two pigeons look like they are walking to work!)

A Wander Around

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There were some very noticeable signs of spring when I went for my wander around with the dogs this morning.

The green leaves by the burn (stream) will soon turn into yellow flag irises, which grow wild all over Shetland – they are known locally as “seggies”.

Disappointingly, it’s not our best wall of primroses this year.  Maybe, as the warm weather gets going, they might make a better effort.  There are usually many more and look like scrambled egg.

Still, the celandine are appearing in force now. A sure sign the weather is warming up and winter is well and truly over (I may regret saying that).

As it is nearly Lambie’s 11th birthday (25th April, thank you for asking – obviously he will be having a big party, so please bring cake or chocolate and absolutely no veggies), I went to see how he was doing.

Aww, my little boy will be 11 years old.  Who’da thunk it?  Lambie’s main aim from Day 1 has always been to die…… at me.  Anyway, I asked him for a pre-birthday smile and this is what I got and then he followed me around, trying to stand next to me at all times, while I tried to photograph the others.  I think he knows it is nearly birthday time so he’s hedging all his bets and sucking up.

Lambie is not a natural charmer, like Gus-Gus.

Or Maggie, who is an optimist about everything (I have no idea why she looks like she’s swallowed a button!)

Even ‘Ster found his inner cheesey grin.

I also found these three in the far reaches of the sheep field.  It was funny to think that this time last year, they didn’t even exist (well, mum-duck did, obviously).  So I told them this and was duly ignored for my efforts.

Primroses Are Here!

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Spring is almost here…..Our “wall of primroses” is beginning to appear on both sides of the burn (stream) that runs through the fields.  The primroses are a most welcome sight and I was worried that the sheep and ponies were probably eating them as there is not much in that field and food is food.

But as the flowers are growing on a sheer cliff, they seem to be ok, if a bit wind-blown.

These days, we are all a bit wind-blown.

It was blowing a hoolie when I went out with the dogs this morning.

As you can see by Newt’s very bouffant mane.

Newt is used to his wild hair.

On my walk, I went to see if the sheep had finally gone outside into their field – these days I just leave the field gate open and let them make their own choices.

I found that they had chosen to use the lee of the big shed and the bank for shelter.  All eight of them – quite the flock.  I do like seeing them all together.

Oooh, Lambie.

Pepper and Gussie – aww.

(so you know, this is an eating day – fingers crossed).  However, Guss is always eating.  He wears snacks.

Madge looked, err, triangular.

And Maggie was most disapproving.

So I went inside and made a disapproving sheep, as well.

A Worrying Day

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Pepper has not been well. She’s wretching all the time, refusing to go on a dog walk (unheard of) and has been on the whole pretty miserable.  She even walked away from her uneaten breakfast.  Not a well Pepperpot.

So I’ve been nursing my sick little dog all day, in the belief that the best cure is nil by mouth (fresh water only) and sleep. I did give her 5ml of slippery elm in a syringe this morning which I think has helped to calm things down.

I have no idea who or what Pepper has eaten or even how she found it as she was already on house arrest since running after a mountain hare (it luckily escaped) and then produced a limp out of nowhere, which became steadily worse all evening and even added a back leg. As Pepper could no longer walk, we were carrying her around the house, and garden and I was very frightened for her, worrying all night. But suddenly the next morning, of course Pepper was fine again, all limping gone but hence the 24 hour house arrest, just to be sure.

I hate it when Pepper is ill but on a good note, though, she is a sweetie and always takes herself outside to be sick, which I appreciate hugely.

Into my shed we went this afternoon, for peace and quiet.  Pepper slept a long time, which was exactly what I wanted for her.

Afterwards I let her outside to run around a little while I fed the ducks, etc.

When we got inside, I gave Pepper some supper and she wanted to eat it so hopefully whatever was bothering her, is now leaving her system.  Honestly, I’ve never known such a dog with so many troubles.