Tag Archives: winter

Tiny Little Signs

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This morning while feeding everyone, I heard birds singing and I realised I hadn’t heard them in a while and I had been missing them.  They were very loud and happy.

I got out my phone and, using the bird-song identification app, I found out who was making all that wonderful racket.  I also dispute these findings as I am sure there was a blackbird around too.

I even saw two oyster-catchers at Sumburgh, when I went to fetch Daisy a few weeks back, though they maybe winter residents (some do stay) rather than the migratory ones.  And, ok, they’re not flying around-type wild birds, but my Muscovy ducks are all looking at potential real estate at the moment.  I keep meeting them in pairs in odd places around the croft.

So, thing are a-changing. I can feel it – even though I was trudging around in the snow this morning.  They really are going to change. I shall keep telling myself this.

And, and, and….. the snowdrops have appeared in our garden which is a definite sign.  I need this. I need to know there is a chance that spring might appear in the not too distant future.  There is a light at the end of this long hard winter tunnel.

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Snow Gone Today

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The snow has now just about gone from our fields, and so has the 4 hourly waitress service, much to the horror of everyone when we threw them back out into their fields this morning.

We put the oldies’ rugs back on and led them down to their field that hasn’t been grazed for two years. They seemed pleased to be back.  Freedom and food.

And yet, when they saw us putting the ducks to bed tonight, they came rushing over and assumed we would arrive with buckets of lovely food.  It didn’t happen.  Sorry, guys.

We put the Shetland ponies back in their old field, which started life as their winter track and they now have access to the whole place.

After a cursory glance at the grass, they spent their day in their containers grumbling, coming out only to ask for a spot of tea.

Daisy and I thought briefly about giving them some haynets and then decided no, it would set a preference, they are fat, they had a loads of hay yesterday and they can go and look for grazing in their field.  So, again, no.

For now, we stand firm on this decision and it’s not easy (though I would’ve secretly given them hay if I was on my own).

 

Duvet Day Inside

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Today, weather-wise, has been unspeakable – sleet, a freezing gale force wind, and we are all very miserable and bored of this.  Apparently Shetland has been stuck in a bad weather system for a while now.

So, Daisy and I decided to get everyone inside for a rest from this.  A Duvet Day, if you will.

No one needed asking twice.  The Shetland ponies were straight in and with no mucking around either about which stall to go in.  Oh, no. In they went and waited quietly while Daisy took Tiddles’ rug off.

Silver was a white/grey pony before he rolled.

But the ponies are happy and eating unlimited hay to their hearts’ content.

Then it was the turn of the old folk.  Straight in, no questions asked and, again, waiting patiently while I undid all their rugs without rolling first, which grosses me out (I have a thing about wet sand).

It is the first time anyone has had their rug off for many weeks and it was good to see a) how well they looked and b) how perfectly dry they all were.

And lastly, the old ladies trotted enthusaistically in, once Daisy had been to catch them because they were determined to wait by their bowls rather than follow the others like they should’ve.

Again, nice and dry and also looking rather good for the time of year. I am pleased.

The sheep are also having a Duvet Day.

They don’t believe in going outside and quite honestly, I don’t blame them.

Daisy and I went back to the big shed after lunch to find everyone was just fine (and had poo’ed a lot).  Seeing Waffle having a snooze was exactly what I wanted.  It is important that everyone has a rest from the weather and relaxes for 24 hours.

I am intending to throw them all out tomorrow as it should’ve thawed considerably by then and normal service can then resume.

Snow Here (Again)

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We woke up to snow…. again.  Ugh.  I’m not a fan.

Also, we found Iacs had managed to get stuck in the not-working electric fence.  From the look of it, he had only been there a few minutes from when he saw us arriving with our buckets.  We lifted his legs out and I led him by his chin hairs back through the gate and gave him his breakfast.  At least Iacs never panics.  Just stands there looking hopeful or embarrassed.

The little ones had long finished their breakfast and raced down to gaze longingly at everyone else eating their’s.  I told them they could always go back onto the track again if they wanted.  They said no thank you.

The rugs are proving a great success.  No one feels cold or wet underneath and they seem pretty oblivious to the bad weather with them on.

And, luckily, there’s not enough snow to actually stop anyone from eating.

Currently, I am liking the high-necked rug on Haakon best and thinking of increasing my extensive (yes, it may well be an addiction) rug library by getting some high-necked rugs for Iacs and Kolka too.

They don’t make high-neck rugs for ponies that I can find, much to Fivla’s disgust.  I don’t like full-necks, though.

So that’s us at the moment.  Daisy and OH are doing all the lugging while I flit about doing sheep and ducks/hens.  We may give in tomorrow, depending on how it looks, and get everyone inside (again). I am trying hard to hold off on that decision as much as I can as that is actually the kiss of death for my back.

Hopefully the snow won’t stay long.  Please.

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!)