This morning was spent at Turriefield sewing seeds like squash, courgette, salad leaves….. oh, yes and sweetcorn (those were interesting seeds). And then we took them all down to the polytunnel to place them in better growing conditions – under lights, mats and heat, though it was already very hot in the polytunnel and everything else was taking off. Then we did some rearranging and relocating previous already-growing seedlings – there is a strict rotation to cater for their every requirement based on the stage they have reached.  That makes sense.  I am learning. I brought home w ..read more

Today was Water Day just because the sun was shining and, once I make a decision of what I am going to devote my morning to, I like to stick to it. First I did the ponies’ water, then the water buckets and sink by the shed.  The latter are used by the ducks. Next up I tackled the filthy duck pond, which was desperately in need of a good clean. Then, Pepper and sat in the sunshine getting a good dose of Vitamin D waiting for the pond to fill. It took ages but we didn’t mind.  We deserved a break from all that hard work.  My back hurts afterwards. Eventually, I wrapped up the ..read more

Last night, just before I went to bed, I looked out of an upstairs window to see Fivla all by herself. The others had left her relocating on the other side of the track.  In her head, it was miles away and she looked very lonely.  She could either walk through a mire or up a steep hill and she didn’t want to do either.  But being alone is also a miserable place to be. So I put some outside clothes back on and went to rescue her, urging her round to go round the track to eventually find them.  She went, albeit grudgingly and really struggled with the muddy bit. I didn’t lik ..read more

To town today as we have visitors next month and I want to be all efficient and have everything ready in the freezer so I can do minimal cooking at the time. First I stopped off at the feed merchants and bought animal supplies, and then went into town to get supplies for cocktails (Eurovision is looming too – hurrah!) As I drove into the car park, which is next to the pier, I saw this magnificent ship. Well, obviously I had to go and have a look, even though there was a sign saying I couldn’t. So I ignored that and crept in past the barriers, hoping no one would stop or ask me to go away. It ..read more

The ponies get called up to the wee paddock for teatime as there is not much on their track and I feel bad for them worrying that they will all now get ulcers from the hunger eating them inside.  (And if it rains, I worry they will all melt). So I dish out soaked ad-lib fibre-block which they quite like. The old ladies like it most and that’s most important. I am trying to keep the weight on them while getting the others to lose it. Previously, when I served the fibre block dry and unsoaked (which it said on the packet you can), Storm ate it until he got colic and it was a vet job so n ..read more

I think that the Shetland ponies may be losing a teensy tiny bit of weight. I hope I am not fooling myself but I think I can almost see a “waistline” on Fivla. I found all the ponies after breakfast having a bit of a kip in the spring sunshine.  Although, quite cold, the sun was making an effort. For a brief moment, I honestly thought Albie was dead. I love this photo – Vitamin, despite her advanced years, always has perfect posture and stands very upright.  Such a gorgeous mare. And that is why her son, Indy Ping-Pong won Best Black Stallion at the SPSBS Breed Show in 2007.&nbs ..read more

This year’s wall of wild primroses is in full bloom now, though it is possibly not as good as previous years, but it’s not too shoddy.  I can’t complain. I love seeing these flowers making such an enormous effort. I think it is because they grow on either side of the stream on a very steep bank, that they do so well.  And, also it means no animal can graze them.  This is the only way to survive here. The celandines are now out in force too. As well as the “blugga flooers” (Shetland dialect for marsh marigolds). They are also just starting. I saw one or two on my walk. Soon ..read more

It was a bright morning so I went out with the big camera to see who I could see. These three were enjoying the Spring sunshine. Dear old Haakon – he’s 30 this year.  His birthday is 10th May 1994. I have the notes from my original phone call with his breeder all those years ago (27) – it says “Haakon Stallion 1 year”. And then there’s his cousin, Iacs who is two year’s younger. A 1996 baby. (so that means, if Iacs is younger, Haakon can boss him around!) Anyway, Haakon was looking relaxed and peaceful as he sat enjoying the sun on his back. My little prehistoric horse. We’ve been t ..read more

I am learning so much at Turriefield, where I volunteer when they need me to help. These are “my” tomato plants that we transplanted from their little starter pots to bigger pots yesterday. Once we had repotted nearly 100 plants, we took them down to the polytunnel and put them under a light on top of a heated blanket, which they need because it is very cold here at the moment – minus 9 degrees tonight (windchill temperature). The aubergine seeds are growing too. I am enjoying the learning curve too. I find out why stuff is done not just doing it because. I don’t learn like that. I always n ..read more

So now we have a new breakfast area because of the endless mud that is everywhere. Bowls ready for the Vandals and the Visigoths. Yesterday, while waiting for the farrier, I built a damned gorgeous electric fence from the track up to the breakfast area.  Straight lines everywhere.  I feel very proud of my achievement. My track is full electrified too.  Zappity zap!  Oh yes, they know I mean business. It worked a treat.  The Minions wandered up there to find their breakfast. And the two old ladies stayed behind, because they couldn’t be arsed with the arguments and ..read more