UK Trip-Part 4

Sorry for the delay in posting, but life has a way of interrupting things and that's been the case for me lately.  Throw in a holiday that requires extra trips to the store, baking, cooking, driving to relatives and to top that all off, both sides of the family have a separate gathering, so you get Holiday x 2.  It's a lot of work to fit a simple relaxing day in anymore, but it's so nice to get family together in one place.

Now.......when I bugged out on you after the last post I do believe we were still on Shetland and had just visited the Vemetry flock.  Next stop was Jim Nicholson's house, the Shetland Flock Book secretary spent a great deal of time talking to us about the history of the Standard and the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, as well as Shetland sheep history in general.  I'm ashamed to tell you that I was nodding on and off at his home due to sheer exhaustion, a warm home and a belly full of homemade soup and treats from our visit with Hamish Hunter and his wife.  Garrett will have to fill in the details of our discussion with Mr Nicholson, I am beyond upset with myself for not being able to focus properly while with this kind man.  I do know he gave us some copies of the "Little Green Book", which was written to clarify the 1927 Standard.

I'm looking particularly lovely in this photo.  (heavy sarcasm)  

We also visited

Our self catered apartment (Kate by her vehicle)

Near Lunna.....I think this was built for some sort of water control (sorry-not clear on that one)

John and Margaret Williamson were gracious and exceedingly generous hosts for our visit.  We were invited in for tea after viewing some of their spotted sheep and Mrs. Williamson had outdone herself with plate after plate of homemade biscuits with various kinds of meat and jams to go with them.  We indulged in tea while enjoying the generosity of this wonderful croft family.  I truly liked these friendly farm folks and would have loved to sit and chat a bit longer, but we had to speed down the road to see more "stuff".

Spotted fleece shot

Another spotted fleece shot.  I just thoroughly enjoyed the way this sheep's color pattern looked when parted. 

This is a hand carved ram horn that was in the back of John's truck.  This is a very Scottish "thistle". 

Ewes posing near Lunna

Same ewes on the run with the sea in the background

I have no idea what this is.......but it's pretty.  (lol)

John rounding up his rams for us to see.....notice the Border Collie working in the background.  John's dog were incredible, I got a bit kick out of watching such well trained dogs do their job. 

Another shot of the dog working the rams. 

Sheep near a voe

Despite numerous trips past this sign, I never got to see any otters and I was crushed.  I really, really like otters, just sayin'

The only group of trees I ever saw on Shetland.  Don't blink, you'll miss them. 

Some wall greenery on the rock wall at John Williamson's with a voe in the background

I know I went to see Shetland sheep, but these seals were the highlight of my trip!!!  I seriously love seals and these guys were so curious that they just kept diving and then popping up about 10 feet closer to me.  They got pretty close and would just bob on the water and blink their cute little eyes at me.  I was like a little kid I was so excited that they were there. 

This is Williamson's Shetland cow and her x-bred calf

An abandoned house on Shetland with a rock wall in the foreground

Shetland ewe eating seaweed before the tide comes back in........this was right next to where I took the photos of the seals.

One of the larger Shetland homes 

I couldn't resist taking photos of these.

Right or left? 

Landscape shots near Lunna

Inside Williamson's barn.