Jen-Ewe-Ine

03/10/2026

Island life is very much dependant on ferry travel! At this time of year the wind speed and sea conditions can result in cancelled ferries and flexibility of plans becomes a necessity. Today will likely have intermittent showers but it was lovely as we left Shapinsay.

02/10/2026

Living with our own beach frontage we are used to it being some breezy. A few years ago my SIL sent me some Japanese anenomes (which remind my of 'Gangy's garden, a wonderful place I spent many happy hours in as a child). Even in our sheltered walled garden they dance in the breeze! That wind means I have never needed to treat any of our sheep for fly strike (a huge blessing).... and I hope, with the seasonal drop in temperature, it keeps us safe from midges if Blue tongue (a nasty midge born virus) makes it to Orkney before I can vaccinate in the spring.

01/10/2026

Love our corner of the island. Consciously trying to increase the spread of various plants across our paddocks to enrich the grazing for our Borerays but also to have species rich permanent grassland/ meadows. Bog mint, sorrel, field mushrooms

30/09/2026

Monday was a random NHS bankholiday. All ewes and lambs were ready for vet visit and bloods for scab test before 10am! Settisgarth Atlas (our new Boreray ram) is still quarantined so had to move him to the trailer for the morn and then disinfected the barn.. His pen is out of bounds for the rest of the flock.

28/09/2026

nothing starts a day off better than an off duty walk with young sheepdog Peggy.

25/09/2026

Sad these are at the end of my telephoto lens' range.. but this is the only proof that I have that for the second evening running (6.15pm) we watched this immature ? short eared owl hunting over the fields adjacent to Lochend...

24/09/2026

A blustery day. Our sheeps fave seasonal grazing, round the margins of the lochan, has almost entirely vanished under water (well until after next Easter). The swallows have gone from our barn. The wild mint is being transplanted to other wet areas in our meadows and harvested to make the winters mint and apple jelly. Autumn is really here.

21/09/2026

Off to meet some visitors to Orkney Boreray and hopefully my last chance to sell our yarn from our Lochend Boreray 2025 clip. Grateful for our ferry crew who, after an urgent ambulance trip to town, have managed to shoe horn me and others from the 9am run that wasnt onto the 10.30 run despite having two tractors and trailers booked on...

20/09/2026

20/09/2026

Wondering when we will light the multifuel stove in the living room; and as the wind batters the house walls I am deciding on tupping groups and looking towards spring!! Soon by having misty morns... this one from April 2023! 'soundtrack' the long tailed ducks on Lairo water.