Great video. So lovely to see real life on a Croft. Your sheep and lambs look happy and healthy. Love your hat and scarf although the little one in its cowl is gorgeous. 🤩
Thank you, Rachel. This wasn't the least bit second-best, was just as interesting as your more 'conscious' videos. They're all part of the picture, your life on that wonderful island, aren't they? I am watching one video after another, and can see that I am in danger of getting drawn back to the island again for another holiday. I loved the airstrip and remember having to wait to cross the 'runway! I was delighted to see that the 'control tower' was a man in wellies and jeans with a walky-talky radio in one hand. I actually hear him signing off with an 'over and out' to the pilot as the plane climbed away. I'm only up to this one, number 7, am watching them all in order. Please keep them coming. Peter.
Hi Peter. Yes, things haven't changed since your last visit and our 'control tower' is still a man with a walky-talky!! I hope the series continues to bring back good memories for you.
Hello from the west coast of Canada! I am enjoying your episodes, the scenery, the music, the history and the sheep. I have been lucky to visit Shetland and Orkney but only the very lucky get to Fair Isle. Thanks for the tours!
Thank you for showing us your croft and a small insight into life as a crofter. It certainly fits well with your other videos as crofting is such an intrinsic part of life on Fair Isle. I remember Blossom as a lamb last year with wonky legs. It's lovely to see her grown up and looking so healthy!
Hi Rachel! I just started watching your videos and I wanted to say thank you and keep ‘me coming! Fair Isle is such an interesting place that I would love to visit someday. I absolutely loved seeing all the lambs and as an avid knitter and yarn collector I would love to learn more about the sheep of Fair Isle.
Hi Rachel, thank you so much for showing us all the moms and their babies and all the other sheep you have around. I noticed that the Texel male sheep didn't have any horns. Do sheep horns fall off at some time during the year as they do with deer?
Hi Yvonne and my apologies for only just seeing your comment. No, sheep’s horns grow continuously throughout their lives, as opposed to shedding each year and growing a new set. Some breeds - such as Texels - don’t grow horns. Occasionally lambs may knock a horn off which, although can look bloody, isn’t usually too serious and should grow back in time! 😀🐏
@@barklandcroft3416 hi Rachel, thank you so much for replying and no worries for not seeing it sooner, I am sure you have way more important things to do than watch UA-cam. I am so in awe how you manage your Croft by yourself. It’s really amazing. Cant wait for your next Postcard at the Woolly Thistle
I have really enjoyed this video Rachel. Great to see all your lovely sheep and lambs and the croft. I would do exactly the same in giving them all names. It looks like hard work for you, do you get any help on the croft or are you totally doing everything yourself.
Thank you, Sharon! It can certainly be physically demanding but it’s not ‘hard’ work - I think when you do something you really love then you don’t see it as hard! I do everything myself but there are always folk I can ask if I ever do need an extra pair of hands!
Well done Rachel, very interesting. I'm glad you've had some good weather. Here in Northumberland it's been very dry, just 1.0mm rain in April so far so lambing has gone well this year.
Thank you. I thoroughly enjoyed the video. It is nice to see how other folks in other places. Was the community center you identified in the video the same one that was in the the Jimmy Perez video?
Thank you so much, Patrick! With the episode of ‘Shetland’ that was set here, they used some exteriors of buildings but a lot of what you see isn’t here at all and was filmed elsewhere! I think they used the exterior of the Bird Obs but the interior was filmed somewhere else!
Another terrific video Rachel! I love the fact that all your sheep have individual names. They obviously recognise you - does that make it easier later in the season when they go off to pasture? Do you have sheep dogs to help rounding up the sheep and to assist in separating a particular sheep that may need treatment? Thank you for the update on your lambing for 2020. Take care and keep safe.
Thank you ever so much, Paul! It does make it easier in that there are lots of them who will just follow me and will lead some of the more wild and wary ones. I do have a sheepdog but she’s utterly useless and prefers cats to sheep, so it’s less hassle to do things myself than to try and use her! 😂
Thank you so much, Jo! I think when you spend a lot of time with the sheep you get to know them and their personalities and very quickly you see them as individuals, so it’s not hard to remember their names! Some of the lambs might get named at birth, if they’re out of a particular ewe or ram, or if a really apt name springs to mind. Otherwise I wait to see what their characters are like once they start to develop. I only name the ones that will be staying on the croft, however! 🐑🐑❤️
I thought you were supposed to shear the ewes before they gave birth. Why not wait on breeding later in the fall so they lambed later in spring when it is warmer?
Loved this and that you give them all names. This glimpse into a simpler way of life is so refreshing.
Thank you so much, Ginny! Yes, I get a few funny looks from the other crofters here that I name them, but it makes me happy 😊
LOVE, LOVE meeting all the sheep!!!
Thoroughly enjoyed meeting your sheep. Thank you!
Aw you’re so welcome, Lyn!
Great video. So lovely to see real life on a Croft. Your sheep and lambs look happy and healthy. Love your hat and scarf although the little one in its cowl is gorgeous. 🤩
Thank you so much, Marilynne!
Thank you, Rachel. This wasn't the least bit second-best, was just as interesting as your more 'conscious' videos. They're all part of the picture, your life on that wonderful island, aren't they? I am watching one video after another, and can see that I am in danger of getting drawn back to the island again for another holiday. I loved the airstrip and remember having to wait to cross the 'runway! I was delighted to see that the 'control tower' was a man in wellies and jeans with a walky-talky radio in one hand. I actually hear him signing off with an 'over and out' to the pilot as the plane climbed away. I'm only up to this one, number 7, am watching them all in order. Please keep them coming. Peter.
Hi Peter. Yes, things haven't changed since your last visit and our 'control tower' is still a man with a walky-talky!! I hope the series continues to bring back good memories for you.
Absolutely loved this little video thank you so much for sharing!
You’re so welcome, Jo, thank you!
Hello from the west coast of Canada! I am enjoying your episodes, the scenery, the music, the history and the sheep. I have been lucky to visit Shetland and Orkney but only the very lucky get to Fair Isle. Thanks for the tours!
Thank you so much, Doreen, I’m really glad you enjoyed it!
Hi Rachel, really enjoyed seeing the lambs and mamas and fair isle in the sun! thanks for sharing. Corinne
You’re so welcome, Corinne, I’m so pleased you enjoyed it!
Thank you for showing us your croft and a small insight into life as a crofter. It certainly fits well with your other videos as crofting is such an intrinsic part of life on Fair Isle. I remember Blossom as a lamb last year with wonky legs. It's lovely to see her grown up and looking so healthy!
Aw that’s so kind of you, Mairead, thank you! Yes lovely Blossom, bless her, she had such a desire to live and look at her now! 🐑❤️
I’ve only just found your channel and I love it!
That's so very kind of you, Louise, thank you! 💐
Loved this! Thank you :)
You’re very welcome!
Great video Rachel - really enjoyed it
Thank you!
🌺🌺🌺
Thank you for sharing your world. Fantastic video.
You’re so welcome, Cathy!
Hi Rachel! I just started watching your videos and I wanted to say thank you and keep ‘me coming! Fair Isle is such an interesting place that I would love to visit someday. I absolutely loved seeing all the lambs and as an avid knitter and yarn collector I would love to learn more about the sheep of Fair Isle.
That’s so kind of you, April, thank you! I’ll definitely do more about the sheep in future!
Hi Rachel, thank you so much for showing us all the moms and their babies and all the other sheep you have around. I noticed that the Texel male sheep didn't have any horns. Do sheep horns fall off at some time during the year as they do with deer?
Hi Yvonne and my apologies for only just seeing your comment. No, sheep’s horns grow continuously throughout their lives, as opposed to shedding each year and growing a new set. Some breeds - such as Texels - don’t grow horns. Occasionally lambs may knock a horn off which, although can look bloody, isn’t usually too serious and should grow back in time! 😀🐏
@@barklandcroft3416 hi Rachel, thank you so much for replying and no worries for not seeing it sooner, I am sure you have way more important things to do than watch UA-cam. I am so in awe how you manage your Croft by yourself. It’s really amazing. Cant wait for your next Postcard at the Woolly Thistle
@@Yvonnescraftyadventures Aw bless you, Yvonne, that’s so kind of you! I think my next video should be in next Friday’s episode (29th July) 😀🐑🐑🐑
Thank you for the tour. Absolutely lovely to see.
You’re so welcome, Paul, thank you!
I Love your videos and I Love your sheep❤️😍😂 Thanks so much🙏😊
Thank you so much, Christine!
Wonderful Rachel! Thank you so much. I know these are very busy days for you!
Thank you so much, Jean!
I am certainly enjoying your videos and this one is so special. I love every minute with the sheep and lambs. Thank you
Aw I’m so pleased you enjoyed it, Donna, thank you!
I have really enjoyed this video Rachel. Great to see all your lovely sheep and lambs and the croft. I would do exactly the same in giving them all names. It looks like hard work for you, do you get any help on the croft or are you totally doing everything yourself.
Thank you, Sharon! It can certainly be physically demanding but it’s not ‘hard’ work - I think when you do something you really love then you don’t see it as hard! I do everything myself but there are always folk I can ask if I ever do need an extra pair of hands!
Well done Rachel, very interesting. I'm glad you've had some good weather. Here in Northumberland it's been very dry, just 1.0mm rain in April so far so lambing has gone well this year.
Thank you so much! Really glad to hear your lambing has gone well - the good weather certainly makes a difference! ☀️
Videos are quickly improving! Although each one makes me want to visit even more 😂 👍
Thank you so much!
Thank you. I thoroughly enjoyed the video. It is nice to see how other folks in other places. Was the community center you identified in the video the same one that was in the the Jimmy Perez video?
Thank you so much, Patrick! With the episode of ‘Shetland’ that was set here, they used some exteriors of buildings but a lot of what you see isn’t here at all and was filmed elsewhere! I think they used the exterior of the Bird Obs but the interior was filmed somewhere else!
Another terrific video Rachel! I love the fact that all your sheep have individual names. They obviously recognise you - does that make it easier later in the season when they go off to pasture? Do you have sheep dogs to help rounding up the sheep and to assist in separating a particular sheep that may need treatment? Thank you for the update on your lambing for 2020. Take care and keep safe.
Thank you ever so much, Paul! It does make it easier in that there are lots of them who will just follow me and will lead some of the more wild and wary ones. I do have a sheepdog but she’s utterly useless and prefers cats to sheep, so it’s less hassle to do things myself than to try and use her! 😂
Loved it!! How do you remember all the names and when do you name the new lambs?
Thank you so much, Jo! I think when you spend a lot of time with the sheep you get to know them and their personalities and very quickly you see them as individuals, so it’s not hard to remember their names! Some of the lambs might get named at birth, if they’re out of a particular ewe or ram, or if a really apt name springs to mind. Otherwise I wait to see what their characters are like once they start to develop. I only name the ones that will be staying on the croft, however! 🐑🐑❤️
I thought you were supposed to shear the ewes before they gave birth. Why not wait on breeding later in the fall so they lambed later in spring when it is warmer?
Are these meat sheep? Do you feed hay year around? Don’t see much grass land. Give more info on farming practices, please.