Riding in the wagon with Betsey and her friend Polly through Rolling Bay.

I went a little off-hook today. I chased a “want” not a “need” – thanks, Mom, for allowing me to do that. We were busy making crazy green sticky Christmas cookies this afternoon when Dave asked me if I was expecting someone. “Huh? No?” I replied. Next I hear that there’s a woman with a questioning face wandering down the driveway. I raced out to find Betsey and her team pulling into the driveway! They were looking to turn around and wanted to know if I would like to go for a ride! I thought we were booked to go out to Chimacum and pick up Steve, so I said I couldn’t unfortunately. They came down the driveway and we watched in amazement, mom filming the whole time, while Betsey turned the team around. We were wondering what might happen if 3400 lbs of horse decided to do something crazy right next to Dave’s car, but we also were convinced that we didn’t give two hoots if the car got bashed to pieces. We were ready to buy him a new one. Somehow. We were just so amazed and awestruck to see Betsey and her team there. They stopped and chatted after pulling two k turns. Abby pooped and that sealed the deal – the best Christmas present ever is still out there steaming on the gravel! I don’t want to scoop it up! Dave and the boys came out to see the commotion as Mom and I wiped tears of joy at seeing horses on the property. It has been SO many years and I still miss them so much. Well, try as I might, I couldn’t go on with my afternoon as planned. I finished up the cookies and decided I was going to race down and catch up with Betsey and Polly. So I carried two cookies, a sparkling water and a Christmas card to mail at the little Post office down by Bay Hay.

I ran down Kallgren, knowing I’d run into them somewhere along the way. People must have thought I was a little kooky racing around in jeans, boots, cookies, can of sparkling. But I caught them and enjoyed a couple (cold, wet) hours riding in a wagon. I swear I felt like a celebrity sitting there with them. They use a wooden pointer hand to signal which way they turn – so Polly and I took turns pointing the finger so we could turn. Some cars are very courteous and go by slowly, others race. One horse, Abby, is tentative and nervous. She sweat a lot. Her half-sister, Red, is calmer and confident. We had to scramble to pick up poop out of a church parking lot – still makes we wonder a little when a slice of old Bainbridge comes rolling through – gorgeous team of horses and committed farmer – that we even THINK about commenting on poop in a parking lot. So Polly and I borrowed a shovel and did our best to get rid of it. I guess we need to get Betsey a travel pail and tiny shovel in case it happens again.

I got to see the whole process of unhooking the equipment, too. Betsey worked with the team when we got back because they were being a bit testy

Out walking through the local farms with Uncle Steve, giving him a tour. This brief moment of sunlight was beautiful!

– trying to charge into their stall without waiting for her command. Driving a team is serious business – they are enormous and must listen to Betsey’s every command or someone could get very hurt. She says “whoa!” to stop, “step gee” and “step haw” for turns (R and L). I think I got that right. I need to watch and learn a lot more. Betsey finally has my # in her cell phone so she can call when she needs help mucking. I will run over in a flash! It’s a little hard to spring free with a 4 and 7 yr old around, and a Dad who has been working so much, but thankfully I could do so today and this brief time unhooked from my life, while hooked up with the team, really made an impression. I am sorry, Dave, but more livestock will be coming to our lives, somehow.

I haven’t even shared yet my experience sharing breath with a llama, Zorro at Adrienne’s Rolling Bay Farm. Wow – he sniffed my breath to get to know me! That was so intense!!! I saw little (big!) lower teeth and said a quick prayer that all he wanted to do was sniff! He got within a centimeter of my face, drank in my own breath, then leaned his long neck back and his dark, deep eyes went wide as he seemed to process my breath. Thanks to Adrienne and Betsey for a couple very memorable days!