Home on the range

Saturday morning, and I spend it hugging dogs and petting cows! My early wake up aspiration was not to be, so I just woke up and had a quick breakfast then went out to check out the animals.

As soon as I walked out into the yard, this black and white dog madly rushed over to me and jumped up. So enthusiastic, so free with kisses, so eager to put mud on my clothes! Haha so adorbs.

I walked with P the old guy to bring the 3 cows in from the paddock out yonder, and got to pet the horses on the other side of the fence. He keeps about 6 young horses every summer for their owners, they're all destined to be dressage horses and show jumpers! All are brown, except one that's a strange brown grey, he says that it used to be brown, but as it gets older it will get whiter until one day it will be kind of white.

Brought the cows into the shed, and then he cleaned the udders and put on some kind of grease, and began to milk. Then he let us all try! It's not that difficult, would be easier if my hands were bigger, but it's still manageable. Coolios.

While he continued milking the cow, we sat at the side and petted two of the dogs, ended up hugging minka (the black and white dog), she's such a sweetie. By that time I didn't care about being dirty, I was dirty beyond hope, had cow pat on my shoes and all.

Later on we got to pet kids (baby goats!) and lambs and even a calf! The calf was this unsteady little 3 month old, it hadn't learned yet to drink from a bucket. So P put his fingers out for the calf to suck, and then put its mouth into the bucket of fresh milk.

After lots of animal fun, we changed up (really dirty) and went out in the car to Leeuwarden, a big town nearby. Walked over to a big art market. Lots of really pretty paintings and drawings and some sculptures. Then walked down another street, I bought a pair of shorts, and then to the food market! Where we had haring (raw herring with raw onions) mmmmm and kibbling (fried fish). Walked a little further and had more haring.

Then into the Altstadt, where one of the streets had clothes on clotheslines hanging across the road. So pretty! As usual, the roads were cobbled and narrower. Very nice though. Had late lunch at a cafe, then went to albertheijn to stock up on stroopwafel, fristi, and chocomel. We pretty much emptied the store of stroopwafel haha. It was quite embarrassing honestly, but oh well.

Drove to harlingen, a town right on the coast of the North Sea!! So, I mean, it was just water, but the idea of being there was fun. Tried to get nearer to the actual coast instead of just being behind the dike, but gave up and joined the rest for poffertjes!! How I've missed poffertjes. Another quick stop at albertheijn again, and then drive to sneek to see it, and to get some Chinese takeaway if possible. And yes, we found one, and then we hightailed it back (as far as small country roads permitted) to the farm for the promised horse ride .

Waited quite a while for it. Waited around, petted a horse. Had nothing to do.

P then suddenly gave me a big stick and told me to bring the cows back from the field. I was like what? But went off to do so, and was very surprised and unsure when he didn't follow! There are three cows and they were all standing at different parts of the field. It took me some time to gather all of them at the gate, with lots of ignored here Bessie! It didn't take me that long though, and this time P milked the cow with a mechanical instrument.

Later P asked me to bring them back in, so I did. And then I spent a long long time with the horses at the field next to the cows field. They are soooo cute, they think everything's edible, or at least they like to figure out if everything is. So they nibbled most parts of my jacket, and my hair. And they're really lovely, they like a cuddle just like the dogs do.

At one point I was looking up into the face of one of them. It was amazing, his dark head and big round eyes filled most of my vision, with the blue sky beyond. He was blowing warm air down my neck, and I could hear his gentle breathing. Lovely horsey.

Then it wwas my turn for the horse ride. In the end cos I practically have no experience, I just sat on the horse while P led the horse around the paddock for a few rounds. And then he tried to teach me to use the reins but I suck and couldn't get it right haha. Oh well.

Had dinner (instant noodles, Dutch satay, and 'fried rice') while watching the Germany Ghana match (how did Germany manage to draw that) and then finally had a shower.

Went outside to look at stars, just to celebrate the summer solstice! And also since we're out so far, there's less light pollution. Dad taught us how to look for the big dipper and the North star, I now can identify them. Yay. Went out a second time to accompany g as he tried to get a long exposure of the stars, not sure if it actually worked. Anyway since it was a half hour exposure, dad and I kind of just went back to sleep haha. It was 1.30 and we were so tired.

In summary, animals!!! I wanted to be a vet when I was young.