EAT MEAT! I may be a lazy housekeeper…

If I have used an item, let’s say a bowl or a gadget—and there may be the chance I will use it again—I’ll leave it on top of the kitchen counter. This last while, I’ve been on a smoothie kick and so, it’s the blender that is sitting front and centre.

I may also have a bad habit of cleaning my tack on the kitchen floor. (This story is all about honesty and vulnerability. So, a warning.) The main reason for this quirk is that my Dad’s old slotted screw driver lives in the kitchen junk drawer. The conchas on my bridle ends all have slotted screws, so if I’m wanting to tighten one or change a bit out, it just makes sense to plop down on the floor and get on with it. And so, I did.

When I was done swapping out the bits on the headstall, to my annoyance, one of the runners that holds the tail end of the crown strap was missing. I mean, it was gone. AWOL. Poof. No trace. I turned every inch of our kitchen

By Lee McLean

upside down, looking for the leather keeper but I found nothing. Vexed mightily, I put the remaining bits and pieces together and went out to ride.

Fast forward an hour or so, to lunch time.

I made myself a Green Goddess smoothie, which is a slick name for a milkshake made with kale, cucumber and precious little else. Except this one was different, somehow. The first gulp surprised me with its earthy taste. Nutty, salty, gritty. That was strange. It wasn’t until I got a piece of linen thread caught in my teeth that I realized what I’d done.

I studied the drink in my glass and made a decision. At the price of fresh kale, you can bet I chugged the Goddess down.

If you need me, I’ll be downstairs at the bench, stitching up a new runner for my bridle. Burp. WHR