01 November 2020 - Topaz Farm & The Car Horn that Wouldn't Stop!

 Dear, Mom -

We weren't able to talk yesterday, but I am hopeful for today. I will be at a conference all day today, but I will let Joy know when I am available to talk. Today is the McGinty Conference that I have been going to for the last 6 years. It helps me have a deeper understanding of topics that come up with my work and the people that I work with. There are three classes to choose from every couple of hours. Tomorrow, there is one specific class that I am looking forward to, but most of the others are fairly similar to classes from years past. Since I am not taking the classes for credits anymore, I figure I can bug out early if need be. Otherwise, I probably won't be able to talk until after 4. We WILL talk one way or another. I promise you.

Lovely, funky shaped squash from Topaz Farms

Lots of vibrant colors and odd wrinkles and bumps. They're all so unique.

Today, Birgit next door called to ask if I would be able to run her out to Topaz Farms to look at the produce. They are closing their doors to the public for the season and had all their produce marked 50% off. Birgit picked up some carrots and broccoli. We like to support this farm because 1) they are a lovely, young couple having a go at organic farming, and 2) they support Birgit's daughter's business by having sandwiches delivered for sale on the weekends. It is a very nice farm. It used to belong to the Krueger family, but I think they retired. I believe Topaz did a really good run this year even with the virus going around. They have adhered to the rules of sanitization and cleanliness, social distancing, and the use of face masks (without exception) from day one. I had thought about buying some produce, but I have enough at home I need to use up and more coming with my Imperfect Produce order tomorrow. All in all, Birgit and I had a nice trip out to the farm and back on a nice, sunny day.

Right as we were getting ready to leave, a loud car horn was blaring from outside of Birgit's and our house. For some weird, Halloweenish reason, the horn all of the sudden got stuck in the 'on' position of Paula's friend Mick's car. Mick has moved to Montana and left his car here for retrieval when he comes back through. He has already sold his house, so Paula offered her house since we have lots of parking spots and wide roads. So, there we were getting ready to leave and the horn is blaring. I get the keys from Birgit, the neighbor Asher strolls up and wonders what is happening? I said, "I don't know. I don't know if it is the alarm?". I tried unlocking it, starting it, turning it on and off...nothing happened. Asher told me to tap the horn a couple of times. "Maybe it got stuck on somehow?". Well, that worked. I should say it worked temporarily. Again it starts blaring. I hit the horn, it stops. We go through the process a few times when Holly says, "Why don't you unhook the battery?". Genius. At the same time, Asher suggests we just pull the fuse for the horn. Also a great idea. Finding the fuse box and the right fuse were not so easy. After about a half an hour or so, I finally walked in the house, grabbed a wrench, unplugged the battery and took out the fuse and that was that. No more horn honking. Boy, was that every weird, though. Let's just say we were all VERY happy that it did not happen in the middle of the night last night. That would have been a whole different ball of wax, I'm afraid.

After I got home from the farm with Birgit, I decided that this was a weekend of me doing basically nothing. You know, when you do nothing, it makes the day go by faster. I am speaking from my observation of the weekend. I think it is just because I didn't have anything to show for sitting around. In order for me knee to feel better and heal, though, I figured walking the dog a few times was about all I should and could muster. It does feel better today, but we'll see how the next few days go.

Paula made us a nice chicken pot pie for dinner. She tends to cook for us when she does special dishes. She always makes a helping for us, which is very sweet of her. Since she made the pot pie yesterday, she had me put the puff pastry on today before it went in the oven. I did and I decorated the top a bit and brushed it with egg whites before putting it in the oven. It was a bit rough looking, but it didn't affect the taste one bit.

I had enough pastry left to make a Scottish flag design, like a Shepherd's Pie or the like.

A close up of the detail of the leaves and berries.

It was fun to get creative and cut those out. I did look better before it went in the oven, but a perfectionist will always put a disclaimer before everything they show to other people. It's never quite perfect enough. Ha ha. Since this was my first time, I think I did pretty well!

Here are a few of the flowers I took pictures of this morning on my walk with Elsa. Some we may have seen before, others are just pretty to look at.

Garden Cosmos that the squirrels planted for me.

Sunburst Dahlia with Paula's orange house in the background.

The one Hydrangea blossom that never dies or goes green. It just stays beautiful!

I am looking forward to talking to you today, Mom. I really miss you lots. 

🌸🌲🍁I love you!!!! Your Daughter, Sally Ann🌺🍄🌼