Sunday morning when the ground was hard and the snow crunchy, I loaded my last 7 bales of straw. I think these may have been acquired about 20 years ago. Kathy and Francisco took some the last time they were over. I wanted to get everything out so I can split and stack firewood in that shed. I built this (8’ x 12’) 3-sided shed for a young horse we got, called Teak, about 25 years ago. The horse had no liking for it, so over the years many different things have been stored there. I’ll use it this winter; next year I’ll take it down and re-purpose the materials. It is in the way of Sun’s rays, and I’m planning a sundial.
Monday I headed west with the load, stopped at a COSTCO in Covington, and headed on to Tacoma. I crossed the Puyallup River and entered a road construction equivalent of the Gordian Knot. I had conferred with Kathy, maps, and images so I would get through the tangled mess. Once there, I felt like Gordias driving into town on an ox-cart into a mess of several knots all so tightly entangled there was no clear way through. At the moment of decision I had about a third of a second to steer right – – I went left. It took me a half-hour to correct this and my second mistake.
I did see fields of un-harvested pumpkins (smaller ones). Here is a web photo from one of the farms I passed.
Their corn maze is here: 47.215748, -122.350302
Double R Farms – Tacoma, WA http://www.pumpkinpatchintacomawa.com/
This is 1.5 miles from where I wanted to be, but one can’t take the straight route because of water hazards, and I broke only 2 or 3 traffic laws to reduce the time to get to my destination.
We had a great Kathy prepared lunch, unloaded the straw, said hello to horse Jazz and other animals, and headed back to the Naneum Fan. One of the sons set up the map/driving ‘app’ and I had voice directions back to I-5. [I should soon have a Bluetooth connection in the truck; then the voice will come through the speakers – louder.]
Tuesday I went to “The Law House” and signed documents, went out to the vision center to pay a bill, and stopped at a place called Fast Lane Signs to talk to Rose and Pam. I’ll soon have a decorated truck, or more specifically a canopy. I’m thinking of 3 images of perforated vinyl (that is, see-through). Below shows the idea; but not this photo. The canopy has 2 22” x 24” side windows and the large back one.
Wednesday I mostly rested. I did take some limbs off the downed (firewood) trees, and marked most in 15 inch lengths. I’ll finish the marking Thursday morning and then go off for a meal at Suzy (Orcutt) West’s family homestead – 7 miles southeast. I got home about 4:30, just at near dark. Menu was turkey and ham and all the regular Thanksgiving things. About 30 people with food for 60.
My contribution came from COSTCO – – namely a 2.2 pound box of Baklava made in Dubai, UAI. Interestingly, photos on the web, some from earlier dates, show sprinkles of Pistachios over all the pieces in the box. I took the photo below because I did not find a web photo to match.
The round dark pieces look like little bird’s nests with several honey coated pistachios therein. On this box these are called Bilbo nest pistachio baklava.
I could not determine the origin of this name, although it might come from the town in Spain, Bilbao (Bilboa). There is way too much of “Bilbo Baggins” of The Hobbit fame on the web for me to figure this out.
Friday: Phyllis and Cameron came with food. We spent a couple of hours at the table, and an hour sorting things in the big shed. Most is destined for the landfill. Saturday was mist and cool. I went to EBRG, made three retail stops and filled the truck’s gas tank.
At home I loaded a small CWU dorm desk {1 of 4 I bought at surplus for $2 each}. I’ll take it to Dylan Fries (son #2) when I go next over there. Sunday for dinner, I think; but still must confirm with Phyllis.
That’s either the end of Thanksgiving week or the beginning of the end of November.
From the Naneum Fan
John