It had been a while since we visited our farming neighbors across the road, so the other day we took a walk.
.
.
Unfortunately they weren’t home, but we took the time to check out what was happening on their farm. There’s something about strolling through verdant fields of crops that just makes me smile.
.
.
Every time we visit there’s something new.
.
.
This time it was a veritable village of greenhouses.
.
.
These seemingly sprung up overnight, with full irrigation… which must have been quite a feat.
.
.
A house addition was under way as well.
.
.
Why was there a skeleton prominently displayed on the barn wall? It’s probably better if we don’t ask.
.
.
Ugh. I suppose a row of kale was inevitable.
🤢
.
.
There’s our Barn Mahal/man cave in the background.
.
.
We never realize how much it dominates the landscape until we see it from far away. Oops.
☺️
.
.
On our way out we had to stop by the farm stand they opened when Covid shut down most of their markets.
.
.
And naturally we came home with a few things.
.
.
Lettuce, spinach, potatoes and blueberry yogurt. You can’t get much fresher than that.
We were back in the barn this weekend and ran the new heat pump for the first time. It’s a big space so it took a while to warm up… but the building held the set temperature all day, which means all our stuff and seal each and every god damn gap insulation work…
Worked.
.
.
But there were still a few more windows to trim and that’s when things went downhill.
There was sputtering, mumbling, cursing and okay…. small pieces of wood may or may not have been flung across the room.
.
.
When the wood started flying? I knew it was time for a distraction… so I trudged down to our crap filled underground nightmare basement and retrieved a treasure we purchased a few years ago.
.
.
A neon bar sign from the Ommegang brewery in New York. We stumbled on them when we visited the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown and fell in love with their Belgians.
Our weekly CDA is winding down for the year, but the harvest is still plentiful.
.
.
Peppers, turnip, ginger, Korean melon, spinach, salad greens, kohlrabi, radishes, chard, celery, dill and yes. Some awful version of kale.
Our weather has started to change and we’re feeling some delightfully brisk and crisp air. When that happens?
.
.
It’s time for a big pot of homemade chili. And a trip to our local pub.. at an off hour when no one is there. Perfect.
.
.
On the menu? Duck wings with sweet Thai chili sauce.
.
.
Tis the season.
.
.
And thanks in part to my suggestion… okay my endless badgering, whatever!… the owner has agreed to run weekly cocktail specials. He even bought a lovely coffee table book of choices for me to peruse.
.
.
Keep the customers happy.
And the really good customers like me? Keep them soused, they complain less that way.
Peppers, fennel, radish, celery, bok choy, chard, eggplant, salad greens and spinach.
.
.
Of course it’s fall, so even the eggplants look like pumpkins.
And at the grocery store this week? A run on creamer.
.
.
WTH? Is there a new Covid cure I’m unaware of that requires cream…
Good thing the beer aisle was still fully stocked.
.
.
And if you’re lucky enough to live in an area that stocks Sam Adams? Do yourself a favor and buy their limited edition seasonal. Jack-O Pumpkin is da bomb.
.
.
A four foot rope of sausage? Not so much.
🤢
.
.
Paper towels are still a no go. Except this one lone package… which was on sale. 6 rolls for $13. But look at the regular price. $16. That’s $2.66 a roll!
.
.
With prices like that, is it any wonder people are making their own truck repairs?
.
.
Duct tape. A most versatile product.
.
Where there's only one step from the sublime to the ridiculous.