§ This week we got to try our first few ripe maypop fruits and figs. We also blended up a big batch of pesto with the basil we’ve been growing all season.
§ Last Sunday Caroline and I took the baby to the Village Peddler Festival at Lake Farmpark. There were way more vendors than we expected and it was a nice alternative to the county fair that we skipped this year. Our favorite part was visiting the park’s “Plant Science Center” greenhouse with demonstrations on hydroponics and aquaponics.
§ On Wednesday I flew down to Phoenix, Arizona to attend a conference. On the morning I was set to leave flash flooding in Phoenix canceled a bunch of flights, including mine. In a mad dash I was re-booked on three different flights, ultimately connecting through Nashville and I landed in Phoenix at 4:30 PM, only an hour later than I was initially expecting to.
This was my first real visit west of the Mississippi and certainly my first time in “the desert” which has always been an environment I’ve wanted to see. I was immediately struck by the red-brown landscape and all of the different native plants lining the roads. My favorite were green-trunked palo verde trees which were everywhere.
§ I left Phoenix early Saturday morning and rode in my first driverless taxi to get to the airport. It was far less frightening than I expected it to be although I’m sure it helped that there were basically no other cars on the road at the time.
§ Next week the family and I are planning to take a quick road trip to Pennsylvania to visit some friends at their new home. We’re looking forward it it!
