Yesterday I took a break from beating my novel to death to take a walk around the nearby reservoir. Something I haven’t really done since the pandemic and my little whoopsy on the kitchen floor. I wasn’t expecting to run into any interesting doors but what do you know …
How could I resist adding this gem to the pantheon of beautiful doors? I don’t know what sort of high tech gizmo this outhouse uses but I guess unless you close the lid, the smells don’t get vented out. Don’t ask me where they vent to. I don’t wanna know!
And from the local news (a requiem for the family farm):
A group of multi-billionaires here in California have proposed building a utopian city on land between the San Francisco bay area and the rapidly expanding Sacramento metropolitan area. Their efforts to keep the project hush-hush have apparently backfired.
When I was a child that area was famous for fruit and almond orchards. We would stop on our annual pilgrimage from Reno to San Francisco at a place called the Nut Tree (satirized above as Wealthy Nuts Tree) and load up on all kinds of local goodies. Sadly many of those family farms are now gone.
Also in the ridiculous news from the west, this:
For those wealthy, well educated (mostly white) folk who’ve tired of luxury vacations on tropical islands, what better way to blow thousands of dollars than to buy an expensive RV and load it up with generators and supplies and head for Hell on Earth Nevada to live like a druid? A disclaimer: I have never been to Burning Man but I have actually camped in the desert sans generators, fancy tents and prepackaged meals. So I guess I’m unimpressed by their claims to have found enlightenment in the wilderness. I only recall insect bites, dust storms and a whole lot of canned beans and dried fruit. Enlightenment was getting home and into a hot bath.
Once again, I have strayed from the spirit of Thursday doors …. check out other doors from around the world at Dan Anton’s place. I guarantee, there are always more beauties than stinkers!
Saying nothing in particular 
Hey, you have a door, and the rest of the post made me smile. If they do build anywhere near an Air Force base, they’ll be throwing money all over Washington in an effort to get is shut down. The biggest downside to living in that new development would be the neighbors.
There are all kinds of issues. That’s the base where returning soldiers from Vietnam were processed, often in body bags. And there are a couple of large ranches nearby and they’re quite upset. Plus, who would want to live in New Jerk City.?
While almonds are the worst ecological disaster as far as water usage goes, I hear you about the farms. I’m so thankful Maine values its agricultural heritage and supports family run operations. As for Burning Man, not much burned this year… it was all mud.
🤣
Oh they did eventually have a great big bonfire but from what I understand, there are still cars stuck in the mud out there. That type of sand turns to cement as it dries.
Interesting door you found, Jan, but I hope you keep walking and find some of the beauties, too. How wonderful that you’re back out in the world walking again.
Thank you Jet – it was a joy to get out. The weather was perfect.
I’m happy to come across your irreverent humor and funny door sign. I read that about the utopian city and just shook my head. I wouldn’t want to live there with all of them even if I had the money to do so and I have no desire to do anything like Burning Man. Too many people by far for me and too many things going on that I’m not into at all. 🙂
janet
Thanks Janet. Neither appeals to me either.
This is one of the best lines ever. I’d have felt the same way: “Enlightenment was getting home and into a hot bath.”
I know a lot of people who love to backpack into the wilderness for enlightenment and I can appreciate that but the “burners” drag generators and all kind of stuff out to the desert – it’s basically a week long party so it’s hardly escaping from society!
Thanks for sharing this stinky door. I see these doors on the paper. Anita
I love the Lafayette reservoir, it’s always a nice spot to walk. I haven’t seen that sign though. I remember the first time I stopped at Nut Tree, I laughed at how corny it was, with the house and the airport and the restaurant and so on. I was feeling my big city SF oats I guess, and I hurt my (now) husband’s feelings, as he had good memories of going there as a kid.
I have a FB fried (from HS) who is very counter culture, an artist, and goes to Burning Man every year. He said they all laughed at the news coverage and how wrong it was depicted. He said it was a great year, no harder getting out than any other year, etc. The truth? I have no idea.
There were over 70 thousand people there so your friend probably doesn’t speak for all of them! I grew up in Reno (the nearest city) and have heard tales from the folks I know who work out there as part of the medical staff. Their opinion – rich people doing bad stuff.
The Nut Tree was corny but that was its charm!
Personally, I think any city is the exact opposite of Utopia, but what do I know?
Me too! I would be curious to learn what they think constitutes a utopian city though.
Probably loads of things I don’t like…
Hi Jan, that is an interesting notice. There is a new flushing system which requires the lid of the toilet to be kept down. It is supposed to reduce smells and germs.
I don’t think they’re flushing – it’s an outhouse – there’s just something venting the smells out. They have a real problem with wasps up at the reservoir – because of all the picnic areas. Definitely don’t want wasps in the outhouses!
Ooooh, no, wasps wouldn’t be good.
Hi Jan, For the longest time I thought you were a nurse because of your hair bonnet. Only by reading the about you section on my website did I find you have been a chef. You’re funny and we have a bunch of things in common. I wish I could write humor as well as you. !!
I was helping a friend cater a family wedding reception and decided (just for kicks) to wear a chef’s hat. We were serving Costco, pre-made appetizers heated in a microwave.
😂
On your website. Not “my” website.
It’s not venting this way! Whew!!!
I wondered about this whole Burning Man thing?
Thanks for the info. Your trip sounds real. The other sounds surreal.
Family farms are few and far between. However, the food is better than factory farm food.
I do have some access to family farm produce, and support it by buying from them.
Cheers Jan!
I agree – love those family farms!
I have seen that sign on doors before–and I have wondered the same thing 🙂