Washington State - Amaro Farm, Liquor Still / Old Glory

One of the last destinations on our round-the-island circuit was a place called Amaro Farm, where you can see the "Cutest Sheep in the World", as registered and fully certified by the country of Switzerland.  While the sheep - particularly the lambs - were cute, I don't get into farm animals that much so directed creative energies to other subjects.

The apparatus above is a still.  Yes, a still, for hard liquor...not yet operational, but complete in its construction.  The new owners of the farm were in the process of getting things up and running, and figured this to be a good money maker.  I was drawn to it because of the earth tones and crisp, clean lines.

This and the next few posts turned out to be some pretty good keepers, but these aren't what I'll remember most about our visit.  The owner, a very gregarious and friendly fellow, is an Air Force veteran and retired DHL pilot.  As a veteran, he has a huge American flag mounted on the front of their principle barn.  When I pointed out that this was great, and "the bigger the better", he proceeded to tell a story about a woman visitor.  She was almost elderly - probably in her 60's - and loudly told Mr. Amaro that this was an offensive symbol, and should be taken down.  After saying this loud enough for the entire group to hear, she stormed off in a huff, got into her car, and drove off.

I was shocked and flabbergasted to hear of this.  The American flag, an "offensive" symbol?  We - and she - live in America, after all.  She was of an age to have been raised in a time when patriotism was very much a virtue, and the sight of our flag would cause one to swell with pride and, occasionally, shed a tear or two.  And someone now thinks it's offensive to proudly display this symbol of freedom?  I just don't get it...