Sending Signals

The Native American Indians sent signals with smoke. At Buckingham Palace the Royal Standard is flown when the Queen is present. And the Vatican sends out puffs of white smoke when a new pope is chosen. People signal things in different ways.

Here at Struan Farm John and I also have a signal. 

At our house John is almost always up with or before the birds, while Karen is not. She needs quite a bit more sleep than John does, several hours more of solid sleep. And she doesn't often get them. (Note: John takes naps, Karen doesn't.) So some mornings, usually on weekends, John creeps out to do early morning jobs to leave Karen to have another hour or two of sleep. The bedroom curtains are kept closed until Karen is up and ready for coffee and breakfast. When John sees those open he knows this signals breakfast time.