ohmygosh the colors are amazing--part one

Well, in late October the temperature dropped to 18 degrees and that got our attention. Luckily, a couple of nights before it got that cold, we had friends over for dinner and they, knowing we had just moved from the California Coast and so are babes in the woods about things like winter, told us we needed to bring in our large potted plants (like my two beloved jade trees, been in the family for a long time, etc, etc). Suddenly the predominate color inside our little love nest was green. Poor Courtney was afraid for his life and space until I finally said no more were coming inside and he was safe. I actually think he's beginning to like all the plants indoors as the landscape outdoors changes and becomes less green by the day.




We are learning that within the seasons here there's a variety of temperatures. Just as in the summer we had a series of days with temps over 100, then a merciful dip back into the 80's. Now we've had a series of days with lows in the teens and 20's and then back into the 40's. The rain has been fairly steady for the past two weeks. Courtney and I are trying to fool ourselves by saying "Oh good, it's raining!" and then going out for a walk when it's only a light rain and not a downpour. Stay tuned to see if we are institutionalized by winter's end.



The last Saturday of October, Courtney sat in the bitter cold at the farmers market tabling for the Pacific Green Party, then attended the weekly Corvallis Open Forum and from there went to hear Green Party candidate for Senate, Paul Aranas, speak at a downtown brewery/deli. Go Courtney! He's also jumping on his bike and riding to town or to campus whenever it's not pouring rain. Some of these photos were taken on his bike expeditions.




Speaking of which, we had a brief but wonderful visit from our friend Paola from Carmel Valley, who is an intrepid bike rider. Courtney counts her as one of his bike riding inspirations. So of course Paola and Courtney pedaled about town and through the campus. Then we drug her to leaflet at the "Iraq For Sale" showing at an OSU auditorium and then to a fundraising meeting/dinner for the HOUR Exchange. She was a great sport about it all--even appeared to enjoy herself. It was great to hear news from "home" but also to be a stop-off on her Pacific Northwest explorations.




These last two photos were taken from the riverwalk downtown where the farmers market is held on Saturday mornings (until Thanksgiving). Thanksgiving?!? That's coming up soon! Here we are already in November; my birthday has come and gone. Courtney missed celebrating my birthday with my family because he was in Idaho. His cousin David died at the end of October and the party given to celebrate his life was on my birthday. So Courtney and his brother Steve made a quick overnight trip to the cold country (it snowed while they were there!) and learned that their cousin David was a man much loved and appreciated by his community in Coeur d' Alene. As usual when Courtney travels, he was glad he went and even gladder to get home.




Because Courtney has taken so many beautiful shots of the trees and leaves and changing colors recently, there's going to be a part 2 to this entry soon, continuing the tour of Corvallis heading towards winter.

Happy harvest time,

Valori