A view of the 'hood

Here's a little tour around our neighborhood. These photos were taken at the end of June and beginning of July, before the dry season when the grass turns brown and things aren't quite as lush. Usually in September the rains will start back slowly, but enough to green the grass. Anyway, I am not getting attached to all the grass around our house because it will, over time, be turned to garden and that's a good thing.

Below is the path next to our house and yard that leads to Bell St (to the south side of us). It's a short-cut that many people use on foot and bike to get from the rest of the neighborhood to Willamette Park. People have planted along the path and so it's a bit of a community garden. Our big maple tree gives it good shade.




On the other side of the fence is our house and yard. Someone put this bench along the path and Courtney has planted grapevines on that side of the fence.




A bit more of the path...




About three or four houses north of us, my co-worker Karen has the most inspiring gardens all around her house--front, side and back. Every time I go by it gives me ideas for our front yard. She's created a boundary between the street and her home, but it's also open and inviting. A very good balance. Right now are yard and the front of our house is very open to the street and feels like we live in a fishbowl. There's work to be done, but no hurry.





When we decided to move to Corvallis I told my doctor, Adelheid Ebenhoech in Prunedale, and she told me about her brother Otmar who had recently moved to Corvallis from the Bay Area. He invents and makes parts for electric cars. She said we'd be able to find him easily because he also makes stretch Volkswagen vans, shops at the Co-op alot and looks like Luke Skywalker in his 40's. Well, she was right on all accounts and he's a real sweetheart--just like she is.




So that's the beginning of the tour. Stay tuned for more very soon. Happy summertime and lots of love,

Valori