Sadly, after three months of clear skies, tons of sun and warmth, the clouds are becoming more frequent and the temperatures are sliding down. Fortunately the mists are replenishing the parched plants. The lawns and evergreens are rejuvenating and turning green again but the shorter days are bringing on all the fall colors. We are being treated to some spectacular eye candy. (No Mom, it's not Thor eye candy.)
Here are a few examples.
These guys made excellent blackberry syrup for
our waffles.
With fall comes back to school.
It's Bryson's last year (insert whooping celebratory pre-empty nest last child on the down hill slide cheer here!!) His graduating class chose orange as their theme color. Through all our travels in the summer and visiting Scott and Stacey, he had his eye peeled for the perfect outfit that would match his classic '74 super beetle. You'll have to let him know how well you think he did.
Alicia decided to come back to Canada to finish her education. Hopefully a more vibrant job market will allow her keep a roof over her head and a little more than Itchiban in her stomach while she does.
I was able to fly down and help her drive back from SoCal. We made a fun road trip of it, detouring off the main freeways often enough to catch:
a local salmon festival;
(That's Alicia in the salmon suit in front of big mama salmon)
salmon being done an old native way (delicious);
some local entertainment;
lessons on how to bear hand some salmon from the stream;
and watch crawdad's look for lunch.
(Alicia tried to nab him and say hello, but he was too fast. She also learned that lobsters and their relatives actually swim backwards!)
Alicia's last few minutes in California.
(Just after we took this photo, we were able to watch some salmon swim by on their way to the spawning beds - cool!)
We went through the giant redwood forest.
(They have big trees there!)
Really big trees!
Really, REALLY big trees!
This guy (aptly named "Big Tree") is approximately 2000 years old!
We were even able to drive through a living tree!
Once back in Victoria, Alicia was greeted by this fellow at the end of our driveway!
The next weekend, Bryson and I made a quick trip to Calgary to help the family welcome Jordan back from his Mission in Mexico City.
It was good to see him and hear about all his experiences with the amazing spanish people and their culture.
Bryson had to rub in that he was now looking down on his cousin.
Time for Halloween!
