Elizabeth was just here from Maui for a few days, mostly to re-claim the beautiful Lula, but we managed to cram in most of our favorite things while she was here — Burgerville, a movie –“Robot and Frank” at Salem Cinema, “cake for dinner” from Konditorei, La Margarita, and lots of walking and ball-chucking, and blackkberry picking  at “The MInto.”

Kayaking with dogs on the Santiam

Silly Lula has always loved diving for rocks!

And River-Rat Roxie will fetch whatever you toss:

Salad-making for a picnic lunch on the bank:

And just before we had to say goodbye to Boo and Lula Poki Pineapple, handsome Kobe returned to 1880 to settle in with his little brother Mr. Blue on their favorite place on the sofa in the snug:

This is the thank-you gift Elizabeth created for me:  a frond of Asplenium contiguum from the Kipahulu Valley rain forest. Found no place else in the world. I absolutely love it, but it was my absolute pleasure to have Lula here.

Here is a recent shot of our girl (on the left) waiting for her ride:

On a totally different subject, in the middle of the night a few weeks ago, I was enjoying a little insomnia by playing around online looking at new cars.  I have had it in my head for a while that I would get myself a new red Outback for my 70th birthday which is coming up in 2013.  After sending out an inquiry, I had 25 new best friends in five western states by morning.  Almost no one had exactly what I was looking for, but they all were sure they could get it for me.  Of course, nowadays, there isn’t much wheeling-and-dealing to be done since even an almost-seventy-year-old can look online and research exactly what the best deal is and exactly what she should get for trading in her faithful 2006 blue Outback.  Been driving it since October 2005 and it only has 60,000 miles on it.  Hard to believe when I remember all the road trips I have taken in it all over the Western States —  “See the USA in your Subaru, built by Americans in Indiana.” (I have no idea where the parts were made before being shipped to Indiana to be built.)

My faithful friend, never failed me once:

But to  return to the story of the new car search, turns out, another “hard-to believe,” the only place that had the car I wanted was right here in Salem where we had bought three new cars previously.  Only needed to have the seats changed out,  (Cloth seats are hard to keep clean when you haul more dogs and boat-gear than people.)  which my new BFF  Eric was glad to take care of.  He even arranged for me to take delivery yesterday, to cheer me up, after my Maui girls left.  Only 7 miles on the odometer.  So — “Happy Birthday to Me” — just a few months early!

I’m never quite sure the exact moment things hang in perfect equilibrium here at the 45th Parallel North, but I do know fall is certainly in the air this morning.  Summers here are the best in the world and we have had an especially lovely one this year.  Up until today, we’ve had warm, sunshiny days  and not a drop of rain since mid-June.  But today, I carried a cup of coffee with me to The Minto and the happy dogs came home damp with mist.  Still, we may get some Indian Summer days, so the kayak will be at the ready.

Looking out my upstairs window, I see what I think may be the last magnolia blossom for 2012:

And perhaps the first red leaves high in the liquid amber (known as “sweet gum” here in Oregon):

And just look on the lawn underneath — fallen leaves!:

That poor grass could sure use some rain.  I’m sure it will get its wish soon.

This is an annual fall-kick-off event at St. Paul’s, followed by a picnic across the street in Bush’s Pasture Park.

Lots of pre-service choir stuff:

To start with, it was unexpectedly chilly, so Katie and Hollie found some warm sweaters to borrow from the poor barrel.

Then Dr. Klemme begins his instructions to the choir.

Even in picnic clothes, he has no trouble commanding respect.

Becky is here to rehearse us.  We are going to miss her when she leaves for her “winter  season” in Florida.

Sam is here, so we can get started.  It wouldn’t be church with out him as head usher.

Everything is ready.

The procession comes down the driveway.

Dr. Klemme turns from the keyboard to tell the congregation to stand up and sing.

Mother Heather welcomes everyone and reads the announcements.

The most popular worshippers:  Mother Heather’s daughter Eleanor Madge and her dad are comfortable on the lawn.

And this beautiful care-giver dog:

And, speaking of dogs, today the gospel reading was from Mark 7, in which the Syrophoenician woman dares to approach Jesus to heal her little daughter.  He says to her in verse 27,”It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.”  And in verse 28 the woman replies,” Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”  At exactly the moment that Father Jim was preaching on this verse, a car full of barking dogs drove down High Street.  Father Jim’s timing could not have been better!

After the recessional,  everyone headed to the cars for the dishes for the picnic.  Here are a couple of smarties next to their Smart Car.  Actually Charlene is indicating their Obama sticker 🙂