Well, it is fall, there is no doubt. The snow is moving down the hills, we are waking to frosty mornings and the vegetable garden has mostly been put to bed for the year.
And Waddles and I had to make one more trip before calling it quits for the summer. We took a jaunt over to La Grande for the weekend to attend a Marimba Workshop. The drive over was sunny and mostly clear until we got close to La Grande. Then things turned to rain/snow/sleet.
There was fresh snow on the hills around the valley, and it was darn cold cooking coffee in the mornings. My little Heater Buddy did a fine job of keeping the chill off in the evenings and mornings, and I had plenty of blankets so was toasty warm sleeping.
The workshop was amazing, as expected. Two full days of learning, laughing and love. It was about so much more than playing notes. It was about the spirit of the music, the spirit of the musicians, the one-ness of the band. I come away renewed.
Sunday evening Waddles and I headed back over the hill to Pendleton to spend the night with friends. It was a beautiful sunset dropping down off Cabbage Hill.
Today we headed home. It's our final outing together for the year. Waddles and the car both got a good bath (it was a BEAUTIFUL day today), Waddles is now completely cleared out of camping gear, and she is neatly tucked into the garage for the winter.
I'm sad. I still LOVE Waddles, and whenever she is in my rear view mirror it makes me smile. I have the winter to plan my adventures for next summer. I can't wait!
