A Quiet Start to Fall

It's been a quiet week around here. There seems to be a higher than average level of H1N1 Virus in the Rogue Valley, and we know several acquaintances that have succumb. I began to get the creepy scalp, sore throat and hot eye socket feeling on Tuesday. I promptly went home and downed vast quantities of tea, chicken broth, and immune defense fizzy, with some cheesy television show DVDs that shall remain unnamed.
I would say I have been successful thus far.
Scott seems to have won the battle as well, he just does it by pretending that he feels fine.

We've had some welcome cloudy mornings with rain. I'm not around the garden has much these days. The broccoli and lettuce seem pretty self-sufficient.
I used my vast quantity of green tomatoes for a fantastic enchilada sauce. I may make another batch for some chili verde before I take them out for good.
The peppers seem to be making their last fall push. It's as if they get panicked with the cool weather and make all the fruit they can. If you know anyone who needs some habeneros...

I Brake for ... Snakes

This morning was reported to be "the last beautiful day" by local weather authorities. We figured we had better take advantage. Scott and I set out from the house at a brisk clip, and headed down the Bear Creek Greenway for a late morning leisurely peddle, headed for tacos.
The bike corridor has some lovely areas, and the light was textbook early October.
Our chicken tacos and ceviche tostada were much loved after the thirteen mile trek.
In the back of our minds, we knew it was all uphill after lunch.

On the way home, somewhere around Talent, I passed chilly snake lounging in the middle of the bike path. Not wanting it to be run over, felt I should intervene.




I was much warmer than the shaded pavement, so we had a bonding moment while I tried to raise his body temperature. He was released safely on the side of the path and twitched his tail in thanks as he headed toward the shelter of the creek.






When stopping to fulfill my reptile good samaritanship, I rather forgot that I was physically attached to by bike via my toe clips.






I guess every good story needs a tumble.