Holding on to October

It's hard for me to let October go. 

There's song by Barry Manilow that kind of says it for me. "Oh how I hate to see October go." If you click on the link to hear the song and see the beautiful video, please forgive the short intro commercial. I don't know how to get rid of it. 

But at least here in the coastal Pacific Northwest the snow isn't flying yet, except up in the mountains, where we want it. Down here at sea level, there is still more beauty to enjoy.

On Tuesday, Oct 30, just before October passed into November, Tom and I made a day trip to Whidbey Island. Tom had a small job to do there and I needed to run away. We took care of both needs. 

The day was serenely quiet and calm on Sunlight Beach and Deer Lagoon was a glassy mirror of the lightly cloudy sky. 

While Tom completed his task, I went for a walk on the beach road, enjoying the autumnal color first in our cabin garden,

and then in others along the road.

Useless Bay was calm and quiet too.

When I got back to the cabin, Tom had finished installing the roller shades in the downstairs family room. A while back we had added a big screen TV that a friend donated and this became our sports and movie viewing room. Light from the windows sometimes made it hard to see because of glare on the screen. 

Then I collected Tom and we took a little stroll on the dike beside the lagoon. 

When I was walking earlier three eagles had been cavorting over the wetlands. This one hung around. 

I love all of the tawny colors of fall here. 

This was just a day trip, and with the work done and the walk taken, we closed up and drove across island to Langley for lunch at Useless Bay Coffee Company.

After lunch we checked out a few favorite places in the village. The old fire station is now a glass blower studio. 

Lots of colorful glass pumpkins. 

Plants add a lot of color in this charming village. 

The rooster at the Chocolate Flower Farm store dresses for the seasons. 

I don't know who came up with the idea of the brooms, but I love it.

We made the 3:00 ferry and were homeward bound in time to miss most of the rush hour traffic. 

It was a great day away, and just what I needed. It will help me deal with the darkness of November that has now descended upon us.