Sorry it's been so long. We still don't have internet. Comcast has a monopoly out here and charges a fortune. Anyway, we have been busy trying to settle in. Ikea has been our best friend lately...thank goodness for particle board furniture. It's definitely not too spendy. Yes that's right I just said spendy. That's the term used out here instead of expensive. No matter whose mouth it comes out of it always sounds so darn cute. On the cuteness scale It's the equivalent to the yeah you betcha said with a Wisconsin accent.
We did have some time last Thursday to go out to Sauvie Island which is only about 10 minutes from us. It's a small little island with lots of beautiful farm land. In the summer months you can pick your own lavender, flowers and so on from the U-pick farms. We wanted to go to the pumpkin patch and corn maze but I guess they stop on Halloween. I don't understand this. Aren't pumpkins for Thanksgiving too? I don't think the pumpkins knew it was Nov. 1. We were able to stop at Kruger Farms and get lots of veggies and fruits for little cash. It amazes me how a such an amazing and rural place is so close to downtown. You can check out Sauvie Island and Kruger Farm at www.sauvieisland.org and www.krugersfarmmarket.com
Alisha's been working at this textile factory called E.E. Schneck since last Friday. It's a two week assignment through her temp agency. We're hoping more jobs will keep coming but a permanent position would be even better. I'm still job hunting and waiting to hear back from Habitat. I went to their office and met some of the employees and will be volunteering with them next weekend. They are going to have a booth at the Give Green Holiday and Food Festival to raise money. www.givegreenfest.com It sounds like it will be a lot of fun and a great way to raise money for Habitat as well as spread the word about the different ways people can volunteer and give. Besides that, the food and entertainment sounds delightful. On Monday I'm hoping to finally check out the Japanese gardens in Washington Park. www. japanesegarden.com The gardens will be free to everyone for Veteren's Day. Yipee!!
Below are some pics from the farm, the view from our balcony of Macleay Park which is one of the little parks in Forest Park which also encompasses Washington Park. Forest Park is literally a Forest with about 30 miles of hiking and biking trails. check it out at www.friendsofforestpark.com The leaves have been really vibrant and so far the weather has been gorgeous. It's only rained one day. There's always a thick misty fog in the morning before 10 a.m but that keeps everything so green and full of color. There's also a pic of our apartment.
