It has started...

There is a reason Oregon is known for being green:

The rains have begun.

This is what it has looked like outside for the last week:





Fall has definitely arrived in Oregon.

Roxy doesn't mind:

Mr. Toad (clever name thanks to tips from sugarcreekstuff) has his lily pad to stand under:

Despite the foggy, rainy skies, there are still quite a few raspberries ripening on the vines:

and I pop a few in my mouth whenever I head up to the barn.

Er, I should say, whenever WE head up to the barn:

There is even a blooming flower here and there still:

The fall colors are intense and vibrant this year.
From near to far: Lilac tree, grapevines, raspberry canes, and pear tree in the distance:

Blueberry bush:

Maple tree:

Don't know what this is, but isn't it pretty?:

Japanese dwarf maple:

Uh oh. One of my greatest challenges in the garden is picking up piles of trimmings I've cut. As you can see here, I was actually a good girl and picked up this pile... but then forgot to empty the wheelbarrow. It is now filled with about three inches of rainwater:

So when I go to pour it out, it will create a small river down my garden path that will result in a muddy mess. Fortunately, Roxy doesn't mind the mud:

Because we've had almost nonstop rain for the last 5 days, I've taken to stalling the donkeys at night. This gives them a chance to get out of the mud, dry off their feet and lie down somewhere that isn't damp.

They wind up looking like this in the morning:

This is a result of going inside with damp fur, rolling in yummy pine bedding and then having their hair dry:

It's all crispy to the touch:

...kind of like their backs have been sprinkled with some sort of brown sugary topping. Mmmmm...donkey cobbler...(now that's just wrong!!):

The chickens don't mind fall, per se, as they love all the grape leaves I've been throwing their way:

But the rain is wreaking havoc on Dot's 'do:

And now that the rains have begun in earnest, it's probably time that I cover their run with something a bit more substantial than the tarp-and-plywood combo I've got going on:

Ah, fall in Oregon...summed up best with one word: WET.

Roxy, being the hearty farm girl that she is, doesn't mind one bit: