Besides being aesthetically pleasing for your Instagram photos, the color change in leaves–from green to all shades of red, orange, yellow, and purple–adds a spot of happiness to an otherwise dismal day of school. As you groggily drive to Liberty in the wee hours of the morning, the still-rising sun illuminates the rainbow-colored trees lining the roads; the fog left over from the night before sits on the road, reminiscent of the recent Halloween night, filled with friends and sugary candy. In the afternoons, the fall rain, mixed with the cold wind, gives the air a crispness and an excuse to stay inside bundled up in a sweater and blanket, drink some apple cider, and watch sappy Hallmark movies. Fall is not just a time for back-to-school blues, but a time to appreciate the natural beauty of our Pacific Northwest.