Fingers crossed! Really crossed – big time. If we can trust our contractor, the team will begin work lifting Northern Comfort on Tuesday (Monday is Canada’s Thanksgiving). This morning’s mug of Joe is in my ‘lucky’ White Castle mug – I’m pulling out all the stops.

” Cut it large and kick it into place.” ~ Basic Law of Construction

In preparation for the annual winter shutdown we’ve pretty well finished tucking in the place. This also means that our large front windows have been shuttered, and this means that we can’t sit and drink in the glorious Fall colors. Sure, we can go outside, but for someone here the chill in the air precludes hanging out for any length of time.

All this means that sitting in a shuttered place, and that daylight having been reduced to just a few hours, does bring on melancholy. Yet wait we do, as too quickly darkness approaches again, we wait.

This, the prologue from Inferno by Dan Brown:

I am the Shade.
Through the dolent city, I flee.
Through the eternal woe, I take flight.
Along the banks of the river Arno, I scramble breathless … turning left on to Via dei Castellani, making my way northward, huddling in the shadows of the Uffizi.
And still they pursue me.
Their footsteps grow louder now as they hunt with relentless determination.
For years they have pursued me. Their persistence has kept me underground … forced me to live in purgatory … laboring between the earth like a chthonic monster.
I am the Shade.

Saint Joseph’s Island – was toured during their annual agriculture tour. The place is large enough that this year we explored a brand new area and visited places we hadn’t seen before.

While the ladies ‘discovered’ wonderful new finds, Donn and I trooped dutifully behind. Don’t feel sorry, we did discover some truly wonderful stuff. I ended up buying a Cherry/Maple decorative crate for the new outhouse. We discovered a 1965 Austin Land Rover type vehicle – beautiful. Then, just how often do you see a rural mailbox such as the one I photographed.

Best of all, I spotted this ‘two-fer’ road-sign that, in one fell swoop, announces the opening of Bird Season and Thanksgiving.

Bear Roast – Bob-the-Forester gave us a beautiful roast from the Bear he shot. I should point out that here in the north woods hunting is a way of life and not just a pastime. Up the road, one lake over, a large Bull Moose was brought home – providing approximately 600 pounds of meat. Currently Bob is about 12 hours away, north of Thunder Bay on his Moose hunt. And, Marcia and I have already seen these large beasts being trailered along the highway.

Back to the Bear. We’ve waited till the weather got a bit more Fall-like. This was the week. Marlene and Marcia settled on a recipe. It required marinating the roast for 24-hours in some Merlot wine, Italian spices, and olive oil. Then, 7 hours in a slow cooker along with a load of fall veggies.

Mr. Bear provided the four of us with a meal to die for (literally and figuratively).

Fini – Condolences to Mary Ann with her loss. To Paul, wishing you a very Happy Birthday and many more. Then to our contractor; god-speed getting to our place.

And to the folk at little Bellingham church – many more Stone-Soup luncheon feasts.

Make it a great week and stay safe.

Cheers.

Dirk