Here’s to a very different Saturday as names such as Harvey, Irma and Jose take on new meaning. Even as I listen to the coffee perking merrily here in the North Woods, people are crawling at a snail’s pace out of harms-way in Florida, moving about in shock on Caribbean Islands, and ‘mucking’ out their homes in Texas and Louisiana. It’s certainly been some week.

It’s also been a week which saw the very best of what we’re all about. Helping hands extended as far as the eye can see. Previously unknown groups with crazy names such as; ‘Cajun Navy’ popping up and volunteering, and even faceless businesses jumping in and giving aid. Who had ever heard of ‘Mattress Mack’? The people who found shelter in his stores now know who went the extra mile.

”Either you deal with what is the reality or you can be sure the reality will deal with you.” ~ Alex Haley (on Twitter)

As Hurricane Irma approaches, brother George and sis-in-law Sandy have left their home near Florida’s Alligator Alley and headed north – probably a very wise move. Had they stayed and hunkered down I would have passed along this bit of sage advice: “if a Dolphin were to crash into your home during the storm, don’t go outside to see whether or not the Dolphin was OK”. Now I don’t have to tell them.

September came – with a flourish. Labor Day we enjoyed the evening with family and had a quasi-picnic; this is where the grilling is outside and a well-lit campfire enjoyed nearby, and then dinner is eaten inside the heated cabin (all due to a falling temperature). By mid-week it was hailing.

In between there was some (little) great autumn weather. Six of us took advantage by taking a two hour ATV run to a spot where the Mississagi River has Snowshoe Creek enter it. We love that run primarily because of the one picturesque spot where the Creek has to be forged at a gravely area; fun and lovely.

Thursday a last minute handful of sunrays got Donn and Marlene motivated, they swung by to pick me up and we rode ATVs around the lake. The very wet summer had growth such as we’ve not seen.

Also, all season we’ve talked about the lack of nearby Bear activity. On this run we spotted at least six piles of fresh Bear scat; yup they’re all still around and about us.

It’s also dawned on us that in a week and a half we’ll begin the steady work required to close down Northern Comfort for the season and button it down for the winter.

Crazy Fact – Here’s another one of those crazy little insights.

Three weeks ago I just knew that in a day or two I’d be out of toothpaste and purchased a replacement tube of the stuff. From that moment on that old tube became the never ending tube. Day after day I’d continue to push more pea-sized dabs of the stuff.

This went on to a point where I was beginning to think that Marcia was secretly pushing some into that old tube. But, finally, that magic moment where the new had to be opened – three weeks later! Have you experienced the same?

Animal Planet – Our Goldfinch feeder is sitting idle. The birds have migrated.

Even though the male Hummingbirds have also headed south, the ladies are still here and we see them using the feeders like crazy. Likewise the adult Loons appear to have flown out. We continue to see and hear their juvenile offspring who won’t leave the lake until the lake starts to ice over.

Then we got ‘face slapped’ by Mother Nature. This week we heard that the sun’s geomagnetic activity had a blast of solar wind move by the Earth causing a display of the Aurora Borealis. This had us leave to warmth of the cabin to step into the dark cold night for a look-see; we never saw anything other than a blinking night sky. Thanks Mother Nature, good joke.

Finis – Today Vince is celebrating his Birthday, since it’s in Texas I think you just must enjoy some Barbecue Birthday Cake.

Glad to hear that David is on the mend – take care of your ‘wing’ David (see you in a couple of weeks).

Next week the weather is supposed to improve in these parts and I hope likewise in our southern states.

Make it a great week everyone.

Cheers.

Dirk