Our first freeze of the year left the air chilled and the apples about ready for picking.  Although the white spruce are stressed with browning boughs due to the lack of rain, the poplar trees are all brilliant yellow.    A much needed gentle cold rain washed over the shore yesterday.   Grouse season is open.  

We have officially begun our plumbing project.  I have left the County twice in the last week for the first time in years on material runs to Duluth.  Late night drives back up the North Shore is like running the deer gauntlet!  Last night I hit one on the highway just meters from where I spotted a wolf the other night before.