The weather is continuing to be very nice - seasonal, but cooler than it has been. The forecast is for snow flurries on Wednesday. We took a short walk late in the afternoon and Henretta Splain came along in her really quiet hybrid car - you just can't hear the motor, really cool. She's had it for a while and it got her through the winter last year just fine. She had her best friend, Cassie, with her. Cassie is a very affectionate dog we've known since she was a puppy, and Fred took a picture of the two of them. As you can see, Cassie got her licks in before Henretta could stop her.

We took a shortcut down Sandy Beach Road instead of going all the way down West Shore Road. We knew about Jack and Sue LaGue's driveway, but hadn't actually been down to see it. Very convenient. Looks good, and I expect it will be an easier access to Meadow Lane in the spring. The snow is usually pretty deep next to the big pines and it takes a long time for the frost to get out - and for the mud to dry up in the spring, so probably Jack and Sue will be able to drive to their cottage quite a bit earlier from the other direction.

When we got down to George and Pat Parizo's, we noticed they have a cannon on their lawn, pointed "seaward." I suppose it's been there for some time, but we haven't been down that way all summer and this was the first time we'd noticed it. George is waiting for the signal, "one if by land, two if by sea . . . " Perhaps he'll tell us the story behind the cannon.

Butch and Sue Bouchard were just leaving after spending the weekend here, and then we bumped into Jack LaGue and his son heading out from closing up at Dolly's. It was a good day for working outside - cool and bright, so you can get a lot done.

We cut up across the field where the Morgan's cottage is, and made it home as the sun was getting low in the sky. It seemed as if the pond was a deeper blue than usual - really very pretty. There isn't much color in the trees now, but lots on the ground. We startled a partridge as we came back onto West Shore Road from the field. Or maybe I should say the partridge startled us.

I've just been watching an old movie I'd seen at least twice, "Roberta" with Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers and Randolph Scott, among others; Fred is working downstairs on his computer and watching the ball game. Woody came in a few minutes ago with his fur coat all puffed up and seemed a bit agitated, so I expect he'd seen something outside bigger than he is. He peered out the window into the darkness for a little while but now is stretched out on his rug on the desk next to me. He's beginning to adapt to the cold weather, getting into his winter mode of shorter jaunts into the cold night time. Pretty soon he won't be interested in going outside much at all unless he's with one of us. He likes to ride in the wheelbarrow or, when there's snow, on the toboggan, but at night he turns into a hunter - unless the weather's too cold. Then he's happy to stretch out in front of the fire or on one of his many beds throughout the house, from my desk to high on one of the kitchen cabinets, or on the washer next to Fred's desk. He helped capture a mouse in the living room this morning (probably one he'd brought in!) and brought Fred a squirrel tonight. We're getting better all the time at catching the game he brings as "gifts." We opened the door and kind of herded the little mouse outside; the squirrel was slightly dazed when Woody dropped him by Fred's desk tonight and Fred was able to grab him and release him outside. Fred keeps heavy work gloves within easy reach to use for capturing Woody's small game. I have a theory that Woody only brings these gifts into the house when he knows we're here; but Fred just laughs at me for that. Anyway, we love our cat - and I guess he loves us!