Well, 09/26/20 Sue and I had a very busy Saturday. We first worked together on washing all of the windows, and pulling the storms down. It was a beautiful Fall morning, and Sue wanted to get all of this done before it got cold out; which it already has on a few mornings.

After lunch, we loaded the kayaks on top of my car and met up with Steve and Cathy to paddle around on the Merrymeeting River. Based on future weather predictions, this might very well be the last opportunity for a nice day to get out on the water.

Quite a few other folks probably thought the same as we met 3 different sets of people paddling and enjoying the day. It was warm enough that we didn't need a windbreaker jacket, or sleeved shirt.

The sun drifting through its final afternoon arch toward the western tree line in front of us lit up the swaying brownish grasses, and the few remaining, but because of the current drought conditions muted, purple Pickerel. And the colors of the leaves in the trees across the swamp and mud grass fields spreading out from the edges of the river were certainly coming to peak.

We paddled for a little over an hour before turning back, just the slightest of breezes nudging us from the rear. And that was fine because my back was getting sore, and I had a party to go to! I didn't want to aggravate things, so was happy to have the free lift for most of the way back to the launch area.

We pulled out around 3:30, went home to clean up, and then stuffed an eager Beau into Sue's car to drive over to Steve and Cathy's for another open fire pit cooked dinner.

Cathy was all decked out in traditional colonial settlement woman's bonnet/hat, and had all of her cooking tools spread out on a wooden bench close to the fire pit. While she and Sue got the food ready, we snacked on deli meats and cheeses while the fire crackled away. Because Cathy was going to bake not only corn bread on the open fire, but also a pumpkin pie, Steve and I were in charge of making sure there was an ample bed of hot embers for her.

Lots of steps in open fire meals, even for a simple beef stew that she was making. But the timing of adding ingredients, and keeping the sauce at the correct thickness is an interesting process when you're at the mercy of an open fire. But everything came out just grand. Great time, and The Beau Dog even got a few pieces of the beef. He was equally impressed.

Sue hiding from the camera as she attempts to wash one of the library windows without being disturbed.