Cold weather has set in for now. Had to find another heater. The baseboard heat no working. But we are keeping warm. Spent the whole of last weekend in the country where the woodstove keeps it cosy. Lovely weekend of music and country - trees, clean air and quiet.

This weekend R had to work. I spent all of Friday with a friend from Victoria, BC. Took her around the city and to the west island where it was beautiful to see the lake and spend time in the thrift shop. And we sat and talked and talked. She and the friend with whom she is staying went with me to the cafe to hear Harmonica Zeke who was fantastic. Then we went to the "slice of the past" at the Brysonville school. An incredible group of old time musicians jamming and open mike. I san "my" song - the Frozen Logger and my friend was coerced into also singing a song which she did beautifully. My friends were entranced by this old time music event - very few people under 70.

We stopped by the cabin on the way home so they could see it and the studio. Well after midnight when we parted. So, come Saturday, I had to push myself to go down again - further south to a Bluegrass concert. I had told Jeannie I would so I did. It was in an old church - so rural I had trouble finding it! Four hours of music and the leader of the band had been at the school the night before and saw me in the furthest back corner of the room - away from the women with perfume - and added me to the open mike folks, one of whom was 90 and very good!

Instead of going to the Halloween party at the Cafe, I came home and fed us and went to bed at 9:30. Potluck at Quaker Meeting today to talk with the editor of The Canadian Friend about her hopes and our wishes for the journal "of Quaker news and thoughts". As former editor, I had some remarks about how to support the editor - write letters, articles, send news of the meeting... Guess I need to think about doing some of that myself!

Wrote a couple letters this week - to the newspaper about yet another dumb wildlife article; offering something better and a very angry one to the Ministry of Natural Resources in Ontario regarding their attack on a rehab center and the totally irrational murder of two healthy raccoons who had all their shots. The woman has been charged with unlawful possession for trying to save lives; I hope to get to Ottawa on 10 November for her hearing - along with a bunch of other folks.

This Friday, R and I go to Lake George, NY for a wildlife conference. First I will get the snow tires on! No snow here but plenty in New England.

I am finding one day a week to do some pottery, and folk dancing 2/week the last couple weeks and that feels really good. A good thing is that the group is so small that I would feel guilty if I did not go. I really feel better when I dance. I neglected it since December and I feel the worse for it. It is not just the physical exercise but also the lovely music in my head the rest of the week.

I would like to get around to learning a couple more songs but people do enjoy the Frozen Logger. I was in the grocery store last week and I heard: "The Frozen Logger!" One of my "fans" encouraging me to "come to Wheel Club on monday; it's our Halloween party!" I'll try to go to another folk dance group 'til 10 and then to the Club 'til 11:30 or so. But I will "have" to sing the Logger again! And that after Jeannie complained Saturday about people singing "the same songs"! She is the guiding light of the Wheel Club -a delight!

The laundry is done, the house has not changed. No light at the end of the tunnel. I am grateful for the cabin which is so much nicer even though there is still lots of organizing that can be done. It is clean, cosy and comfortable.

Happy Halloween!