On the list of things I am willing to get up early for, brunch is right near the top. A great deal on books is a very close second.

I know, it’s been a while since we last visited. I’m humbled by the number of people that have asked me why I haven’t been doing any scribbling. The only thing I can say is I’ve been a little lazy!

The colorful maples on our road still hold to most of their leaves, a couple bright pink blossoms still grace the dahlia at our front steps. We have survived the mad scramble of ghouls, ghosts, and witches of Halloween, but the nights are chilly to remind us that November has arrived.

Hi from the Nobleboro-Jefferson Transfer Station. Let me introduce myself. My name is John Arsenault, the new station manager. I plan to follow prior set standards, with safety being first and foremost. Keeping the facility and grounds clean and organized is second, and third, friendly courteous service.

How many apples can a group of volunteers pick, over the course of a few hours? When you have volunteers from Kieve Wavus Education, the answer is over 1,000 pounds. Couple that with a group that came together last Sunday, and you have another 750 pounds. That’s 1,750 pounds of apples that were picked, dear readers, and they’re all going out to the community to those in need.

Many people have been asking if Friday night dinners will continue at King Ro this winter. There will indeed be “to go” dinners starting on Nov. 4. They kick off with roasted chicken leg quarters, mashed potatoes, stuffing, peas, Anadama roll, and apple crisp. It is being contemplated whether or not the dinners will start up inside again in 2023. Stay tuned.

I know you have all heard. We are having a state election on Tuesday, Nov. 8. We have been bombarded with television and newspaper ads. Our telephones have been ringing and those roadside signs are popping up everywhere.

Before I start, I have to say that as soon as mom hit the send button on last month’s column Brody got into a pineapple upside down cake that mom had made. She had it pushed back on the counter, but I guess not far back enough because Brody, aka The Brodster, aka Counter Surfer Extraordinaire, was able to scarf down at least the first half of the top of the upside-down cake, which in itself sounds odd, but I don’t bake, so I can’t really say. It’s a digit thing.

Alna. The 2-foot-gauge train pulled by Engine 9 of the Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington Railway Museum is a gem. Fun to ride with much more to teach than meets the eye. History’s lessons, for instance.

Mid-October on the Pond. It’s still a time of beauty. While the temperatures have remained generally mild, we have experienced our first frost and all the house plants that spend the summer outdoors are back inside. The change in temperature, cool nights, and warm sunny days in our sunroom has prompted a couple of our Christmas cactuses to bloom.