Travel on the Gravel

Returning home from a meeting in Omaha, I'm happy to report that the Bohemian Cafe is good as ever: monster dumplings, wonderful kraut, dandy schnitzel, sparkling Pilsener. Likewise we found on the way home that the Dakota Drive-In of Hankinson ND is still serving the public in fine fashion. Here's the drive-in, and here's a picture of the Newman, the triple-burger specialty of the house.

There was a sharp freeze while we were gone, and we came home Sunday with a deeper freeze forecast for the night. The first freeze of the fall, however, had come Monday night the 27th. I recall it well. ZZ was out at some meeting, and after running the dog, about dusk, I felt the air still and chill; I knew first freeze was coming. I gathered quite a few things in from the garden, including about, I don't know, a bushel of green chiles, beauties. On the spot I fired up the grill and commenced scorching them, preparatory to skinning and drying them. This was truly a sensual experience. It was still, and cold, and so the heat of the grill was pleasant on my chest as I worked. Better yet, the scent of the roasting chiles welled up from the fire, pungent. I pity all my Nordic neighbors who know no such pleasure.

Since then the garden salvage operation has been continual. Tomatoes, eggplants, green peppers, spuds, carrots, cabbages, rutabagas, the last of the Haralson apples, lots of herbs. Last night I cut the sage and filled the dryer with it; that scent filled the house all night.

The wealth from the garden compensates for a relative scarcity of game in the house. We did the grouse opener on the coteau as usual, but the dog misbehaved so that we quit early (and put him back into basic training). The following week the dog was fine, but the wind blew grandly, so the birds were wild as geese. The result being, we only have a couple of grouse. Duck hunting near home for the opener was no better; I passed on the abundant gadwalls (to the extreme frustration of the yellow dog) and brought home only a bluewing teal. Well, it will get better.

Cold this morning--about 22 degrees in the back yard--but still, and a gorgeous sunrise. We're in for a splendid week of autumn.