As I sit and write this, it is early afternoon out here on Chappy, but the sun is already low in the sky, casting its golden light across our leaf-littered lawn. The dark days are upon us; time to bring out the Scrabble boards, the unread novels, the hot teas. Time for potlucks and movie nights and pajama wearing at embarrassingly early times.

Although the light is diminishing, it is still surprisingly warm for this time of year. Recently, the lows dipped down to 34 with the potential of a frost, but the daytime temperatures are still rising into the 50’s and even, on occasion, nudging into the 60’s. I am watching our field for signs of a heavy frost, biding my time until I can dig and store all of our dahlia tubers and gladiolus bulbs for the winter. The plants need a killing frost in order for them to put energy into their roots for best storage.

If someday soon you visit Collins Heavener, furniture maker, in his shop behind the Slip Away farmhouse, you might notice an adorable new resident bouncing around. Collins and his wife, Lucy Leopold, adopted a puppy last week and named her Sunday. The agreement between the two of them was that if Collins could pick out the pup, then Lucy could choose her name.

The four-month old rescue from Texas is believed to be a mix of a great pyrenees and a lab. She made the long journey from down south to an adoption gathering in Rhode Island where Collins chose her from many other potentials, loaded her in his truck, and headed back home to the Island. She slept the entire journey, and then solidly through her first night in the farmhouse. On Saturday, Collins could be seen carrying the little white pup proudly in his arms as he walked the sunny farm property with two potential furniture customers. Sunday is settling in well and is as sweet as can be. Their cat, George, on the other hand, may take a bit more time to adjust to his new roommate.

Hunting season began a few weeks ago, so remember to wear your blaze orange when hiking the trails on Chappy. It is archery season from now until Nov. 30; shotgun is from Dec. 2 to 14; and the primitive firearm season is Dec. 16 to 31.

On Halloween eve, a moose, a purple-top turnip and the night sky went knocking on a few Chappy doors. At one house, they were greeted by Abe Lincoln and Pippy Longstocking. At another, a pink-haired Superwoman came to the door. And at a third, their knocking dragged the resident out of her bath, where she was watching the classic scary movie, Carry. It was only the second Halloween ever for the Moose, and she was surprised and perhaps a little spooked to find some of her friends unrecognizable, cheering up only once treats were served.

I have heard tales of Halloween-past on Chappaquiddick. They are stories of haunted houses and spooky woods, and spectacularly scary costumes involving chainsaws, fake blood and dismembered body parts. With a solid contingent of young people on Chappy now, perhaps the Halloween haunted houses will one day be resurrected.

The next Chappy potluck is Nov. 20 at 6 p.m. Please bring a dish to share. If you would like to host a potluck this winter, give the community center a call at 508-627-8222.