What spices do you mix with cloth? Kind of strange, huh! Well, my predictions about the Red Sox at the beginning of the season haven't panned out. I — and I am sure a few others — didn't see Mookie Betts having a possible MVP year, nor Rick Porcello being in the running for the Cy Young award — David Price, maybe — but not Porcello. And with David Ortiz, Zander Bogaerts, Dustin Pedroia and Jackie Bradley Jr. having very good years, my pessimistic outlook has been demolished. I did mention in April, however, that I hoped I would be wrong.

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One of the things I mentioned back when the grass was still turning green was that I would eat my Red Sox hat if any other pitcher other than Price would win 15 games. That's why I ask for the correct spice. Don't worry, my wife will hold me to it. But I'm not going to eat the whole thing.

I don’t know about you, but I think the daily traffic in the Midcoast region has certainly shot up this summer in comparison to the past few years. Patience is the key while waiting for the longer lines to pass so you can exit a road or lot. Nice to see. At least the gas stations seem to be making some money, if not the hotels, shops and other businesses.

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We are lucky to live in Maine. Wildfires raging out of control in California, deadly flooding in Louisiana, and days upon days of heat and humidity in the southern states. Yeah, we've had some hot and humid days, but at least we're not dealing with fires or floods.

The Old Farmer's Almanac has predicted an "exceptionally cold" winter in 2016-2017. Though not always right, the Almanac at least reminds us that winter is coming. So, start saving your money to fill your heating oil tank, stock your wood pile and get those windows secure to stop those cold breezes from coming in. And, if you can spare some money, donate to the Boothbay Region Community Resources Council's heating assistance fund to help your neighbors keep warm.