Thanksgiving weekend, I was blessed to have family and friends visit. Corben and Tao have grown . . . 

some more and they’re so happy to be taller than the grown ups. 
 Two of Karen Stevenson’s grandchildren, Rowan and Ayden, came over to visit with my grandchildren. They always have a great time together. When Ayden came in the boys couldn’t believe how tall he was. Aiden is only 13 years old and is already six foot three and taller than my two grandchildren so they were quite amazed at his height. When he took his shoes off at the door it was like a set of skis lying on the floor. We laughed because they were so long we had to stand them up in the corner. 
 On Saturday, I decided to show them how to make candy apples. They were very interested in that. They had fun eating them too.
 Corben and Tao helped their dad finish piling my last four cord of wood outside which I very much appreciated. I had already piled 11 cord in my basement with the help of Jennifer Donnelly one day and Sharon Crawford the next. I was glad to get the help because it would’ve taken me weeks to get it done by myself. 
 Sunday morning, Rowan came early and wanted to make some fresh homemade buns so she brought her granny’s recipe over and we made a batch. They were amazingly good and they all disappeared by the next morning. 
 Carl took the teenagers to see a movie in Renfrew on Sunday afternoon and they gave me a chance to prepare supper for everyone. My aunt Betty and Gilbert came and joined us for supper. So did Sharon Crawford because Bruce was out moose hunting. His gang did get one.
 Shelley and Jeff Benoit and their three girls Morgan, Amber and Alley came over after supper and spent the evening visiting. The kids grow up so fast. Morgan is already going to college. It seems like yesterday when they were just playing around the yard being kids. Time goes by so quickly and they grow up before we know it.
 Another example of them growing up is that Corben drove here from Port Carling, Ont. with his own car which he bought on his own. 
 This week, I pulled out all my turnips and beets. I ended up with 14 quarts of pickled beets and I froze all the turnips so right now I have a lot of vegetables in my freezer. 
 I should be set for the winter now. All I have left in the garden is half a row of carrots and three hills of potatoes and then I can till the garden and put it to bed for the winter. I’ve got to mow the lawn maybe one more time and put the tractor away and winterize it.
 Next thing is Halloween which is my favourite time of the year. I love seeing the kids dressed up and having fun. I usually don’t get too many here, anywhere from 15 to 20. 
 I would like to send out happy belated birthday wishes to Faye Belanger and Erin Hearty who both celebrated on Oct. 16, to Joanne Hearty and Mike McGuire Jr. on Oct. 17, to Faye McGuire on Oct. 18, and Charlene Lance on Oct. 22. 
 I would like to send out birthday wishes to Charlotte Sloan and Nancy Larivière on Oct. 23, Charles Heaphy on Oct. 24, Mark Horner on Oct. 25, Janice Beauregard on Oct. 27.
 I want to remind everyone to get the chimneys cleaned out and change the batteries in their smoke detectors within the next week or so. Also, it is daylight savings time so remember to turn your clocks back again on Nov. 3.