Now that we've turned the clock back in anticipation of the winter season, the sunlight streams through the bare branches of the trees and dances on the sparkling light frost on the grass. It is once again the edge of winter in the Upper Peninsula.

The backroads are alive with hunters preparing their blinds and occasionally getting a partridge or two, and the wood smoke curling quietly upward.

Congratulations to both the St. Ignace Saints and the Cedarville Trojans, who will be representing our end of the peninsula in the high school football playoffs.

Following a visit with our grandchildren in Georgia and our son, Dave, who flew in from San Antonio, Texas, we headed north on I-75, in anticipation of seeing the Mighty Mac, knowing the trip had been good and home was in sight.

We stopped in Athens, Tennessee, for a surprise visit with Tim and Connie Stephenson. Tim, the son of MaryEllen and Sonny Stephenson, was born and grew up in Rexton. It was good to catch him up on news we could relate of family and friends back home.

Our trip on the way down included an overnight stay with our nephew, Larry Derusha, his wife, Julie, and their son, Brewer, who currently reside in Acworth, Georgia. It was like a mini family reunion.

Family and friends gathered in Manistique for the celebration of the Livermore clan's matriarch, Martha Sheppard, who celebrated her 80th birthday. One of the highlights of the evening was the singing by her daughter and sonin law, Judy and Ken Dietzel of Pigeon, along with daughter-inlaw, Mona Sheppard, and grandchildren, Sara and Matt. The grandchildren also presented a slide show of Martha in years past, bringing back many pleasant memories, and even a few chuckles. Martha and her buddies continue to meet for coffee every morning, just like clockwork.

Lee Kerridge, along with Bill Carlson, Danny Waldron, and Bill Aldrich of Manistique, made their yearly trek to Canada for moose hunting. They were successful in the first hour of the first day in taking a cow and two calves to share.

In our own backwoods, Daryl Browning, who was returning home from a Friday night football game, spotted a large bull moose crossing out by the quarry. Now in addition to deer in the headlights, we must watch out for moose, as well.

Cindy Bowman Vallier is here visiting from Florida.

Our tiny towns seemed to have more than their share of grief this past week. Condolences to Dana Goudreau on the passing of her brother, Mike Clark, who resided in Brevard, North Carolina; to Joyce Hart on the loss of her grandson, John Kowalski; to Wayne Flatt on the passing of his dad, Otto, a mainstay of the VFW in Engadine; to the family of our friend and neighbor, John Hood, and to the family of my cousin, Dale Beaudoin, of Moran.

Dave and Robyn Albrecht, along with their daughters, Brenda and Abby, traveled to Hampton, Iowa, this past week to attend the funeral of Dave's grandmother.

Dinner guests at the home of Rosella Prater were Dale and Evelyn Burgess, who were there celebrating the wedding anniversary of Don and Wilda Fredrick.

Birthday wishes to Vern Johnson November 6, Bob Cook November 7, Harold Benoit, Zeak DeWyse, and Sandy Weber November 8, and Bob Konle November 9.

Anniversary wishes to Bob and Sandy Quinn November 9.