The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Be prepared, it's coming It's coming. I know, I know, we've had some really nice mild weather lately, but it IS coming. Trust me, I've seen the signs, over and over again. Just this morning, as I stepped out the door into the mild damp air, it felt like an October morning. But I know better, it's coming-- winter that is. After finishing the chores and walking back to the house, I saw a few more signs. There was a flock of Canada Geese which had temporarily landed on the yard near the house. They were picking through the lawn to forage some last-minute grass before continuing on their annual migration to warmer climes. The moment they saw me, they simultaneously lifted off, high into the sky, heading to their next stop, perhaps to fill up on some discarded soybeans scattered in the field, or some small cobs and loose corn kernels that were left behind by the combine. Beyond the area where the geese had congregated, there is a small corn field, with a hay field alongside it. Hearing some unique sounds across the field, I made my way around the end of the house, where I could see the corn field, dotted with wild turkeys, more than 50 of them, with four huge toms which were all puffed up, their tails spread out full-width, as they strutted their stuff in front of the females following them through the field. They picked at the corn on the field, as they `gobbled' to each other, making their way along the edge of the field. The sight of the proud tom turkeys and their hens was both fascinating and ominous. And I also suddenly felt chilly. It's coming-- I can feel it, in the air, in my head, in my bones. This morning, the first two of the five kittens that have lived outside all summer, moved into the stable, coming in from the 7 Independent & Free Press, Thursday, November 17, 2011 Ted Brown dampness to the warm shelter of the barn, to get away from the nasty weather that is obviously on its way. Although they are quite wary of me, those feral cats' instincts tell them that they should be inside, not out in the weather that will soon be upon us. Those cats know better than we do. Mother Nature speaks directly to them. So it's coming-- and very soon. In spite of this wonderful November weather that we've had, the signs are all there, the weather has a feel, Old Man Winter is preparing, scheming and grinning his evil smile, as he plans to drop a load of snow on us in the near future. Not only are the signs in nature around us, we have social signs. Both Acton and Georgetown Santa Claus Parades are taking place this weekend-- that's as sure a sign as you can get. When Santa is comin' to town, winter ain't far behind. So be prepared, get those snow tires on, pack away those yard items that should be stored inside, make sure your car or truck battery is in good shape. And pick up a couple jugs of windshield washer antifreeze as well. Make sure the snow blower is ready, oil changed, fresh gas topped up, all set to clear the driveway. You've been forewarned. Because it's coming, sooner than you think... One of these mornings you're going to wake up, look outside, and see the ground has turned white. It's coming... be prepared. You've been dreaming of seeing Europe forever. With Globus, you can make sure every moment is perfect. Their variety of tours take care of all the planning, navigating, and hassling for you. Your only responsibility is to take it all in. Enjoy! Charity BBQ this Saturday 11 am-6 pm! (in our parking lot) Join us for crafts*, balloons & a bite to eat before the Santa Claus Parade All proceeds going to the Ride to Conquer Cancer *Space is limited, so please book a time An Invitation To You & Your Family To Our Annual Christmas Remembrance Service 3 pm Saturday, December 3rd, 2011 at the J.S. Jones & Son Funeral Home 11582 Trafalgar Rd., Georgetown Presiding over the service Rev. Paul Ivany & Fr. Dave Wynen Refreshments to follow in the Trafalgar Room Please call the Funeral Home at 905-877-3631 to confirm your attendance 15% OFF Floor Puzzles Buy 2 Get 1 Free N 26 Sale S l D Dates: t Nov. 17 17-26 211 Guelph Street, Georgetown Northview Centre (Beside Police Station) 905-873-4410 store@squirtstoys.com HOURS: Monday-Wednesday 9:30 a.m.-7:00 p.m., Thursday-Friday 9:30 a.m.-8:00 p.m., Saturday 9:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Sunday 11 am - 4 pm