November 1st

     Today is my brother Robert's 52nd birthday - he's 11 months and 24 days younger than me - so for the next three weeks we're the same age.  I'm the oldest, of seven, Robert was next then, Randy, Kerras, Diane, Kenny and Darlene.  We moved in to the homestead just after Christmas 1962 when Uncle David became ill and died on January 28, 1963.
     Below is a photo of Robert, me and Randy taken at the homestead in the summer of 1965 - we're standing between the house and the barn and outbuildings.  We used the building behind on the left as a woodhouse.  When the homestead was greatly renovated in 1921 Uncle David and Aunt Bessie moved in this old building - we could see where the stove pipe went through the ridge of the building - Dad tore down the building in 1987 when they expanded the barn.

     When the 1864 homestead was renovated in 1921 the side kitchen wing was added along with the large verandah - the main house had the stairs reversed and a double-parlour along the whole south side of the house was created - behind the stairs hall was a new small dining room.

     Below is a photo of me with Aunt Bessie on the homestead verandah - the photo was taken in 1962.  In 1972 the verandah was removed as it was old and rotten - the house was  renovated again by my parents to accommodate our family of nine.

     Aunt Bessie sold the homestead to my parents following Uncle David's death in 1963 - she moved to nearby Alberton and passed away in a Summerside nursing home in 1972.