Autumn is creeping in . . .

Autumn showed up at my house this weekend . . .

I guess it's settling in for a nice visit . . .

Ghosts of Christmas 2000

Fun at Woodfield Mall

The Children's Table on Christmas Eve - This was the year that Ty released their Chinese Zodiac Beanie Babies.  The Chinese takeout boxes held each child's corresponding Zodiac Beanie and a miniature Chinese Zodiac book.  Chopsticks were placed on top of each napkin.  I remember we bought the boxes from our local Chinese restaurant - they were not available everywhere like they are now . . .

This was the year Martha Stewart showed us how to make gum drop Christmas trees . . .

 . . . and gum drop wreaths . . . 

  And on the adult table, my mother's Poinsettia tablecloth reigned supreme . . .

Harvest Season musings . . .

Rain and cooler weather is expected this weekend. Good weather to catch up on laundry and household chores . . . and maybe start reading the new Dan Brown book . . . And I have three Oprah shows taped on my DVR . . . Do I really care about McKenzie Phillips incestuous relationship with her father? . . . Stop by the cell phone store to add text messaging to our cell phone package . . . More laundry . . . Will Lee tear up the ceiling in the kitchen to fix the leak in the upstairs bathroom? Again? Will he be done by Christmas? . . . Baked chicken for dinner tomorrow . . . should I marinate it tonight? Then there's filing . . . There's always filing . . . But this for sure: I will stop and listen to the rain when it comes and relish the sounds it makes when it hits the skylights . . . I love that sound.