Have a ball!! I will see you next week!

I keep gasping over the beauty of that watch. (It might be pretty draped on a Christmas tree? Just a thought.) Envious of your Maui trip and all the warm weather and sunshine (that has finally left us after such a lovely stretch). You aren't going alone, are you? Have a wonderful time!

So sad (and terrifying) about the death of the 44-yo brother-in-law. Hopefully there is life insurance? I worry about non-working women because stuff like this HAPPENS. Just devastating. Beautiful trails! And oh, that spaghetti sauce! Wow!

I remember the October shortly after we moved to Maine (when I was 17) and I was stunned, bewildered, disgusted with ALL of the Halloween "decorations" absolutely everywhere. (Mainers really take Halloween SERIOUSLY. I mean, my high school mascot were the Witches, and the school colors were orange and black). Yards full of "massacres" complete with the use of vats of ketchup for blood; stuffed "bodies" with pumpkin heads hanging from trees; beheadings; hatchets and axes embedded in jeans-clad "humans" strewn over the lawns (again with more vats of ketchup). It was obscene, and obviously competitive between neighbor and neighbor and town and town, and as much work went into it as the over-the-top billions of Christmas lights some people put up. smh

Quinn's hair has always been more blonde than red, although in certain lighting it can have a slightly reddish tint.

It's just stunning to me that the "new normal" is "no consequences." I see it and hear it all around me every single day. (Like, why weren't those idiot frat-boy republican congressmen who blasted into the high-security hearing room today held accountable for something that in the past they would have been marched out the door in handcuffs?) I could go on and on. And to realize that our education system is now condoning that heinous behavior! Makes me seethe. I'm SO GLAD Ashley won her case. Glimmers of people doing the right thing (and being supported for it).

Lol with the garbage cans! Sounds like you're wanting more with John? I think it's normal to want a relationship to grow, evolve. Human nature. But generally it becomes clear at some point, and I hope it does for you two.

I love your photos! We were out and about today and it was just lovely with all the fall colors. We're probably due soon for a big wind to blow all those leaves off the trees. THAT will be sad!

It's sure been beautiful, but it makes me sad to peer out at my deck pots. They used to be gorgeous and now they are pathetic. Still a few flowers in bloom, but mostly just tired and crispy and straggly. I wish this kitten would "learn" to stay off my keyboard. I just had to erase a string of aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaas. (<- and there I actually typed them back in...).

Marie K's comment is spot-on! He may be trying to read you, so maybe open that book a bit more. :o) And it's obvious that he REALLY cares about you! What a fun and nice guy he seems to be. I've never been to the town of Black Diamond before and it looks interesting. Another fun town is Sumner. Fun shops there, too. I have a hankering now to visit some small and quirky towns!

Aha! Will do!

Starting to see the color changes when we're out and about (not so much here at home with all the evergreens). I notice that the ornamental landscape trees (non-native) are the the ones that REALLY pop! Our native maples along the highways (and our road) are ultimately pretty lame with yellows and browns. Olympia is nice. I've been wanting to go into town to my favorite shop Childhood's End. No, it's not a kids' store—it has some truly exquisite and unique things, like an art gallery. I love that place! Helen's coming later this week, so especially if the weather is decent, maybe we'll venture there. Christmas gifts! Nice blouse! Is it black or navy? Fun find!

Yeah, I think I'd have to somehow smudge out that apostrophe! (Grrr) Blows my mind that it's October already, but every 4th of July I always think, "Before I know, it'll be October." And boom! Mari looks so cute in front of the fire. And quite devilish taking a treat from John! Yikes! And your dad looks great—and so happy!

I'm always really critical with myself after I've created one of those photo books, but overall I've loved them and am SO glad I went through the effort. It's pretty much a new learning curve every time (with Shutterfly) because they change things whenever I've done one (not nearly as often as you). I sure do treasure them. I was especially glad I'd made the one for my dad's 80th birthday and then he died four months later! So sad about your neighbor. So tragic.

The birthday party with the cake was at Quinn's daycare. Then over the weekend, Nate and Sandra took him to Lego Land. They also had a celebration (just the three of them) at home on his birthday when Quinn opened a bunch of presents (with help). They sent me a bunch of pics and videos of that and they were fun to see.

I'm late to your post! What a quandary with the dog and the baby and oh my. We love our dogs, but that just can't be acceptable! Jeeze. Your yard looks lovely; my deck pots look like crap. Makes me so sad because they were so stunning throughout the summer! Speaking of lovely—oh Ashley! Just wow!

So sorry about your friend! My gosh. What a tragedy. I LOVE seeing authors in person. (Remember Alexander McCall Smith? That was SO FUN!) I remember seeing Jean Auel (Clan of the Cave Bear) back in the early 80s and I was absolutely riveted. Before she started to speak to us, she sat about two rows in front of me and I kept marveling at the back of her head and all that was inside that head. Haven't read this book, but I may recommend it for Book Club tomorrow. It certainly has excellent buzz. By the way, I LOVED Circe! The dog thing has me in knots.