SANTA'S BEARD

Everyone seems to think I'm the Christmas fanatic in this family, always pushing the season and wanting to start decorating way too early. Maybe that used to be true a long time ago. But not anymore. Somewhere along the way, Hubby and I traded places. He only pretends to be Mr. Macho Bah-Humbug, when in truth he starts his shopping by summertime at the latest, has at least two grocery-bags-worth of goodies to go in every stocking, and actually enjoys watching Hallmark Christmas movies with me. But we won't tell anyone his little secret, will we? Let him keep up the charade. Needless to say, it wasn't me who came wagging this home last week!

DEAR AUTUMN...

So glad you finally made it here to Texas! At last the highs are down in the 70's, and we've even had a couple of nights where it dipped into the high 40's. Heavenly!

I don't know about you, but fall weather always makes me want to bake something yummy and aromatic. I'm thinkin' it just might have to be this mixed berry crisp that Junelle's sister Rhetta shared with us in project #3 of her Heartwarming Workshop. She added crumbled gingersnaps to her crisp's topping for a special seasonal touch.

I can almost taste it!

HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?

We took little Calvin to Mima's favorite taco joint, Mimas, last week. It was a revelation. For one thing, I couldn't get over how much older he looked with his new haircut. No more long silky curls! For another, he no longer want's to be fed. He can do it himself!

When someone came in with an infant in a carrier, I suddenly felt a bit gobsmacked. How on earth did we get from that, to this...

in the mere blink of an eye?