RAMBLING AGAIN

Hey!  We finally have some color on our trees!  I was really beginning to wonder!  Everyone was posting beautiful pictures of fall and I'd look outside and just see green (except my lawn which has turned brown).  Driving out to the western suburbs I'd see brilliant reds, golds and orange.  Here in the city it still looked like summer.  Then we got some warmer weather, then rain and now it has exploded into color.  Unfortunately, more rain came bringing a lot of wind and the trees are almost bare.  I got this shot out my kitchen window earlier in the week. Sometimes I just always seem to be behind the game!

It did occur to me today that Halloween is Wednesday, so I high tailed it up to CVS and bought the candy.  I know I'm not alone...if I buy it too early it magically disappears.  I've actually hidden it before but eventually everyone finds it, so I just bought extra.  Did you know you can freeze your leftover candy?

I don't decorate for Halloween, I haven't since the kids were little, but then I noticed something a few days ago...

...right here on my front porch.  Can you see it?

Here's a closer view.  Ewwwwww...It really is BIG.  I don't really have the heart to kill it but it's very close to the front door and I'm afraid someone will walk into it.  The wind keeps knocking him down but he comes right back.  What to do...

I have other critter problems, too.  A mouse in the house (or as an exterminator once told me, if you see one, you probably have 20).  You see, we have an attached garage off the kitchen.  Usually I put a box of poison out there when the weather turns cold and we never have a problem.  Last week when I went to do that, there was a squirrel trapped in the garage, running around like crazy.  I found a hole at the bottom of the old wooden door that leads out to the backyard, that's how the squirrel got in.  I can't put the poison out until the hole is fixed or I will have dead squirrels!  Likewise, I can't have poison in my house as I have small dogs that may get it.  What to do...

Milo is having a field day with all the critters hanging out to eat the walnuts that are falling off the trees.  He has two goals in life:  kill a squirrel or the mailman.

Things have otherwise been quiet around here.  I am excited to tell you that I have (finally) joined a gym!  The Husband joined the gym at the university 3 blocks away.  After a week he convinced me to join as well.  It's such a relief to know that I'm working on getting healthier and more active, especially now that winter is closing in.  I went for my annual physical this morning and my bad cholesterol is up.  The doctor gave me some literature to read, but I was really sort of shocked.  I make a lot of chicken and we have many meatless nights.  As much as I joke about my love of sweets, I really don't keep a lot like that in the house, The Husband is happy with his fiber bars.  I'm really going to have to think about this.  Anyone have this problem?  Any suggestions?

I left you last week mentioning that we might get away for a long weekend, maybe to a rental home on Lake Michigan.  Well, I did a little investigating and it looks like we can get one if we want to pay $800 per night!  Clearly these homes are meant for families to share.  I thought maybe we ought to just treat ourselves to a weekend in a nice hotel downtown, but The Husband works there everyday.  I think I am going to continue to check out small towns along the lake and look for a B&B.  I need a break!

I hope all of you are having a wonderful week,  The weekend is right around the corner!  Have fun! :)