The squirrels in DC are, well, spoiled. Tourists can't resist feeding them and photographing them. They (the squirrels) will get pushy about food. And the albino ones in Franklin Square even more so - I was once walking through the square drinking coffee and one came up and practically perched on my toe waiting for me to feed it.

When a former roomie and I visited the Mall we passed a tree full of chattering squirrels over by the Vietnam Memorial, and an obese one that looked like the animatronic gopher from Caddyshack actually came running up to our feet in hope of being fed. Its boldness had obviously paid off in treats, if not cardiovascular health.

We used to cut our own Christmas trees when we lived in Maine, when I was a kid. It was an era before laws, I think. But damn balsam firs smell good; no other Christmas tree will do for me.

Kathy, are you collecting a particular type of ornament?

No, nothing in particular, just getting them when I see something I like! I've got everything from a few Jim Shore ornaments to a gorgeous handmade wood one I got at an artisan's center in South Carolina to Tiny Tim on Bob Cratchit's shoulder that I bought at the Goodman Theatre's production of A Christmas Carol to several cross stitch, felt, beading, and needlepoint ones I've made myself, and several Waterford ones I bought at the Irish shop in the mall when I worked at Waldenbooks back in the '90s (they would go on sale the week after Xmas and I'd drop in and grab them up since they were half off).

If I see a Christmas store, I'll pop in and poke around until I see something that I must have.

I have gotten a lot of older 1950s-60s glass ornaments at thrift shops, often for ridiculously cheap. Yard sales are also good. Of course, I have an ornament problem, and could probably trim three trees.

FYI, some of these are the kits I just bought to make for gifts and myself this year.

oh, pretty! some of the Santa/St. Nick ones look a bit like Jim Shore ornaments.

I used to collect Xmas ornaments as keepsakes from wherever I went on travels. They were small and easy to pack and having them meant the tree was full of stories. That was until I married The Jew. Non-practicing though he may be, a tree is where he draws the line. I have channeled my Xmas frenzy into stuff like snowglobes and garlands for the mantels. My fave decoration is three holiday cards from the '20s I framed in white frames. I put them our on a table and they look so cool and pretty.

Aren't those Santa faces terrific? I was thinking about getting those, but instead, I went with some of the ones on the top of the first page, and several of the word ones on the later pages (loved the "Naughty" and "Nice" ones!). I've already made the musical instruments that are on the final page earlier this year.

if you want to be pregnancy buddies, please email!

I would love to be pregnancy buddies! Aw, now I'm all excited.

I should also mention that Gris and his lovely (and also pregnant) DW just moved to our area and we've hung out with them a couple of times, AND she gave me a tip on reducing nausea that is pretty much the only reason I'm up and walking around this week. I'm pretty psyched to have them close by. So yay pregnancy buddies!

And now I'm all excited for Christmas and tree-trimming too. We have a smallish but well-curated and well-loved collection of ornaments, and it makes me happy just to think about getting them out and putting them on the tree. Plus there's a chance we might do Christmas at our place this year and have our families come to us, rather than traveling all over like we've done the last couple of years, which would be fantastic.

My fave decoration is three holiday cards from the '20s I framed in white frames.

What a great idea! I bought greeting card recreations of some local Chicago-area travel posters from the 1930s the last time I was at the Chicago History Museum, and I will eventually get them framed in some really cool way. (I've got the idea in my head that I'd love to find some cast-iron-like sculptural wall piece that has frames scattered throughout it so I can group them together, but I might have to design it myself and get it custom made, someday after I win the lottery.)