It's time to take down all the stuff I've been gathering all year and get ready to decorate for the holidays. This window shows what's gone on this year. We started with a huge red star that said "Yarnot" on it, with lots of glittery star strings radiating from it. I took it down to put up the two posters you see there. Both of these came from baseball games. The cats play with the star strings. (Most of them are gone by now, torn to bits in the fun. Some are to the right of the wedding pictures on the shelf.) I actually threw the star out. Boy, that was hard!

Top left, a fractal postcard from Amanda. Next, a hand-colored valentine from a SUCCEED child (a scholarship child at one of the innercity Catholic schools. Then a postcard from Roni from Hawaiil. It's a replica of a replica of a ship, the Carthaginian. Under these, three valentines, from Amanda and Justine and Justine's brother, and another postcard from Amanda. and a thank you for a college graduation present. Next row, another valentine from Justine, a slightly suggestive card from Rich, two Hawaiian postcards, of Haleakela Crater and the 'Iao Needle, both from Roni, and a postcard from Lisbon from Monica. Sigh. I feel so housebound!

Between the speaker (Fi, since we put the nativity scene angels on Hi) and the wedding pictures, another postcard from Roni, this one just from Maui. Then there's her wedding invitation. Behind the speaker as I never quite had room to put it up is a certificate of appreciation from the Discovery Museum for the work I did with RailFair99. Then there are two more thank-yous, one for RailFair and the other for another college graduation. On the shelf, a candle and a couple of bucket place-card holder favors from the wedding. The pictures are Monica and Mark's wedding. These are the only family pictures in the living room at the moment: it may be tacky, but I like to show them off. I'm not too sure what I'll do when Roni's comes. The folder is holding my wedding bouquet firmly so the cats can't run with them. On the right side of them, besides starstrings, are some cards I meant to answer but didn't, all year, shame on me.

The top row right of the poster is made up of another thank-you from a college grad, Rich's dentist birthday card, and a thanks from Roni and R.J. for their silver service. Next row: Bridal Veil Falls (Yosemite) with a list of the sights Wowbagger was seeing. It's all right for SOME, she said darkly. Then one from Ireland, from my Law Professor friend elementary and high school classmate. An invitation to the graduation of Carroll College, and my CASA graduation.

There's a postcard of the Wall Drug Dinosaur, even though Vince didn't actually see it. He did say Wall Drug gives Archie McPhee a run for its money. Next, an invitation to CSUS's graduation, then one for a high school in South Carolina. Next, a silversword from Hawaii from guess who, and an invitation to a graduation party. Then another postcard of the Needle, another of Haleakela Crater, an invitation to our local high school graduation, and the thank-you from that.

It's a window of memories. Time to take them down and pack them into a paper box, where I will probably see them again in 10 years or so.