Grasshopper mood gives way to ant's providence for winter NORTH LAUREL/SAVAGE

This time of year, it's possible never to cook on weekends -- just graze from church supper to firehouse fund-raiser to varsity bake sale. The food is terrific, the company interesting and the causes worthy. Best of all, part of the cost of these dinners is tax deductible! Ain't philanthropy grand?

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The Verse Is Yet To Come Department: The Lite Circle presents a Friday Poetry Cafe at Something Special Coffeeshop, 504 Main St., Laurel. Open readings will be held every Friday in October from 8 p.m. to closing. Information: Lite Circle, [phone], or Something Special Coffeehouse, [phone]. Incidentally, the word coffee can be spelled k-a-u-p-h-y, without a single letter found in the correct spelling. English spelling rules are appalling!

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Every cricket in creation is living in my yard. They are colonizing my house. I don't really mind, but the one under the refrigerator is driving my daughter crazy. Is there an ecologically approved way to entice the cricket out?

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This week, Mark and I celebrate our anniversary. We aren't where we thought we'd be when we took our vows. We've been to Thailand and Hawaii instead of Florence. We've bought a house, had a child, seen our names in print, lost grandparents and great-uncles, gained nieces and nephews, learned to ski, make pots, write games, learned French, built bookcases. We've built a life. As always, my dear, "rather with you than with any."