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Wow, what a difference a few months makes. Starting in early 2012 and thorough summer of this year, houses were selling as fast as they came on the market. Most homes were getting multiple offers, and nice homes were getting 10-20 offers. Selling prices were driven up well beyond what most of us expected. Buyers were waving inspections, appraisal and loan contingencies and still getting outbid. Many unsuccessful buyers got frustrated and threw in the towel.

It's time to start thinking about holiday decorating. If that makes your palms sweat or gives you a headache, take a deep breath and don't worry! Decorating for the holidays doesn't need to be a huge or expensive production. Craft and grocery stores are great places to pick up inexpensive ingredients for your seasonal decorating. Here are some easy ideas that will make your autumn decorating simpler, less expensive but still seasonal and fun.

Fall is the traditional time in the northern hemisphere to celebrate God's blessings and express gratitude for successful harvests. As our nation's “chief annual ceremony of American civil religion,” Thanksgiving has had an interesting history.

In London in 1976, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist Tim Rice released an album of a show that would be called “Evita.” By early 1977, the album took the world by storm and when “Evita” premiered in London in June 1978, everyone was humming "Don't Cry For Me Argentina." In September 1979, “Evita” opened on Broadway to a sold out run and won seven Tonys, including Best Musical, Score, Book and Director. “Evita's” Broadway run went on for four years.

‘Peter and the Star Catcher’

The Boy Scouts of America is one of the country's most respected institutions. While nearly everyone is familiar with its work, far fewer are aware of its long history.

For anyone who hasn’t checked out the newspaper’s website recently, you might want to take a quick peek. It’s been revamped and redesigned, with an easier to use, drop-down navigation bar and a special “Helping out for the holidays” section, where you can find out what area organizations need for the upcoming holiday season.