Here we are into another year. I did not bother to make any resolutions this year. I never keep them anyway. I saw a great bumper sticker: “I went on a diet for two weeks and all I lost was two weeks.”

Last week I remarked about an author I heard on NPR but could not remember his name. Thanks to Jackie Korell from the Katama General Store. She sent along the information: Miracles We Have Seen by Harley A. Rotbart, M.D.

Also, I put out a plea for the location of the Copra onion seed but then found it this week while perusing the Pinetree Garden Seed Company catalog of Gloucester, Me. What’s wrong with me? I order from them every year. I did go ahead and place an order for all the early crops — onions, leeks, beets, carrots, peas, turnips and various types of greens.

I love Pinetree Gardens. For starters, an actual human being answers the phone with no navigating a pesky menu. I confess, I still use my rotary phone so it can be problematic with a lot of businesses. All of Violet’s friends love using it. My childhood phone number was 405. They continued adding numbers to it over the years.

How I do digress.

I pulled the last of the beets. I had placed a heavy blanket over them before the cold snap a few weeks ago and am pleased that it worked. They were perfectly fine. Not so with the end of the radishes. Several had to go to the chickens as they were too soft and unappetizing.

Several years ago I bought a 50-pound bag of field peas. Trust me, it was an overly enthusiastic purchase. I plant them in small quantities in order to eat the young shoots. Remarkably, because I kept them in dry storage, they are still viable. I have a small 2’X 2’ section of the shoots in the hoop house outside and have started a few flats on the propagating mat.

It does not seem that we are serious about going into a winter. I spent last week’s 40-degree days weeding and turning over a few beds. I feel good doing small tasks in preparation for another spring.

My garden is loaded with birds. They are feasting on the dried seed heads of weeds I neglected last summer. I saw a small flock of bluebirds yesterday. They are simply beautiful with their rosy breasts and bright blue backs.

I am attempting to stay in the moment rather than stress about the upcoming changing of the guard in our nation’s government. I will say, I think it is important to remain or become more political. This is, after all, our country and we all have the right to speak out. The talk of the impending repeal of both Obamacare and of regulations is troubling. I admit some regulations can over reach but honestly, I like safe food, travel, air and water.

It is interesting that many of the potential cabinet picks want to get rid of those departments. To wit: Rick Perry’s “oops” Energy Department.

On a somber note, I am deeply saddened by the death of Cheryl Stark. She and I go back to the early 1970s when many of us Baby Boomers discovered and learned to love the Vineyard. We enjoyed decades of different yet parallel loves. Vaya con Dios, my friend.