I stepped into the memory bank but could not find a year in the recent past when we had a white Christmas. Granted, it only lasted for Christmas Eve and half a day on Christmas. Nevertheless, it had to be fun for little ones and oldsters alike. The Tashmoo Overlook hill had several carloads of sledders within a couple of hours. I noticed a few plastic sleds left behind. I hope they weren’t brand-new presents.

For all the preparations getting ready for the big day, it came and went in a flash. Guess it’s time this week to think about those New Year’s resolutions. I’ve stopped making them since most barely last a week.

I’ve got bulbs poking up all over the place. It seems very early and we have yet to have a proper freeze. Also looking promising and very nice are the hellebores. Their greenery is a welcome addition to an otherwise drab and brown bed.

The perennial foxglove (digitalis ferruginia) is a wonderful year-round plant. Its foliage is quite different from the annual ones. I started them from seed several years ago and am very happy with their performance. I’m not sure if the actual plant is available in the spring at the various garden centers.

The Christmas window boxes at both Green Rooms are spectacular. The use of white ornamental kales is genius.

Not much happening in vegetable gardening. I pulled the leeks and one bed of celeriac. I have tried leaving them in the ground in the past but have been disappointed. Right now they are piled in the greenhouse, wanting me to tend to them.

Last year I sauteed the leeks in boatloads of butter, hit them with the hand-held blender and froze the mixture in small, single meal-size jars. When I remember to thaw them in time, they are a great starter kit for almost anything.

I’m fond of celeriac but the preparation thereof is a big drag. They have tons of nooks and crannies, making them nearly impossible to peel.

This summer I had a bumper crop of Ailsa Craig onions. They are not reliable keepers. I made a concoction of apple cider vinegar and honey (one quart to one cup), poured it over the sliced onions and processed them in pint jars in a water bath for 10 minutes. Recently we ate a jar mixed into alfalfa sprouts and olive oil. They were sweet, still crunchy and without the bite of a raw onion.

My seed order arrived from Pine Tree Gardens. I ordered early this year as the pandemic caused some shortages last year with some of my favorites. I spent a little time organizing them into what can be started soon in the greenhouse on the propagating mat, for example, onions, leeks, perennial herbs and spinach.

Now that the light has changed, it’s actually time to think ahead already.

I have a lamp at my kitchen sink next to the window. For the last week or so the window outside is covered with winter moths. Their larvae will eat maple and fruit tree leaves within an inch of their lives. They also drop from the trees attached to disgusting webs. You don’t want to run into them. I had better give Todd at Vineyard Gardens a call to get onto his springtime spray schedule. He uses a product similar to BT that gives the pest a stomachache until it dies.

It’s no wonder our poor world is drowning in plastics. Why do they use the tiny plastic connection to fasten labels on new clothing or, say, attach socks to one another? I find it so irritating and pointless.

Then again, most things in the modern world irritate me. I’ve turned into my parents and grandparents. Have mercy!

Speaking of really irritating: the January 6 coup attempt is in the news non-stop and yet nothing has happened. What’s going on with Merrick Garland? Why haven’t Steve Bannon and Mark Meadows been charged? Do you think you wouldn’t be if you defied a congressional subpoena?

I am hopeless that D.J.T. will ever be held accountable for anything.