It’s beginning to look a lot like winter, as well it should. Whoever said winter starts Dec. 21 and ends in March didn’t live around here. Especially the end of it. We know it will be unpleasantly dank and windy until Memorial Day and beyond. No matter, bundle up. Our winters keep the day-tripper numbers down, and give us time to take long walks and have a think. Wear your mittens.

Cyber merchants want us to shop online this week, as furiously as if we were in Macy’s in Manhattan. It is much more satisfying, I think, to touch and feel the things we buy, as extolled by the poet Carolyn Wells: “I love the Christmas tide and yet/ I notice that each year I live/ I always like the gifts I get/ But how I love the gifts I give.”

Some people responded to the travel bug in recent days. Brian and Kate Athearn had a sudden impulse to go to Hawaii — and so they did, and I am guessing they enjoyed a turkey luau.

Mark and Eliza Duke have returned from a family visit to England, just in time for Thanksgiving feasting here at home.

Joannie Ames visited family up near the Maine border, and commented that the pot luck dinner with 12 people resulted in six pies. That’s my idea of hitting the jackpot.

Christopher Smith flew to Bloomington, Ill, to visit his father Michael Craughwell (yes, the sword maker) for the holiday weekend.

Paul Magid and Anita Botti got away to their former hometown of Washington D.C. for a Thanksgiving visit with family and friends.

There was so much food at the Knabel/Osmundsen table that I lost track of my mashed potatoes, but the bowl showed up next morning in their dishwasher. Go figure.

To help deck your halls and buy a gift that gives twice, stop by the holiday farm stand Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 515 Lambert’s Cove Road for hand-made candles, tins of cookies, fragrant wreaths and more, all made by people at the Island Autism Center, new this season.

All are welcome to attend the town’s annual holiday party Monday, Dec. 9, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Grange Hall. Festive music, food and good cheer will flow. Bring a dish to share.

Happy birthday Friday, Dec. 6 to Nelson Sigelman, and to Marjorie Spitz and Sarah Vail on Saturday, Dec. 7. It is Patty Codding’s big day Sunday, Dec. 8, and Emily Smith celebrates Monday, Dec. 9. Kara Taylor and Doug Cabral enjoy their birthdays Dec. 10. Ellen Fitzpatrick and Beth Kramer are sure to enjoy the day Dec. 11.