It’s been warming back up after last week’s cold snap. Honestly, it’s hard to complain about 30-degree days when it’s almost Christmas.

In a few more short days, the light will begin to change almost imperceptibly. Good thing, since I’ve been tempted to hit the sofa by 5 p.m. lately.

I am looking forward to getting more than a couple eggs a week from my chickens. Chickens begin their life with every egg they will ever lay. Light determines how often they lay. Big chicken farms leave artificial lights on during winter months to keep a steady production going all year long. The hens still only lay a finite number of eggs. Therefore, in this scenario, they are good for only a couple of years.

I do not use lights, so my hens slow down until Christmas and really produce as spring approaches. They have several years of production as a result. I’m glad as I do become fond of each individual.

Conversely, I also raise meat birds. I order 25 baby chicks in the fall — the Cornish Game Hen breed. They grow incredibly fast and can be table ready in six weeks. I finally finished processing the batch and they were an incredible nine pounds. Talk about your holiday bird.

This is not bragging, nor a confession — just a fact. I have not eaten a store-bought chicken in 50 years.

There is still some kale, spinach and lettuce to be harvested.

I may have been Ebenezer Scrooge in a past life. I cannot seem to get totally into the spirit this year. We have our usual family Christmas Eve plans but I am hoping to keep some financial restraint. I’ve been enjoying the town’s holiday decorations at least.

Hopefully, right after Christmas, I will seed some lettuce and spinach in the hoop house. It freezes in there at night but the seedlings don’t seem to mind. Again, they should do well with the change of light.

The ornamental grasses have lost their appeal. Soon, they will begin breaking in the wind and if we ever get snow they become a huge mess. It’s difficult to cut them back at that point and a person gives up (I speak only of myself). Then, when new growth starts in the spring, regret abounds.

If you ever wish to plant hay-scented ferns, be sure they have plenty of space. We’ve been busy at some job sites moving huge amounts from some beds. By moving, I mean placing right side up in the woods and walking away. I’ve used this lazy method with Lily-of-the-valley. They will grow even if thrown away upside down.

The NLRB, or National Labor Relations Board, is a federal agency that protects the rights of private company employees. It allows those employees to form unions and safeguards them from dangerous working conditions. The chairman of NLRB, Lauren McFerran’s term expired this week. Joe Biden was set to give her another two-year term. Thanks to Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema, the senate vote was against the reappointment. They waltzed in at the last minute to show their true colors as supporters of Big Business. Were they ever actually democrats?