The Scotch pine has gone to its final resting place, sturdy boxes and those jolly, overpriced bags have been broken down, refolded and stashed somewhere. The unopened bag of red and green bows won’t look so perky after a year in storage, but what can you do.

But the glitter won’t leave. It winks in crevasses between floor boards, and clings to the socks in the laundry basket. For the past couple of weeks glitter magically appeared on a child’s cheek, on my sweater, on my sandwich. Pine needles too have collected in the corners, but at least they don’t shine.

It is a slow withdrawal for the season’s minutiae but I promise it will all be gone by Valentine’s day.

Anna Alley had a holiday week of boisterous activity in Attleboro visiting her daughter Nicole, her son-in-law Arsen Hambardzumian and their four strapping sons. Anna’s grandsons reveled in opening their packages of new sports equipment, including field hockey sticks, which had magically materialized under the tree. Meanwhile Nicole and Arsen treated themselves to a new car, a family-sized Lexus, which arrived a few days before the new year.

Lynne and Allen Whiting enjoyed a family Christmas dinner with eight at their table. They had barely arrived home from a visit to Utah, traveling with Tess, their tiny Chihuahua, theoretically riding in a carrier under the seat, but in fact Tess was smuggled, snuggled on Lynne’s lap under her coat.

Phyllis Meras invited a number of friends for drinks Saturday, and to see her dazzling, lovingly decorated Christmas tree. Phyllis was headed off to New York early the next morning, hitching a ride with Lynn Christoffers.

Paul Magid looks forward to the publication in June of his book Pursuing the Leviathan, the story of the Vineyard whaling captain Benjamin Clough, a truly swashbuckling and lurid tale of how this Holmes Hole hero was promoted directly from third mate to captain after single-handedly saving his ship. The Martha’s Vineyard Museum will celebrate this astonishing story in July.

Susan Wasserman has finished writing a book, Stepping Off the Boat, about a summer community on North Manitou, a small island in Lake Michigan in the northern part of that state, where her family has vacationed for several generations. The book is a collection of century-old photographs, stories, maps, all with matching commentary, a compilation of the records kept by Susan’s mother for many years, and welcomed by a small museum on the island. The book will be published later this year.

Birthday greetings to Julia Mitchell on Jan. 3, and to Todd Hitchings on Jan. 5. And wishing a belated happy anniversary to Chris and Sheila Morse who celebrated on New Year’s Eve.

I was sorry to hear of the death of Richard Cohen on Christmas Day at a facility off-Island where he was being cared for. Toni and Amanda were grateful to be at his bedside.

The Agricultural Society doesn’t shut down just because it is January. Nikki Burton from the Umass Extension Service will be here Monday, Jan, 6, from noon until 2 p.m. to discuss Silvopastures, how those who raise livestock can integrate trees into their fields and pastures to make life more pleasant for their critters.

The Beekeeping Club has its usual get-together at the Agricultural Hall on Wednesday, Jan. 8, at 5 p.m.

And a computer lab for farmers is offered Thursday, Jan 9, at 5:30 p.m. an informal session on using the fandangled contraptions for farm work of all sorts.