"But I heard him exclaim ‘ere he drove out of sight,
‘Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!’"
          Clement Clarke Moore (1779-1863)

Mid-Atlantic weather watch: fair and colder (1,2,3) with the possibility of a nor’easter with heavy snow (4,5,6). Fair and rather cold (7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15). Periods of light snow (16,17,18,19,20,21) returning to fair weather and cold temperatures (22,23). Windy with some flurries (24,25,26,27,28) turning fair and very cold (29,30,31)

Full moon: December’s full moon will rise on Wednesday, December 21st at 3:13 am est. Native Americans often referred to December’s full moon as the cold moon (for obvious reasons!) but it also has been known as the beaver moon and sometimes ice-forming moon because beavers get busy completing their dams and lodges before winter sets in and lakes and ponds freeze over with ice.

Special notes: this year, help someone less fortunate feel the joy and love of Christmas. Volunteer at a local hospital, nursing home, or community shelter. The good will extended to those often forgotten during the holiday season will make them (and you!) truly feel the holiday spirit!

Holidays: celebrate Christmas on Saturday, December 25th. Enjoy family and friends during these festive times and keep that joyful and giving spirit alive throughout the coming year. Have a wonderful and safe new year, too! New year’s eve is Friday, December 31st. Make plans to attend a first night celebration and enjoy safe, family-oriented fun, food, and entertainment on the very first night of the year. Look online at www.firstnight.com/cities to find a celebration nearest you.

The Garden: plan flowerbeds now and have the soil tested. Make a list of seeds that need to be ordered, when to start them, and a list of any bedding plants to buy first. Perform a simple germination test on last year's stored seed. Place ten seeds between paper towels and keep the towels moist and warm for a few days. If less than eight of the ten actually sprout, consider starting with fresh seed. Replant any perennials that have been heaved out of the soil by frost and consider covering them with a light mulch such as pine bark. To avoid rodent damage during the winter, keep a couple of inches clear of vegetation and mulch around the base of young trees. Plastic or metal hardware cloth can be wrapped around the base to deter chewing on bark. Remember to put plenty of seed out for the birds, especially if the ground is covered with snow.

J. Grubers' Thought for Today's Living:

"The holiday season offers dual opportunities: a chance to give of oneself to others through thoughtful gifts as well as a time to take stock and resolve to be a better person for the upcoming 12 months in the new year"