It really has felt more like winter this December than it did at this time last year. With the snowfall that blanketed the county recently, we were able to enjoy skating on our ponds, sledding, cross-country skiing and building snow people(and snow cats and snow chairs). It has also meant that we have been going out frequently to cut firewood, which also can be fun with the right attitude.

The really amazing thing with all the snow and ice has been that we have been still been eating from our garden. The past few weeks we have been harvesting lettuce(most recently from Gigi's cold frames), greens, radishes, leeks, the last cabbages, parsley and cilantro. Until this week Michael the Salad King has been turning out beautiful bowls of goodness for almost every meal. We will have one last glorious salad for New Year and that it will be it until spring. Michael has just started up a sprout growing operation in the kitchen so we can still have some fresh stuff. A tip to all the gardeners out there, brussel sprout greens are really yummy!

Holiday travels are in full swing this week. Sol and Skyler left on the 18th for Maryland to spend time with her family. Cedar takes the train this Friday to join them and the three of them will return the first week in January. Laird headed up to Michigan on Monday to see Sue and her family. After that, Jo will meet him in Chicago and they will go down to Columbia to visit Ceilee and his mom Ann, who is coming out for a visit from Virginia. Laird and Jo are due back at Sandhill on New Year's Day.

Stan had a combined business and fun trip last week to Kansas City. He did an inspection of a manufacturer of organic pet food, delivered some of our product to stores there and also visited his old friend Everett.

With a less intense schedule, our members have been able to do more local trips, too. Folks have been going to the movies, to the libraries in Memphis and at Truman State, having lunch out, and spending quality time at Zimmerman's Store in Rutledge.

We had a lovely party with our friends from Dancing Rabbit on the 20th. Laird cooked one of his gourmet dinners,featuring venison and peanut sauce tempeh as the main courses. The Rabbits also brought some goodies,including Susan's dynamite brownies. The crowd was a bit smaller than usual since many of their members are also travelling. After the meal, we had a candlelight sharing circle where we each expressed our hopes for the upcoming year.

All of us at Sandhill Farm hope all of you had an wonderful holiday and we wish you the best for the new year. Thank you for being our neighbors.