Well, last weekend was seasonable and it felt that spring was around the corner. However, snow on Monday bought us quickly back to reality. We have passed National Pancake Day. It is mighty quiet around town and a lot of people are leaving for a winter vacation. Don’t you think that finding a deer asleep in your neighbor’s backyard is something a bit unusual?

The weather has been all over the map. First it’s bitter cold with some snow and then mild with a generous amount of rain. If the unusual weather pattern this winter holds, now it’s time for another frigid blast and snow.

Several parties were held around town on New Year’s Eve. The trend in recent years seems to be more toward family or neighborhood gatherings to welcome in the New Year. Paul Magid and his wife Anita Botti of Pond Road held a New Year’s Eve dinner party for 40 of their friends and neighbors, Julie Humphries and Binnie Ravitch held annual New Year’s Day celebrations. The traffic in town last Saturday morning could be counted on the fingers of one hand. People stayed at home with family, watched bowl games and relaxed. The weather to begin the New Year was downright cold.

The traffic in town was nearly nonexistent on Christmas day as families gathered around to exchange gifts and enjoy family dinners. We went up to our daughter Nicole’s and Anna’s sister Nina Berry’s house to celebrate Christmas. Sam and I set out to do our Christmas shopping shortly after our arrival.