BETH — I am so not ready for this change in the weather. Still quite a lot of winter prep to do in the garden even with leaving more plants up than I used to do.

KRISTIN — Snowed here as well. Just a dusting but enough to be a shock. Haven't gone out to see what it looks like in person.

DANGER — I was helping a friend do bouquets for a celebration and we went to each other's gardens to clip things and mix in our arrangements. She had let her Hostas make seedheads and I loved them. Sometimes they've formed and gone a golden color when I clipped them. But usually we get frost before that happens.

BARBARA — Thanks for the kind words about the garden.

LISA — If the rabbits can't burrow under the deck, I am hoping they will have a harder time procreating and surviving in our garden. I would not mind a couple of bunnies, but the endless big families are taking a toll on the plants.

KRIS — Absolutely! We were thrilled with the quality of their work.

JANE — I can't believe I would ever be oohing and aahing over a deck! But we are more than happy with this project.

KRIS — They must have a dozen different varieties at this local Farmers Market. These are the three kinds I got last time. I can never remember which is which when I get home. The price is the same for all of them, so I mix them in one bag. This was my way of remembering.

LISA: You have a good week as well. I will need to get out in the garden and do cleanup. Hoping for a couple of warmer and sunny days. Not sure if that will happen this week.

SUSIE: I agree about the foliage at this time of year. They look much better in a vase where I can trim off the brown leaves than they do right now in the garden.

KRIS — The percentage of rain is only 30-40% on any day mentioned next week, so I am not counting my chickens.

LISA — I am amazed at how well they are doing given how dry it's been. Any watering I've done has been on new plantings, so these guys have not had much extra attention.

LISA — Finally getting a little rain here. Not a lot so far but it may make it easier to water again with hoses.

KRIS — Friends recommended him and we are very happy with his work.

LISA — No the wood won't get stained. It will fade eventually. Right now they are putting waterproof "tape" on the top of all the support boards. Tim, who owns the company, is very thoughtful as he works and is a perfectionist. There may still be a pond when the ducks return as they do so very early. I can't remember who I've told or not, but we are hoping to fill the pond with dirt, top it with fine gravel and turn it into a raked gravel garden as they are symbolic water features. We'll see if it can be done (well, anything can be done if one can afford it!!)

BARBARA H.: Hoping this helps with water issues a bit. Our biggest problem is the storms we are getting are the kind that don't move on and so the amounts of rainwater at one time are often more that the ground can handle. It shouldn't make anything worse, however.

CHRISTINE: I remember collecting chestnuts in particular but wondere the same thing, what if anything did I do with them? Mostly I remember how shiny they were — and then suddenly , they weren't.

LISA — I usually lose my indoor rosemary before the end of the year!

CHRISTINE — You definitely don't want to paint with the windows closed. Hope your air quality improves soon.

BARBARA H. — I decided we should use this time at home to make a change since we are not going to spend time anywhere else! I took a balance class and found it really helpful. I bet you can find something online, esp. if you look at places like Mayo clinic or other healthcare sites.

LAURA — It felt like the perfect movie for this moment.

CHRISTINE — Have you seen the Hallmark film version of The Secret Garden? It's my favorite. Great cast and it was filmed at Highclere Castle, which was where Downton Abbey was also filmed. But here it is a mysterious and somewhat threatening building.

Christine — For years a friend and I always took an art class at the Peninsula Art School. We drew and painted until lunchtime, then went shopping and gallery hopping. The read after dinner. Magical days. And when one is on vacation, there are always little art treats one must take home.

KRIS — I'm glad we found an arborist who knows her stuff and really was able to talk to us about our trees. She has a great crew.

Christine — Everyone seems to have a rabbit problem this year. A U.K blogger was complaining about the size and number of slugs and snails they are dealing with. Always something.