I’m excited about December and Christmas this year. I’ve decorated, most presents are purchased or ordered, and I have a few good ideas for dinners and get-togethers with family and friends.

The weather hasn’t exactly been smiling with me in anticipation. Our skies have been dreary, but the rain that’s been coming down was needed; I am thankful for it. Dusk begins early in December; the darkness can creep into your attitude if you let it. Birds, like this perky robin, bring me a lot of cheer throughout the winter. Robins were once a sign of spring in our area, but now, like the flocks of geese, many seem to overwinter here. I’m grateful for them, and the sweet, “Cheep, cheep, cheerio,” of their song.