At the Gate

Read by Matilda Longbottom

 

As Winter approaches, I anxiously peer out my window. While I am not a huge fan of snow in general, I love the first snowfall of the year. There is something almost magical about it. The way the sky slightly darkens and the glittering snowflakes float through the air takes my breath away. Each year, when the first snow arrives, I quickly make a cup of hot cocoa, grab a comfy blanket, and curl up next to the window to watch the landscape transform. I am always impatient for that first taste of Winter.

Another sign of the season for me is the songs that fill the air. Every year, I try (and fail) to wait until December 1st to start listening to Christmas carols. I just love them so much—they fill me with warmth and happiness and keep me smiling all day. Well, lucky for you, we also decided not to wait until December 1st for you to enjoy the latest issue of GreenPrints. We are so excited about this issue that we wanted to share it early.

Winter, and the holiday season, are upon us, and we are embracing both in our December issue. Becky Rupp shares with us the importance of a long Winter nap, while Amanda MacArthur gives us tips for keeping our gardens growing all Winter long. Giggle along with Mike McGrath as you find out why his holiday gift-giving was a little stinky one year. Our founder, Pat Stone, brings us into the woods as he draws insightful parallels between harvesting wood and gardening.

Stories from the Garden continues celebrating both Winter and the closeness of family. Steve Aegerter spins a sweet tale with “The Christmas Garden”—I’ll be looking for little footprints in the snow from now on! I giggled over Barbara Ensrud’s “The Great Winter Squirrel Rescue” and also ran outside to check my gutters. I’ll admit, my eyes misted a bit while reading “Blossoms of the Heart: A Floral Tribute to Family” by Hannah Campbell. My daughters’ middle names are not flowers by accident, so I know which flowers I identify with each of them. I think Chuck Rasmussen is onto something when he says, “If longer, warmer hours of Autumn were referred to as the ‘dog days of Summer,’ then I call these current shorter Winter days my ‘cat-nap days of Winter.’”

Our Garden to Table Recipe Collection this month focuses on holiday cookies. We have five desserts to tempt your taste buds, and they are not all bad for you—honest! We also have our latest StoryBook, “Santa’s Garden.” Travel with us to the North Pole as we visit Santa’s greenhouse, make jam with Mrs. Claus, and cook up some special treats for the reindeer. This StoryBook has sweet and thoughtful stories for those who still believe in Santa, or even just the magic of the season.

If all of that is not enough of a present this holiday season, remember that GreenPrints is part of Food Gardening Network. Enjoy a full library of magazine issues from three different magazines, articles, gardening guides, videos, kits, and recipes, including:

• GreenPrints Magazine—You continue to get monthly digital magazine issues that deliver entertaining and enjoyable gardening-themed stories and tales, plus gorgeous artwork.
• Food Gardening Magazine—Please check out the library of monthly issues filled with articles about how to start, maintain, and harvest food from your home garden.
• RecipeLion Magazine—Please try out some of the hundreds of delicious and easy-to-make recipes at your fingertips … and use the tips and tricks for developing new cooking skills.
• Gardening GuideBooks—You have instant and unlimited access to more than 65 premium, curated Gardening GuideBooks that cover specific plants. Access all the Gardening GuideBooks now!
• Cookbooks & Recipe Collections—You get full and immediate access to 15 digital cookbooks and recipe collections, with more than 1,340 quick-and-easy, garden-fresh recipes. Never run out of ways to enjoy the fruits of your gardening labor. From single dishes to a whole meal—we’ve got you covered!
• Video Library—Please take time to watch some of the more than 90 videos in our library with gardening tips, tricks, and tactics; do-it-yourself projects for gardening and crafting items; and cooking videos to show you exactly how to make specific dishes.
• DIY Crafting Kits—You have full access to printable garden planning calendars to help keep your garden on track, garden and recipe card kits, Greeting Card kits, and gorgeous ArtPrints kits for adorning your walls with beautiful artwork.

Check out the entire December 2024 issue, including my Seasonal Thoughts on sharing cookies and joy during the holiday season, and I know you’ll find some peace, joy, humor, and inspiration.

Please let me know what you think. I’d truly love to hear from you, especially about any holiday traditions that you and your family may have! ❖