I succeeded in using up all my vacation and holidays before the end of 2008.

Surprisingly, I got a lot of things done outdoors during these days off.

I cut up all the fallen branches that were knocked down by ice and wind storms, as well as all of the 2-inch-diameter and larger pruning branches from fall work, so I have a pretty good pile of firewood. Some of it was even large enough to split.

I also have a lot of twigs too small to burn that I have to get to the dump.

Although I enjoy sledding with the granddaughters, I also enjoy these snowless winter days spent outdoors doing chores I don't have time for during gardening season. If you bundle up well and keep moving, you can stay plenty warm. And when it gets cold, you can go inside for tea and comfort.

And days outside at this time of year make the winter seem shorter.

Granddaughter Maeve read Sunday's column, in which I outlined my plans for the year and reported that she and her sister, Brigit, had no garden requests for the coming year. She wanted to make sure we grow watermelons again. I told her yes, that was a successful experiment, and we will continue.

Now I just have to get through all of the catalogs. I have eight on my desk at work, and probably close to 50 at home. Maybe we need some snow to force me to stay inside.

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