This is the first bloom of a Christmas cactus cutting I took from a plant that my brother Bob swears is over 50 years old. The plant was in my mother's kitchen for as many years as I can remember, so he might be right.

Despite the ice and bitter cold (our low was 0 degrees last night), this brilliant bloom adds welcome color to an otherwise austere January day.

The cold has kept me from many outdoor pursuits, but today I had to empty the bird feeder of the discount wild bird seed from Ollie's Outlet as the poor things do not seem to like it much. So much for getting a bargain. Thankfully, my neighbor Joyce has plenty of sunflower seeds on hand to refill the feeder. We don't want to leave our little feathered friends with nothing to eat in this weather.