I am still not used to 2006, so I can’t say I’m ready for 2007. I can at least stave off bad luck in new year by taking down my Christmas decorations by Twelfth Night, Jan. 5, or before. Fete a tree (the guardian of the orchard) with cider and cake on Jan. 17 if you find yourself in Carhampton, Somerset during the Wassaling of the Apple Tree.

On Candlemas, Feb. 2, we’ll find out how much more of winter we have to go. According to legend, if it’s sunny, there will be more winter and if it’s a cloudy day, the worst of winter is over. The following Monday in St. Ives, Cornwall, join the residents for the Hurling of the Silver Ball. The silver ball is thrown from the wall of the parish church into the crowd by the mayor. It is then passed from person to person until noon, when the person holding it takes it to the mayor at the Guildhall.

February also hosts the feast day of St. Valentine. On Feb. 14, be sure to plan a special outing for your sweetheart with flowers, chocolates, cards, a bottle of wine, and or a candlelit dinner. Indulge again on Feb. 20, Pancake Day. After eating your fill of pancakes, work off those calories by joining in a pancake race.

Then in March, whether or not you are Irish, lift a glass of Guinness to St. Patrick on his day, March 17. Finally, spend some time with your mother on the 18th, Mothering Sunday. Flowers and cards would be much appreciated

If all these celebrations and holidays aren’t enough to add cheer to your winter, plan a holiday to one of the destinations explored in In a Nutshell. Keep reading to learn about a phenomenon in technology.

Keep your brain sharp while you are housebound by testing your word power in Treehouse Games. Finish up with Treehouse Trivia for inspiration and education.

Madness! Mayhem! The end of the world as we know it! That’s not really what would happen, but we would still like to ask for your help in maintaining security at PineCone Research. You may be tempted to discuss your work for us with others, however, we require that you keep your survey and product testing experiences within your own household. This includes blogging and posting information like our registration link in Internet chat rooms or on message boards. We appreciate your assistance in this matter. Also, when responding to surveys, please limit your feedback to only the product that you are evaluating.
 

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