Almost all the leaves are down, the old year spent and scattered. Even as storms bring wind and snow to close this season, the defiant and prophetic buds of pussy willows grow fat, A new year is beginning. It is time to watch for spring. This is solstice week, the sun reaching its lowest point on the horizon, on December 22, hovering there before it begins to rise once more toward summer. Just one more week until start of Deep Winter Two more weeks until the tufted titmouse begins its mating