Last month, my husband, Ken Rousslang, retired from his teaching job at the University of Puget Sound, where he’s been a professor in the chemistry department for more than 32 years. He chose early retirement so he can make good use of his younger senior years.

Many people will make New Year’s resolutions in good faith, but most are doomed to fail within the first month or two.

This past November, the voters of Washington state passed Initiative I-1000, called “Death with Dignity” by its proponents.

Planning and plotting: It seems all we can do this time of year in the garden as we watch it freeze and thaw and probably freeze again. As we settle into a new year, it’s time for inspiration.

Patrons who visit Il Lucano Ristorante on Judson Street will see some familiar faces. The restaurant’s owners, Michele and Azusa Simone, worked at Terraccianos, the restaurant that formerly occupied the location, for several years. Peppino D’Angelo was a waiter and Rich Johnson works as the restaurant’s waiter, bartender and Web designer.

Sometimes life throws you a one-two punch. It blows you off your feet, knocks you flat and threatens to hold you down forever. But with perseverance and determination, you can slowly get up, brush yourself off and — step-by-step — march on. Sunny Loudin knows this story all too well. She’s lived it.

Hanukkah — also called the Festival of Lights — is a Jewish holiday of minor religious significance, but which is well-known because of its proximity to Christmas. It celebrates the first instance of a successful fight for religious freedom.

Fox Island Alliance Church hosts two corporate worship gatherings each Sunday.

Introduction to Nichiren Buddhism and the Soka Gakka meets at 7 p.m. each Thursday.

Each student came out a winner at this year’s Music Olympics event last month at Harbor Covenant Church in Gig Harbor. The music marathon turned out the most talent yet, with 150 performers gracing the stage. The event was organized by the Gig Harbor Chapter of the Washington State Music Teachers Association.

The First Saturday Art Walk in Gig Harbor is scheduled for 1 to 5 p.m. this weekend. Visitors can pick up an Art Walk Passport at any participating gallery to be eligible to win a $50 gift certificate.

The ground is frozen with some snow left in shady spots as I write this column. I appreciate sitting inside where it’s warm, looking out at sunshine on fresh snow-coated Olympic mountains.

The Gig Harbor and Key peninsulas got an early Christmas present this year — a fresh blanket of white, powdery snow. Glowing rooftops and blanketed boat bows cut a beautiful scene against the twilight sky. Colorful wreaths and the giant Christmas tree at Skansie Brothers Park made a Norman Rockwell-like image of the Maritime City. Throughout the area, schools shut down and children made snowmen, snow angels or beaned each other with snowballs while pet owners took their four-legged pals for romps in the crisp air. Merry Christmas, Gig Harbor!

When I teach my rose seminars, I refer to the lavender rose “Sterling Silver” as an example of a rose that is still selling in major nurseries and shouldn’t be because of all of its genetic weaknesses. But people love the color, they love the strong fragrance and they have no idea that “Sterling Silver” is rated at 4.8, which means it belongs in the toilet.

May the joyousness and sacredness of this season extend to you, your loved ones and to our fellow family of mankind. These weeks are always ripe with the fruit of unity, and a spirit of giving love permeates our families and friends. This is the fertile ground for growing peace on earth and goodwill toward one another.

Fox Island United Church of Christ will host a traditional family Christmas Eve with children's nativity at 7 p.m. with a candlelight service at 11 p.m. Dec. 24 at 726 6th Ave. on Fox Island. For more information, call Sally Wax at 253-857-5417 or e-mail fiuccsec@centurytel.net.

A group of people and dogs gather in the Gig Harbor Grange for a casual chat before they get down to business. Professional dog trainer Jeanne Hampl teaches dog obedience classes at the grange to help dog owners and their pets better understand each other and to form a symbiotic bond. Hampl leads the dog owners through simple commands such as “sit” and “stay” with authority and kindness. She knows dogs — she doesn’t just give orders, she explains the reasons behind a dog’s behavior with every step to help owners understand why animals react the way they do.

December in the garden: We ponder over the last season while we snip greens and berries for holiday decorating or yank those pesky annual weeds that seem to never go away.

This holiday season, America’s senior citizens will be surrounded by people sneezing, coughing and spreading germs. It happens at the mall, the holiday concert, or the family dinner, and those germs could potentially be fatal. That’s why Senior Helpers, one of the leading providers of in-home care for seniors, is advising families to get their elderly loved ones a flu vaccine before the flu season arrives in full force.

Merry Christmas, dear neighbors, and my wishes for a new year filled with hope for you and your loved ones.

I remember humming “White Christmas.” This was in spite of the time — almost midnight — and the place, an unlit alley. We had just finished hauling an “unwanted guest” out a back door, and another police officer was currently reciting Miranda warnings over loud cursing. I settled back against the patrol car and embraced self-pity.

A gift made in your own kitchen to share with family and friends is a gift made with love. And in these tight economic times, it can help stretch your shopping budget and still provide you with a way to give a healthy gift free of artificial ingredients to those you care about.

Darcie Cousins had no trouble agreeing to open her home to the community for Altrusa’s 13th annual HarborFest Holiday Tour of Homes. Cousins and her husband, Gary, pull out all the stops when it comes to Christmas anyway, so sharing with the public only felt natural.

Alex Sanchez comes from an artistic family and claims her talent is music, but seeing how she transforms simple objects into works of art, one wonders.

Jeff and Amanda Bishop, and Ray and Nancy Diaz of Gig Harbor have announced the engagement of their daughter, Chantelle Diaz, to Dane Lund.

In just a few days, Christians all over the world will be celebrating Christmas, which marks the birthday of Yeshua (Jesus).

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints will host choirs from seven congregations and a youth choir in a musical Christmas celebration at 7 p.m. Dec. 14 at the church at Rosedale and Dorotich streets in Gig Harbor.

“And don’t wait until the weekend before Christmas this year.” He speaks his mind like I taught him, but this time it has come back to haunt me.

This recipe exemplifies perfectly the Fastest Chef concept. For, in one easy cooking session, you can prepare a hearty entree for several delightful family dinners.