The winter solstice, also known as midwinter, falls on December 21 and marks the longest night of the year. What do you usually do on these long winter nights? Instead of hunkering down and wishing winter away, why not embrace the long nights as an opportunity? When it gets dark at 5 PM, it’s as if nature is removing the outdoors as a distraction, giving us a chance to focus inward. Make the most of this gift. Put away your phones and gather with friends or family. Work on a jigsaw puzzle together, or break out a board or card game. Visit the Winter Festival in Timberville on December 7–8. Share snacks like sliced apples, nuts, popcorn, or even a bowl of hearty chili around the fireplace or woodstove.
I know this might sound like a Hallmark movie, but when you’ve been around as long as I have, you realize what’s truly important. No one remembers the night they spent scrolling through TikTok, but they do remember meaningful conversations or laughing until their sides ached.
While the days grow shorter, December is a busy month at the hardware store. We see an increase in foot traffic—people shopping for loved ones and others fixing problems that become apparent as the weather gets chilly. Between serving our customers, we’re also tackling end-of-year tasks like the dreaded inventory, analyzing data, and adjusting stock levels. We’re identifying “Dawgs,” items that don’t sell as quickly or aren’t as popular as anticipated. Along with shopworn merchandise and other closeout items, these are marked down and placed in what we affectionately call “The Graveyard.” If you love snagging a great deal, now’s the time to stop in and check out what’s new in the Graveyard.
Amid the busyness of year-end, I make a point to appreciate the little things. Soon, spring seed catalogs will start arriving. While many companies rely on social media and websites to showcase their wares, there’s something special about leafing through a paper catalog. The pages, filled with beautiful pictures of flowers, fruits, vegetables, and trees, hold the promise of spring—a fresh start after winter.
I love the texture of the paper and the smell of the ink. Those catalogs are full of promise and potential. They make me the best version of myself, as I plan to spend all my free time in the garden and grow the perfect tomato. I am as full of hope as those catalogs. Maybe it’s my overactive imagination, but whatever it is, I welcome it.
Thank you to everyone who supported Randy’s Hardware this year. We look forward to serving you in 2025. From all of us, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. And remember—here at Randy’s Hardware, we don’t mind your questions. We don’t mind them at all!
