Weather on this winter break was much, much milder than it was last year here in Boulder Creek.  Our one meteorological adventure was on the night of December 26-27, when a little front came through -- only about half an inch of rain, but very strong winds.  We didn't get any big redwood limbs ("widow makers") down -- we keep our nine big guys trimmed pretty well -- but the whole neighborhood was covered by an inch or two of brown, shed redwood leaves.  This is the view from our deck toward the garden house that morning, and the next picture...