The Brussels sprouts, they are mort.

So is the arugula and the last of my carrots. Well, some of the carrots are hanging on but they are pathetic, stubby Parisian chumpers hardly worth the time it takes to clean, peel, and cut out all the little worm holes and extra off-shoot roots. I leave them for my son to dig up and throw at the chickens. They rush the little roots in an attempt, but then give up. Those little orange nuggets are way too hard for the birds to peck through. And let's face it, our hens are spoiled girls used to eating panettone and leftover cookies during the holidays, not some feeble cold old carrots Hunter chucks at them like ping pong balls.

But gosh darn those Brussels sprouts. They are the family favorite for fall vegetables for not only their delicious nutty flavor after being caramelized in oil and balsamic vinegar, but for their awesomeness at hanging on through frost after frost until there is nothing left on their stalks but the pale bluish green leaves, now whitened with cold.

The arugula will be back in spring, she is a hearty wench.