A pair of thistles are all that remain standing in front of the Braun farm barn after winter storms take their toll on dead vegetation. My Final Photo for Dec. 26, 2013.

Families and friends make their Christmas Day meal selections from the buffet at the China Garden restaurant in Westerville. My Final Photo for Dec. 25, 2013.

Families and friends make their Christmas Day meal selections from the buffet at the China Garden restaurant in Westerville. My Final Photo for Dec. 25, 2013.

Thick clouds obscure the late morning sun denying Uptown Westerville what little warmth a Christmas Eve winter shopper might feel on a cloudless day. My Final Photo for Dec. 24, 2013.

Greg Shilling lines up the remaining trees for inventory as begins to close down the Christmas tree sales lot at the end of the sales season. My Final Photo for Dec. 23, 2013.