Young or newly transplanted vines are more likely to survive their first winter in a cold climate if they receive some special protection. Questionably hardy vines, or those planted in exposed areas, may need protection every year of their life. In any case, a vigorous, well-grown plant has the greatest chance to resist winter damage.

All vines in general, and evergreens in particular, need plentiful moisture in the soil until it freezes. This is your best insurance against late winter and early spring “burning,” in which warmth and sunlight draw moisture from the leaves before the soil is thawed and the roots are ready to send up moisture from below.

For extra protection, mulch the soil over the vine’s roots with several inches of buckwheat or cottonseed hulls, salt hay or straw, ground corncobs or sugar cane, or similar material. Snow is an excellent mulch, while it lasts.

Or make an eight-inch mound of soil over the roots and around the base of the stems, and wrap the rest of the stems in burlap. In extreme climates, loosen the roots on one side of a deciduous vine, lay its trunk or stems down in a trench dug out from the other side, and cover the whole with soil until early spring.

You are itching to have a party to show off your new Moroccan furniture. Redecoration has been a long and irritating process, and now that it is done it deserves an elegant party. For a time it felt as if it was never going to be done. Your friends sore that it was too big of an undertaking. No one thought that your living room would ever be usable ever again. It is high time to introduce everyone to your new interior.

Make sure that everyone in attendance will be able to learn something about Morocco just be virtue of being there. Make it the theme for the entire evening. Take your planning cues from the decor that you have painstakingly assembled. No one will miss it, they will be too curious.

Begin setting the scene with the invitations. Try to find a local printer that will work with you to make these more personalized. They may be able to use a stylized font, or design something really special for you. Larger companies or chains will not have the time or pay the extra attention to really get it right.