Savoring the Season of Winter

We've entered a new month of WINTER here in Southeast Wisconsin.  

While some may lament over cold or snowy days in February, I have learned to savor the season by incorporating pleasant activities into each day.  Some may call these “micro-practices” since they aren’t large events, but these tiny activities could become the highlights of your days and keep your spirits up, even when skies are gray.  I’ll share a brief activity list, and you can add to this list to make it your own:

Even those with limited culinary skills can likely cook a pot of spicy chili or a hearty chowder for a lunch-time entrée.  Use a favorite family recipe or check online to find a chowder or chili that appeals to you; add a variety of legumes for color, flavor and fiber.

Take a winter walk (alone or with children/grandchildren/neighbors’ kids) and search for wildlife along your route.  Even during cold weather, you might observe various bird species, squirrels and other critters along the way.  Kids can count how many of each they encounter on your route (observing a barking dog in your neighborhood can be included in their animal count, unless you’re a purist and only wish to count wildlife!)

A calming indoor activity could involve planting bulbs like Amaryllis or Caladium.  The Caladium can be planted in lightweight pots and later in spring, can be added to an outdoor SHADY container plant grouping.  The Amaryllis need approx six weeks from planting bulb in pot till bloom time; should be blooming indoors by mid-March if you plant this week.  NOTE:  Amaryllis bulbs are capable of producing 4 – 6 blooms atop a thick green stalk; the plant in bloom can be top heavy, so suggest a heavy clay or ceramic pot for each bulb.  Don’t put more than one bulb per pot since the blooms will crowd each other which detracts from their beauty. 

Another indoor activity involves baking cookies… always a pleasure during wintry weather!  Bake a batch of SNOWBALL COOKIES using either your favorite shortbread or pecan finger cookie dough; use cookie scoop (2 tsp. size) to portion cookies and roll each into one-inch diameter ball of dough.  Place on cookie sheets and bake. Pour one cup POWDERED or ICING SUGAR into bowl.   After cookies are baked, remove from oven and immediately roll in powdered sugar to complete the look of snowballs.  Arrange on platter and enjoy. (DISCLAIMER: this author does NOT condone any food fights using snowball cookies!)

Final suggestion for today’s blog: observe or photograph the morning sunrise! During February, sunrise occurs after 7AM and from our location, appears over Lake Michigan. The Lake often provides condensation and cloud formations to make sunrise unique… enjoy some brief moments of tranquility, while admiring the morning sunlight!

M. Lynn Schmid, Master Gardener
A.A.S. Landscape/Horticulture/Arboriculture