Oh the weather outside, well, frankly, is horrible. I mean really, will we ever have warmth again here in the Midwest? Maybe some of you have already gotten some warmer weather but we still have snow piles sitting in parking lots from the 80 inches we had here in the Chicago area (and have heard that it was over 120 inches just across the lake in Michigan).
Likely you may be feeling some cabin fever – wanderlust – the need to see the sun. Even for a pale skinned fella like me, a bit of sun feels pretty good now and then (with some sun screen appropriately applied, of course).
A few things to start to get you in the outdoor mood.
- Garden. It is time to get that soil tilled and ready for vegetables and flowers. Nothing like a home grown heirloom tomato in the summer to share with loved ones in a nice caprese salad. Grow your own Basil too or other herbs and be ready to help sustain yourself and your family.
- Recipes. Learn how to pickle and do canning. That way you can grow even more than you could eat and still save it for later so that you will be able to have the fruits of your garden all year long.
- Lawn Care. Now is the time to start to fertilize to get that lawn ready for the summer. There are lots of new seeds out now that require less water and are drought resistant. Consider using these when you plant to save resources.
- Composting: Consider creating your own compost for your garden to save money on having to buy fertilizer for your plants and trees.
- Boots. It is still wet out there so get yourself a good pair of boots so that you can go anywhere and not have to worry about slips and falls.
- Gloves. You never know when some poison ivy may start to pop up and where – even in yards in Chicago there can be some, so use a good pair of gloves when you are working out in the yard, as well as long pants and long sleeve shirts just to be sure that you do not get any poison ivy or oak on you.
- Finally, start going out for walks again. Get out there and say hi to your neighbors again. Go for walks day or night, ride a bike (with your helmet on), rollerblade, skateboard – whatever it may be, but get out there again.
I hope that these little tips will help you get back out there and start to feel free of the cold and the snow. It has been a heck of a winter – and though spring is officially here, I say it does not start until that last snow pile melts. But, when it does, I will be out there cheering the return of some warmer weather. Be safe this spring.