The Olympics are over: no more glittery costumes, tight Spandex on hunky thighs, hockey players in headlong rushes, gravity-defying snowboarders. The flame’s gone out, the athletes have gone home, and we are left with the dregs of winter and the boasts of West Coasters with their daffodils and snowdrops. Am I wallowing in ennui? Is this cabin fever? Well, if it is, I know what I’m going to do.
January with its resolutions is far enough behind to forget the virtuous notions. It’s time for some self-care. Valentine’s Day provided it for others, and now it’s time for indulgence in guilty pleasures. Ah, c’mon, you’re wanting this, you know it!
First off, I’m going to break out the Christmas chocolate that I’ve been saving. I adore those chocolate oranges that you tap on the counter and they fall invitingly into sections. One is good as a tester, but two would be the real test. Go for it. Is there shortbread left over? That should be eaten right away, preferably for breakfast with the darkest coffee you have. Now you’re set for the day.
Take an hour to read all the newspaper and do all the puzzles, even the Sudoku that’s a real challenge. The weather probably isn’t the best, so there’s no need to go outside and slog through the wet snow.
However, by afternoon, the sun will be warming the front porch, so while the dogs are on sniff-patrol you can sit on the top step and feel the warmth. If you must get some exercise, use the ice chipper to break up the ice in the driveway until you have rivulets and little canals everywhere. Make sure they run all the way to the road. That’ll take you a while, but it’ll be so much fun, time will pass in a flash.
When the dogs demand a walk in the woods, take off your mittens and toque that are soggy winter reminders, and listen and look. You might see an owl, hear the chickadees’ spring song, or see a rabbit or a vole. For sure you will feel the rush of spring on the cusp of bursting out in full glory. The dogs have their noses in the air catching the first wisp of green. The snow looks like it’s rotting, all little ridges, and snow fleas are on the move. Don’t be fooled into stepping off the path though; it’s about two feet deep, and now your boots are crusted in cold wet snow!
If you have geraniums hiding in a dark corner, have a look: they’re starting to get new leaves. That means you need soil, pots, fertilizer, and all manner of things the garden shop will gladly supply. Spread out the newspapers and start re-potting to give yourself an afternoon of early gardening. Put as many cuttings as you can — way more than you’ll need — in jars on every windowsill.
The seed displays are singing their siren song in every grocery, hardware and garden shop. Okay, but only one or two packets, only what you really need, only… the ones with the prettiest pictures! Did you save all the plastic meat trays? There you go: planter boxes a-plenty. Consider it a promise for the season to come. There’s nothing more satisfying than watching seedlings grow, even if you’re growing a banquet for earwigs and never see one marigold (voice of experience talking)!
What’s spring without maple syrup? Make maple mousse, eat pancakes, have a handful of maple candy, and don’t even think about sugar content. It’s all natural — gotta be good, right?
You’re still plodding around in those winter boots and too-warm coat when you casually stroll the main street, letting your imagination soar while you drool over the spring fashions in shop windows. Window shopping is free; stepping into the shop likely is not. That window is enticing though, and now you’re through the door. Wouldn’t it be grand to have one new item of clothing, something fresh off the rack, not washed to threadbare, not drab winter colours, something bright and crisp? If you promise to take at least one old item to the Hub, you can indulge in one new thing. “Honestly, dah-ling, you look fah-bu-lous!”
Before March is done, we’ll have changed time, the dregs of winter will be past, we’ll be forgetting the cold and the mess. We’ll be focusing on waiting for the tulips so we can send pictures to the West Coasters. In the meantime, give yourself a break: indulge in one guilty pleasure that’ll sustain you for a few weeks. Winter? What was all the fuss about? All is forgiven when Mother Nature starts to unfurl spring!