Winter - It's Not Over Yet

Winter - It's Not Over Yet
By Bonnie P. Carrier, Fri Dec 9th

While reading the news on the Internet this morning I cameacross an article on that furry little groundhog, better know asPunxsutawney Phil.

As happens every year at this time, the little fur-ball emergedfrom his burrow, as he’s done since 1886 - wow, he must bereally old by now – to give us the updated winter forecast.

Yes sports fans it’s official, good old Phil saw his shadow,which means six more weeks of winter.

Now your reaction to this news will vary depending on what partof the country you live in. Here in the Northeast, many of us –this author included – do not jump for joy.

If you happen to be one of the winter sports people you know theones who ski, ice skate, snowmobile etc. this was probablywelcomed news.

However, speaking strictly for myself – and anyone else thatmight agree - the thought of having to continue going out into acold morning and cleaning off my car or having to dress like I’mcrossing the tundra just to take my dog out for a walk doesn’texactly excite me.

Even my pets have had enough. Paths have had to be shoveled outin the yard for Toby – our little Shetland Sheepdog – if wedidn’t do this a red flag would need to be attached to his tailso he would not get lost in the snow.

Now the cats, you’ve heard the expression “Cat Fight”, well it’shappening a little more frequently here these days. Normally thefour of them get along fairly well, but I think they have hadjust about enough of these close quarters

I can totally relate to how they feel, so I’ve come up with aplan to help make the next six weeks – give or take – go by alittle more smoothly.

1)Every day that is sunny, I’m going to open the curtains aswide as they will go, place a chair in front of it and sitfacing out for as long as possible. Sound funny, well notreally, there is a medical benefit from this as anyone whosuffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder – or SAD – knows.2)Purchase every Home Decorating & Garden magazine that has anyarticles or pictures dealing with spring that I can find.3)Looking through the Home Decorating magazines, I’m going tobegin making a list of all the projects I want to do, to changemy décor from winter to spring.

4)Since moving from our large home into a townhouse, I don’thave an opportunity to do a lot of gardening anymore. But I lovelooking at garden magazines anyway; the pictures are always sobeautiful. Now I do have planters outside the back door, so

Ican still plan on some flowers and getting my hands dirty.

5)Begin watching the Travel Channel a little more frequently.I’m not planning on taking any trips, but to sit for a half hourto an hour looking and imagining myself in some warm, sunnyplaces will be wonderful. Well, I think this is a pretty goodstart. Oh, one more thing, every morning after getting up, goingto the kitchen to pour my first cup of coffee I’ll then stand atthe back door look out at the mounds of snow and repeat severaltime

“This will not last, Spring is coming”.

This article is shareware. Give this article away for free onyour site, or include it as part of any paid package as long asthe entire article is left intact including this notice.Copyright © 2004 bonnie carrier

About the author:Bonnie P. Carrier is the creator of Savvy Home Decorating. Sheis the mother to two grown daughters and a very spoiled 4yr oldBlue Merle Sheltie named Toby. Having been a homemaker for over23yrs has provided years of experience in budget decorating andorganization. Stop by Savvy Home Decorating-www.savvy-home-decorating.com - for ideas and tips on budgetdecorating: