Winter

What do I need a break from? It’s a single-word answer: winter.

I have to qualify that answer, though. It’s not been a disaster. Bitter cold and lots of snow have not driven my spirits to the depths this year. A few critical things have helped. There is a little blue slip of papertacked up beside the computer. It has bout a dozen suggested activities, and suggestions for beating the winter. I’ve only actually used about three or four. One or two others just didn’t work out, and there are others that I have in reserve. I may not use them until next year.

Why has the little blue slip of paper allowed me to feel that this, so far, has not been a desperate winter? Well, it boils down to planning. Not a plan. Just planning. It’s a Dwight Eisenhower thing. He pointed out that plans can fail. But planning is adaptable and can be adjusted to circumstances. And that’s what the slip of paper was. Things to research, experiment with, and if they work out, implement. The idea that I have choices in the matter seems to be important, also.

It helps that my physical health was vastly improved thanks to my being able to wrangle an order for physical therapy from my Primary Care doctor. Lower back pain and pain in my feet have been winter-time issues. My physical therapist put me on a routine of exercises that addressed those issues. Concentrating on the routine was both physically rewarding and mentally engaged me in my self-care. As a result, I’ve been more active this winter than in the past two or three, and it’s had an effect on my attitude about the winter.

It’s all about planning – Not Plans!

Here is another bit about planning and being involved. It’s too soon to be planting or tapping maple trees for syrup. But these weeks leading towards the end of February and into March are for preparation. Yep, I’ve been checking what I have for taps and buckets, visiting the Tractor Supply Store to get some replacements, and looking for other sources of supply.

St. Valentine’s Day is the traditional start of the tapping season in my area…but I’ve only once tapped that early. However, he who hesitates winds up without all the supplies gathered when sap starts running. Wait too long, and all the supplies in the local area are sold. So this is the time to prepare.

Syruping and Planting

Around the end of the month, you’ll be setting the first taps and making tracks through the deep snow. In the evenings, it’ll be boil kettle boil as sweet-smelling sap renders into syrup. You’ll be surprised when the buds start opening and the last runs of the year, the “frog song” surprises you. It’s called that because it happens about the time that the tree frogs get active and singing in the trees. Syrup from different times of the season has different qualities. Commercial stuff is all run together, but for a small producer, the syrup varies, has a different color and taste.

As I’ve said, it’s too darned early to plant, but it is time to get your remaining seed out, perhaps test its germination rates, and look at all those catalogs for new and traditional varieties to try. Gathering and preparing seed starting materials is also a good thing to do at this point. I have some shelves cleared for the trays and lights. Ready to get the first seeds going.

There is a phrase I like to use, and it’s particularly valuable for me during the winter. It’s the Seven P’s: Prior, Proper, Planning, Prevents, Piss Poor Performance. If it works for you, use it!