February. The Longest Short Month.

February. The shortest month of the year, that seems to just go on and on and on.  It’s also what I felt was the snowiest month of the year.  When the old proverb “As the days lengthen, the cold strengthens” rings true. The time of year that everyone starts becoming antsy, with cabin fever and ready for Spring, in hopes that the sun will actually shine warm beams of light.

When the girls were younger, we would spend most of February school vacation at the Schoolhouse. Cabin fever took us deeper into the woods. We’d pack up the truck, grab the dogs and head for camp. At that time we rarely kept the driveway plowed. We’d park in the road and climb over 8 ft snow banks. Behind us, we dragged sleds, with our canvas totes of clothes, food and water.  Trudging through thigh high snow, and I’m all legs, I’d blaze a trail for the girls.

We would entertain ourselves with Flinch, not the hitting game, the card game. My grandmother and I played it every Wednesday when I was a teenager. I taught the girls and we would spend hours sitting at the table. It’s still a game we enjoy playing together and one we guard with our lives. And I’m not joking. When the game is out, all liquids are off the table. It’s a family heirloom at this point. Another past time was crafts. Stored under the bed, we kept a tote filled to the brim with crayons, construction paper, glue sticks and coloring books galore. Plus, they’d bring things from home. If the weather permitted, which was not often, they’d bundle up and romp around outside. Warming up with hot cocoa when they came back inside.

At night, I would allow the girls one movie on the portable DVD player. They’d snuggle into bed and usually before the movie was over, they were sound asleep. They seldom fought or argued while we were at camp. They were too busy, keeping busy. Some nights I would be woken up by a voice. Then I’d hear another voice. I’d lay in my bed listening. The girls would save their arguing for the middle of the night. While ASLEEP! Back and forth, they’d banter from their separate beds, and then nothing. Just the crackling of the fire and the dogs light snoring.

Now, February is the month I tackle the organizing and tedious tasks indoors. Keep myself busy and productive.  Since we’ve been here a year now, I can use the “if you haven’t used it, touched it, needed it in a year, you don’t need it” rule. I spent 5 hours going through, organizing and washing the cupboards and pantry, in our tiny galley kitchen, the other day. The following day I spent another 4 hours just cleaning the outhouse. I literally had to defrost it first. Literally!

This week we had, what I thought to be, a disappointment of a snow storm. Here on the hill, it was so windy, most of it blew off into the fields. We plowed and the following day I shoveled out the propane tanks, which were drifted in and in front of the solar shed. There was a measurable amount half a mile down the road at the spring. So, I cleaned that out when I went to get water.

The rest of the time, when I’m not in the midst of a project, I write and read. Sometimes color in my “Adult” coloring books (That sounds…not right to me.) I’ve also taught myself how to knit. After a few scarves, I am now almost finished my first afghan with another blanket half finished. I needed more yarn and after being out of stock for over a month, it’s being shipped. On the nicer days when the wind isn’t blowing and it’s not below zero, I take Willa on a long walk or off leash in the yard to move her (and mine) old bones around. Praying she doesn’t slip on the ice. Or myself for that matter.

I’m hoping for an early spring. I need my fresh air. February and March are the two hardest months for my mind, spirit and soul, as I know it is for a lot of people. I just need to keep remembering that winter is for resting and resetting. Resting and Resetting.