Moral boosters for bad weather/long winters? (snow, hot, warm)

[GypsySoul22]

We just moved up to Vermont a few months back. Fall was gorgeous but winter is already getting on my nerves. My husband works nights and I am trying to find a job in the day.
Weekends we do family outings and so on.
Do you guys know of any winter moral boosters? Right now we only have one car so at night my son and I are home. I've been trying to get some good books in to read to him and establish a cozy winter routine after dinner.

I suspect once I get a job I will be too busy to worry about being 'bored' and dreaming of spring.
(Note: I don't ski or anything..there's no money right now for recreation like that).
Any suggestions?

[Jammie]

Oh, I wish Aiangel was here right now cause she had a lot of cool things to help us northerns through the cold drab winters.

She had some ideas of decor in your home to make things easier. The only thing I can think of is burning aromatic candles, doing crosswords, watching tv, computering, and exercise. PLENTY of exercise. I work fulltime, but I also have a huge problem getting through the winters. They're BORING!!!

Can you at least get out and see a movie or go out to dinner when your DH has a night off? And be sure to make a point to get to any Christmas concert or Parade of Lights or anything that is offered in your community.

[ElkHunter]

Originally Posted by GypsySoul22

We just moved up to Vermont a few months back. Fall was gorgeous but winter is already getting on my nerves. My husband works nights and I am trying to find a job in the day.
Weekends we do family outings and so on.
Do you guys know of any winter moral boosters? Right now we only have one car so at night my son and I are home. I've been trying to get some good books in to read to him and establish a cozy winter routine after dinner.

I suspect once I get a job I will be too busy to worry about being 'bored' and dreaming of spring.
(Note: I don't ski or anything..there's no money right now for recreation like that).
Any suggestions?

You just don't have imagination. Snow angels are an art. Age makes no difference except older folks are more creative in making their angels.

Actually, I love board games. Course, I'm single and live by myself, but last night, I beat me 3 out of 3 in checkers.

Believe it or not, video games can be fun. No I'm not talking about car chase, Dukes of Hazzard type driving. But things like Jeopardy come out for all the play stations and xboxes. Scrabble is another one.

One of my favorite games is to stock up the fire place, make sure the logs are just right, and then see how long the fire lasts. Last night, I stocked it up about 8pm. It kept me warm until after 6 this morning before I had to throw more wood on the fire.

Is it cold where your at? Google Earth has a new feature in that you can log in your address and then hit "Sky" and it will show you all the stars and planets from your location. It's got all their names, you can even zoom in on them and get a closer picture. Log on and check out a couple of stars and then go outside and see if you can find them. Dress warmly though.

We have critters that wander through my yard. Deer are special. I'll watch them. I have rabbits living under my back shed. When the weather is particularly tough, I'll put a little feed under the corner of the shed so they don't have to come out in the cold and roam for food. One time, a critter growled at me while I was getting wood from the wood pile. Not sure what it was, but it was bigger then me by the growl. Figured I'd check tracks the next day and see what it was. Only we got 6 inches of new snow so tracks were gone. I did see a mountain lion in the back yard one night.

Course, with all these critters, by the time I get the camera, their gone.

You have to let your imagination just run rampant. When I was little, I used to love to go visit my grandmother. She was a quilter and saved all the thread spools for me. We're talking 4 or 5 grocery sacks full. I didn't want the tractors and cars and dolls and whizbang gadgets. I wanted those spools.

[GypsySoul22]

Well, I do a lot on the computer. I have found lots of game sites and I do like electronic scrabble! When I play against the computer I find it very challenging. (more than playing with my 9 year old!).

I also like to play the Sims 2 and ordered the next expansion so I suppose the I will become re-obsessed with that when I have free time.

As far as crafts, I have a sewing machine I can pull out, and I used to do stamp cross stitch. I am on the computer far too much so I think I will get back into my sewing once I can set up my machine, or maybe just do some hand sewing.

You guys are too funny! Thanks.

[Tarastomsgirl]

Wow you sound like me! 1 car, my husband works at night and I'm over in NH.... Honestly becasue I don't have kids I'm a tv, book or internet girl at night.... The only thing I can say is hey.. winter will be over in a couple months! At least its not florida! If you hated summer you'd be screwed!!!!!!! I'm definetly game for some ideas if someone has something. ..Have you tried maybe ceramics.. You can buy them at an art store... some bottles of paint, lots of christmas ones are out now..

[Bydand]

How old is your son? Sledding might be an option if he isn't too little. If old enough to walk, old enough to take sledding down a small hill. Best part is though, you have to go down with the little guys so they don't fall out and you have to haul the sled back to the top. If he is older, nothing better than racing to the bottom, or playing "bumper sleds" on the way down. Yeah, I even get my overweight 44 year old butt out there and have fun with my boys. Cheap to get sleds work as well as the expensive ones. All of ours (6 of them) ran $25 at a discount store. The key is to get out and make yourself have fun, until it comes naturally in the snow and cold.

[Jammie]

Those are all such good ideas. Sledding just gave me another idea. If you like the snow, you could make snow angels with your son or build a snowman village. (Not me though. I don't like that white stuff.)

[questioner2]

I have higher wattage lights on and feel a high when it is real bright in the house. I like to exercise more in the winter and go to a mall to shop to get out of the house.

[Summering]

For Boring Winter Days........
Get a bunch of good, interesting Puzzles, and relax by the fire and enjoy.
Paint, painting is relaxing. Paint whatever you choose from a wooden item, to a room.
Read, catch up with all the books you don't have time for in the summer.
Earlly movies........go to an early movie show.......once a week or twice a month at least.
Roam the Malls, just to even enjoy the atmosphere.......pick up future gifts.
Go to a Barnes and Nobles, get a book you like and curl up in one of the soft chairs.
Go to the library and do the same thing.
Do your Ancestry research on line during the winter months, quite time consuming.
Get a good solid scrabble game board, I love the turning ones......good evening game.
Plan your future activities on line. Future summer trips, visits, birthdays........
Where you will be heading in the future.........check those places out.
Yes, get out the sleds and skates.........fun free things.
Go to a Cracker Barrel and sit by the fire for a nice meal.........then look around at all the cute gifts.........linger.
Go to a ski lodge just to watch the skiing, snowboarding.........it is really fun to linger in a lodge ,and watch all the action around you. Kids like the action too.
By us we have the Great Wolf lodge. One can go there for lunch, head to the gift shop and meander around.........without staying!
Good luck, and keep warm.........

[ColdCanadian]

excersize, indoors or outdoors

sauna, hot tubs, hot baths etc.

drinking hot tea, hot chocolate etc...

making desserts...

eating desserts!
(gaining a few pounds helps regulate and insulate your core temp)

beard-growing contests
(I'm doing that at work; it helps a lot to keep the wind from stinging my cheeks, plus it feels like I have a sweater growing on my chin)