Friday five: cabin fever

Singing Owl of the RevGals writes:

Here in snow country we are settled in to what is a very long stretch of potentially boring days. The holidays are over. It is a very long time till we will get outside on a regular basis. The snow that seemed so beautiful at first is now dirty and the snow banks are piling up. Our vehicles are all the same shade of brownish grey, but if we go to the car wash our doors will freeze shut. People get grumpy. Of course, not everyone lives in a cold climate, but even in warmer places the days till springtime can get long. Help! Please give us five suggestions for combating cabin fever and staying cheerful in our monochromatic world?

1. Get a dog, and take the dog outside to romp in the snow. Linus & Lucy's first experience of snow meant lots of joyful hilarity--they LOVE it. Linus immediately stuck his whole head in the biggest snowbank he could find and came out snuffling & happy, which made Beloved and me giggle. It's impossible to be in a bad mood while watching any creature that happy--especially one that you love! This is an excellent example, found through my friend Diane:



2. Go outside and play a while, yourself. Walk in the woods, enjoy the blanket of quiet, notice that the air is somehow clearer. It's easier to discover other creatures out there with all the leaves gone, and the monochromatic backdrop. Ski, snowboard, skate, build a snowman, have a snowball fight. PLAY. The snow is more than just something you have to keep shoving off your windshield and sidewalk.

3. Then come back inside and have some hot chocolate and a cookie or popcorn...in front of a fire, if possible. With a book or a snuggly someone.

4. Set up bird feeders outside your window. The birds will be grateful...and birds--pretty in the spring--can leave you gasping with the beauty in the winter against the stark backdrop of black & white.

5. Do something goofy and out of the ordinary routine. Festoon your house with paper snowflakes. Call five friends and have a spur-of-the-moment "silly hat" party (or a Scrabble tournament!). Make snowman cookies by dipping oreos in white chocolate and decorating them. See which member of your family can wear the most items of clothing all at once, Joey-style (commando status optional):



Bonus: Go & visit someone who really can't get out of their house due to illness or infirmity. Set up bird feeders for THEM. You'll both feel better!