What are your winter plans?

Other than dreaming about and planning for the garden, what else will you do to pass the dark days??

I hope to clean up and organize the basement. Garage too if it's not too cold. Really need to paint parts of the house. I'll be looking for someone to do it as I really hate painting.

One thing I am committing myself to do is get outside and take more photos - even if it's very cold. Lots of great shots in the winter. A possible knee surgery might affect that one though.

I'll probably put more effort into mu guitar lessons. Have not been practicing as much as I should.

Need to scan pics too. Always say I will organize my photos better, but I never do it!

How about you? Anyone planning to vacation? Ski??

Heading to Florida for 5 weeks---yea! I really miss our friends who live there, & the warmth is not too shabby, either. I, too, need to paint---the bathroom, & all the upstairs woodwork, but I think I'll wait til it's warmer. Also need to get into the attic, but that's a scary climb for me----perhaps I can talk DS into going up there for me. Can't throw anything away anyway until our transfer station reopens, which should be next month.

Please take me!! Love FL in the winter. Enjoy!

What kind of knee surgery Victor?

Dang 5 weeks of Florida would feel real nice!!

I go the the library more often and I copy all the DVDs & CDs I like so I can add them to my collection. I also work on my fish tank & use my telescope much more during the winter. I enjoy going to the beach in the cool/ cold weather and taking pics as well.
Though the ground freezes as the winter progresses that doesn't stop me from working in the yard, I'm always cleaning up fallen branches and making sure that everything is protected and secured from damage due to winter storms, (mainly the wind). Winter gives me a needed rest from the usual chores like mowing the lawn and dragging around hoses, etc.
I don't get depressed because I grew up here in NY and I'm used to going long periods without the sun. Though the sun is nice and warm it can get uncomfortably hot & burn as well, so I actually enjoy the winter respite & the low temps. (I know how it is to live in a hot part of the country for an extended time and I definitely don't ever want to do that again!)
One thing I don't do is shovel snow, I have no sidewalk and I just drive my 4x4 right over it, here in my part of LI it usually doesn't last too long on the ground anyway.

I've got plenty of sewing to do. I'm going to try to winter sow for the first time.
But first, going to irisMA's for x-mas.

Cold out there with the scope, WC!

Surgery for cartilage damage.

Tell me about it Victor! been out there at -4° without the windchill factor, ('ya really have to like the hobby, lol), but the best seeing is in wintertime!

- Hope you can avoid surgery if possible.

Yes, I know the skies are best in Jan and Feb, but you're a better man than me!

Thanks - I would love to avoid the surgery but it doesn't look good.

Sorry to hear that, please keep us posted, best wishes as always! ☺

I think we're going to do some redecorating in our family room. I don't get my hopes up though, cause as soon as we start a project work gets crazy.

We're planning to ski in Lake Tahoe in early March.
There's always cleaning/organizing of the basement or the spare room that never seems to get done.

My husband had two surgeries for torn meniscus and wound up with a knee replacement. Take good care of it Victor!!

Victor, is your surgery scheduled or just in 'possibility' stages?

This winter is different. First off, I'll be looking for a job. After that, I'll be making some more drawings and maybe doing some textile renderings to add to my portfolio. The basement needs some serious re-organizing. The bathroom sink needs some repairs too. I have a bunch of household repair projects I need to do. Usually that's what I do in the winter. I'm not sure if I'll do any this winter. Hmmm... doubt I can get away with that. The garage needs winterizing. Too drafty. Ugh. I don't want to think about it! The list is long! LOL

Thanks. Not scheduled yet, but no other options left. Synvisc injections did not work. Neither did PT.

My husband tried the Synvisc injections too...no go either

Same old same old here, take care of mom, but no recess in the garden during the winter.
Victor I hope it works out for you with the knee . But if it must be done sooner or later, sooner is probably better. I am looking forward to those winter shots at any rate, but watch that slippery ice and snow under foot. Good luck on both counts.

victor i think my shot has helped some - still hurts although not close to before - the test will be v-ball in January - have not tried jogging yet either - only hiking and the elyptical so far

Thanks Pat.

That's great, Bill. It does help lots of people.

Good luck Victor. Keep us updated.

Thanks, Harp.

my main plan is to find a job.

after that will be to organize the trees/conifers/plants that i will order. My dipped in syrup wife doubled the size of an xmass gift certificate i asked for so i will need to do some research a bunch of dwarf conifers - do not think i can fit another 20 jm's in here after last years 35+. also need to think about where to plant them.

think about rock projects - do have the mushroom cap stone that i should bring inside and chip at the underside to make a nook so it stays on

need to find some soft slate to make some snowmen - had wanted to do this for xmass and can not find any anywhere - the place i got it from in the past stopped selling it.

and will probably build a couple bird houses - design yet to be determined

Lucky you! Generous wife. Good luck with the job search.

soft slate for snowmen? Please explain.

I want to build a few birdhouses too. It's on my list.

slate that i can cut with a jig saw and chip the edges to give it some texture. i posted some pictures last year of xmass trees i made several years ago and handed out for gifts. i usually draw the shape on cardboard (in my case an the inside of an empty bud light 30 pack) and when i have the shape i want i cut it out to use as a templet.

the slate is usually grey/blue/red or a mixture - flat on both sides although one side is the front - use to be used for stepping stone walkways or set into cement walkways - can't find it anywhere - was going to look at roofing slate suppliers although there are none near here.

the picture is a few i have up in my home office

I remember them from last year - very nice! I'm still waiting for mine. ^_^

Ooooh! Okay! I thought you meant real snowmen. Well, they're made of snow, duh! LOL Nice trees!

I am seeing possible cataract surgery in Feb. Had the right eye done several yrs. ago & can read without glasses except for tiny print. Our new rector at church doesn't know it but he looks blurred if I close my right eye.

I like the slate trees!

thx - saw them in some catalog selling for $50 or so and decided i could make them myself - not hard just takes a lot of jig saw blades

$50?!!

They are nice! Good luck, Victor & Iris! Hate any kind of surgery---forgot to mention my knitting ---just learned last year, made 2 scarfs & now am knitting a sweater for grandson. And watercolors---but after I see Jo Ann's, I want to quit!

Blessing for the surgery, Victor and Lucy.

My daughter had knee surgery June 2007 for a meniscus tear, and a fractured patella. Also cartilage damage caused by the meniscus tear? PT was brutal after that. But by the end of summer she was in perfect shape, and resumed doing karate. No problems since.

I have to get my paperwork in order. I just pile it all up and wait for bad weather. I also pick a plant to learn everything about that I can. First year was lilacs. Second and third beardless irises. this year is ....I haven't decided. Spend more time going to events with the grandkids.

Marilyn, seeing teriffic art is supposed to inspire you, not make you want to quit. I saw your stuff. You keep going! Go to a museum, look at the good stuff, get the itch under your skin to do more!

Polly, I love your idea of picking a plant to learn all you can about it. That's great.

Oh, gosh. You're right. I didn't even mention my son when I listed my winter plans. I plan on doing something fun with him! He's been asking me to take him into the city. I'll definitely do that. I'll teach him to cook another dish. Hmmmm, what else? He loves hiking. Wonder if it's too cold. Thanks for the reminder!!

Thanks, ladies.

I plan to try to take cuttings from geraniums and from a mum a friend sent me. Also, to keep all these roses I ordered alive until I can plant them in the spring!

yesterday i was looking through my notebook and found a page with a list i had made last winter on projects i wanted to complete this past year. there were about a dozen on the list - i never looked at the list afterwards so i was happy to see first that all where completed, that i had remembered them and many more were done as well.

and after posting here my list for this winter - i recieved a request to interview from a company i approached in June - had a phone interview with HR yesterday and speak with the division vp next week - only speaking with them for the practice though, right now the job would be in CA and we are not moving - with my luck they might make an offer - could live in CA as well as get use to 1/4 acre lot that is more expensive than here.

Don't see you as the surfing dude type. And you're much too type A for CA! They all block the grocery aisles there.

I don't think you're ever going to live the grocery aisle thing down, Bill.

When there's not so much at stake, it's easier to be comfortable with yourself at a job interview. Hope you get good practice! and a lead too!