What helps keep your sanity until spring?

I know I do fine until after Christmas but once January gets here its all over I want spring. I have been pouring through all the catalogs and even dug my seeds out yesterday to see what I need to be thinking about starting or that needs stratification that I can get started now outside.Been looking up seeds I didn't really know anything about too. So that's how I am keeping my sanity. What helps you wait for spring?

Great question Mystic' On nice days,anything to stay out of the house,lol' Sometimes putter in the yard,take a drive in my old rust buggy or move stuff around in the yards(experimenting)and thinking up projects for when the weather allows' Should get some cleaning done but no one here but me,it's not going anywhere,rather read or be here'

I sow seeds, well I sow seeds all year round but tend to do more this time of year than at any other. I plan the garden for the coming season and read catalogues. I also choose an area which I want to improve and keep my main ideas to that project. This year it will be the veg patch, with the herb bed as a secondary project, last year it was the containers.

Other than that I take a break from the garden and write more, after all the garden and I need to take a break from each other once in a while, all good partnerships do ;)

More of the same: poring over catalogs (truth be told, more like drooling over them, LOL!), dreaming up new ideas for beds, sowing seeds, and passing time here in Dave's garden....

And when the weather is decent, I try to get out and turn the compost pile or check on the cool-season plants and the ponds. But I admit I really have to force myself to go outside - it usually has to be for a specific purpose. Unlike summer, when I can wander outside with my first cup of coffee and forget to come in until the sun is setting....

WRESTLING SEASON-and all the plants I have in the house and Im already getting ready to start some seeds!!!

Dave's, planning, ordering more seeds, planning - chatting about what and how to do things.

But I still have bad days - help I'm addicted!

Oh I forgot to mention that Dave's helps pass the winter(sorry Dave) Sis cleaning oh no you can't do that. lol Then you would miss all the fun here. Baa I agree you need a break from the garden but my break leaves me parked in front of the pc on DG. What are your plans for the veggie garden new things? GV ain't it the truth I just don't want to go out right now but have to admit today it was so nice I really wanted to be out digging something.Dori your son is doing so great you will be in the seed starting soon I know. Pam you addicted no way!!!! lol

Mystic,
I'm like you...
Dreaming plants and all things gardening!
I too, have been loading up my 'frig with
seeds (and bulbs) that need cold
stratification. My husband says that
there's no more room
(in our 'frig) for food, it's all seeds! :-)
Even though I've not started up my greenhouse
yet, I go out every day and keep my pathway
to it shoveled...
hey, I need to be prepared, right? :-)

Well I guess I can say that I am much like all the rest of you. I sit here at the puter waiting on the threads to have a new reply...but then I have made myself get up and out of the house to check on some of the seedlings that came up a little too early, and I did manage to cut down those dead casotr bean plants that were looking soo awful! I would love to have a green house so I could keep seeds and plants year round, now that would be a great way to spend the winter. although I think I would probably have the puter "in" the GH so I could be here and there all at the same time hee hee Wishing for spring to be sprung!!

Sanity???????

LOL Kathleen farmers are exempt from sanity :)

Mystic

I have asperations of successfully pickling and preserving home grown veg this year.

I start hatching chicks out this time of the year,to get a jump on the show season.My first hatch was New Years day. I do all the drooling over the seed catalog,then talk myself down to earth and relize I can't grow everything.The house plants keep me amused,and the tropical hibiscus blooms on and off all winter and The challenge of the brugs!Getting those suckers to bloom in the house over the winter,well, the fact that I have 2 right now with buds,makes me feel spring is that much closer.Need a greenhouse!I also start seeds,and yesterday I built one of those seed starting stands that poppysue had the plans for.It didn't turn out too bad considering that I used all stuff I found laying around .Gunna move it in the house today.Can't wait to go outside and start checking for green things popping out of the ground....still have months to go.......now I'm depressed......

ok, I do the usual. reading and rereading seed catalogs. Starting plants in those little plant starter kits. Looking at the plant trade forum over and over again, hoping that someone will ask for something I have to trade for something cool even though it is below freezing outside and there ain't no way I could mail a plant now for anything. Plan accordingly so my amaryllis will bloom when I need blooms the most and even take them to work for my desk (the oohs and aahs from co-workers ain't bad for my ego either). If the weather is warm enough I wander around outside and plan on future projects. Bring out all the flower and garden books. and if I'm home plan my day around the gardening shows on TV. Gardener's Journal and Gardener's Diary being the faves. I also pot and repot my poor houseplants.

Oscarsdotter we built a pvc greenhouse last spring and sure can't afford to heat it. But I am thinking of starting my seeds that need stratification in there since it will be cold and then I can have a seed free Fridge. lol When do you start your greenhouse?Molly lol yeah its hard to be in
the garden and miss whats going on in DG. Kathleen thats a good question what is sanity? Baa good luck with your veggie garden nothing is as good as things you preserve yourself. You will love it. CC thats pretty much all I do is drool over the catalogs to but it sure it nice to see everything. Hope the plant stand works good for you . Kathyjo sounds like you are ready for spring too. A lady I work with had an amaryllis on her desk too we all kept trying to borrow it from her when she wasn't looking it was really pretty.

I wish I had a greenhouse but my house kinda is as I have a big room at back of house that is wash room with windows all along back side of house . I counted all my houseplants last night while on phone to mom and i have 78 thats houseplants, brugs, dat's(which I planted myself soon after coming here and i have 3 double purple in bloom and one yellow:) ) Lots of hanging baskets that in summer I put on my porch. and I have started 3 seed trays. Which I am sure I will regret starting this early for my area, But I had to have some baby's to tend to! Sanity not real sure about ----- But ready for Spring :)

Lol MWSB,think you already have a greenhouse':D