The Winter List

Snowy day at Southborough L'Abri

So, I've been trying to think lately about what things I want on my Winter List. For newcomers, this year, I have been trying to make a list of all the things I want to do in each season of the year, things that I feel like the season would be incomplete without. Summer went swimmingly. Fall was jam packed, but fun. Winter...is more of a challenge. Of course the first things I associate with winter "must dos" all have to do with Christmas, the baking, the gifts, the caroling. Check and check. But Christmas is over, and I probably have a good three months of winter yet to fill. I try to also focus my lists on things that I will actually do (taking up skiing would be a great winter activity, but not likely to happen anytime soon) and for this winter, I am trying to balance indoor and outdoor activities. One of the things that I think is great about winter is that it makes staying inside feel cozy and luxurious, rather than stuffy and lazy, which it feels like at other months of the year. So here is the list so far. You can make suggestions if you like. I sure do love making lists...

1. Visit the Botanical Gardens: Sure it makes sense to visit in the summer, but it's nice to go when there's nothing green outside, to anticipate spring. Besides, how could I miss the amaryllis and cymbidium show?!?!
2. Go sledding...the question is, where? Oh, and I have no sled. But a quick trip to Toys R Us would fix that. I prefer the inflatable tubes...
3.Visit the Albright-Knox. Believe it or not, I've been to our largest art museum a few times, but never actually toured the whole permanent collection. And it's free on Friday afternoons. Touring galleries makes more sense to me in the winter when you want to while away an afternoon somewhere warm.
4. Baking. Winter makes me want to bake. I currently have about three different cake recipes rattling around in my head, not to mention all the bread I want to try baking. And having the oven on makes the house warmer! Win!
5. A winter romp. There's something truly magical to me about the way that, when you get all bundled up and really prepare for the cold weather, you can go outside and not feel it. It's like becoming invincible. And everything is so quiet and your head feels so clear. Again, the question is where to go? I'll figure something out.
6. Colored Musician's Club, Zydeco/Cajun Partees: Free jazz music listening parties at one of the most historic sites in Buffalo? A chance to be in the same building that Lena Horne and Billie Holiday once stood in? Yes, please! And five dollars for gumbo, live music, and a dance lesson? All right, then.
7. Art/Craft/Game Night. Just warm things to do when it's cold outside. Spend more time painting, making collages, working on my crossstitch, inviting friends over for a friendly bout of Apples to Apples. Making popcorn. That's winter to me, right there.
8. Make a new best friend? Maybe? Maybe? This is still definitely in the thinking over/planning stages/I still need to run the idea past my housemates, but why not? No, seriously, if you have good reasons why not, you should tell me. I'm trying to be very thorough in my preparation, mental and otherwise.

Okay, those are my plans to warm up the winter and make it fly by. It's really not that bad, people, I don't care what you've heard on the news. Weather is just a state of mind. Let me know if I'm forgetting your ultimate winter activity! Unless it's skiing because...well, we've already gone over that.

S.