Keeping Busy in Minnesota Winters

Hello. Thanks for joining me today. I thought I would share a little about the importance of keeping busy with something constructive in the cold winter. While I love winter and the beauty of the season, I didn't just fall off the pumpkin wagon. There are some aspects of winter that can damage the psyche if we don't try to be productive. If you don't have anything to do, and you live in an isolated place in the country, you might just lose your marbles.

I think of winter as the opportunity to get away from the work I must do, to embrace the work I like to do. You must have an interest and you must see positive results. One of the things I've enjoyed is woodworking, refinishing and simple projects around the house. Here is a table I worked on last year. It was a wreck, but I'm happy with the results. I made a new tabletop and replaced the drawer front and hardware.

I built this red oak bookcase three or four years ago at the Eagle Bend High School in an evening adult class that was held during the winter. It was fun to go and talk to others interested in the same things as I am and to complete something that I could use and have some pride in.

A small chair that belonged to my Grandma Thompson. I used some leftover deck stain and distressed it with some craft paint, then a clearcoat and a new seat.

Birds are important to me, and I made this picture from a Fleet Farm Store birdseed bag, when they still sold feed in paper bags. I refinished an old frame from a rummage sale.

As you can see, winter is the time to get things done in the house. Summertime is too busy with the garden, mowing and upkeep outside, and also planning what I can get done when the snow flies! Thanks for visiting.