What are your winter plans/projects?

[Deechef]

I'm relaxing after mowing my lawn for the last time, hopefully! I am very much a summer person. Love golf, gardening and being outside. I find that I become a hermit of sorts during the winter. I keep the temperature in my house very low so I'm always feeling chilled and unmotivated. It gets dark so early too. I try to make a list of projects to keep me interested and involed during the winter but never seem to "get" to them. I love to read so I plan to do that a lot this winter. What do you guys do?

OK Robyn...I know what you're doing

[KristaMB]

My plans are the same they've been for the last few years. I just can't seem to get them done. I want to organize all of our photos (or at least get the date and place written on them) and clean out all the drawers. I have so many "junk" drawers, I can't ever find anything I need. I also hope to do more sewing this winter.

[pharmarepgirl]

UGHH! I hate cold weather! I also do not like the short days: dark when you go to work, dark when you return home. To me anything colder than 70 is cold! However it is still about 80-90 degrees here in the day time and last night we had our first 50 degree night.

So, I have some indoor projects planned. I really need to remove the wallpaper from our guest room and guest bath. It will be a major project b/c I have to re-texture the walls and then repaint, plus removing all the wallpaper. I was thinking I may do Venetian plaster b/c I did that last year in the hall bath.

I also need to re-do our laundry room b/c I never re-painted in there after the celings were redone (4 hrs ago from the hurrican!!) I am really dreading that one though b/c I have to move out the washer/dryer and the second refrig. and it is TIGHT in there. UGHH!

I have lots of re-orging to do in the garage.

I also have a lot of books I want to read and some movies I want to see.

I know that I will be hibernating inside though! and waiting for spring!

[KristiB]

To me anything colder than 70 is cold! However it is still about 80-90 degrees here in the day time and last night we had our first 50 degree night.

Ditto that!

I want to do more hiking. I barely went last year.

I also put my Netflix account on hold to reduce my boob-tube time. Hopefully I'll use it to do something productive

[testkitchen45]

My plans are the same they've been for the last few years. I just can't seem to get them done. I want to organize all of our photos (or at least get the date and place written on them) . . . .

I started a "Scrapbookers' Progress thru 2008" thread long ago. Tells you how little I've done, that I haven't even resurrected my own thread since May. I want to get caught up on my photos & cleaning out, too (closets, especially--the stuff GROWS in there). And fun stuff with the kids, and decorating, and entertaining, and recipes . . . too many goals!

[615bride]

I need to get caught up on photos/scrapbooking too. Knitting is never far away so I'll do lots of that. I'm thinking about a half marathon in the spring so preparing for that would play a role in my winter if it pans out....

[lindrusso]

Deechef - You sound a lot like me. I'm not a big winter person either although I do enjoy certain aspects of it like fires in the fireplace and baking, etc. We also keep the house cool and like you - all I want to do is cuddle under my blanky! And blech...dark days - HATE that part. I really think winter would be MUCH more tolerable if it wasn't so dark!

Last winter I did accomplish quite a bit for a change - I painted the four bedrooms upstairs. Hey, for me, that's a lot.

On my list every year is scrapbooking. I actually have an area that I can leave set up now but it's in the unfinished part of the basement, so I don't get at all motivated to go into my dark, cold basement in the winter! I keep teasing the boys that as soon as they go to college, I'm taking over their rooms for scrapbooking!

This winter I need to get the family room ceiling painted. All of the ceilings need it, but this one really needs it because they painted our kitchen ceiling after re-doing our kitchen and so I need to finish it. There's other painting I could do - our LR and DR could use some touching up and our finished room in the basement could use some TLC, but I don't know if I'll get motivated to do those or not because they are not as pressing.

I want to start baking my own bread. I just inventoried my freezer and have ton of whole grains!

I also need to clean out my closet, organize the guest room closet, and clean out the basement.

That's a good enough list for now!

[Angelina]

My goals do not change depending on the season. Whatever I do, I do it inside because I do not have a garden or a place to hang out outside!

The only change with the cold weather is that I actually enjoy doing my things! Imagine! Cleaning out a closet without getting drenched in sweat after 2 minutes! Baking muffins without turning the whole kitchen into a pit of fire!

The early darkness does not bother me. I get home so late from work that winter or summer, it's always dark. I love fall and winter soooo much. It may be genetic though. We had a week or so of temperatures hovering in the 70's, and I was talking to my Mom yesterday. She was telling me how happy she was the weather finally turned nice again...meaning 50's! 40's!

I am so much more motivated to exercise again, try new recipes, read...wooohoooo!!!!

[Robyn1007]

OK Robyn...I know what you're doing

[LakeMartinGal]

First, I'm going to decrapify! I've already started in small doses, which is all I can manage, but I'm doing it one drawer/cupboard at a time!!!!!

Cross-stitching!
After Christmas, reading, etc.
Before Christmas, making gifts for the family, because $ are a little tight this year...

Hockey games! This is the time of year we go to Atlanta once a month to visit friends and see the Gwinnett Gladiators play hockey... and go to TJ's and Whole Foods! Yay!

[DeeK]

We're sort of opposite of most people. Winter is when we CAN get outside and do things. Summer here is so oppressively hot and humid that I really look forward to cold (relatively) weather.

I'm looking forward to biking and inlining the local trails, hiking in the little wilderness park behind my house and having supper out on the porch.

Something about the early dark makes me happy to cook dinner at home more often. I am definitely a cocooner.

[blazedog]

We're sort of opposite of most people. Winter is when we CAN get outside and do things. Summer here is so oppressively hot and humid that I really look forward to cold (relatively) weather.

I'm looking forward to biking and inlining the local trails, hiking in the little wilderness park behind my house and having supper out on the porch.

Something about the early dark makes me happy to cook dinner at home more often. I am definitely a cocooner.

I was thinking the same thing although summer weather in SoCal isn't as oppressive as Florida. But I really don't enjoy doing things outside when it's hot -- hate the sun.

Winter weather is perfect in SoCal for doing stuff outside -- and on the occasional days/nights when it is raining, I really enjoy the sounds of the weather and curling up in bed or on the sofa.

So far it's still been hot as Hades as far as I'm concerned -- one day when it foreshadowed winter with 70 degree temperatures.

[testkitchen45]

First, I'm going to decrapify! I've already started in small doses, which is all I can manage, but I'm doing it one drawer/cupboard at a time!!!!!

Cross-stitching!
After Christmas, reading, etc.
Before Christmas, making gifts for the family, because $ are a little tight this year...

Hockey games! This is the time of year we go to Atlanta once a month to visit friends and see the Gwinnett Gladiators play hockey... and go to TJ's and Whole Foods! Yay!

You're very smart to decrapify one area at a time. I tried several areas at once last week b/c of mission creep (started with cleaning out the big game-room closet but the small game-room closet has stuff that goes into the big one, and the computer corner has stuff that should be in the wet bar, and DD's room has stuff that should be all over the game room . . . ). Didn't work so well; I'm not done yet.

Want to start your own thread on homemade Xmas-gift ideas for saving $ but still doing nice gifts? I'm curious as to what you're making.

[Terri_A]

My big project is to rip up the carpet in the bedrooms. The original hardwoods are underneath, but are in desperate need of refinishing....I"ll have to move a LOT of furniture and "stuff", so decrapifying will be involved for sure!!!

I, too, have some photo organizing / scrapbooking that needs to be caught up on, but that's a neverending project!!!

[Lucinda]

I signed up to do the National Novel Writing Month, so I'll be chained to my laptop for the month of November.

I need solar energy to power my internal energy cells, so I tend to be lethargic during the winter--it's a good thing I don't live farther north.... I curl up more with books and movies in the evening. The main project will be to get the second bedroom more organized.

[ljt2r]

Alysha--painting 4 rooms is huge by my standards!

I am just trying to hold on to my sanity until the house is built. And make a billion decisions about the house at the same time I suppose. And then I suppose my winter project will be A. making it really ours and B using the double ovens as much as possible. If anyone is interested, we took pics on Friday and they are up on the blog here.

[gigicancook]

We've been in the house 5 years and it's time to re do the trim and walls. Think we will start in our bathroom since the Pella people have to come in and replace a window..................how does a window start to go bad after 5years.................our contractor ordered it and it was delivered Thursday. Dan started to prep it for painting today and I know it will be done right, because he is a great painter. Then I guess we will go from there.
My mother goes to my brother's in Phoenix for a month, so I will get a chance to do the pantry and cupboards............it won't last long after she gets back.

I'm planning on having a fundraising affair in February or March for Ovarian Cancer awareness. I have several friends and relatives that had the disease. There was a story about doing this in CL a couple of months ago. Not sure if I will have a tea or a brunch or luncheon.

[Terri_A]

I signed up to do the National Novel Writing Month, so I'll be chained to my laptop for the month of November.

Hey - me too!

[LakeMartinGal]

You're very smart to decrapify one area at a time. I tried several areas at once last week b/c of mission creep (started with cleaning out the big game-room closet but the small game-room closet has stuff that goes into the big one, and the computer corner has stuff that should be in the wet bar, and DD's room has stuff that should be all over the game room . . . ). Didn't work so well; I'm not done yet.

Want to start your own thread on homemade Xmas-gift ideas for saving $ but still doing nice gifts? I'm curious as to what you're making.

Hey, great idea! I'm still looking for some ideas, so maybe someone will give me some pointers!

I've had mission creep before... usually in my closet! This time, I put all the out-of-season stuff into totes to put on the top shelf, so I can see what's up there, then DH put the totes up top! That, and a big load for Goodwill, and I'm all set!

[Angelsfan]

Winter weather is perfect in SoCal for doing stuff outside -- and on the occasional days/nights when it is raining, I really enjoy the sounds of the weather and curling up in bed or on the sofa.

I totally agree. The winters here are great for outdoor activity and the rain is comforting and reminds me of being back home (Chicago.)

My plan is to start painting again. I gave it up while I was getting my Masters because I felt like if I had free time it should be dedicated to school. I finished it quite a while ago so it is time to get the creativity flowing again! I have some interesting sketches that I have been working on so all I need to do is to stretch a few canvases and get going!

Good luck to everyone is their winter projects .

-Heather

[TKay]

I just finished one that was sort of forced on me. I cleaned out my pantry cupboards, tossing anything out of date or infested with bugs. Yeah, I got a weavel infestation (isn't that what those tiny black bugs are called), and I'd been putting off tossing everything. Whew! That chore is finally behind me and I love opening the cabinet doors and looking at my handiwork.

As for the rest of the winter activities, I'd love to declutter and reorganize my home office. The carpet in here is stained from my aged dog who used to hang out with me while I worked (she recently passed away), and it needs to come up. We have flooring material all ready to go.

I'd also like to get back to that scrapbooking thread myself. (To call what I do scrapbooking is an overstatement--it's really putting together photo books.)

Oh, and it wouldn't hurt to work out reguarlarly and keep the holiday poundage at bay.

Happy winter. I can't wait for it to cool off!

[Deechef]

Well.......You all have given me inspiration and lots of ideas. I'm glad that I'm not the only one who covets summer and just can languish in winter if I let myself. I truly enjoy the changing seasons and know I wouldn't appreciate Spring/Summer if I didn't suffer the winter months. I think the lack of daylight wears on me. Thank goodness I dont live in Norway

So....I had an epifany of sorts while reading today (yes, I sat down on the couch and cuddled up with a good book!) Looked at all the stained wood trim around all my windows, baseboards etc and said I CAN'T STAND IT!!! So this winter will be spent painting all the crappy trim white. I feel so energized and it will look so good when its done. I'm going to take it slow and easy and do it right. It may take two winters as there are other projects.

Keep the ideas coming. You southern people will be in my thoughts as you enjoy the warm winter.

[Kay Henderson]

I make seasonal goals for myself. One thing I do is make it a priority to include fun things as well as projects that need to be done.

For example, this summer one of my goals was to redo the four flower beds in the back yard. But another goal was to do a lot of entertaining, which I very much enjoy.

For fall and winter, among other things, I need to process and scan the thirteen boxes of unsorted photographs currently in my bedroom, from my late mother's house. But I also want, weather cooperating, to get better at snow-shoeing and to try cross-country skiing again.

Kay

[jem927]

UGHH! I hate cold weather! I also do not like the short days: dark when you go to work, dark when you return home. To me anything colder than 70 is cold! However it is still about 80-90 degrees here in the day time and last night we had our first 50 degree night.

I have been waiting all summer long for some cooler weather like this. I was loving it last night. I had all the windows open, screen door open, etc! I was absolutely wonderful! I like living in Florida, but the summers can be so unbearable to me. My thought is - I can always add another layer in the cold, but in the heat I can't take enough off!

Anyway, everyones posts have got me thinking and I am making a mental list as we speak. Including, cleaning out some of my bedding areas around the house, clean out the mulch and put down rock, finally installing a timer on the hot water heater, etc. During the summer it is WAY too hot for me to get out there to do that kind of work.

Inside stuff - finally get all the pictures up in my house (I am SUCH the procrastinator on this), decrapify all the closets, organize all of my paperwork, do some cross stitching for Christmas and other holidays, and get back into practicing my guitar. Since I moved into the house last December, I just haven't cleaned things out like I should have. Now is the time to do it, in my mind. And I want to delve into my KA Whole Wheat Baking book.

Looks like I will have a busy "cool season" - YEAH!!!

Anyone else??

Jamie

[LakeMartinGal]

You southern people will be in my thoughts as you enjoy the warm winter.

It only feels warm in Central Alabama, if you've lived in the frozen North! the neighbors think it's cold if it gets below 50!

[Rae]

While I do love the feeling of being all cozy and warm in the house, while it's snowing and the wind is blowing outside, the lack of sunlight does get to me. One of the things that does help me a little bit is to burn candles. I never burn them inside during the summer, but in the winter, I love candles and use them all the time.

I have lots of projects to work on this fall to get ready for Christmas, etc. I think the harder time for me is usually January - March so maybe that's when I'll plan to work on some reorganization projects around the house.

[suebear37]

Add me to the list of decrapifiers...

This winter, I also want to get back into cross-stitching & bread baking. I always have a stack of books to read, so I'll just keep plugging along on those.

And I have 30 more lbs. to lose by May so I can order a dress for DS1's wedding next fall. That'll be the hardest (and least fun) job of all!

[LakeMartinGal]

I like the candle idea -- not so much for the light, but for the scents -- sometimes the house gets a little 'doggy' smelling, with 3 of the critters! I just don't want the kind of scents that make me hungry!

[swedish cook]

Even if we don't have real winter in Texas I'm looking forward to cooler temperatures. I can bake and cook and heat up the kitchen to my heart's content.
Then there is always another quilt project... When we lived in Norway and the daylight hours were few in winter I found that working with colorful fabric did wonders for my mood. Sun shining on white snow made me deliriously happy but there were also many, many gray days.