Recent Posts

What to do on Winter days

Winter has arrived. It is that bitter cold out that slaps you in the face and says‚ “hey wake up.” For me 20 degrees is too brisk outside. I enjoy hiking and being in nature with my dog. Winter puts  an end to that. So what to do on a  crisp winter Nashville day. Well‚ if you are like me and worry about your dog being comforted because they don’t get to go outside much you watch animal and wildlife shows. After I watch TV with Ari for awhile we are both bored. I decide we can brave the cold‚ go on a walk‚ and snap pictures. Of course Ari doesn’t make it easy for me as she is pulling on the leash constantly. I want to tell her to dial it down. I can only take thirty minutes of the bitter cold and we power walk back inside. I go to my kitchen table‚ get my water and hot coffee‚ and open up my book. Being stuck inside all day‚ and it is freezing out‚ makes for perfect reading days.

Ari was interested in the wolf documentary and taking mini wolf notes. People killed wolves off in the 1930’s because they were killing off all their live stock. Apparently‚ Europeans thought that wolves were a symbol for Satan and they would use them in their sermons at church. I am glad to here that wolves are endangered species in some states such as Minnesota. People will get fined a 100‚000 dollars or potentially have criminal charges pressed against them if they shoot or kill a wolf.  Wolves do help the Eco system by‚ “improving habitat and increasing populations of countless species from birds of prey and trout. They keep the world of predator and prey in balance.”

I get bundled up and descent on our walk. I live behind the old Bellevue mall and they have tore it down.

They are building a new complex with apartments‚ a grocery store‚ and outlet stores. I will post pictures when it is finished being built. Some people are worried about it but I think it will only help the economy. Plus‚ they are putting a movie theater in there and who doesn’t love movies. As we walk farther down Sawyer Brown‚ I see a squirrel. I have been trying to get a picture for months. I guess it doesn’t help that Ari wants to chase them and eat them. I take a picture of Ari as the sun is going down. Yes‚ it was only four pm and the sun was already going down.

Ari and I get in the house‚ I put the heater blanket on for Ari because she is the princess and she gets everything. I get my smart water and make a warm cup of coffee‚ sit down at the kitchen table‚ and begin reading for the second time‚ Stephen King on Writing‚ a Memoir of the Craft. This is one of his books that you can read and sleep with the lights out. One thing I enjoy about this book is he cuts out all the bs. He says in the first pages‚ “the shorter the book the less bs.” It made me laugh because it is refreshing how honest he is. He cuts right to the chase and tells it how it is. I have read some of his books and seen some of his movies. The Shining comes to mind. I love the part in the movie where Jack Nicholson says‚ “Here’s Johnny!” Jack Nicholson’s face is priceless because he looks like a crazed lunatic. Some books and movies he makes are too much for me . For instance‚ Pet Cemetery. I watched that movie and couldn’t sleep for a week. However‚ I am fond of his writing. A quote from his book about writing that stood out to me is‚ “there is a muse but he is not going to come fluttering down into your writing room and scatter creative fairy-dust all over your typewriter and computer station.” Although that would be nice. In other words‚ you got to sit your butt in that chair and write.

So there you have it. Winter days can be relaxing. If you get cabin fever you can take a walk. Of course you have to wear three layers of clothes and look like a marshmallow. But hey‚ you gotta live a little. You can watch TV or wolf documentaries with your animal and bond. You can take pictures of nature and life‚ and get irritated because the squirrel will not stay still! Reading is a perfect way to escape that your are not on a beach in the Bahamas and it is twenty degrees out.

What do you do on cold winter days?