Hello everyone … welcome to another busy and eventful week! We hope that you and yours are safe and warm during this cold spell in the 315/607. If you’re in our area, why not stop down to our next Pathfinder Produce on Thursday, January 24, from noon to 5 p.m. to stock up on fresh and delicious fruits and veggies, and visit with our friendly Produce market staff?
One of our customer appreciation services that we offer is our online shopping service … think of it as an ingredient-kit service, but one you can totally design yourself. You simply order and pay for your fresh items on our website, and then pick up your order at either our Morris or Edmeston locations on Thursday afternoons. It’s easy and convenient!
***
Getting out of Hibernation Mode
This weekend’s foot of snow wasn’t as bad in our region as in other areas; my family and I spent a few hours digging out on Sunday. I spent some time blowing out a path so when our senior dog needs to go for a walk, it’s a little easier for her. I could tell the other morning as I let her outside for her 7 a.m. constitutional, she wasn’t thrilled with snow up to her belly.
As an older dog, she has the art of relaxing down pat. She likes to cozy up near us as we’re reading and relaxing in evenings, not too far from the blazing woodstove. Her snoring is comical at times, as she’s louder than any of us whilst asleep. Her snoring underscores that we’re all a little too prone to inactivity in colder weather.
This winter I hope to spend time walking and taking pictures of wildlife. I recently joined a local birding group on Facebook and admire some of the pictures folks have posted of avian life in the snow. Birds are fascinating to study in their natural habitat or at your backyard feeder; you can learn a great deal by checking out the Audubon website and seeing all the activities they recommend trying. If you enjoy these activities, you can enjoy other bird-related activities, like helping with bird population counts or making nesting boxes for use during spring.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation also offers some tips on enjoying the outdoors during winter. I’ve always liked their Conservationist magazine, which also shares ideas on how to enjoy the outdoors; they also offer ideas for winter fun at their Facebook page.
Closer to home, we have activities at the Rogers Environmental Center in Sherburne, which are worth the trek. Coming later in the month and in February, they’ll offer Learn to X Country Ski workshops for nominal fees, which includes ski rentals. And for those who already know how to ski or snowshoe, the Pathfinder Community Trails are another option for a few hours of exploring. (These forays into the wilds remind me of the old Cap Smith hikes that used to be organized in Cooperstown about half a century ago.)
Breaking out of hibernation mode is really just a matter of discipline to make yourself go outside. For other ideas on low-cost family outdoor activities to enjoy, check out this post from the Moneycrashers. Even a short time outdoors is beneficial and can turn a ho-hum day into something special.
Until next time, get moving!
Lori
