Cook County News Herald

House warming





 

 

I felt it… just for a few days but it was almost here… spring! The weather turned to a balmy 60 degrees, the snow left the ground and the house was warm. But it was only Mother Nature tricking me into thinking I could now turn off the furnace… it was as if she was giving us a “house warming” party! I should have known better… it was only March.

Why do I fall for this every year? Now it seems even harder to put on winter coats and gloves. I’ve had a taste of spring and dressing for winter seems to be a step backwards. To look out the window and see sprigs of grass here and there doesn’t help as I shiver in my car because it really is only 37 degrees! Uggg….

When I was still in school I relished the days we could be outside without a heavy coat and godforsaken snowmobile boots lined with bread sacks! It felt as if we were 10 pounds lighter. (And in truth we probably were.)

The playground at Birch Grove Elementary seems livelier.

 

 

Kids playing tag, jump rope and tetherball…. the energy was in the air…there was hope of spring and the feeling we could be outside for hours. I have to admit, I was not a winter kid.

I’d fake every illness possible to stay inside for recess. Being chilled to the bone is not my thing. I hate having cold hands and feet! Most teachers didn’t fall for it and shoved me out the door anyway. I’d practically cling to the warm building until they let us back inside.

I think the best tactic for spring is to be patient…. pretend it’s already here by viewing it only from the inside of the window…. keep that thermostat on for a few more weeks…stay cozy and make spring food…. just to get the practice. Soon enough we’ll get the Mother Nature housewarming we deserve!

May your home always have bread so that it never knows hunger, salt so that life may always have flavor and wine so that joy and prosperity may reign forever.

Taste of Home columnist Sandy (Anderson) Holthaus lives on a farm in South Haven, MN with her husband, Michael, and their children Zoe, Jack and Ben. Her heart remains on the North Shore where she grew up with her parents, Art and LaVonne Anderson of Schroeder. She enjoys writing about her childhood and mixes memories with delicious helpings of home-style recipes.


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