February, the shortest month of the year, is full of many
magical happenings. I have always
considered this month to be the month for lovers. Not only because of Valentine’s Day observed mid-month,
but by also noticing this is the time of year when nature starts to become a
little gentler, a little softer, even during its snow storms. The outside world begins to soften up a
little bit, as do our hearts as we long for the arrival of spring.
We had many inches of snowfall this month and may be why our
ancestors named February’s full moon the Full Snow Moon. February has definitely earned its full moon
name this year by blessing us with a mighty snow day at the very end of the
month. Out here in Saukville, and north
of us in Sheboygan County, we received a good 10-12 inches here and some Sheboygan
Counties reported nearly two feet of the stuff!
In the olden days by this time of winter, many people began
to have very empty cellars and cupboards.
All the produce, meat, and dairy products strategically grown, harvested
and put up during the growing months would nearly be all used up. Unfortunately and fortunately, in our house,
the opportunity to grow our own produce was a much needed blessing. Supplementing our garden, farm pickings, community
shared agriculture (CSA) share, and my husband’s fishing and hunting bounty; all were
nearly able to sustain us for most of the cold months. The unfortunate part is that I did not estimate
our food needs just right and now need to depend on our local food store and
some grocery stores to keep us fed until the green world emerges again. The
past year’s growing months had definitely been a learning experience.
It’s nearly the first of March as I write this entry. As I sit near our living room window, looking
out by the trees and bird feeders, I heard the first robin call of the year. I take the robins song as my queue to begin my
garden planning shortly.
