Musing On A New Kind of NH February, A Really Short One

Print More

Did Sir Luc just catch a snowball with his teeth?

Susan Dromey Heeter[/caption]

And here in New Hampshire I muse joyfully on ways to not only endure this second month of the year, these winter days, but to thrive in them as well.

May you enjoy your last weeks of February, perhaps take some suggestions and bask in the glory of knowing living through winter is mandatory, suffering in winter is optional.

In February, I find it both glorious and necessary to buy myself flowers. I like the daffodils at Market Basket. They tend to be less than five bucks for a dozen and last for days. On the same note, I’ll run into the ever wonderful Wentworth Greenhouses in Rollinsford and simply walk through, smell the flowers, bask in the warmth, and pretend I am in Hawaii or some other tropical locale.

I get hope for spring, hope this snow will melt and smells, bugs and color will return – soon. My friend, Greg, has a private greenhouse of his own and starts seeds in his basement and basks in the glory of green and growth. “Light, warmth, water and love” are the four things he swears his seedlings need. And he thrives in their growth, their greenery.

And are not light , warmth, water and love what we need more of in February as well? Sunny movies are necessary in February. I’ll not watch anything about Everest during this month, but give me some sweaty beach movie and I’m in. I’m partial to “The Godfather” parts I and II – not so much for beach scenes but the Italian country side and outdoor wedding scenes suffice.

And that Lake Tahoe does look lovely – in spite of poor Fredo’s demise. February is also a time simply to find that sunny window, close my eyes and pretend I am laying on a beach chair somewhere. Cats seem to have this figured out, why not humans in NH during February?

Must I travel to feel that warmth on my face? Not necessarily and the vitamin D is free, healthy, and oh so necessary. My daughter and I took to wearing beach hats around the house on Thursday during our fourth snow day of 2017. It’s good to know we have some wide floppy hats we can grab in June, July, and August.

We’re ready to block those UV rays. And it’s always good to get prepared for summer attire, not a bad idea to try on some shorts, a dress or two to see that it might be a good idea to curb those February whoopie pies. There’s nothing worse than waking up fat at the end of May – but, let’s face it, eating in winter is glorious – bring on the carbs, man, bring on the carbs.

So, enjoy your final days of February, enjoy your winter, your sun, your hope for spring. May you muse joyfully on eating oranges in your garden, muse joyfully as you delight in a whoopie pie or two while wearing your flannel pajamas, or simply muse joyfully as you walk through a greenhouse and pretend you’re in Bermuda….see you next week when, yes… it will still be February.

Susan Dromey Heeter, a writer from Dover who recently let her hair go au natural white, debuts her new column “Joyful Musings” at InDepthNH.org. Dromey Heeter is a secondary Spanish Teacher at Dover High School and the mother of two teenage daughters.  Writing has been her passion since her English majoring days at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.  Dromey Heeter has lived in The Netherlands, Alaska and currently basks in all things New England, including the frigid winters. An avid swimmer, Dromey Heeter’s great passion is to bring back body surfing as most children have no idea how to ride waves without ridiculous boogie boards. She also writes about thrift shopping and all things frugal  in a column called “Budget Vogue” for the New Hampshire Union Leader.