Winter Lag - Waiting for Sprimg

It's that time of year again.  Our winter has lasted way too long and I have everything planned out for planting.  That was back in December - still waiting.  It is still snowing in the great north-west and with nothing else to do, I took up a new hobby called Diamond Painting.  I now have 7 finished pictures, and no idea of where I'm going to put them.  They'll probably end up as being gifts for next Christmas.  It's a fairly easy hobby.  It's quite inexpensive (as hobbies go) and they do offer some lovely pictures.  All-in-all, it keeps you busy through those long winter months.
 
How about the rest of you?  What did you do during the winter months to keep you from going nuts?

I moved your post to Western Mountains High Plains subforum for others in your cold, snowy country.

I have no idea how folks in the north country get through winter. Painting sounds like the perfect indoor hobby when you can't run outside and play in the garden.

sanderson wrote:I have no idea how folks in the north country get through winter.  Painting sounds like the perfect indoor hobby when you can't run outside and play in the garden.

It is not easy, trust me!  Our gardens get the first hard frost in mid-October, and gardening ends Then we can hope that we get the last frost in mid-May, and gardening can start again.  That is a long 200+ days with no outside gardening. But, on a bright side, summer is  a lot longer here than it was the 4 years I Fairbanks, Alaska.   

This winter was my first one with a greenhouse, and it was wonderful learning experience. The first time that we were able to grow all of our lettuce, spinach, chard, bok choy, etc., all winter long.

Hey Sanderson!  You all had a lot of problems down there in Central CA this winter!  I can't believe all the rain and snow you got!  This past winter has been over whelming for many states.  Over 55 feet of snow up at Mammoth and over 15 feet in the Sierras, Yosemite and Big Bear.  I heard San Diego even got some snow!  Now the rain is pouring in. Hopefully you won't have to worry about your drought for awhile.  Good luck with your Spring plantings.  Thank you for moving the post to the right place.  I appreciate it.

Hi Ohio.  We'll be lucky to be planting by May.  Seems like every time it starts getting warm, we get a couple of days of snow.  Very depressing.  I sure hope my new trees and blackberry canes make it through.  The ground is still to cold to do anything.  I thought about starting some seedlings indoors with my grow-lights, but right now my electric bill is sky high and I'm still having to use space heaters just to stay warm. 

Well, I guess I'll continue with my diamond paintings until it warms up.  Love doing them, but I'd much rather be playing outside.