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It happens. Wandering around aimlessly, constant peeks out the window to see if there is still snow on the ground. Sudden and deep sighs. Irritability.
Wikipedia defines: "Cabin fever is a condition that produces restlessness and irritability caused from being in a confined space. The actual term is slang for a claustrophobic reaction that takes place when a party is isolated and/or shut in, alone or together, for an extended period."
This is the time of year, for me anyways. February. Winter has been upon us for longer than I care to think about. Spring is still forever away.
I want to open a window!!
There are things that need doing but I don't have the motivation to do them.
Even my houseplants are depressed. Barely hanging in there, suffering from the severity of the fake heat. Their leaves drooping, begging for a soothing breeze and real rain.
The house plants want a window open too.
I long to hear the birds sing in the morning. Feel the earth beneath my bare feet. Smell that earthy, dew wormy scent after a rain.
I'm sick of coats, mitts, boots, hats, scarves, gloves. The dogs are tired of frozen paws.
I'd have a bar-b-que but it's buried in 5 feet of snow.
The cats are restless. They keep following me to the front door, hoping to be let out, only to shrink back when the cold blast of -20 air hits their noses. They follow the sun beams across the floor, hoping to glean a little warmth from the weak rays. Those few and far between days when the sun shines.
The cats want a window open!!
They stare longingly at the window, occasionally reaching out with a paw at the frost glistening on the sill.
We're all grumpy. Cats, dogs, plants, me.
Moping around the house as though lost. Never settling on one particular task, can't stay focused long enough.
Day dreaming about spring Tulips, new leaves on the Maples.
Maple syrup!!
I bought a few bulbs to force on the windowsill. Didn't help much, instead they made me long even more for the garden.
Maybe if I started a few dandelions in a pot. I'll never complain about weeds again. I'd love to be outside, in the garden, yanking up Creeping Charlie right about now.
Bees buzzing in my ears. The sound of a Horn Worm munching Nicotiana leaves. Robins following me around catching bugs.
Can I open a window yet?
Maybe just a crack. Brrrr, maybe not.
Dirty looks from the cats. How dare I let that draft in!!
Sigh.
It's clouding over again. Going to snow some more. Will have to shovel yet again.
Cold, wet puddles on the carpet from melted snow off of the dogs feet. Cat's really hate those cold puddles. They stop, sit, and shake their paw, you can almost see them shiver.
Snow banks are so high I can't see to back out of the driveway.
Temperature was -25 this morning. Poor dogs were walking around 3-legged. Trying to do their business before their paws froze. Gave me pleading looks as if to say "Mom, make it warm up."
I slip on some ice hidden under fresh, clean snow, landing on my keester. I want to cry, curl up in a ball and wait for spring. Dogs licking my face snaps me out of it. They are cold too, so cold they have to sit down, but can still make sure Mom is ok. I drag myself to my feet and pick up the puppy, tuck her inside my coat where it's warm. She's a bundle of shivering fur.
Chickadees begin calling. Blue jays winging around the bare honeysuckle bushes. Crows calling in the distance.
Snow begins falling. It's cold but calm.
We'll all survive, we always do. Maybe a cup of hot chocolate will help. Marshmallows floating on top.
I really want to open a window!!!
About Lee Anne Stark
I am an avid gardener who shares my gardens with 2 other equally avid gardeners. I garden for fun and relaxation, never paying attention to the rules!! During the long, cold winter months I occupy my time playing with over a hundred house plants, my six cats and two dogs.
Posted by flowerjen (from central, NJ) on March 3, 2008 at 12:03 PM:
Hang in there, spring's almost here!!!
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Subject: I was almost you!
Posted by lindanat (from Asbury Park, NJ) on March 3, 2008 at 9:02 AM:
Several years ago, my husband and I almost realized our dream of moving to VT. However, his salary cut, plus the housing costs in the area we were looking at kept us in NJ.
Even though it broke our hearts to stay here, when we get these days when there is a hint of warmth in the air and I'm poring over the garden catalogs, knowing it's just around the corner, I think of living in VT and that we'd be a month or so away, if not more.
So, your article happened to catch my eye this morning. I'm sure it's beautiful where you live and the trade-off of the long winter is well worth it, but it probably takes a special breed of person to wait it out patiently -and I'm not sure I would have fared as well as you.
Hope you are enjoying your garden planning and wishing your spring thaw comes soon.
Linda N.
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Subject: I feel your pain!
Posted by Sofonisba (from Putnam County, NY) on February 28, 2008 at 12:23 PM:
Only yours must be magnified by 50. I'm in upstate NY, and it's cold and snowy, but not as bad as what you have. You really wrote that well. I could feel the cabin fever! I could feel your desperation for a spring breeze, and the bug sounds and the smell after a rain... sigh. Hang in there.
Harper
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Posted by carrielamont (from Milton, MA) on February 28, 2008 at 6:18 PM:
Yerp, in Massachusetts it's a little better than upstate NY, but nowhere near time to open windows yet, alas. Only humans in my house, and I am bio-Mom, so I am truly responsible for bad weather - oh and for not having hot water for a week! Well written, Lee Anne, and quite effective! xx, Carrie
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Subject: Sending Warm Wishes Your Way!
Posted by plantladylin (from East Central, FL) on February 28, 2008 at 10:47 AM:
Lee Anne ... What a great article. As a Southerner, I love the photo's of the white stuff but I am sad that you are suffering with such cold temperatures and all that snow! My Goodness that really is a lot of snow! I cannot even imagine what it must feel like at - 25 degrees! I've never experienced temperatures like that. I hope it won't be long before your maple trees begin leafing out and all that white stuff is melted and dried up so you can get out in the garden again! Having lived in the South all my life, I can't even imagine what real winter must be like when it's so cold for such long periods.
I love the photo's of the snow ... but sure wouldn't want to spend more than a week with that weather!
So, hang in there and hopefully Spring is on the way! I am wishing lots of Sunshine your way!
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Posted by threegardeners (from North Augusta, ON) on February 28, 2008 at 10:50 AM:
Thanks Lin!!
The sun is shining today, which helps some, until you step outside that is...LOL
Appreciate your warm thoughts lots.
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Posted by Riverland (from Northeast, LA) on February 28, 2008 at 11:27 AM:
Oh and yesterday the doves cooing was driving me crazy inside. They never shut up. Sorry I won't do anymore complaining even if it is to myself.
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Posted by plantladylin (from East Central, FL) on February 28, 2008 at 11:36 AM:
We had an unusual cold front come through here with some much needed rain, and our low last night was 35 degrees! Very unusual for the end of February although our record for this date was 28 degrees back in 1943. Our high today is going to be upper 50's ... very unusual but I can't complain when I see what other folks are having to deal with! We've had such a mild winter that our grass has remained green throughout the winter, and it's been so warm our air conditioning has remained on with the exception of a couple of cold snaps when the heat automatically kicked on, like last night.
My husbands brother and his family have lived in upstate N.Y. all their lives and I remember my Sister in Law telling me once that they go sometimes 3 months without seeing the sun shine! I just can't imagine that! I really understand that syndrome called S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder). I would be very depressed if it were cloudy and dreary for long periods.
So, Happy Sunshiny Day to you! I hope Mr. Sun continues to shine and melt all that snow and that Spring will be heading your way very soon!
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Posted by plantladylin (from East Central, FL) on February 28, 2008 at 11:37 AM:
Oh, Riverland ... I adore the cooing of doves! You can send them all down my way!
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Posted by CapeCodGardener (from Mid-Cape, MA) on February 28, 2008 at 12:12 PM:
Oh Lee Anne, that photo of your little dog in the snow is so funny (thought not to the dog, I'm sure!) and so familiar. I recognize that pleading look. We have two terrier-mixes, and I have to order them to go outside, then shove them, and finally bribe them by flinging dog biscuits out in the snow.
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Posted by Dutchlady1 (from Naples, FL) on February 28, 2008 at 3:13 PM:
Very evocative; and a good reminder that I will NEVER live anywhere cold again if I can help it!
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Posted by SongsofJoy (from New Hampshire, NH) on February 28, 2008 at 3:44 PM:
This article captured my sentiments exactly!! We have had more snow this year than any year since 1800-something!! The snowbanks are so high that I despair they will ever melt. Last year at this time, I was starting my pond back up and we had no snow. New England is cruel. (Yet I can't imagine ever moving).
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Posted by angele (from Elephant Butte, NM) on February 28, 2008 at 9:35 PM:
Too funny, lol @ the kitty giving you dirty looks.
I lived in upstate NY when my kids were little and I remember the cabin fever. First day it got above freezing we bundled up and went out doors for a long walk. Moved to New Mexico in 1984 & haven't missed those winters we left behind one bit.
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Posted by bogthing (from Lawrenceville, GA) on March 3, 2008 at 7:42 AM:
Sorry to say, but I know how you feel. Spent most of my life in New England and know all too well the feeling of late winter madness. I now live in North Georgia and am adapting to what winter here means.
I found what helped me was to surround the old farmhouse with as much winter color as I could get. Holly's and evergreens, as many different kinds of berries as I could find. Great for me, great food and cover for the birds. Fed the birds religously, twenty five pounds of black sunflower a week.
Planted a Harry Lauder's Walking Stick outside the window I sat by. One warm-ish day post-Christmas I bought several strands of lights on sale. Got out there and wound them on to the branches. At dusk I plugged it in...VOILA!
Sure, the neighbors thought I was nut's, but who cares, it's late winter.
Inside, if you can swing it, a room commited to tropicals. Tile the floor, get supplemental heating and lighting. Fill it with tropicals. Put a chaise lounge in there, slip into some shorts or bathing suit, fire up the blender. Spring is on it's way.
I'm sick of coats, mitts, boots, hats, scarves, gloves. The dogs are tired of frozen paws. 
enough. 
I slip on some ice hidden under fresh, clean snow, landing on my keester. I want to cry, curl up in a ball and wait for spring. Dogs licking my face snaps me out of it. They are cold too, so cold they have to sit down, but can still make sure Mom is ok. I drag myself to my feet and pick up the puppy, tuck her inside my coat where it's warm. She's a bundle of shivering fur. 
