Remember to keep pets indoors and chickadees fed

The last of February has been continuing to bring harsh, cold weather weather to vulnerable parts of the USA and Canada. If you're a Wintertyder, you'll know to keep pets warm, safe, and fed during challenging weather events with snow, ice, and wind chill. Keep your bird feeders filled during these finals gasps of Winter so that Winter birds have a source of food. They need it to stay safe and warm as all the protection they have is fluffed feathers.

Chickadees prefer sunflower seeds and suet. Read more here: http://www.wbu.com/education/chickadees.html

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Mardi Gras greetings 2015!

Snowstorms have spun out to sea, and now's the time to make Zatarain and celebrate.

Recall it's also "Pancake Tuesday.": http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinkpicturegalleries/11345754/The-best-pancake-recipes.html

www.accuweather.com Wintertyde 2015

Enjoy Saint Valentine's Day and stay busy

Saint Valentine's Day often stirs up emotions that may not be pleasant. The best remedy is simply to embrace the holiday and celebrate it to the max with family and friends. Eat lots of chocolate, also, as it has anti-depressant qualities. Now, there's no time for "Winter blues" after Saint Valentine's Day as you have an action-packed week coming up quick. February 17th is Mardi Gras and the 19th is Chinese New Year. Fix New Orleans cuisine at home for the former, and go out to a Chinese restaurant for the latter. You can do this. Keep your Wintertyde wreaths and your tree up to date as the holidays come and go.

www.accuweather.com Wintertyde 2015

Making it through the last 2 weeks of February

Wintertyders know that statistically the final 2 weeks of February are notorious for cases of "Winter blues." Stay busy and diverted! Once you get through Saint Valentine's Day on the 14th,

move straight ahead quickly to Mardi Gras on the 17th.

Food helps cheer spirits so eat well: lots of antidepressive chocolate, tons of New Orleans and Cajun food for Mardi Gras (Google Zatarain.)

Hot of the heels of Mardi Gras comes Chinese New Year on the 19th. Brave the weather and go celebrate at a Chinese restaurant.

It's not an official Wintertyde holiday although we are rethinking its status.

OK, now you have a mere 9 days to get through to Saint David's Day on March 1st, the final day of Wintertyde on March 6th along with the upcoming Saint Patrick's Day on March 17th and the First Day of Spring on March 21st. You can do this even with blizzards raging outside.

Also, read this:

www.amazon.com

Fast on the heels of Saint Valentine's Day (Feb. 14th) Mardi Gras arrives on February 17th. Be ready.

No time for Winter blues on the day after Saint Valentine's Day. Pack away the hearts, and next get started on your Mardi Gras plans. What we do is a good model. All Valentines are gone on February 15th from your wreaths, etc., and replaced with Mardi Gras beads, King's coins, and anything else appropriate goes up on the 15th as the hearts come down. After your decorations are in order with your Wintertyde wreaths and your Wintertyde tree, make plans for Mardi Gras food and music. We fix Zararain items such as Jambalaya or red beans and rice:

http://www.zatarains.com/Zatarains/New-Orleans We use pepperoni sausage for the meat. Incredibly delicious. Search your bakery for a King's cake for dessert:

www.raisedonroux.com We accompany King's cake with Cafe du Monde chcikory coffee: http://shop.cafedumonde.com/ For music try Pete Fountain for Dixieland and the Neville Brothers for traditional second line.

A perfect Saint Valentine's Day gift: a horticultural gift certificate

Saint Valentine's Day will be here in 1 week, and a thoughful gift is a gift certificate from White Flower Farm. Check here: http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/gift-certificates.html#

Saint Valentine's Day is fewer than 2 weeks away, Prepare now

Saint Valentine's Day falls on February 14th, and all of your Wintertyde hearts and decor ought to go up now. This means hearts in your Wintertyde wreaths as well as a heart ornament for your Wintertyde tree. Gifts include chocolates and flowers, but adding in a gift certificate from White Flower Farms is a gift that gives each year as plants. More: http://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day/history-of-valentines-day/videos/bet-you-didnt-know-valentines-day www.whiteflowerfarm.com