Hello (585) families

As I write this, we are in the midst of the first real storm of the winter. There is something about a big snowstorm that is thrilling—something that undoubtedly stems from the excitement and anticipation of a SNOW DAY! When I was a kid, snow days were great! A whole, unexpected day off with no responsibilities and no schoolwork. A day to watch a favorite movie (on VHS, of course), go for a ski, drink hot chocolate, and/or sit by the fire and read. Kids in school today undoubtedly have a different take on snow days. Now that remote learning is common, they just cannot hold the same appeal. But I hope that as parents remember that thrill, we take the opportunity to celebrate snow days with our kids—even if it’s not quite as exciting for them as it used to be for us.

One of the beautiful things about childhood is that there is always something to be anticipate. A birthday, a visit with grandparents, a trip to the beach..As an avid gardener, the best thing for me is the first appearance of crocuses. Snow drops are earlier, but they can bloom in January, so don’t really signal spring the way crocuses do when they first pop up in March. False advertising, if you will. Crocuses mean spring truly has arrived. Whatever you look forward to, whatever thrills get you through the winter (or maybe winter is your thrill), I hope you and your kids can enjoy it together.

—Jane Milliman, Publisher

PS) Interested in gardening? Check out our sister publication, Upstate Gardeners’ Journal (upstategardenersjournal.com).

PPS) Love food, drink, culture, and all the adventure our area has to offer? Pick up (585) magazine (585mag.com).

FEEDBACK We’d love to hear what you think! Write to [email protected] or letters to the editor,