9 Way To "DIG" Mud

#1 - Mud Crafts

We'll start with the obvious activity - mudcraft. Some of our best childhood memories involve mud. These mud-soaked memories have stuck with us, not because we spent a disproportionate amount of time in the mud, but rather because the mud was so fun, it left an impression. These articles offer a lot of guidance for how children might have fun in the mud - if there are kids around, great! Include them! If not, we don't see why you couldn't plan a mud-filled afternoon for your adult friends; there's mud sculpture, mud sliding, mud city building, and mud painting. If it was so fun when we were kids, chances are it's still a pretty good time.

Mud on "Run With My Child"

Mud on "Mother Natured"

#2 - Take A Muddy Hike

We've seen so much wildlife in the past few weeks - fox, deer, possum, raccoons, a peregrine falcon. The animals are out and about; because there are no leaves on the trees and bushes they're so easy to spot. We've also seen a lot of birders! The birding must be great right now! Here's the DEC's list of top birding trails in the region as a resource for spots to walk/hike - where there are birds, there are other critters! Make sure to wear good muck boots.

#3 - Watch The Planets Align

If you've been outside at night of late you may have mistaken two bright lights in the sky for something unnatural. The aliens are not upon us; Venus and Jupiter are remarkably bright right now and will converge in the sky in the coming weeks. Get your friends together for a mud boot bonfire party and marvel at our interstellar neighbors while you munch some warm nummy snacks. Here's more info for well-informed stargazing.

#4 - Take A Mud Run

People pay hundreds of dollars to sign up for mud runs where they tackle trails that have been dotted with obstacles and made muddy. Right now, on so many trails throughout the region, it's all free friends!

#5 - Read A Book

This might seem obvious but we find that so many of our friends have gotten out of the habit of reading for pleasure. When it’s muddy and rough outside (like it was this past weekend) is there anything better than getting all your errands done and sitting down with a good book and a cookie? Maybe all you're waiting for is a good recommendation. Well, A Widow’s House is a murder mystery set in the Hudson Valley which features a side character who’s a real estate agent who habitually wears (wait for it…..) mud boots! Of course, you can order a copy through Amazon but why not do it through Rough Draft Bar and Book? Need a cookie recommendation too? We love Sweet Maresa’s vegan bakery in Uptown Kingston. You won't miss the butter in their amazing cookies.

#6 - Build A Fairy House In The Forest

Rock cairns are always a trailside wonder but there’s something cooler (and less disruptive to the landscape) that we love finding when we're walking through the woods – a fairy house. A tiny house built into a stump or a tree root or atop a field of moss is just so magical. Putting one together for others to find is a gift for them and a woodland meditation for you. Leave your glue gun at home (the best fairy houses are all-natural). Building them at this time of year means they'll really stand out against the leafless landscape.

#7 - Messy Earthing

Earthing, or grounding, is the practice of using the earth’s negative charge to balance our body’s electrical charges by standing barefoot in some dirt. Well, you can absolutely do that in the mud! It will be a little more “earthy” than if you were to do it at the beach - but we’re not at the beach, so why not go outside and stand in a patch of dirt for a while to reduce inflammation, improve sleep, lower stress, and be able to say you did. Here’s an article on the basics of earthing and a video in which a geophysicist goes way beyond the basics. Sidenote: there are other ways to earth too but this one is free and available to everyone.

#8 - Get Your Spring Cleanup DONE

What can wreck a great spring weekend spent with friends? Having to do your spring yard cleanup instead! Right now is a great time to do the raking, take care of sticks and limbs, and do little outdoor repairs that don't take long. In the spring you'll have so much less to do.

#9 - Just Hit The Spa

Maybe you just want to chill out. No problem! Hudson Valley Magazine published a list of Warming Spa Treatments (appropriately including a mud treatment) for this time of year.