How do you make the mark of winter going into spring?

For me in the past week it has been hearing more bird activity at Northfield Square Mall in the mornings when I walk. In the food court, there are very tall palm trees. I would say some of these trees are as tall a two story house.

When I started walking in the middle of winter, you would hear one or two of these birds, maybe. But this past week I have been hearing – and seeing- more of them. The birds are beginning to pair up, calling for each other and flying about in that small tree-filled area. As I do my walk throughout the mall, I do not see or hear the birds. They stay in that small area. Hearing them makes me feel as if warm weather is about to get here.

Speaking of walking at the mall, I am beginning to notice more people are doing it. I am seeing all of the regular people who were there when I started. But now I am seeing others. It is girlfriends, couples, fathers and sons, and one set of girlfriends who has a young child in a stroller. It is getting a little crowded at times but this is a good kind of crowded. Everyone who is there is working on their better health – or in my case – to fit in skinny jeans by May.

Back to the topic at hand, which was sure signs of spring? Yesterday it was snowing when I took my son to his high school but by afternoon that snow was melted away. That is one of my favorite signs of spring. That means there is no great pile up of the white stuff, no long lasting snow on the ground to reflect the sun’s heat back to space.

And that can only mean sometime soon my husband will hoe a row for spring peas in the tradition of his grandmother. This year he will not do it in February as he has done in past years. It will have to wait for March. And March starts next week.

March signals the end of high school basketball. And it starts into the March Madness Final Four basketball tournament. How do my husband and his friends celebrate? They get-together on that first weekend of 24/7 games, play cards, drink beer and have a no-holds barred guy time.

By the time it is all over, well, spring has made definite inroads.

However, the best sign of spring by far is when I hear those four magical words.

“Pitchers and catchers report.”

Now starts the daily reports of Cubs and White Sox baseball spring training camp. Now we get to hear about who is playing where, if there are any spectacular last minute deals, how much is the MLB network is going to have to edit what Ozzie says in their new reality series called The Club. Oh yes, baseball is back!

Do you have any sure signs of spring?

Karyn Bowman lives in Kankakee County with her outdoor writer husband and four children. Become friends with Karyn on Facebook or send an e-mail to momgoestothemovies@sbcglobal.net.

by Karyn Bowman

Many of my weekday mornings are spent at Northfield Square Mall from 8 am till 9 am.

It is not because there are terrific sales going on at that time of the day. In fact, most of the stores are closed or only have one or two people in them, adjusting displays or doing the daily clean up work. Only Taco John’s is open to provide beverages to those early walkers.

What I – and several other people – go for is the chance to walk without having to deal with the cold weather. Some people are walking by themselves, others are in two’s and three’s. All are walking around the mall at the pace that best suits them. Depending on how fast you go, it can take 10- 15 minutes to go around the entire building.

Many times when I am walking, I join my pastor and his wife. They go at a pretty fast clip, which is great for me. At this rate I am going to be losing my left-over pregnancy belly by springtime. Because of the various studies that have stated and verified that belly fat is a leading factor in heart problems and diabetes, I am trying to decrease mine. Let me give credit to where credit is due because I do not think I would be seeing changes already if were not for Debbie’s quick steps.

I think I have shared in the past that my family has a history of heart attacks and diabetes. I do not want to be like my grandmother, who had her first heart attack when she was forty. Nor do I want to be the next relative who announces they have diabetes. That is why I walk in the mall every morning I get.

Besides losing my love handles, there is another benefit. I get to learn great snippets of information. I recently heard a group of men talking about the History Channel’s new reality show called Pawn Stars. This is a show about a pawn shop that has ritzier clientele and interesting items that come in. Having never seen the show before, I am willing to tune in to this new gem on Monday nights.

 Another thing I’ve learned, besides Wet Seal having the boots I want, is that Aéropostale is having a great deal on jeans. You bring in an old pair that can be donated to Haiti and the store will give you 25% off on a new pair of jeans. You cannot miss the huge packing boxes in the windows.

According to the website, some of Aéropostale’s jeans start at $45 – $50. But that doesn’t mean the price is still at that level. What I do think is great is that commerce is willing to do something to help others in a time of great need. For more information call the Northfield Square Mall location at (815) 935-8850.

I am not sure what else I am going to learn on these daily walks but I am willing to find out!

Karyn Bowman is also known as Mom Goes to the Movies. She lives in Kankakee County with her outdoor writer husband and four children. Become friends with Karyn on Facebook.