It's ridiculous how badly I want it to be spring

Like I seriously cannot even think of anything else right now...ok that's an exaggeration but there are times during the day where I seriously cannot stop thinking about plants and flowers and plans for my plants and flowers and thinking about what I'll use to replace something that doesn't make it and what I need to divide and what I want to add and...okay, you get my point right??

While I cannot WAIT for the warm up this weekend I know it's going to make going back into winter, which is inevitable, that much harder.

I will probably take pictures tomorrow of what might be sprouting to comapre to least year and I think I'll also take advantage of the lovely temperatures and start doing some garden clean up. at least cut back the dead stuff (I leave most of the dead stuff in place over winter, it adds interest and the birds can pick the seed pods clean) and pick up the leaves. I'd also love to convince Chris to clean out the burn pile (lots of whood stacked up by the house from the basement step project and other various wood projects that we just cleaned out of the basement) and our christmas tree and take it to the barn for the next bon fire.

mostly because I think that would be the perfect spot for me to start my next project - Winter Sowing.
This will be the first year I'm trying this, I'm skeptical but it's such a simple concept I think it has major potential.
If you're interested here's the link wintersown.org but in essence, this is what winter sowing is all about...you sow seeds in containers during the winter (for hardy perennials, in early/mid spring for tender perennials and annuals - but it doesn't matter because it's still early to do any real gardening anyway), put them outside with some sort of clear or light colored cover/lid with holes for drainage and for air transporation and let Mother Nature do the rest. The seeds will germinate when they are supposed to and after increasing the number of air holes over the course of a few days and uncovering when it's warm and covering when it's too cold you essentially leave them be as the little seedlings grow through spring until it's safe to plant them out. Depending on how the seeds are sown you may transplant them into individual cell packs before they're ready to grow in the ground and with some minimal protection through the major swings in temperature and making sure they don't fry, freeeze or dry out it's pretty much as simple as seed starting gets.

-From the FAQ's on the winter sown forum on gardenweb.com:
"Winter Sown germination is never forced, the seedings are put in the ground while very small and initially fed with weak fertilizer solutions. They come into bloom at their own right time, and they achieve their height and width at a gradual pace....they develop naturally and are vigorous and healthy because of it.

Seed sowing and germination should be simple...that IS the emphasis of Winter Sowing. We do less work and are rewarded with more seedlings because of it. It's an uncomplicated method....keeping it simple will always keep it fun."

The real difference between direct sowing in the garden and winter sowing is the seeds are protected from being washed away, eaten by birds and other critters or blow away in the wind. You also have more control over where you want to plant them in the spring and there seems to be a higher success rate in germination this way. The major advantage over starting them indoors (well there are a bunch of advantages) but mostly you're not wasting space in the fridge for the seeds that need cold moist stratification, you don't have grow light set ups all over your house that can make your neighbors think you're growing pot and every inch of available shelf/counter/table/floor space isn't covered with flats of seedlings. Oh, and you don't have to lug the flats in and out of the house to harden the seedlings off.

I can't wait to try this out!! :)