Does winter seem never ending? Is it still too dark, too cold, or too bleak? Let's beat back the doldrums by scoping out opportunities to add zest to the days ahead.

February offers much more to celebrate than just Valentine's Day. Did you know this is also American Heart Month, American History Month, Black History Month, Children's Dental Health Month, International Friendship Month, Cherry Month, National Embroidery Month, National Grapefruit Month, National Snack Food Month, National Wild Bird Feeding Month, Responsible Pet Owners' Month? Coming up with activities that connect to these commemorations can certainly make days interesting, and Backyard Birds is ready to help you make National Wild Bird Feeding Month a gratifying adventure that benefits our feathered friends when they need it most.

Ready for more February designations? How about Adopt A Rescued Rabbit Month, AMD/Low Vision Awareness Month, Beans (Dried and Fresh) Month? It's also Dog Training Education Month, Exotic Vegetables and Star Fruit Month, International Boost Self-Esteem, International Expect Success Month, Library Lovers Month, Love The Bus Month, National Care About Your Indoor Air Month, National Hot Breakfast Month. A few more to let you create festivities: National Laugh-Friendly Month, National Mend A Broken Heart Month, National Pet Dental Health Month, National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, National Time Management Month, National Women Inventors Month, Plant the Seeds of Greatness Month, Return Shopping Carts to the Supermarket Month. What amazing variety!

A list of weekly February observances holds possibilities for tie-in activity with a Broad Ripple connection: Solo Diners Eat Out Weekend: 1-7,Women's Heart Week: 1-7, Boy Scout Anniversary Week: 2-8 Children's Authors & Illustrators Week: 2-8, Just Say No to PowerPoint Week: 2-8, Have A Heart for A Chained Dog Week: 7-14, Celebration of Love Week: 9-15 Jell-O Week: 9-15, National Pancake Week: 9-15, Random Acts of Kindness Week: 9-15, Great Backyard Bird Count: 14-17, National Nestbox Week: 14-21, National Engineers Week: 16-22, National Entrepreneurship Week: 17-22, National Secondhand Wardrobe Week: 23-3/1. I'm going to target a couple of these myself and invite friends along to join the occasions.

Are you exhausted yet? Just in case you want still more reasons to party: February 1 is Change Your Password Day and February 2 is Groundhog Day and XLVIII Superbowl. Woo Hoo! Break out the snacks! February 7 is Bubble Gum Day and Girl Scout Cookie Day. Autism Sunday is the 9th. Don't forget Lincoln's Birthday on February 12 and Presidents Day on the 17th. Certainly you can't forget to celebrate National Gum Drop Day (15th) or International Tongue Twister Day and National Margarita Day, both on the 22nd. It's time raise a toast to George Washington that day as well. For Pete's Sake Day on the 26th and National Tooth Fairy Day on the 28th have me closing out February exhausted.

Hope you don't have a birthday this month because I am all partied out! Just think, we have to be ready to celebrate Mardi Gras on March 4th.