Great Things to Do on a Rainy Day
By Joan Whetzel
We all love a sunny day. There’s so much you can do outdoors on a sunny day. The very nature of a sunny day entices us outdoors to enjoy the warmth and bright light. All the positive effects of sunny weather tend to make us think of these days as pleasant weather. Rainy days, on the other hand, have received a bad rap as inclement weather, nasty weather, bad hair days – in other words, just plain bad. Personally, I love a rainy day, or a rainy night (good sleeping weather). I find there are a bazillion things I can do when it rains. In fact, I often find I can get more things done when it’s raining because I don’t have that pesky sun egging me on to go outside and play or tempting me to stare out the window wishing I was playing instead stuck inside working.
So what can you do on a rainy day?
- Cleaning Inside. Cleaning house is never my idea of fun. But, since I’m stuck inside anyway, I may as well get it done. I find it passes the time so quickly, that by the time I’ve finished the house work, the rain has usually stopped and the sun has come out to entice me back outside to play again.
- Repairs Around the House. Like house cleaning, home repairs pass the time quickly. I find that I feel good about having accomplished even the smallest tasks like changing light bulbs, oiling squeaky door hinges, or hanging that picture I had framed a while back. Of course, some of the heavier tasks I either need my husband’s help, or I let my husband do as one of his rainy day fix-it jobs.
- Mending Clothes I can't afford to go out and buy new clothes all the time, so I like to make my clothes last a little longer by replacing missing buttons, repairing split seams, and re-hemming pants and shirts. But I don’t always get to it in a timely fashion. Yeah, I am guilty of letting my mending go. Rainy days are perfect for getting that mending done. It’s also a way to keep your hands busy while aimlessly watching TV.
- Crochet a Blanket. Crocheting feeds my creative nature. It’s repetitive enough that I can also do this in front of the TV, once I get the pattern down. I love crocheting the most when it’s a cold rainy day because, once the blanket starts getting longer, it helps keep my legs warm.
- Knit a Sweater . I don’t knit but I know a few people who do. Knitting is a great way keeping the hands busy and letting the mind wander, especially on a rainy day.
- Sew. I love sewing, though I don’t do it as much as I used to. My sewing machine is in front of a north-facing window, which means it gets great light year round, without the sun shining directly in my face on those pesky sunny days. I find it's really nice to sew on rainy days, though, because the light is muted and I find the rain and the whir of the sewing machine are both quite calming.
- Cook or Making Soup. I like cooking things – like soup or roast chicken – on rainy days. For some reason, the foods that cook slowly over a few hours, always seem to smell and taste better on rainy days.
- Bake. Baking is kind of like cooking. Though most baking doesn’t take that long., the baked goods – ooey, gooey brownies or chocolate chip cookies; hot apple pie; bread (alright, this one takes a while) - always smell and taste so-o-o good on a rainy day.
- Draw or Paint Pictures. I like drawing with pastels and I find that rainy weather always seems to inspire me. The only thing that messes me up is that I can’t go outside and spray on the fixative until after the rain stops. Anyone with a preference for oil paints may find that the rain slows down the drying time, but if you’re not in a hurry, does that really matter?
- Write . Rainy days are my best writing days. I don’t have the sun beckoning me outside. I also find that the rain seems to clear my mind at the same time it’s clearing the air, like it’s changing my brain wave pattern and making it easier to write somehow. Of course, this is probably just my imagination.
- Snuggle Up with a Blanket and a Good Book or a Movie. My favorite rainy day activity. Who can resist this one?
- Singing in the Rain, or Dancing, or Playing. When was the last time you enjoyed playing in the rain, stomping in the puddles, splashing around and just having fun getting wet? If it’s been awhile, grab one of your kids or grandkids – or one of the neighbor’s kids – and go run outside and have fun.
I know I’m missing some absolutely fabulous rainy day activities. Guess I’ll have to come back and add them as I remember them.
