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As I type, it appears that our limited movement is going to be a reality for at least a short period of time. For most outdoorsy people, this can be a problem. Last week I shared a few things to do to help pass the time. Today I am going to share a few more.

1. Yard work — I can’t believe that I would ever even dream of yard work as an option to pass the time, but I guess desperate times call for desperate measures. We are having some amazing spring weather so you might as well take advantage of it while you can. Now is a good time to mow the grass, weed-eat, trim the bushes and maybe even scratch around in the dirt. This will help you get a little exercise and also provide a beautiful yard for your enjoyment. For the deer hunters out there, look at this as practice for preparing a food plot.
2. Bird watching — Most of my experience with birds has been with ducks, dove, and geese and my focus has been on hunting them. The springtime is definitely not a time for duck hunting but it can be a great time to watch and enjoy the local birds. There are swallows, red birds, blue jays, finches, doves, blackbirds, and a variety of other birds that can be viewed right in your very own yard. Take this opportunity to photograph a few of them, admire their beauty and enjoy their songs. As I watch the birds in my yard, I am reminded that God watches over and takes care of them, and He will certainly take care of His people.
3. Enjoy sunrises and sunsets — As hunters and fisherman, we have plenty of opportunities to watch the sun rise and set. In fact these views are one of the things I love about hunting, fishing and being outdoors. However, I must confess that I haven’t been waking up early enough to see the sunrise and honestly haven’t made it a point to see the sun set. Everyday God paints a beautiful picture for me to enjoy. Sunrises and sunsets are calming. Sit on your porch and enjoy them. Take pictures and share them on social media. Maybe they will brighten up someone else’s day as well.
4. Play with your pet — Last week I mentioned that it was a great time to train your dog and that is definitely the case.  Even if you don’t feel like training, just play with your animals. For one, they are probably glad that you are home (unless you have a cat). Just think about it — you don’t even have to worry about petting them too much and getting hair everywhere because now you have plenty of time to clean it up!

Remember that this season that we are in will not last forever and we will one day be back to business as usual. Take the opportunity to enjoy what you can, make calls and send messages to encourage others. Remember that Jesus is our hope!

Brian Johnson, originally of Port Neches, is pastor of First Baptist Church of Winnie, owner of DuckDogTrainer.com and outdoors writer for The News.