The weather here in the mid-Atlantic is predicted to turn much colder. After enjoying a few days in the low 60's and high 50's there is a sense of dread with the upcoming forecast.

But maybe not.

The worst part about mid-Atlantic winters is that it never gets cold enough to enjoy winter activities such as ice-skating or cross country skiing. If it is going to be cold, it might as well be COLD. 40 degrees is too cold to play golf, basketball, etc. But obviously not cold enough to snow or freeze.

I don't always remember it this way. I recall skating on frozen ponds in high school. But not since the winter of 2014 has it been THAT cold consistently. (That winter we experienced a prolonged polar vortex. I remember that decisively as my wife and I were living in an english basement with no heat.)

With the expected "coldest January in a decade" ahead I am thinking of ways to harness the cold to enjoy the activities I remember as a kid -- primarily ice skating outside.

I looked up outdoor ice rinks and there are several options -- with EZ Ice looking to be the easiest to install. It's also over $2,000.00. I'd rather not pay that kind of money for something that may or may not be used, depending on mother nature's cooperation.

"You can just build things" is a refrain you hear on tech twitter (X). Whenever I see this, it never feels like it is speaking to me. Aspirational and ambitious, yes? Attainable, maybe less so.

But maybe not.

The flattest part of my yard is my driveway. We live on a step hill but the driveway is completely flat. It's long, but narrow. It's the only place where a homemade ice rink could work. It's not for me, it's for my kids so the size doesn't need to be that big. They are just learning to skate anyway.

Buy a tarp, build a frame, stabilize it, and fill it with water. Doesn't seem complicated. But only if you are willing to "just build things".

We'll see.