As I put pen to paper this week, or actually fingers to keyboard, I was surprised to discover that many of the springtime events or activities I would typically write about were not occurring. The answer as to why that was happening is rather easy to figure out. It has to be the weather.

Old man winter is holding on with a hard tenacious grasp this year. Below normal temperatures, dreary rain, wind and overcast skies are lingering well into what is now the last week of April. And the toll it is taking on everyone and everything is becoming apparent. I will admit it, I am getting more than a little bitter about it.

A few hardcore vegetables held over from last year cling steadfastly to my P-Patch garden like the sad little reminders of a happier, sunnier time. My fingers itch for drier soil to rake, dig and plant. Only the weeds really seem to thrive under these conditions. And thriving they are. Everywhere imaginable along with recent outcroppings of mushrooms, dandelions and moss that insist on joining in on the fun.

Washing the car seems like an effort in futility as I can rarely keep it clean for more than a day.  Hmmm, I hope I can still remember how to work the convertible top. It’s been awhile. Also forget about planting those really pretty annuals in pots, baskets or flower beds.  Unless you like the look of frost- bitten brown leaves surrounding your flowers throughout much of the summer.

Typically this time of the year, the kids are making the most of the extra daylight and start spending the maximum amount of time possible running, biking and skating outside. Not so this year. Like many other moms, my efforts to encourage fresh air excursions have become a detailed process of negotiation over what layers to wear, what to stay out of, how to avoid a hardcore mud fest and what the minimum amount of expected time is to stay outside.

Colorful, lightweight clothes and matching sandals cry out from my closet for attention only to be ignored once again in favor of that dark bulky sweater that has seen way too much action since January.

Not having my hamburger buns get wet on my way back from the barbecue, well that would be a nice start.

Spring fever? Yeah, right. You need the spring to have the fever. May? Please don’t let us down. We need you to make up for April and put the spring back into spring.

Hang in there, Bremerton. We will have the warm sun shining on our raised faces before you know it and soon will be back to doing, and writing about, the local spring activities we all so enjoy.