flowering trees

It’s Official! (Kinda)

| Melia Alexander

Mother Nature is such a tease.  Either that or she’s flat-out sadistic.

After months of torturous rain and clouds and cold and sometimes even *gasp* snow, some of us in the great Pacific NW crave warmer spring weather the way a certain writer-person-who-shall-remain-anonymous craves a great pair of shoes.  (*Whistles while looking at the ceiling*)

The thing is, once the sun breaks through and the temperatures rise to about the mid-60’s (even a brush with it for ten minutes will do), Mother Nature knows she’s got us optimists suckered.  We become so sure that it’s a sign the rain’s gone.  We’re captivated by the slim hope that the weather reporters are wrong, and this time the sunshine and warm temperatures will hang around until November.

Sadly, spring in our part of the world typically translates into . . . more rain.

But the optimist in me searches for signs of warmer, drier weather the same way I attack the shoe rack during a Nordstrom sale.

For years I'd sworn I'd take a picture of these trees when they bloom in the spring. This is the first time I'd actually done it! These beauties surround the ball field at the corporate offices of the Male Observation Lab. They're a sure sign spring has arrived!
These beauties surround the ball field at the corporate offices of the Male Observation Lab.
Hot Cross Buns on Easter morning.
Hot Cross Buns on Easter morning. 🙂
I wish I could say this was my garden. Sadly, it's not. But I do get to visit when I see my good friend (and the best seamstress EVER!) Sharon. She makes growing stuff (and keeping them alive) look so easy!
I get to visit this garden when I see my good friend (and the best seamstress EVER!) Sharon. She makes growing stuff (and keeping them alive) look so easy!
My boys, Bennett (on his back) and Alex love to soak up the sun. Add a bit of catnip and they're in kitty nirvana! :-)
My boys, Bennett (on his back) and Alex, insist on a sunbath when the weather warms up even a teensy bit.  Add a bit of catnip and they’re in kitty nirvana! 🙂
Nothing gets between Alex and his 'nip. Not even mom begging for him to look at the camera!
Nothing gets between Alex and his ‘nip. Not even mom begging him to look at the camera!
Bare legs! Yeah, I shoulda taken this outdoors, maybe in a parking lot somewhere to prove it was warm enough. I might actually have to replace this picture. Hmmm. . . a skirt to the Male Observation Lab today?
Bare legs! Yeah, I shoulda taken this outdoors, maybe in a parking lot somewhere to prove it was warm enough. I might actually have to replace this picture. Hmmm. . . a skirt to the Male Observation Lab today?

So while some rain is in the forecast this week, I’m hanging onto the belief that spring will eventually warm up (and dry up!) enough for us to come out of hibernation and spend some quality time outdoors.  After all, it happens every year!  🙂

How do you know when spring has arrived in your part of the world?

-Melia