Winter in West Michigan is particularly brutal, mostly because the season stretches on for months and months. Typically, it starts snowing in November but some years there is significant snowfall before Halloween. Then it keeps snowing, reaching its peak near February, then continues until March and some years even April (one year, 10 inches of snow fell on April Fool’s day, I was not amused).
The days get shorter, grayer, and colder. Just when you think you’ve rounded the corner into spring, it snows again. We Michiganders usually don’t care much for spring either, which is a wet, muddy mess due to large amounts of (dirty) snow melting and causing massive flooding. Basically, we have six months of winter grime to look forward to until summer comes.
While it is usually abundant, the growing season is painfully short and often subject to unseasonable frost and snow storms. During these months, eating local is not really an option. Farmer’s Markets usually do not start until the end of May, and even then the offerings are meager until late June. Until then, what’s a local girl to do? There are only so many sweet potatoes and apples one can eat before going a little crazy.
Unfortunately, it’s only December and I have already had enough. Most of the time, I can make it through to the new year before becoming annoyed with it all, but significant early snowfall and a particularly heinous January-March of 2008 has left me jaded. Predictions of a blizzard-ridden 2009 do not help matters, as it appears I can look forward to more of the same. Plus, salt stains on the bottom of your jeans? So not attractive.
The forecast? So very Bitter (and cold).
