Nine days ago it was 80 degrees, five minutes ago it was 40 degrees and sleeting. Now the sun is shining, rain is falling and steam is rising along the pavement in a wet mix of fallen petals and momentary reflections.

I don't know whether I just heard thunder or a yard waste cart. Has there ever been wilder April weather? Despite the snow the tulips are in bloom and to my annual amazement the trees are transforming from bare branches to newborn green leaf in the space of one week. Would that green space and parks could be created as quickly; as though through time-lapse photography.

Just as the weather couldn't seem to hold to one season I have jumped from project to project this last week, distracted by every sunburst, every downpour. We should all blame the record-breaking temperatures of April 12 for addling our brains, as though pickled in one day of summer. As the warm front moved in there were roars accompanying softball games that went on long after dark. Supporters of Adams Elementary flocked the Ballard Community Center for the silent portion (give or take disco music) that was open to the public. The buses were full to downtown and back as many journeyed to Qwest and Safeco fields for either Seeds of Compassion or the Mariner's game. Meanwhile I cycled through as many possible stories as the weather did changes; with little to show for my efforts except notes on scrap paper.

There are so many things happening in Ballard these days that I often feel overwhelmed by all the events, from a local institution closing its doors to wondering why there would four (4!) DHL trucks parked at the Ballard Community Center. In an article written by Dean Wong last week I read that Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske remarked at a Rotary Meeting that if the North End were a city, it would be the third largest in Washington. That occupied my thoughts for at least a day, trying to wrap my mind around what that means for us in the Northwest sector. It gets harder and harder to pretend that we live in a small community.

Sunset Bowl closed its doors to its regulars and the auctioneer prepared to open its doors for the sale of all equipment. Work continued around the newly delivered crane at the QFC site on Northwest 24th even as work finally started at "Danielle" across the street, closing Northwest 24th sidewalks on both sides. Meanwhile just one block north a newcomer with a dream of creating a place for regional, sustainable and select organic beer and wine in an intimate setting has been working to nights to restore the storefront to its 1930's glory. Speaking with Robert Becker Jr., future proprietor, about the origins of the wood in what will become The Stepping Stone was like talking to a botanist about plants.

So many people in Ballard working so hard, some for hourly pay, others for the hope of future success, a crew of volunteer parents at Adams Elementary devoting months to preparing for the auction funds they need to provide tutoring, outdoor education and improvements to the playground. There have been groups mobilizing to ensure that Webster Park stays in public hands and that the Crown Hill Project can reach an agreement with Seattle Public Schools to acquire the site off Holman Road and keep it a space for community programs.

So much action and contrast in a part of town that has not been "sleepy" in over a decade, if ever. In the space of a week we've had a heat wave and ice pellets on top of the cherry petals that usually pass for April's snow. I've seen tulip trees in glorious bloom; a woman walking two small dogs and a white ferret. I've attended a "silent" auction that was loud, yet I couldn't seem to hold onto any one image long enough to form a thought, until I spoke with Lillian Riley.

Lillian Riley has lived in Ballard since 1967. She put aside a late lunch to speak with me by telephone about her role in creating Webster Park. She didn't want to be the subject of a column but she did share advice she would have for others in the community, especially those who want to create a lasting project. "Start where you can start," she said. Lillian Riley raised four children, including a set of twins in Ballard. Her children went to Webster School; after it closed the playground was lost to the community so Lillian set out to get it back. As part of the process she realized that she needed to organize and so she started Groundswell NW in 1989; the park was completed in 1997.

"My husband says I'm pretty darn stubborn," Lillian told me, "all those years I'm sure there were plenty of officials who were thinking 'why don't you just go away?' But when I make the effort, well, patience is a virtue. It's a winning virtue." Lillian also realized that to become strong, Groundswell needed to be more than a single project. Under the leadership of subsequent presidents Groundswell NW has taken on varied open space/park projects in the Northwest area of Seattle. On the question of future ownership of Webster Park, Lillian was cautiously hopeful, "There's a whole new generation of families, and they're ready to defend the existence of the park."

The volunteers at Adams can envision a 3-D mural as part of their playground improvements whereas Robert Becker Jr. works his day job in restoration while planning to create a new gathering place for people interested in supporting local products. The Crown Hill Project is committed to acquiring open space and a building that can continue to house a pre-school program and numerous youth and education groups. Jef/ at Austin Cantina can see potential beyond the closed sidewalk at his door and has opened for lunch to serve construction workers and neighbors their chili. So goes this strange April in Ballard, from thunderclap to online petition, from school art in the library to graffiti on the reader board, from fundraiser to fundraiser. As the weather prepares for another dramatic shift I return to Lillian's words because they can be applied to anything in the world that is worth doing, "You start where you can start."

Peggy can be reached atlargeinballard@yahoo.com. She writes additional pieces at http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/ballard.