“People are generally relieved if Imbolc is a day of foul weather…

“…as it means the Cailleach is asleep and winter is almost over”, says Wikipedia
Was yesterday a day of foul weather? It depends on your perspective, I think.
From the inside of our warm kitchen, it just looked beautiful:

But if you were trying to get home on the blocked up bypass last night, it probably [...]

Candlemas tomorrow

.. and it seems appropriate to get my planting schedule sorted out, which is one of the things I plan to work on today and tomorrow, and to blog about it all over there.
We’ve also got candles ready, and I’m hoping someone will cut some firewood today as well. I quite fancy making an [...]

Don’t try to tell me..

.. that spring is not on its way!
Here’s a pot of hyacinth bulbs, sitting in our yard yesterday in the warm sunshine:

Those are green shoots. They are! Take a closer look:

So it’s Imbolc on Monday. I’m planning my planting schedule this week, and I’ve already bought my early potato seeds.
OK, there might be [...]

Midwinter, firmly put to bed.

I couldn’t resist posting another sunlight pic:

And I planted our little rooted Christmas tree yesterday:

which, along with this very early sign of spring firmly put midwinter to bed, I felt.
What’s next? Candelmas. I’ve got my candles ready.

Epiphany

epiphany n. 1a the manifestation of Christ to the Magi according to the biblical account. b the festival commemorating this on 6th January. 2 any manifestation of a god or demigod. [ME f gk epiphaneia manifestation f. epiphaino reveal]
– Concise Oxford Dictionary
“An epiphany is the sudden realization or comprehension of the (larger) essence [...]

The light returns

I’m extremely conscious of the slightly longer days now. It’s fully light at 8am, and until just about 4pm here now, thank goodness! A very cheering thing.

I’m not worried about disturbing the ground any more, because it feels like it’s waking up now. In fact, there are signs of new green growth already:

Our [...]