Twixt the Worm Moon and the Equinox

Although in some ways the climate in these Western regions is more benign than elsewhere, here at Gribin Isaf – nearly 1000 feet up – we are late arrivals at Spring celebrations.

But now we have seen the signs:

When Ewe Number 1 with Lamb Number 1 appears next door

Shortly followed by Ewe Number 2 with two Lambs Numbers 2

and then…

Well it doesn’t quite work like that but before long baby sitting arrangements have been made

The Snowdrops are going to seed

and being replaced by…

an eruption

If someone had the idea of something you buried in your garden and forgot about for most of the year only to burst forth…

…you would think they were mad – or a genius.

When such eruptions receive their first visit from our bees

we know things are really stirring

New life in the shed

Old life on the watch

we feel we can shake off the darkness

52 minutes off

11 hours 8 minutes of daylight today – another 52 minutes and we will reach that magic day.

Each evening the hens are going to bed a few minutes later and when the sky is clear letting the setting sun get through

they are tempted to stay up a little later to view the show.

The soil is warming up, tempting up the worms. The moon right now is only disclosing 11.3%

but by the 18th of the month it will be a full blown Worm Moon to celebrate their rising.

Other life is rising

budding

swelling

So, as the sun goes down again

We look forward to another four minutes and seven seconds of daylight tomorrow

before we look any further ahead

St David’s Day Ritual

St David’s Day here in Wales and time for the traditional activity…

First you need the Yellow Bucket

And it is off on a search for the product of thoughtless sex.

Sometimes it is in a rut that will soon dry up…

Sometimes it is in a puddle in the middle of a road…

Here it is in a fast running stream, soon to be flushed away

Rescued and taken somewhere sensible

Which happens to be our little lake