Imbolc

Today is Imbolc, the Celtic festival celebrating the start of Spring. There are various ideas about the word's derivation from the Irish, based around the pregnancy of sheep and birth of the first lambs; though asserting it can be traced back to neolithic language is, to be polite, etymologically challenging. And of course, as was common practice with the early Christian church, Candlemas has been plonked on top.

Anyway, haven't we  been posting photos of new shoots for the last few days?  Lambing has indeed started. Birds are pairing up and inspecting nest sites. [Note to self: get that chimney cover on, fast.] We can all feel the earth stirring under our feet if we pay attention.

So, joining the merry rush towards warmer days, here are some catkins.