This is February

[muckefuck]

Since I missed the Groundhog Day festivities last weekend, I'm not sure what kind of weather I'm supposed to be expecting for the near term. Last night after supper, it was snowing great guns--we could hardly see a block in any direction--but it had tapered off to an icy flurry by the time I shlepped home through two inches of fresh snow. The tree branches were heavily laden but the loveliest sight was actually the chain-link fence outside the Saddle and Cycle Club. Snow had half-filled many of the openings leaving an alternating pattern of soft white triangles and murky darkness.

By this morning, the snowmelt was already dripping from above and pooling on the street. Walking to the burriteria at lunchtime meant keeping an eye peeled for near-invisible slush slicks and carefully skirting huge piles of brackish water. (On his way to meet us Saturday night, SBIL saw a distracted pedestrian wade ankle-deep into one small urban lake before realising what she was doing.) The ground is still solidly white, however, and there's an evocative gray mist oozing between buildings and trees.

They're predicted thunderstorms for tonight and tomorrow followed by more snow. Such an odd week! It's already bizarre enough that we have a rare conjunction of early Mardi Gras and late Chinese New Year. I feel sorry for the Chinese Catholics, but the rest of us could party the first three days of the week and barely pause for Ash Wednesday prayers before ushering in the Year of the Rat that same evening.

Comments

[f8n-begorra.livejournal.com]

And how about the Irish first day of Spring (Lá Féile Bride)?


Cill Aodáin
le Antaine Ó Reachtaire (1784-1835)

Anois teacht an Earraigh beidh an lá dul chun síneadh,
Is tar eis na féile Bríde ardóidh mé mo sheol.
Ó chuir mé i mo cheann é ní stopfaidh me choíche
Go seasfaidh mé thíos i lár Chondae Mhaigh Eo.
I gClár Clainne Mhuiris a bhéas mé an chéad oíche,
Is i mBalla taobh thíos de 'thosós mé ag ól,
Go Coillte Mach rachad go ndéanfad cuairt mhíosa ann,
I bhfogas dhá mhíle do Bhéal an Áth' Mhóir.

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

Go raibh maith agat, a spideoigín!