First Signs of Spring

Flowers have been blooming here for weeks! 

K and T informed me that in school here they are taught that spring officially starts on February 1st to honor St. Brigid. They celebrate the arrival of longer and warmer days, and the early signs of spring. According to the pagan legend, they were able to make even the rocky farms of Ireland productive. The pagans honored St. Brigid on February 1st because it was the first day of spring in the pagan calendar. The pagan calendar had a feast on the first day of summer (May 1st), autumn (August 1st), and winter (November 1st) - these were each tied to a figure that had special powers. These four figures were canonized by the Catholic Church and their saints day became the official start of the Irish seasonal calendar. No...Ireland does not still follow the pagan calendar, it follows a "seasonal" calendar which just happens to coincide with the pagan calendar! Interesting!

St. Brigid

I finally finished filling the skip! I had 3 piles accumulating in the house - charity, relatives, and the skip. Once I had that thing full I called my cousin to have the guy come and get it asap. Then we could park the car on the driveway again instead of out in the street.  Now I just need to drop off everything in the boot (trunk) of the car at the charity shop. Were getting there slowly but surely! 

There goes the SKIP!

T found an old cell phone from the stuff in the attic. Its just one of the old style flip phones. He was looking at it for a long time and said, "Mom...this just has numbers...how did you use this?". Seriously T! I'm starting to feel OLD! 

T trying to understand how you use this
phone with only numbers...no letters or big screen! 

K has been going to more soccer practices lately since she is enjoying playing with both the U12 and U11 teams. The weather has been much nicer the last two weeks so she has been walking to and from school. She has it all timed out with her friends and they pick girls up on the way to school and by the time they get to school there are 6 of them together. K and her friend S have to leave first though because they are the farthest from the school. She has been setting her alarm every morning, making her lunch, and getting dressed all by herself. I love this girl!! 

Hot Chocolate date night with T and L while K is at soccer practice

I thought this house was so cute. Its right next to K's school.