Goodbye to January

is not of course goodbye to Winter but it may be hello to the first signs of Spring. Our birds think so anyway!

Then there's
Groundhog Day/Candlemass -- 2nd when I always remember the groundhog we saw at Blue Mounds Minnesota in 2012 :)

Valentine's Day -- 14th -- Steak -- Chateauneuf du Pape -- heart shaped biscuits
Shrove Tuesday -- 17th -- Pancakes of course
Chinese New Year -- 19th -- Sweet n Sour Duck -- it's the Year of the Green Sheep apparently -- couldn't find any of those yet but maybe there will be some on the day ;)

leaves begin to sprout

catkins are out

snowdrops proliferate and crocuses and daffs are sure to follow  -- if not quite yet.

and anyway there are flowers to be had at Wallington and Belsay 

in any season

outdoors in season and indoors out of season

So January wasn't such a bad month after all

And I am looking forward to February -- a little jewel of a month :) and to reading Poetry for The Linnet's Wings which is open for SUBMISSIONS 1st-14th February.