February 2nd is groundhog day. It’s also known as Imbolic. It’s a time to celebrate because we’ve made it half way through the winter. The days are getting longer, and in six weeks, it will be the spring equinox~equal hours of light and dark. It’s a time of new beginnings.
It’s time to start thinking about the garden I’ll be planting this summer. In some warmer climates it’s even time to begin plowing.
For now, I’ll gather my seeds and wait a bit longer.
I’ll light a candle and gather pretty rocks from nature. I’ll celebrate the first stirrings of spring that are usually hidden beneath a blanket of snow.
still life
This time is also the celebration of the first lambs/kids. In fact we celebrated my oldest goats’ birthdays yesterday. I plan for new births on the farm. One of my birthday girls, Millie, is due to have a kid on March 2nd.
Millie Ann Saanen
I’ve also decided that Lily is indeed bred to have kids on March 2. Looking at her round belly you’d think that was obvious, but she’s also just fat.
Lily Osboer
What finally has me convinced is the beginning of an udder (oh, she’d be mad at me for this picture).
My girls born last March are getting ready to become mothers themselves in the summer.
Bonnie Blackboer
I am enjoying an increase in the number of eggs I’m finding in the chicken coop.
This is Imbolic.
birth and death cycles
filled with life’s beauty between
Mother Nature’s craft
Linking to Farmgirl Friday.
Linking to You Capture where the theme this week is still life.
Linking to Friday’s Fences.
Linking to A Reason to Be Cheerful hosted by Planet Penny.
Source HERE.
Teresa
Eden Hills 
Halfway to spring…I like that!
It certainly is a nice thought isn’t it!
thanks for explaining what the day means to you. sounds like a nice reason to celebrate – rather like winter’s ‘hump day’. 🙂
That’s a perfect way of describing it! 🙂
Halfway through the dark of winter, the stirrings of new life, what wonderful reasons to celebrate! I sometimes forget the lesser holidays, thanks for the reminder! 🙂
Other than the fun of seeing a cute groundhog, people tend to forget that this really is an agricultural holiday. Truly lots of reasons to celebrate!
I have never heard of this term…thanks for sharing! I will be soooo happy to welcome spring in!!!
It is a very old term for the celebration. I’m certainly ready for the longer days.
I love your little Goat Girls.
Eggs – we are having a mini-glut of eggs and I don’t know why. Perhaps the hens know something we don’t.
It’s always nice to have a lot of eggs to share. 🙂 These are my young girls. I’m afraid to see how many eggs I’ll be getting in another month or two.
Millies Knocked up?
That Wanton Hussy!
I really liked your candle/garlic pic, it seemed so Spell-Like!!
Fantastic 55 Teresa.
Thanks for playing, and have a Kick Ass Week-End
I must have my multiple personalities mixed up. Glad you stopped by the farm. Millie is due on March 2, and she’s quite pleased with herself. She did not have my permission for this, but when the buck opens the 14-foot gate with a cattle panel wired to it and wired shut, there’s not a lot you can do to stop them.
I don’t know if the peacock has a name, but ____ you are beautiful!
Really a nice post! I have been watching the days getting longer, minute by minute!
It is wonderful every morning to notice the sun coming up when I’m still a bit farther from work and stay up so I’m a bit less rushed for getting chores done in the evening. I’m certainly someone who needs my sunlight.
Happy Imbolc! I am seriously in love with that photo of Bonnie!
Bonnie is a beautiful girl!
I love the idea of celebrating the return of spring in the begining of Febuary. It has been a treat to come home from work and still have a bit of daylight left! Oh, I do love the photo of Bonnie…
I really am starting to notice the lengthening days. It’s so nice. Bonnie is an amazingly beautiful girl!
Lovely post……..will keep us going awhile longer…..spring……
~~Rain
We are half way there! Spring will be here soon.
The goat is posing for you behind the fence. Like:)
Bonnie was posing perfectly. I couldn’t resist.
What a lovely post, it’s great to see all your girls, and the thoughts of Spring to come! Thanks for joining in with Reasons to be Cheerful! x
It’s a wonderful idea~spreading reasons to be cheerful!
Terrific photos. I love the goat on the fence.
Thanks~Bonnie is quite the beauty!
great pics. that goat is too cute!! i love it when animals pose for their picture. makes me smile. i bet they are just like people some enjoy the camera & other run. ha. ha!! (:
That is so true! There’s a couple that really would just prefer not to be photographed, but most enjoy it!
That’s great your hens are laying more. Ours are still be lazy. We’ll get an egg every few days, randomly. I have one hen that hasn’t laid since last summer – and she’s not even 2 yet!
All my hens but one were just hatched the first of August, so they are all just starting. I’m going to have eggs coming out my ears pretty soon. 🙂
Could those gorgeous goats have faces that are any more expressive?? Love them all.
They really are sweet!
what a delightful tour through your farm. didn’t know what groundhog day meant, we don’t have it in Portugal and enjoyed learning about it. have a great weekend. xxo
This is a much older look at the date. Groundhog day has come to mean just a fun day to see if the groundhog sees his shadow, but it is a much older richer tradition than most people celebrate.
the peacock is magnificent and Bonnie at the red fence is fantastic
Thanks. The peacock has just started showing his tail off like spring is already here.
I’m eagerly awaiting spring, although winter has been really mild.
Bonnie looks like she wants a bit of attention! Such a cute photo!
She’s not usually one to stand up on the gate. I can’t even remember what she was so interested in.
gathering the seeds and lighting candles..as a farmer you live much more with the seasons than the office worker does.. can’t wait until spring bursts forth..
I do truly love my life close to nature! These little holidays have a lot more meaning in the country. Thanks for stopping by.
We have had a bumber crop of eggs all winter and I’m very perplexed as to why. We keep the light on as we do every winter, we’re using the same feed we always have, but for some reason we have more eggs than we know what to do with. I think we must just have very industrious hens this season!
As always, love your photos 🙂
Thanks. I was down to getting few eggs, and then the raccoon massacre occured, so having plenty of eggs again is a nice change! I think this weather has everyone messed up~your girls must think it’s still summer and just keep on laying.
planting with seeds is so much more rewarding!! what a wonderful peak in to country living!! i love the eggs!!
Thanks for stopping by. It is nice to be out in the country, and you can’t beat farm fresh eggs!
oh how I would love to have home grown eggs
Bridget #41
They really are so much better than anything you can buy in the store. I am grateful for my girls.
Gorgeous photos, but I love the peacock strutting his stuff. Thanks for stopping by my photo blog.
It is really beautiful to see him out there dancing. Thanks for stopping by.
Wow, you have quite the variety of beautiful animals for subject matter. That must help keep things interesting. I love your banner, all those little goats, made me smile! Thanks for visiting my blog!
It’s never boring around my place!
WOW- love that first one
Thank you.
Wow, I can’t believe that winter is halfway done and spring is coming soon! I wonder if our spring will be delayed since our autumn and winter happened at the same time….
Looks like you’ll be busy at the beginning of March with the new births! Can’t wait to meet the new members of your goat family!
I’m thinking we might have a late spring as long as we stayed warm. I guess only time will tell.
I love your pics! I am linking to Bonnie Blackboer in a blog post, which will be up later today at http://www.toadmama.com.
I will certainly come and check it out.
Beautiful post on Imbolic…you always post such pretty pics. only 1 more month for new sweet babies, cant wait to see them. Thats when I have to dry up my girls… dang I’m gonna miss their milk for a few months.
Minnie finally cut her production down enough that I’m letting her dry up, so I’m back to buying milk. I can hardly wait for fresh milk again.
I linked back to your post today. Check it out at ToadMama’s Interstitial Space.
Thanks for the nice shout out!
A lovely post.
Our winter has been so mild, I think it actually has me thinking more about spring than usual.
Me too. I’d love to be out playing in the garden with the warm weather we’ve had, but it’s way too early for that yet.
Just beautiful…and Bonnie the goat is gorgeous!
Thanks. She has quite the unique markings.
Hello Teresa,
Thank you for another great post. I am really looking forward to the longer days too. Spring is my favorite part of the year. It’s teaming with new life everywhere, all kinds. I love to see the circle renewed. Have a wonderful week and thank you for sharing this awesome post on the Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop!
So glad you stopped by. Spring really is my favorite time of year.
Beautiful post.
Regards and best wishes
Thank you for stopping by.