I quite like February.  For quite a few reasons.

Firstly, it's my birthday month and that's quite exciting in my book.  My birthday falls the day before Valentine's Day so I get two cards from my husband in quick succession.  We've been married 35 years this year and my lovely man has never missed a Valentine's Day (or a birthday) in all of that time.  We're not mushy about it - I'm not talking bunches of flowers or boxes of chocolates - but a lovely romantic card really makes my day.

Depending on when Easter falls, of course, there's also Shrove Tuesday, and let's just say this conjures up oodles of delight for the men in my life.  We never eat pancakes ordinarily, and I detest them, but Shrove Tuesday every year sees me standing by the stove in a haze-filled kitchen cooking the little blighters to order (the pancakes that is!).  The men folk line up in an orderly queue, surrounding me, with their plates clutched tightly in their hands, until a steaming hot pancake gets slapped on their plate.  For probably about thirty seconds they disappear to the table, and then they're back, clamouring for more.  A bit like Oliver Twist.  This all has to be done in strict rotational order.  I'm sure all hell would break loose if I got mixed up and one of them had two in a row.

Shrove Tuesday or Pancake day is the last day before the period Christians call Lent, and always falls 47 days before Easter Sunday.  As Lent is supposed to be a period of abstinence or giving things up, Shrove Tuesday is the last day to indulge yourself and use up the foods that aren't allowed during Lent.   Not in our house.  Every year, I find myself buying the flour, extra eggs, chocolate sauce, sticky syrup, lemons and everything else that we need for the indulgent feast.  What's that all about then?

Finally, February is supposed to be the last month of winter, when hopefully the weather is on the turn.  I think the birds in our garden are already under the impression Spring has arrived, for I've heard them singing again in the mornings.  We live on the crest of a large wooded area, so we are lucky enough to see lots of them.  My favourite though, by far,  is the owl that hoots in the dead of the night.  I've never seen it, but sometimes I hear it just as I'm falling asleep.  What a lovely sound it is.

Until next time

Kim x