February is a wonderful, liminal month. Being February 1st, my maternal and paternal ancestors, most all of whom are Irish, would be celebrating Imbolc – or Saint Brigid’s Day. The half-way point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox and the gradual returning of light, a breath as we blink toward the slowly brightening horizon.
Here at the sanctuary, we find this difficult to believe. It’s been a curious winter and while not the typical snowfall, the bout of extreme cold temperatures and endless cloud and fog (and now rain) has been different for us. Truly, in the last couple of months we’ve only seen a few brief glimpses of the sun and none of our brilliant winter night skies and meteor showers. All that to say, despite personally being an immense lover of winter, I believe we are all down with the hopeful return of some sunlight.
But there is always beauty to be seen, like this magical pink fog the other morning!
It’s also an enchanted month filled with the spirit of revelry and Carnivale, so all of you celebrating a February birthday chose a good time to be born! I’m not sure I could see your sanctuary February birthday twin quite fitting that theme, but he definitely holds a wondrously huge presence, so we’ll go with that. And given that we also have Valentine’s Day to look forward to this month, he might actually be the perfect representative (along with his mama).
It’s Nutmeg! Betsy’s beloved baby boy is turning 9 years old on February 10th!
Betsy and wee Nutmeg (photo courtesy of Farm Sanctuary):
…and the tables have turned (only in size, not love):
This might be a bovine version of a second line parade for Mardi Gras season:
For everyone who is already a Bovine Buddy to Nutmeg, another member of his family, or the whole tiny herd, thank you!! And if it’s something you’re interested in becoming, click here to learn more! Your support provides them a rare life in sanctuary, together.
We are so immensely grateful to each of you who are here with us through all of the seasons of the bovines’ and chimpanzees’ lives. You are the reason their lives in sanctuary exist and we could hoot and holler about you every single day. Thank you for every single thing you do for them and every single way you support them, from following along on social media, to attending events, to donating time, money and in-kind gifts, to sharing their stories, to not least of all, loving them.
May February bring you glimmers of the increasing light to come (or of a magical autumn ahead for those in the southern hemisphere of whom I am Elphaba green with envy of), the inspiration to kick up your paws, hooves, or otherwise, in celebration and anticipation, or merely the chance to revel in staying cozy just…awhile…longer…
Jamie:
Lucky, Dora and Rayne:
Honey B yawning:
Barn Kitty:
Foxie and Dora:
Negra:
The magical pink fog photo is perfect, Katelyn! And the one of Lucky, Dora, and Rayne is also magical! What a great blog to introduce February. Thank you.
What gorgeous photos, Katelyn, and a very special “happy birthday” shout out to Nutmeg! February in your neck of the woods looks set to go with a bang with birthday/ Valentine’s day celebrations lined up. I wish I was there with you instead of here in the fierce heat of our Australian summer. Never mind I will cool down just looking at your wintry photos. Thanks for sharing.
Nutmeg will be 9 years old, amazing and it makes me want to know if he’s still growing! Such a gorgeous young fellow. And I love that he’s a mama’s boy.
Thank you, Katelyn, for starting my February with your wonderful musings and photos. I look forward to your birthday posts. Lucky, Dora, and Rayne and the photo of little Foxie on her back with her Dora doll resting on her chest totally made me smile. And Barn Kitty….. you may need to select a day to celebrate his/her birthday so he/she doesn’t feel left out.
I love toda’sg photographs! And, last but not leasr, tomorrow is GroundApe”s Day, when Pacific Northwest Neggie may or may prefict six more weeks of winter based on whether she sees her shadow upon emerging from her next.
I love that pink fog photo, too, Katelyn!
I love to see The Tiny One taking advantage of some blankets, such a rare sight!
It’s funny you mention Imbolc, bc I was watching an Irish vlogger stream on Twitch the other day, and part of the discussion, as she viewed possible weekend activities, revolved around Imbolc. Some of them (such as the blogger, from Mayo originally) had never really celebrated it. Others, who had gone to Catholic schools around Dublin, talked about how they’d made crosses at school, etc. Given that New Grange is near Dublin, I guss that makes more sense. If it turns out that she went to the celebrations, I’ll let you know