Bealltainn and bluebells

Summer is here!

Even though the winter and spring were really mild, summer's been slow to get started around here. Finally, though, we have the bluebells:

Which I think are one of my favourite parts of the year – when they come out you know the summer is right around the corner (such as it might be in this climate!). 

And here in these parts we've started the season with some especially welcome news – just as the kids and I were preparing to celebrate Bealltainn, we got word that Mr Seren's latest freelance job, which was originally only supposed to be two days (two months ago now), is pretty much confirmed as a long-term gig, which will (hopefully) make life a bit easier. Touch wood.

So we started things off on a positive note. Rosie was really excited about Bealltainn this year because she enjoyed our celebrations at Là Fhèill Brìghde so much, but she was disappointed that we wouldn't be making another dealbh Brìde and inviting her in. She decided that maybe if she made an offering Brìde might come anyway, so put something out for her and asked me to help her with what to say. The kids have asked to start learning Gaelic so we've been going over the basics – verrrry slowly. I walked her through a simple greeting and thanks as she put the offering out in the garden, then she bounced back inside all excited and we finished off our preparations.

The house was put in order, we had our feast (which Tom helped to make), the house was sained, and after the kids went to bed I had the chance for some peace and quiet while I made my personal devotions. It was a pretty simple celebration for us, and I'm starting to feel like the festivals are settling into our routine now as they're becoming more familiar to us as a family.

We welcomed in the summer and the new opportunities it brings for us. And with the blossoming of hawthorns, summer has arrived: