February 2 is called La Chandeleur, or Candlemas, a religious holiday that is not a day off in France, but is widely celebrated. The celebration, which falls on the 40th day after Christmas, involves making and eating the thin little pancakes called crêpes. That's what we'll be doing today.
Meanwhile, it's supposed to rain starting later this morning. That might inconvenience some of our neighbors — especially the one who is in the process of sawing and splitting logs to be used as firewood. He had half a dozen trees on his property cut down in December. The cold weather of January slowed his work down. Now the rain will impede progress.
Lichens in a pear tree chez les voisins
It's a lot warmer now. The thermometer reads +8ºC this morning — between 45º and 50ºF. There's no frost, and no danger of ice or snow. Just rain. However, it's still winter. The hours of daylight are lengthening day by day, but skies are gray. It'll be a good day to stay in and make crêpes. And eat them. I imagine there will be photos tomorrow.
We did have a nice winter sunset a couple of evenings ago. It's not as bright and colorful as sunsets can be in other seasons, but you have to enjoy what you get. The sunset this evening will be hidden by a thick layer of clouds.
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ReplyDeleteWe celebrate it but not public holiday
ReplyDeletePancake Day in the UK, with pancake-tossing races and all, is Shrove Tuesday. Pretty well the whole month to wait!
ReplyDeleteWe don't have a pancake day in the U.S. We make and eat them monthly, if not weekly.
DeleteYou have to flip your first crêpe by tossing it in the air (as high as the armoire). If it lands correctly back in the pan, you will have prosperity for the year.
ReplyDeleteWalt does the flipping here, but I don't know if the crêpes fly as high as the armoire or frigo.
DeleteEnjoy those crêpes! I'll bet some will be of buckwheat?
ReplyDeleteI noticed yesterday, that it was only just beginning to be dusk and it was already a few minutes past 5 -- before Christmas, it would be noticeably dark by around 4:45. I'll take 20 or 25 minutes of extra daylight!
Here it's still pitch dark at 7:30, and until 8:00 on overcast or foggy mornings.
DeleteI am a sucker for sunsets :) I was impressed with my husbands ability not to roll his eyes or just keep walking when we were in Argentina and I acted like every sunset was the first I had ever seen :)
ReplyDeleteÀ la Chandeleur, l'hiver finit ou reprend rigueur! Here, in Virginia, it is bright and sunny, does it mean spring time is around the corner?
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the deplorable four-legged creature in Pennsylvania that is supposed to predict weather voted for our "fearless leader"?
No, Punxutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of winter BECAUSE fearless leader's in office.
DeletePS - the lichens on the pear tree are attractive.
Je crois que l'hiver finit ici ce 2 février, mais sait-on jamais ? Il pleut et il ne fait pas froid cet après-midi.
ReplyDelete