Beannachtai na Féile Pádraig

We drove up to Thomas Ward's Publick House this morning to celebrate the day with a traditional Irish breakfast. We raised a pint of Guinness each (our annual treat) to the old snake-chaser Himself, to departed friends and family, to the good people of Tibet, and to the "ladies" of Pleasant Lane Apiary. It was a bright, blustery morning and the hearty, delicious meal really warmed and filled us!

Home again and as the day warmed a little we were surprised and delighted to see clouds of bees around the entrance of the hive. The winds were still strong and quite cold so the bees were buffeted about as they tried to arrive on the landing board of the hive, the baskets on their rear legs bulging with bright yellow pollen! It was a beautiful sight. It means this hive hasn't starved or frozen to death, hasn't collapsed or absconded for any reason yet. It will be awhile longer, though, before we relax into thinking they've survived another winter.

I'm not certain what plant is offering up this golden pollen in the final days of winter not far from the cold Atlantic ocean, but I am very grateful as this remarkable cycle begins again.

Slán go foille from all at Pleasant Lane Apiaries.