Photo was taken in the grounds of U.C.C, Cork (Irl)
Most Christmas trees are a distant memory at this stage but in the grounds of University College Cork not so. As most people were taking their trees down in early January the ground staff in U.C.C realized that a blackbird had built a nest in their tree and was sitting on eggs. This of course was way out of season and so early. So the Christmas tree was left up and the pair of blackbirds are now the proud parents of two little chicks. We will include some photos during the week to pick up on the story but our photo today starts when the blackbird was sitting on the eggs.
(Note: All wildlife photography has to be so respectful of the subject. While branches and other objects may be directly in the way one simply has to go with what one has, without upsetting or distracting the bird in any way. Long zoom lenses make all of this possible.)
Today is pancake Tuesday and there are different reasons why it falls on the day preceding Lent. The forty days of Lent have traditionally been associated with fasting during which plain foods are eaten. Therefore rich ingredients such as eggs, milk and sugar are disposed of before the fast begins which is why pancakes are an efficient way of using up these perishable goods.
There is nothing quite like the taste of a pancake when it comes straight off the frying pan. The idea of making the pancakes the day before Ash Wednesday makes a lot of sense. It was a handy way of preparing for leaner times ahead. We live in a world today where there is so much excess, waste and greed. There are many examples but food is probably the best. As many people starve across the world there are so many others dumping and throwing away food. Sometimes we forget that our food is indeed a gift from God. Pancake Tuesday reminds us to be grateful for the food we have and to be mindful that others are not as fortunate as we are. We give thanks to God for the food we eat today.
