Greetings ,
I'm huddled here by the fire in the north of Scotland. A storm has been forecast, yet, whilst frost coats the ground each morning, there is not a breath of wind. We'll see if it arrives.
During my fire time, my attention turns towards the darker months and the creative gatherings that can happen while sheltering from the elements.
In old Highland times, the summer was busy with the demands of crops and livestock. The best ceilidhs happened once the brighter months had passed and the land came to rest. The work slowed, people came by the fire, tended handcrafts and shared tales and tunes. Winter was the ceilidh time then, and so it is now.
Rural living in Scotland is still shaped by the seasons, so here at the Shieling things slow down from October to April while we plot and dream into next year's events. This winter, while the site is quiet, we'll be gathering online for an extended exploration of Gaelic land and lore.