From Father Merton’s Sign of Jonas book here is an Ash Wednesday note to ponder as we enter into the Lenten season of fast and penitence.
Note that a préau is an inner courtyard.
As for today being Ash Wednesday and thinking that it’s a bit early this year, you are semi-correct. This from Wiki:
Recall the group Wishbone Ash? Didn’t think so. Most of their songs were a little too long for AM/FM radio and as a result they did not seem to get the amount of airplay that they should have. They were always one of Mike Raley’s favorite groups even if nobody else heard much of or about them. For a good article on them (click here.) The following was the lead song off of their Argus album.