Is this a harbinger of sloes to come?

I certainly hope so.  The Blackthorn bush is covered in buds; let's hope rather more of them turn into sloes than did last year (errm, nil !!)

 

And there is no doubt what the rhubarb is about to do.  This is the state of play of the 'ordinary' rhubarb

and this is the early rhubarb.  Soon be time for some crumble!