Ash Wednesday and Lent

AND giving up something you find difficult to : during this period !

Whom is an observing Christian ? 

and what are you giving up at Lent ?

I  don't give up anything.  That's for the 40-day Christians.

Where does the Ash come from ?

Is it saved up from the branch of the Palms ?

from the previous year Palm Sunday .

btw Meseret ...its gonna be 46 days this year by my calculation 

Yeah, the palms from the previous year are burnt.  Some people actually return their palms to church for this.