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Enter Midnight at the Grove ... if you dare!
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 I love Alfred Hitchcock! One story he collected, "Curious Adventure of Mr. Bond" by Nugent Barker, portrays Mr. Bond, a lone traveller, who after a wearying journey up the slopes of a valley happens upon a vast tableland and an inn, far in the distance and on the edge of a forest. He is delighted when he is heartily greeted by the landlord, a Mr. Crispin Sasserach and his wife Myrtle, who is preparing "a lovely broth to-night". After a wonderfully warm and cozy evening of delicious broth and good company, Mr. Bond departs the next morning with Mr. Sasserach who drives him over land bordered by forest on the left and rowan trees leading down to the valley on the right. Mr. Bond is duly deposited at the inn of Sasserach's brother (Martin), "The Headless Man", where he enjoys a meal of many succulent meat dishes and a game of chess with his host (with curious hand-carved chess pieces). Mr. Bond does start to feel a little "obliged" and frustrated by their "over-hospitality" when it is insisted that he visit the third brother's inn, "The Traveller's Head".  He learns on this journey that the three brothers own the entire land above the valley, divided into three equal portions. When prompted by Mr. Bond to discuss the names of the inns, which are seemingly quite common, but nonetheless "turned around"; the manservant, Stennet, who is driving the carriage, enlightens him thusly: the name "The Traveller's Rest" is self-explanatory and so is made poetical by changing it to "The Rest of the Traveller" focusing on the "rest" to be found at the inn. "The Headless Man" is simply grim for the sake of grimness and "The Traveller's Head" pays homage to the traveller himself, in the same manner that many inns are called "The King's Head". By now, however, you must have had some suspicions as to the eventual fate of our poor Mr. Bond.  "Mr. P.R. Barnes, licensed to sell Beers, Wines & Spirits" I took these photos last month when we found ourselves, without benefit of a map, and on the dubious advice of modern GPS, lost and travelling down many of those narrow, winding roads so common in England. We finally pulled up short in front of this inn while my husband consulted his own sources to get us back on the right track. I sat in the car looking up at the sign above the doorway of this seemingly deserted (although correctly named!) inn and was relieved to read that a "Mr. P.R. Barnes" was the proprietor ... and not Mr. Crispin Sasserach himself!! Cannibalism is common in folklore and fairytales. As the hour of All Hallow's Eve approaches and leads us into the dark of winter, I humbly felt it might be an appropriate time to include one of my favourite tales of this delightfully taboo subject! Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2018
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 Do you ever wonder why so many household items for kitchens are rooster-themed? Everything from canisters to casserole dishes, potholders to pictures, and spoon holders to salt and pepper shakers. A rooster in the kitchen brings good luck to your household - plain and simple! This belief is pretty universal around the world. Many countries relay fables with a rooster featuring prominently as the bringer of good luck to some situation or other. So common superstition says you would be well-advised to add one to your kitchen paraphernalia - if you haven't brought one in already! Check your kitchen - there is probably a rooster lurking somewhere, as people often gift these good luck fellows in the form of towels, utensils, dishes or other kitchen do-dads ... they might even be worked into your tiles. I actually relish the day when the "sterile" stainless steel kitchen trend comes to an end ... and colour and variety returns. Then not only the humble kitchen rooster - but all those lovely French Provencal blues, yellows, terracotta reds and whites - can make a well-deserved comeback in our kitchen tiles, counter tops and floors. But in the meantime, why not incorporate a rooster into your kitchen decor to bring good luck and good fortune into your home? It's a very simple kitchen witchery trick and you'll get all of the benefit ... without any of that early morning cock-a-doodle-do-ing! Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2018 / edited 2020 & 2023
 Good ol' Charlie Brown - Charles M. Schulz "Don't step on a crack or you'll break your Mother's back" (old nursery rhyme) "The straw that broke the camel's back" (minor annoyances add up to a breaking point) "Don't break your back" (don't work hard for no result/recognition) Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2018
In the past, such an unusual occurrence, sometimes called a "Blood Moon", would have been seen as a warning - an ominous omen of bad things on the way. But isn't such supposed superstition also a keen observation of natural events? Right now we have multiple forest fires burning, several hours drive away from our city, which are the cause of our orange moon. Perhaps before modern communication, a relay of runners would have been sent, in various directions, to neighbouring communities, to find out where the fires were located - and how close they were getting.
We tend to ignore such phenomena these days - or exploit it - but do not heed the warning it still portends. Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017 (gif courtesy of animatedimages.org) Almost all folk and fairy tales agree ... you truly must "pay the piper" if you are daft enough to enter a fairy ring! The folklore on fairy rings, elf rings and witches' circles are replete with stories of mortals foolish enough, or bewitched enough, to join in the irrepressible dance inside that enticing ring of mushrooms. While it may enable you to see fairies, dance with wild abandon and revel in euphoria ... it comes with a price. Sometimes the little folk whisk you away to fairyland, where you must serve a fairy master or mistress for a year and a day. Sometimes it feels like you have only been dancing for a few minutes; when actually hours and hours have passed. You may even be doomed to dance forever ... Or sometimes, as in the case of Rip Van Winkle (who also partook in a wee bit of fairy mead), only a mere 100 years passed before he "awoke" to his old home ... and all the changes that had come about during his lost years.  Rip Van Winkle, Artist Unknown Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017 / edited 2020
 May Day Beauty Tip There's great magic on the 1st of May or May Day. The ancient Celtic people divided the year into two seasons - Winter and Summer. May 1st was the dividing point and signaled the change from the end of the dark and dead winter weather to the beginning of the warm summer and growing season. There was great joy and excitement that the warmer weather was officially here to stay for a whole season. No wonder they had a celebration! To share in some of this magic, you need to wake up early enough to collect some of the dew on the morn of May 1st ... and gently smooth it across your face. I can attest to the truth that this beauty treatment is particularly refreshing! No hawthorn tree? No worries. An alternate verse allows you to use dew drops from any tree, bush or even the grass.  Happy May Day! Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017 / edited 2020
Make sure you wear green today ... or you'll get pinched! You simply must wear some green clothing or accessories on St. Patrick's Day or you risk the "reward" of a pinch by someone versed in this tradition. Alternatively, wearing a shamrock is always surefire protection.
I remember crying one St. Patrick's Day morning long ago because I didn't have any green to wear to school. I was so scared of being pinched! My Mom went to her scrap bag and cut me a cunning little green shamrock from an old pair of her slacks. I pinned it on my shirt, went to school and the day was saved. Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017  Swinging 60s London Yesterday I saw a lovely lady about to purchase an umbrella. To my horror ... and before I could get to her - she opened it inside! I quickly informed her of the bad luck of her actions and she closed it rather confusedly. It was a funny moment when I realized that we didn't speak the same language ... in more than one way! But the message got across and we laughed. She had never heard of the superstition and I told her not to worry, that she would of course be okay. (I felt sure the gods would smile on her since she hadn't been aware of her transgression!) But it got me to thinking...where did this superstition come from? While I found some reference to parasols being used in ancient Egypt for protection from the sun, and the anger Ra would feel if they were opened indoors (being a Sun God and all) - I think it is more likely to have stemmed from Merrie Old England.  London, Trafalgar Square, c 1962, Vintage Everyday In London (an indisputably wet town), in the 18th century, the umbrellas were very large, of heavy construction and with seriously serious metal spokes. When these unwieldy beauties opened ... WATCH OUT!! They could cause injuries to anyone standing too close ... not to mention knocking over items in small hallways before they could be safely closed.
The fairies in Meadow Sweet Grove inform me that they have witnessed the damage opening an umbrella in their small abodes can cause. They tend to avoid the practice. Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017  When you decorate with holly, Remember: It is bad luck to bring holly inside the house before Christmas Eve! Only decorate outside - doorway, stairs, windows or porches. I'm not sure the reason for this superstition, however, it is very practical. Cut Holly shrinks up and dries pretty quickly if brought to the warmth inside. Outside, it stays alive and fresh for the whole Christmas season. Also, since the berries are poisonous, perhaps, in the days when households were full of many little children, it was easier to monitor if the holly was only in the house for a short duration!
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