But the moon has risen orange now for many a night over Meadow Sweet Grove. The summer has been a hot one, a smoky haze hangs in the air during the day, the sun burns brightly orange through that haze at sunset (difficult to look at), and the moon rises orange, with incredible definition of its craters, waxing larger and larger each night.
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I think most people are familiar with Aesop's Fable about The Fox and the Crow. In this story, the Crow has found a wonderful round of cheese and is sitting in a tree, when along comes a sweet-talking fox. He wants the cheese for himself, but how to get it? He convinces the Crow that she has a beautiful voice and would love to hear her sing. She is flattered, opens her mouth to sing and, sadly for her, the cheese drops to the ground. Now, when you think about this fable, it becomes apparent that casting is important. Crows are really, really intelligent. Only a sly fox would have been right for this role ... for who else, in the entire animal kingdom would have the ability to out-smart a crow? Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017 (gif courtesy of AnimatedImages.org)
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. Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017 / edited 2020
There is rumour that a crow will sometimes strike up such a relationship with a person that they will show their gratitude for food by bringing some prezzies. I am hopeful that soon the shiny trinkets will begin to appear! The only thing he has brought me so far is an old stick. However, it is a very interesting stick, and looks like a small animal. My resident fairy, who is very observant, noticed that it has a teeny, tiny bit of red paint on it as well. So maybe the gift-giving has begun! Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017
Meadow Sweet Grove claims and owns no rights to this video
Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017 / edited 2021
What a beautiful painting of Queen Victoria. So unlike the photos of her of which most of us are acquainted! But an artist has the option to highlight, or even exaggerate, the beauty he or she sees in a subject ... and downplay any perceived flaws, making, in some ways, a much more "true" representation of a person. A photograph only captures a fraction of a second of a person's life ... but a painting, created over several days, weeks or months, can capture the divinity inherent in all nature. This painting is called "the secret picture". It was commissioned by Queen Victoria and presented to her husband, Prince Albert, as a surprise for his 24th birthday - for his eyes only. It was an unusual painting of Royalty at the time, both for its lack of focus on exuberant costume and finery, and also for its sensuality. The glass heart-shaped locket the Queen is wearing is thought to be the pendant containing a lock of Prince Albert's hair, and which the Queen wore day and night before their marriage. Since this picture was meant for her husband's eyes only - it would certainly have signalled her utter devotion to him. Prince Albert so loved this painting that it was hung in his Writing Room in Windsor. Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017 / edited 2020 Bibliography: Royal Collection Trust, UK The story of Noah's Ark has been told in many lands, in many ways, by many different people and survives to this day. Whether you view it as a true event, a multitude of mini-events over time, pure myth or an allegory ... it is a fascinating tale, with each version having its own twists and turns. And what child doesn't thrill at playing with cute little "mom and dad" animals, their very own toy boat complete with a gangplank, to board all those little animals? Here we see even Enid Blyton's "Noddy" and "Big Ears" attempting to get all the little animal residents of Toyland aboard their toy Ark. The mischievous monkeys are, as usual, giving Noddy a hard time and of course, his friend, the wise old Brownie Big Ears, is playing the part of Noah. I think I'll leave this picture out for the fairies to find - if this rain keeps up in Meadow Sweet Grove, they may want to consider building one of these ... as a precautionary measure! Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017 What is it about the playful, romantic magic that the month of May holds? So many have paid homage to its charms in song. Here are just a few: "While strolling through the park one day, In the merry, merry month of May, I was taken by surprise, By a pair of roguish eyes..." - Ed Haley "We roamed the fields and river sides, When we are young and gay, We chased the bees and plucked the flowers, In the merry month of May" - Stephen Collins Foster
Meadow Sweet Grove claims and owns no rights to this video. Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017
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
When you're doing your Spring Cleaning this year, also remember to be humble. While an invitation to a Royal Ball may not be in our immediate futures, we can certainly take pleasure in cleaning and tidying our own precious homes and treasured possessions. We may find things to donate along the way that we no longer need, bring out the beauty of furniture and silver cutlery with a good polish or uncover a lost item. To help you along, don't forget that Walt Disney knew a great and powerful magic that he incorporated in many of his productions. Sing while you work! Or put on your favourite music. It really does make the work go faster. There is nothing more enchanting than Disney's scene of Cinderella, in rags, scrubbing the entry hall, masterfully singing, "Sing Sweet Nightingale" ... while her Step-Sisters, with all the advantages in the world, are upstairs butchering the song! So Spring Clean like Cinderella and watch the good magic come back to you in your fresh and tidy clean home. Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017 / edited 2021
How appropriate then that even now, bunnies are often shown as a young girl's companion in modern art or home decor. Perhaps, in older times, the Spring Maiden, or Ostara, was accompanied by an Oster Hare, as the Easter Bunny is called in Germany. There is some contention on this matter as to whether or not the Spring Goddesses of ancient days were connected with hares, eggs and other symbols of Spring at all ... or if it is a more modern connection recorded around the time that the Grimm Brothers collected their fairy tales. It matters little to us plebeians! In the eternal mind, the connection was made because it is the correct one. Bunnies and girls both represent youth, vitality and beginnings ... in every way the very essence of Spring! Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017 / edited 2019 / 2021 / 2023
The hopping Easter Bunny, with a spring in his step, is such an appropriate fellow to be hiding eggs on Easter morning. There are so many bunnies born in the Spring that I'm sure he'll find all the recruits he needs for this important job. And Spring is such a pretty time with flowers and blossoms of pinks, purples, whites and gold, that of course, he has to reflect this cheerful time on his painted gifts. Thank you Easter Bunny - please may mine be chocolate? Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017 Some Mother Goose verses are real noodle-scratchers that puzzle us and beg to be deciphered ... this one, however, speaks plain and simple. Johnny would like to play outside and it would be a lot more pleasant to do so if it weren't raining. Yet if you look closer, a spell emerges from this simple children's rhyme. I love to find the magic in the everyday around us! A spell to charm away the rain: "Rain, rain, go away;" Here the wish, want or desire is clearly stated. "Come again another day;" Here a caveat is placed to ensure that there will be no unwanted consequences (eg drought). "Little Johnny wants to play." This provides the emotional charge or feeling required to make the spell work. Johnny is waiting in the garden on a bench with a "heart" motif; just as he himself puts his heart into his wish by visualizing himself at play. Bucket and spade at the ready illustrates his belief that his wish will come true. All the elements of a successful spell are present. The whole thing rhymes which makes it easy to remember and recite. And as they say "3 times the charm". This is reflected in the amount of lines in the rhyme ... and reinforced by the number of ducklings. Let's hope little Johnny gets his wish! Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017 / edited 2019
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 |
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