Inspirational | Pilgrim's Perch

Do you like having fun? Do you like Weather?

Walking along the road to a small Scottish village some years ago the weather suddenly turned from bright, warm sunshine to chilly, driving rain. A passerby remarked that in those parts nobody ever went out without their waterproofs. We learned the lesson the hard way!

Two walkers on a path with uncertain weather — *Dodging the rain on a hilly path*

Today it’s often said that there’s no such thing as the wrong weather, only the wrong clothing. Muffled up in a warm coat or a hardy rain jacket it can be fun just to take the weather in one’s stride. And to enjoy it.

Person in coat protected against any weather — *Muffled against all weathers*

It seems to be a particularly British thing, our obsession with The Weather. Most conversations get round to it sooner or later. Very often it’s one of the first things we talk about – it provides such a rich ground for grumbles, obsession and speculation! It changes at the drop of a hat – even with today’s sophisticated computer technology and meteorological modelling the forecasters often fail to get their weather predictions spot on. And so, The Weather is never a dull subject.

Three lasses enjoy a picnic in a sunny meadow — *Picnickers enjoy a sunny day*

A sunny day can suddenly turn to…

Dramatic storm clouds threaten a complere change in the weather — *Storm clouds loom*

…a dramatically stormy day.

Indeed, the etiquette in polite society has long ruled that ‘The Weather’ is a safe topic of conversation when all else fails. In the 18th century novel Sense & Sensibility Jane Austen has one of her characters, Mrs Dashwood, say to her youngest daughter:

‘Hush, Margaret, if you can’t think of anything appropriate to say you will please restrict your remarks to the weather.’

A rainbow indicates a change in the weather — *Changeable weather*

Sometimes its easier to understand the weather than the times we live in. So we turn to a ‘safe’ subject. But even in Biblical times there was a tendency to focus on the weather rather than the social and political times the people were going through. Jesus challenged the people when he said,

 “When you see clouds growing bigger in the west, you say, ‘A rainstorm is coming.’ And soon it begins to rain. When you feel the wind begin to blow from the south, you say, ‘It will be a hot day.’ And you are right. You hypocrites! You can understand the weather. Why don’t you understand what is happening now?”

Then, as now, people were living in difficult times; what was going on in the wider world didn’t always make sense. And it may be that we suffer from confusion and muddle about what goes on in the world today. It is times like these when we perhaps need to focus on the simple things in life – those things we can’t do anything about but just confront head on, endure – and even, enjoy. In his book, That Hideous Strength, CS Lewis writes of a couple who make the most of whatever weather they encounter:

‘We both like Weather. Not this kind or that kind, but just weather. It’s a useful taste if one lives in England… Everyone begins as a child by liking Weather. You learn the art of disliking it as you grow up. Haven’t you ever noticed it on a snowy day? The grown-ups are all going about with long faces, but look at the children - and and the dogs? They know what snow’s made for.’

A couple and a dog have fun in the snow — *Enjoying the snow*

So, whatever the weather, wherever you are, enjoy it and make the most of it. It’ll change soon enough…

Weather turns good and bad. it never remains the same. — *After the sun, the rain; after the rain, the sun…*

Oh, for a happy and sunny St Bartholomew’s Day!

St Bartholomew’s Day comes on 24th August – 40 days after St Swithin’s Day. Both are folk lore predictors of weather. Maybe you remember the saying:

“St Swithin's day if thou dost rain
For forty days it will remain
St Swithin's day if thou be fair
For forty days will rain na mair”

St Swithin's Day rain brings rain for the following forty days — *Forty days of rain predicted…*

How closely we’d all watch for rain or sun!

Less well known, perhaps, is the piece of folk lore surrounding St Bartholomew:

‘If St Bartholomew be clear, a prosperous autumn comes that year.’

Woman harvesting crops from vegetable garden — *A good harvest*

I rather like the saying, ‘All the tears that St Swithin can cry, St Bartelmy’s mantle will wipe dry…’

Child walking in field, all tears gone — *St Bartleby’s mantle will dry any tears…*

Bee keepers are also reminded that ‘On St Bartholomew’s day take the honey away.’

Honey potential! — *Beehives offer a fruitful harvest*

Honey is delicious when enjoyed on hot buttered toast – but it has numerous other benefits.

Honey - with a cup of tea, or used in many other ways — *The teatime jar of honey – full of possibilities*

In ancient times honey was used for embalming purposes but it also aids the living. Aristotle (around 350BC) undertook research into the healing and antiseptic properties of honey and Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, prescribed honey for sores and ulcers.

Scientific research into the properties of honey continues today — *Research into the benefits of honey*

Research continues today into the effects of honey on heart disease, arthritis, high blood pressure and numerous other conditions – so we can rightly celebrate the honey harvest around St Bartholomew’s Day.

St Bartholomew - a day to celebrate the many properties of the wonderful bee! — *A day to celebrate the noble bee!*

Lingering over Lavender

I’ve written about lavender before (see post 12th August 2020) but at this time of the year you really can’t have too much of a good thing!

Lavender fields stretch into the horizon — *A field of lavender in full bloom*

As well as producing beautiful flowers – the sight of which is enough to instil a sense of tranquility – simply brushing your fingers along a stem of lavender flowers releases the magical fragrance, encouraging a sense of calm, ‘de-stress’ and peace. Simone de Beauvoir once wrote:
“I am thinking of the lavender in my garden. It is like drinking a glass of cold water when you are really thirsty.”

A clump of lavender to refresh the soul — *Lavender scintillates in early morning light*

That feeling of well-being can be captured and enjoyed long after the garden lavender blooms have faded and summer is just a distant memory. Dried lavender is wonderful for refreshing wardrobes and cupboards, for scenting an airless room or for conjuring up a refreshing cup of tea.

Lavender tea can soothe and restore — *A cup of lavender tea to soothe and refresh*

Lavender for household use is best picked just before the first flowers are fully opened. Snip long stems and dry them by spreading them in a single layer on a cloth somewhere warm and dry. You can also hang the stems in small bunches indoors – as they dry they will release their magical fragrance. After about three weeks, rub the stems gently over a tray and gather the dried flowers. Use in pot pourri or dainty lavender sachets.

Girl with basket gathers lavender — *Gathering lavender*

Soaps and toiletries have long featured lavender due to its cleansing and antibacterial properties. Before the days of deodorant products the Elizabethans would use dried lavender in laundry to absorb stale smells. After washing clothing it might be spread on lavender bushes to dry in the days before tumble dryers.

A relaxing bath, scented with lavender — *Lavender has long been used to scent bath oils and soaps*

Smoothing a little lavender oil on the forehead can relieve headaches and stress – after breathing in its intoxicating scent a sense of contentment pervades your whole being. Lavender soothes but stimulates; it relaxes and refreshes. Breathing in this wonderful fragrance calms the mind, helps recover hope and optimism and makes the world seem a more promising place.

A phial of lavender oil - many uses for reducing stress. — *Lavender oil can be completely ‘de-stressing’…*

In the days before housework was a daily task made simple with modern appliances, lavender was one of the herbs used for strewing when reeds and rushes would be scattered on floors to absorb dirt and detritus from everyday living. Modern cleaning techniques mean that such measures are no longer necessary but a carpet sprinkled with lavender can make a room smell fresh and delightful. Simply grind two cups of dried lavender together with two cups of soda and four teaspoons of ground clove and cinnamon. Sprinkle the mixture on a carpet, leave it for about an hour and then vacuum up to leave the room smelling sweet and cleansed.

This effort may leave you feeling in need of a cup of tea – simply brew a tablespoon of dried lavender in hot water for about five minutes, add honey to sweeten, if desired, and then relax and enjoy with this little gem from the 19th century American novelist and poet Myrtle Reed :
“It always seems to me as if the lavender was a little woman in a green dress, with a lavender bonnet and a white kerchief. She’s one of those strong, sweet, wholesome people, who always rest you, and her sweetness lingers long after she goes away.”

May that sentiment make you smile and refresh your day too…

The lingering effect of lavender stays with you. — *Lingering lavender bliss*