Indian Summer

A particularly warm and sunny day today. What they term an 'Indian Summer.' But don't ask me why, as I have absolutely no idea. Perhaps I'll Google it and see what comes up.

So, after a search this is what I have discovered:

 'As well as being warm, the atmosphere during an Indian summer is hazy or smoky, there is no wind, the barometer is standing high, and the nights are clear and chilly.'

'A moving, cool shallow polar air mass converting into a deep, warm, stagnant anticyclone (high pressure) system, which has the effect of causing the haze and large swing in temperature between day and night.'

'The time of occurrence is important: The warm days must follow a spell of cold weather or a good hard frost.'

The conditions described above must occur between St. Martin's Day (November 11th) and November 20th. For over 200 years, 'The Old Farmer's Almanac' has adhered to the saying, "If All Saints' (November 1st) brings winter, St. Martin's brings out Indian Summer."

Why is Indian Summer called Indian Summer? There are many theories. Some say it comes from the early Algonquian Native Americans, who believed that the condition was caused by a warm wind sent from their southwestern god, Cautantowwit.'

'The most probable origin of the term, in our view, goes back to the very early settlers in New England. Each year they would welcome the arrival of a cold wintry wether in late October when they could leave their stockades unarmed. But then came a time when it would suddenly turn warm again, and the Native Americans would decide to have one more go at the settlers. "Indian Summer," the settlers called it.'

So, having read that, it would seem it's not actually an 'Indian Summer' at all as it's around a month and a half too early.

Regardless of what it's called, it's still warm for the time of year. It can be quite chilly at night, although we have had the windows open at night. Which doesn't help matters regarding getting to sleep, because both our dogs can hear things going on outside, but probably at a different frequency to our hearing range and then they start barking.

I have managed to pick several pounds of blackberries over the past couple of weeks. They are now frozen and in the freezer. We have discovered what are called 'Pour and Store' freezer bags in Sainsbury's which are ideal for freezing blackberries. They can be reused, have a 'press-together' closure (which are becoming far more popular by manufacturers on such things a packets of cheese. As well as  washing detergent gel tablet packets and dog food.) This means you can open and close the packets after use and so keep the product inside fresh. These bags come in packs of half a dozen and can be used for homemade soups and have a base which means they will stand on the work surface making it far easier to ladle in the contents.

The blackberries are growing along the hedges which line the Redways behind our house. It looks as if there are plenty more ripening so I will have to continue to go out every day to pick them.

I have mown the lawn at the back of the house. I did half of it two days ago and complete it yesterday, although there were a few tufty bits of grass still to cut along with the edges which are far more difficult to get cut. But it's done and hopefully that will be the final mowing session before the winter sets in. We are still waiting for our landlord to send the workmen out to replace the fence which is now looking in a very sorry state. We were promised that it would be done soon, but that was around a month ago and still nothing happening. We wait in hope.