Sugar Grove
By Paula Mitchell
The early pioneers brought no springs, beds, or mattresses along on their trip to this area. They were forced to improvise, so they made their own. The earliest mattresses were simply bed-sized cloth sacks filled with straw or feathers. These were laid over a rope netting that was attached to a simple, four-sided frame with legs. These were known as “rope beds.”
The straw beds were made out of a rye straw. If ducks were available, the feathers were picked and then used to make feather beds and pillows. If sheetings were available, they were sewn up into ticks. When rye was thrashed, the tick was hauled to the area of the thrashing where they were filled up.
The homemade bedstands had four bed posts and four side pieces to the dimensions needed. A row of holes was bored into the side boards (about 4 inches square), spacing them 9 to 10 inches apart. They should be directly opposite each other on the paired sides and with rope running through each square, beginning at the headboard and stringing the bed lengthwise. The ropes were run both ways, something similar to porch chairs. In the spring, the ropes were taken out, washed and boiled, and laid in the sun. They were then returned to the “rope bed.”
The straw or feather ticks were then laid directly on the ropes for a good night’s sleep. Due to antique dealers and “good times,” rope beds are very hard to “fetch” today.
Life’s best things aren’t things and include:
- Spotting a firefly in summer.
- The smell of morning coffee.
- Smelling flowers in bloom.
- Belly laughing.
- Taking a nap.
Believe it or not, the Dog Days are over (Aug. 11), but the heat stays on for one last moment of time. A funny thing about this heat is that it’s compulsory, much like a thunderstorm. Everyone has to go through it together. Exposure of the heat of the high 90s tends to take the “sap” out of a person. One feels like putting up a sign in this community that says, “IT’S HOT HERE!” The river is the lowest it has been in many years. Talk about walking on water! Still, the gardens are making their best for produce opportunities. Gardeners are busy with canning and freezing in preparation for the winter days.
Aug. 30/31 will find the residents of this community enjoying the sight of the Blue Moon.
The highway department has a very capable person doing the mowing along the roads. It is very much appreciated and allows one to see the pride in this community.
This week’s quotes are as follows:
“When there are no great tigers in the deep mountains, even a monkey can become king.” — Chinese Proverb
“A black cat crossing your path signifies that the animal is going somewhere.” — Groucho Marx
“It matters not what you are thought to be, but what you are.” — Syrus
“He will easily be content and at peace whose conscience is pure.” — Thomas a Kempis
“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope.” — Helen Keller.
Inside, where it is cooler, is where one can hear the “Talk of The Grove.”
- D. Puffenbarger has returned to his Stoney Run home following a trip out west Aug. 2 – 22 with his daughter, Beth McNulty. They motored to Madisonville, Kentucky, to visit the cemetery of Verla’s family. Then it was on to St. Louis to see the Arch, on to the Kansas City Chiefs’ Stadium (Beth is a great fan), Lincoln, Nebraska, Cheyenne, Casper and Cody, Wyoming, where they met Danita and Tim Kiser who had been camping at a 7,000-foot location where it was cold. They enjoyed seeing a rodeo, and then it was on to Bear Tooth Pass where it was 34 degrees. At Red Lodge, Missouri, they took in some pig races. They spent two days at Yellowstone where they noted Old Faithful. Deadwood, South Dakota, was a must on their trip as well as Sturgess, South Dakota, and seeing Crazy Horse and Mount Rushmore before returning home. All told, the two made the 6,400 miles in good shape, seeing lots of scenery and enjoying the United States of America sights.
Janelle Mitchell and Destiny of Charlotte, North Carolina, recently enjoyed the tractor parade where Janelle did the driving and Destiny did the riding.
Odell Lambert cut a big tree beside Pidge and Charles’s house, yesterday. They were really glad to get it down, since one tree had blown over during the storm.
Joel and Betsy Berlin Farrar of Lynchburg, Virginia, visited Saturday evening with Willard and Judy Rader. The 72nd annual Noah Eckard family reunion was held Sunday at Oak Dale Park in Bridgewater, Virginia, and was enjoyed by families and friends.
An afternoon of family reminiscing was enjoyed Friday afternoon by Curtis and Kitty Waggy at the home of Tom and Paula Mitchell.
Helen and Rhonda Nash recently returned from a week in Palmer, Alaska, with son/brother, Robbie Nash, and family. With the help of daughter-/sister-in-law, Jenny, their arrival was a complete surprise for Robbie and sons, Kody, Dawson, and Jack. Daughter, Savannah Putnam, and husband, Brogan, were aware that Mamaw and Peachy were coming to meet the newest member of the family, six-month-old Marley Putnam. Their visit included attending a Colony Knights football game to watch quarterback Jack Nash lead the team to victory, celebrating the birthdays of Rhonda and Jenny, a trip to the Alaska State Fair, and lots of time just spent enjoying family and cuddling with baby Marley.
The annual Farm Bureau dinner meeting was held Saturday at the North Fork Elementary School’s gymnasium. Several folks from this community attended, and enjoyed hearing the speaker’s informative comments, and the delicious food served by the North Fork 4-H club.
The late Betty Lou Propst’s Saturday sale was a proven success. Antiques went for high prices…a sewing desk $3,000, pie safe $4,500, some toys $600 each, kraut stomper $100 and a Tyson Propst painting of the old Propst Church $1,100. All in all, it was a good day.
Evelyn Varner was a Rockingham Memorial Hospital patient from Tuesday through Thursday. She was released to go home with a pace maker. Her daughter, Judy Costell, spent the weekend with her, with Sunday visitors being Joyce Marshall, Hunter, Kelsey and Allie Kesterson, Janet Judy, Terry Harper, Jessica Varner and Roger and Judy Coleman.
Clickety-clacks for the chin waggers are as follows:
- The lantern fish creates its own light as it swims.
- Some kangaroos live in trees, and climb along the branches like small bears.
- New Zealand’s flightless bird is so shy it spends most of the day hiding.
- Mexican jumping beans jump because they have small caterpillars inside.
- A banana is about 75% water.
Concerns for this week are many. They are as follows: Charles Anderson, Roger and Joan Ashley, Mercedes Aumann, Vernon “Fuzzy” Baldwin, Lynn Beatty, “Bo” Boggs, the Clinton Ann Bowers family, Marie Cole, Jed Conrad, Jeff Craig, Maurice Davenport, Mary Eye, Donna Fleisher, Lola Graham, Jordan Greathouse, Marvin Hartman, Steve and Armanda Heavner, Jackie Hill, Edsel Hogan, Virgil Homan, Jr., Adelbert Hoover, Myrtle Hoover, Debbie Horst, Alice Johnson, Richard Judy, Marsha Keller, Danny Kimble, Dennis Kincaid, Kim Kline, Melissa Lambert, Robert Lambert, Rex Landis, Angela Lung, Linda Malcolm, Betty Mallow, Roger and Skip Mallow, Willard May, Neil McLaughlin, Barbara Moats, Melvin Moats, Aaron Nelson, Ruth Nelson, Don Nilsen, Cheryl Paine, Barbara Parker, Sutton Parrack, Shirley Pratt, Alda Propst, Kathy Propst, Linda Propst, Harley Propst, Mary Puffenbarger, Charles Rexrode, Jason Rexrode, Jimmy Rexrode, Pam Rexrode, Donna Ruddle, Annie Simmons, Barry and Phyllis Simmons, Davey Simmons, Erin Simmons, Eva Simmons, Robbie Sites, Steven Smoot, Connie Sulser, Rosa Tichenor, Sandra Vandevander, Amy Vaus, Judy Williams, Junior Wimer, Margaret Wimer, Dana Yokum, and the fire victims of Maui, Hawaii.
