Sugar Grove
By Paula Mitchell
The sweltering heat coincides with the rising of Sirius, the Dog Star. In ancient Greece and Rome, the Dog Days were believed to be a time of drought, bad luck, and unrest, when men and dogs alike would be driven mad by the extreme heat! In other words, the “combined heat” of super-bright Sirius and the Sun was thought to be the cause of summer’s sweltering temperatures. The name “Sirius” even stems from the Ancient Greek seírios, meaning “scorching.”
In this day and age, the phrase doesn’t conjure up such bad imagery. Instead, Dog Days are associated with the time of the summer’s peak temperatures and high humidity. Of course, the appearance of Sirius does not actually affect seasonal weather here on Earth, but its appearance during the hottest part of summer ensures that the lore surrounding the star lives on today!
This year’s Dog Days are July 3 – Aug. 11. Yes, the extreme heat and humidity is being felt, to a great degree, in this community. There are only 27 more days to go before Dog Days are over. Man and beast can hardly wait!
Life’s little lessons to live by daily include the following:
- Stop blaming other people.
- Give clothes not worn to charity.
- Listen more, talk less.
- Return everything a person borrows.
- Be on time, don’t make excuses.
Temperatures have been soaring dangerously near the 100 degree mark. Every living thing is hunting for cooler shelter. The river is at its lowest in years. One can actually tread water by walking across from side to side. Rain is sorely needed!
Quotes for the week are as follows:
“If I had my way, I’d remove January from the calendar altogether and have an extra July instead.” — Roald Dahl
“Being humble means recognizing that we are not on earth to see how important we can become, but to see how much difference we can make in the lives of others.” — G. Hinkley
“I am summer, come to lure you away from your computer…come dance on my fresh grass, dig your toes into my beaches.” — Oriana Green
“You can’t do ugly things to people and expect to live a beautiful life.” — Tiny Buddha
“We must dare to be great; and we must realize that greatness is the fruit of toil and sacrifice and high courage.” —Theodore Roosevelt
Sitting inside during Dog Days is where one wants to be to hear the “Talk of the Grove.”
Ryan Sponaugle has a new baby donkey…Little Jimmy…born on July 6 which happens to be Jimmy Rexrode’s birthday.
The combined efforts of Calvary and St. John Lutheran churches had a successful Fiesta Vacation Bible School on Saturday. The children learned about Jesus through crafting, singing, dancing, playing games, and laughing a lot.
Wesley, Becky, Nathan, Emma, and Ben Puffenbarger held a birthday celebration for Robert Hodges at their house. Also attending were Nancy Robby and Matt Hodges, along with Elden Puffenbarger.
This week’s clickety-clacks for the chin waggers are as follows:
- More than 8 million people from all over the United States and the world visit Lancaster, Pennsylvania, each year.
- The largest bridge in North Carolina is the Virginia Dare Memorial Bridge which stretches 5.2 miles over Croatan Sound in Manteo in Dare County (Outer Banks, North Carolina).
- One opossum can eat 5,500 larval ticks and withstand 80 rattlesnake bites.
- The largest adjustable telescope in the world is at the Green Bank Observatory.
- Although Papua New Guinea lies close to the equator, its higher altitudes do receive snow.
Concerns for this week are as follows: Bob Adamson, Dyer Anderson, John Ashley, Roger Ashley, Mercedes Aumann, Richard Bennett, “Bo” Boggs, Marie Cole, Steve Conrad, Christian Dasher, Benny Evick, Isaac Eye, Linda Eye, Marie Eye, Mary Eye, the Allison Fleming family, Carl Gant, David Gillespie, Lola Graham, Patsy Green, JC Hammer, Marlene Harman, Marvin Hartman, Steve and Armanda Heavner, Grace Hedrick, Jim Hiner, Evan Hise, Tim Hively, the Gary Harman family, Alma Harper, George Hevener, Edsel and Mary Ann Hogan, Virgil Homan, Jr., Adalbert Hoover, Keith Hoover, Myrtle Hoover, Debbie and Enos Horst, the Lois Huffman family, Lisa and Mike Jamison, Jessica Janney, Alice Johnson, Richard Judy, Marsha Keller, Kim Kline, Ginger Knight, Tracie Knight, Melissa Lambert, Robert Lambert, Ronnie Lambert, Rex Landis, Roger and Skip Mallow, Yvonne Marsh, Ed May, Gary McDonald, Neil McLaughlin, Rose Miller, Bruce Minor, Tom Mitchell, Barbara Moats, Gloria Moats, John Morford, Bill Mullenax, Helen Nash, Aaron Nelson, Ruth Nelson, Cheryl Paine, Walt Pitsenbarger, Wanda Pitsenbarger, Andy Pond, Janice Propst, Eldon “Butch” Puffenbarger, Alda Propst, Janis Propst, Mike Propst, Sheldon Propst, Stanley Propst, Tom Rader, Brandon Reel, Charles Rexrode, Jason Rexrode, Linda Fay Rexrode, Pam Rexrode, Dennis Riggleman, Mike Roberts, the Rose Robinson family, Donna Ruddle, Jenny Ruddle, Brittany Shriver, Annie Simmons, Barry Simmons, Greg Simmons, Phyllis Simmons, Erin Simmons, Eva Simmons, Judy Simmons, Nelson Simmons, Robbie Sites, Mike Skiles, Tina Stuben, Steve Stump, Elizabeth Terry, the Rosa Tichenor family, Linda and Larry Vandevander, Sandra Vandevander, Raymond Varner, Amy Vaus, Estelle Wagner, Rene White, Judy Williams, Ann and Ed Wimer and Margaret Wimer.
