Sugar Grove
By Paula Mitchell
This is Leap Year. Starting in fifth century Ireland, St. Bridget complained to St. Patrick that there were too many unmarried women. Leap Year, or Leap Day was set aside as the day that women could ask for a man’s hand in marriage.
In 1288, Scotland passed a law that men were fined if they declined the offer of marriage. This ranged from a kiss to payment for a silk dress or a pair of gloves.
A Greek superstition states that it is bad luck for a couple to marry in a leap year.
Of course, in today’s society, women have the same privilege of proposing marriage as men do, and they don’t have to wait for that special day every four years.
February is also the traditional month to dig the fragrant roots of the sassafras and brew them into a dark red tea that is unexcelled for flavor. The bigger roots provide the most intense flavor. The tea is easy to make. After the roots are cut into pieces and scrubbed well, drop three or four hunks into a large pot. Fill the container with water, and let it simmer until it turns a deep red color. Sometimes, more water must be added until the desired strength is reached.
The use of sassafras has a long history. Native Americans used it as a medicine, with women employing it as a tonic after childbirth, cases of rheumatism, and a diuretic. Drinking sassafras tea as a spring tonic became a part of life long ago with the pioneers. It is still part of the West Virginian’s life.
Woodworkers have discovered that sassafras is one of the prettiest woods for woodworking. It is lighter in color than white oak, and has a satiny finish that is beautiful.
So, were one to be offered a drink of sassafras tea, the writer suggests trying it. It just might invigorate the system.
Life’s little instructions include the following:
- Admit one doesn’t know everything.
- Be compassionate.
- Enjoy the last hours of dusk.
- Be humble.
- Take the shopping cart of an elderly/disadvantaged person back to the rack for them.
Balmy days have settled in to the neighborhood. Residents are getting used to this; however, colder temperatures are sure to come this way, once the gentle rains come, and then it will be quite a different story. Then, jackets, cardigans, and perhaps even a coat will need to be donned.
This week’s quotes are as follows:
“In February there is everything to hope for and nothing to regret.” — Patience Strong
“I often make the mistake of thinking that something that is obvious to me is just as obvious to everyone else.” — Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
“Keep your face always toward the sunshine — and shadows will fall behind you.” — Walt Whitman
“Though February is short, it is filled with lots of love and sweet surprises.” — Charmaine J. Forde
“February is the border between winter and spring.” — Terri Guillemets
Clickety-clacks for the chin waggers are as follows:
- Franklin D. Roosevelt became the first president to travel by airplane while in office.
- Joe DiMaggio delivered red roses to Marily Monroe’s crypt multiple times a week for 20 years.
- The clarinet was invented in Nuremberg, Germany, by Johann Cristoph Denner, who was tinkering with and improving an instrument called the chalumeau.
- By the end of 1975, Evel Knievel had suffered 433 bone fractures attempting to jump with his motorcycle.
- Monarch butterflies travel up to 100 miles per day on their 3,000-mile journey to Mexico.
- In medieval times, mermaids were believed to exist alongside whales as common sea creatures.
Continued February birthdays include Brian Jamison and Randy Roberson, 17th; Allan Wilfong, 18th; Kent Simmons and George Hevener, 19th; Diana Smith Cook, 20th; Debbie Reedy, 21st; Carolyn Sponaugle and Karen Simon, 25th; Charles Rexrode and Terry Ryan, 26th; Phil Downs and Patty Marshall, 27th; and Clinton Eye, 28th.
Concerns for this week are many. They are as follows: Bob Adamson, Rick Adkins, Charles and “Pidge” Anderson, the Bobby Joe Armstrong family, John Ashley, Roger and Joan Ashley, Mercedes Aumann, Lynn Beatty, “Bo” Boggs, Dewayne Borror, Jane Conrad, Marie Cole, Norma Propst Cunningham, Christian Dasher, Isaac Eye, Marie Eye, Mary Eye, Neal Eye, Loralee Gordon, Lola Graham, Jordan Greathouse, Patsy Green, Rosalee Grogg, JC Hammer, Marlene Harman, Marvin Hartman, Steve and Armanda Heavner, Grace Hedrick, George Hevener, Edsel and Mary Ann Hogan, Virgil Homan, Jr., Adelbert Hoover, Myrtle Hoover, Debbie and Enos Horst, Mike Jamison, Jessica Janney, Alice Johnson, Richard Judy, Marsha Keller, Danny Kimble, the Dennis Kincaid family, Kim Kline, Tracie Knight, Rev. Angela Lambert’s father, Melissa Lambert, Robert Lambert, Ronnie Lambert, Rex Landis, Roger and Skip Mallow, Yvonne Marsh, Anna Mauzy, Ed May, Neil McLaughlin, Rose Miller, Bruce Minor, Tom Mitchell, Barbara Moats, Aaron Nelson, Ruth Nelson, Cheryl Paine, Wanda Pitsenbarger, Alda Propst, John O. Propst, Kathy Propst, Mike Propst, Sheldon Propst, Tom Rader, Brandon Reel, Charles Rexrode, Jason Rexrode, Jerold “Jerry” Rexrode, Pam Rexrode, Dennis Riggleman, Donna Ruddle, Annie Simmons, Phyllis Simmons, Erin Simmons, Eva Simmons, Kent Simmons, Robbie Sites, Mike Skiles, Donnie Smith, Stanna Smith, Steve Stump, Rosa Tichenor, Sandra Vandevander, Evelyn Varner, Raymond Varner, Amy Vaus, Judy Williams, Ann Wimer and Margaret Wimer.
