Sugar Grove
By Paula Mitchell
Basket weaving was a popular art during the pioneer days. In this area, baskets were made from a variety of materials. By far the most common material for baskets was white oak, or basket oak which was commonly known in these mountains, and hickory. These were used to make baskets of splints, coming from a young oak sapling that was split laterally again and again to form long, supple splits or splints. Woven over a framework of ribs, split oak baskets were sturdy. Maple and rivercane produced a double layered weave basket.
Other materials from which baskets were made were broom sedge, corn husks, wheat and rye straw, willows (both branch and twigs), cane, honeysuckle, cornstalks, inner bark of pine, hickory bark, and splints of oak, hickory and ash.
The usefulness of baskets made them popular as household items. Their porosity made them perfect for storing dried food stuffs or clothing because air circulating through the stored goods contributed to their preservation. Often, baskets were designed for a particular function. An egg basket protected and measured the eggs that it carried. Its rounded-bottomed form allowed the eggs to settle to the bottom of the basket without rolling around and cracking against each other. Moreover, baskets were made in standard sizes to hold even dozens of eggs, making counting unnecessary, as filling the basket performed this service.
Vines in the quantity of 15- and 20-feet long were gathered in the winter when the sap was “down,” then winding them in rolls fastening them securely, and boiling for four hours. After removing them from a pot, each piece was ran through a cloth to remove the bark, soaked overnight in a tub of water, rinsed in two waters, and hung to dry in the sunshine. Each little knot was whittled off with a sharp knife and then weaving began.
The usefulness of baskets contributed to their popularity. Basket forms included market baskets, storage baskets, laundry baskets, waste baskets, fruit and flower baskets, egg baskets, trays, and purses.
Many a family holds these handmade baskets near and dear to their heart, as they hold many memories of days gone by.
Life’s little instructions include the follow:
- Don’t buy what one can’t afford.
- Good manners doesn’t cost anything.
- Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
- A person can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
- Don’t cry before one tries.
Quotes for the week are as follows:
“Food brings people together on many different levels. It’s nourishment of the soul and body; it’s truly love.” — Giada De Laurentiis
“One of the most cowardly things ordinary people do is to shut their eyes to facts.” — C.S. Lewis
“If you have to hurt other people in order to feel powerful, you are an extremely weak individual.” — Bobby J. Mattingly
“A promise should be given with caution and kept with care.” — Unknown
“Worship renews the spirit as sleep renews the body.” — Richard Clarke Cabot
Sitting out on the porch swing, drinking a glass of lemonade is where one will hear the “Talk of The Grove.”
The firemen’s lawn party was well supported by the community at large. Food, music and games were enjoyed by all. The fireflies had some competition with the fireworks which were launched Saturday evening.
This week’s Clickety-clacks for the chin waggers are as follows:
- Centipedes can sting from their “tails,” and millipedes can’t.
- Rhododendron leaves curl in the cold weather to preserve moisture.
- Maine is so big that it covers as many square miles as the other five New England states combined.
- The largest banana tree is located in Papua New Guinea. The leaves can be 2.5 meters long and the size of the ripe banana is that of a newborn baby.
- The hellbender is the largest salamander in West Virginia.
The remainder of the July birthdays is as follows: Kenny Wilfong, 17th; Lucus Kiser, 19th; Jeffrey Mitchell and Vickie Simmons, 20th; Ann Marie Weese, 21st; Jesse C. Propst, Johnny Thompson, and Lauren Williams, 22nd; Barbara Parker and Brenda Cook, 24th; Kevin Rexrode and Judy Patch. 25th; Shirley Wimer, Wilma Pitsenbarger Rexrode, and Hannah Rexrode. 26th; Thelma Fleisher, 28th; Hunter McConnell and Kent Gardiner, 29th; Michael Fisher and Delbert Rexrode, 30th; and Colby Simmons and Don Thomas, 31st.
Concerns for this week are many. They are as follows: Charles Anderson, Roger and Joan Ashley, Mercedes Aumann, Vernon “Fuzzy” Baldwin, Lynn Beatty, Marie Cole, Jed Conrad, Jeff Craig, Mary Eye, Donna Fleisher, Lola Graham, Jordan Greathouse, Marvin Hartman, Steve and Armanda Heavner, Jackie Hill, Virgil Homan, Jr., Myrtle Hoover, Debbie Horst, Mike Jamison, Alice Johnson, Richard Judy, Danny Kimble, Dennis Kincaid, Kim Kline, Melissa Lambert, Robert Lambert, Rex Landis, Angela Lung, Linda Malcolm, Betty Mallow, Roger and Skip Mallow, Neil McLaughlin, Melvin Moats, Aaron Nelson, Ruth Nelson, Don Nilsen, Cheryl Paine, Barbara Parker, Sutton Parrack, Shirley Pratt, Alda Propst, Kathy Propst, Linda Propst, Harley Propst, Jason Rexrode, Jimmy Rexrode, Pam Rexrode, Donna Ruddle, John Ruddle, Annie Simmons, Barry and Phyllis Simmons, Davey Simmons, Erin Simmons, Robbie Sites, the Ona Smith family, Rosa Tichenor, Sandra Vandevander, Amy Vaus, Judy Williams and Margaret Wimer.
