Sugar Grove
By Paula Mitchell
March. Believe it or not, March is here! The days are getting noticeably longer, with nature slowly responding to that.
There will be a full moon this month. The early American Indians marked the months by the full moon, naming each one by the season. The month of March was called the Full Worm Month, as the temperatures began to rise and warm the frozen ground. The earthworm casts appear, harkening the return of the robins.
Different Indian tribes had different names for the full moon. The northern tribes called the March full moon the Full Crow Moon, because the crows signaled the end of winter. It was also called The Full Sap Moon, when it was time to tap the maple trees.
March is the beginning to the yearly calendar of work. It arrives with the maple sap gathering. Mountain folk have always been a versatile people. They have learned to be survivors. They had to be this way to survive in these rugged hills when they migrated as early pioneers. With little more than a double-bitted axe, a meager supply of household goods, a trusty flintlock rifle and a great deal of determination and hard work, they learned to depend upon their own resources. There was nothing wasted, or scorned as being too humble to put to use.
This mountain ethic has been handed down through the years to the present generation. However, the grandparent generation is appalled at the huge amount of still useful items that are discarded, given away or tossed in the garbage bin. The old adage, “Eat it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without” was once the daily life. There were no turned-up noses at the supper table, or short orders cooked for a young’un who didn’t like anything. What was given was what was eaten.
New clothes bought as fashion dictated was never even contemplated. Garments were worn as long as they held together or would patch the dungarees. They in turn would patch the patches. Girls’ dresses, as well as boy’s shirts, were sewn on the treadle sewing machine that was powdered by the foot. Every scrap of material was saved.
When a garment was too old and ragged to wear, buttons would be clipped off, and the garment thrown into a ragbag. The round cake box would have a varied assortment of buttons which oftentimes created many hours of play by way of sorting, arranging and counting the contents.
Going through hard times makes one stronger and more self-reliant. The shape of the economy allows folks to realize what is really important, and it’s not material things.
Life’s daily instructions that help to keep the tick of time in one’s soul include the following:
- Clean up one’s own mess.
- Wash one’s hands before eating.
- Warm cookies and cold milk are good for a person.
- Put things back where a person found them.
- Watch a sunrise or sunset once a year.
Winter has been showing his fierce teeth the past few days, with icy blasts, snow showers and freezing temperatures. The community was a winter wonderland Saturday, with an inch or so of snow. Early morning temperatures of 15 degrees, which included blasts of wind, made one realize that winter is not entirely over!
This week’s clickety clacks for the chin waggers are as follows:
- The first letters of the months July through November, in order, spell the name JASON.
- The world’s oceans contain about 200 times more gold than has been mined on land.
- The United States and Canada combined publish almost half of the world’s newspapers.
- A person who collects and studies shells is called a conchologist.
- In 1778, English Captain Cook named the island now called Hawaii “the Sandwich Islands” for the Earl of Sandwich.
Sitting by the fireplace is exactly where one needs to be to hear the “Talk of the Grove.”
Bob and Marti Fisher of Romney were visitors Friday in the home of Willard and Judy Rader. Saturday visitors were Troy, Jennifer, Kayla and Emily Eckard of Linville, Virginia.
Becky, Emma and Wesley Puffenbarger spent the weekend in Martinsburg for cheer palooza where Emma competed with the Pendleton County Middle School Wildcats. Nathan and Ben Puffenbarger spent the weekend with Robert and Nancy Hodges in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
Sunday, Laura George and Ava Arrington enjoyed skiing at Snowshoe.
Arriving Saturday to pay a visit with Phil Downs for the weekend were Tara Kelley and Amelia Gibson of Springfield.
Charles and “Pidge” Anderson enjoyed a visit from Don and Estelle Wagoner, and Shirley Pratt. They have started up their greenhouse in preparation for the spring/summer vegetables and flowers.
Quotes for the week are as follows:
“I’m glad I’m not perfect — I’d be bored to death” — Louise Fitzhugh.
“Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.” — John Lennon
“Morning comes whether you set the alarm or not.” — Ursula Le Guin
“Music should be made to make people forget their problems, if only for a short while.” — Chuck Berry
“Isn’t it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?” — Lucy Maud Montgomery
March birthdays include the following: Leslie Bowers, second; Judy Grimm, fourth; Myrtle Pitsenbarger, seventh; Marsha Nelson, ninth; Roger Shrewsberry, 10th; Robert Lambert and Diane Pennybacker, 11th; and Wanda Pitsenbarger, Holly Crider and Wanda Messerly, 15th.
Concerns for this week are many. They are as follows: Bob Adamson, Rick Adkins, Charles and “Pidge” Anderson, John Ashley, Roger and Joan Ashley, Mercedes Aumann, Lynn Beatty, “Bo” Boggs, 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, Edsel and Mary Ann Hogan, Virgil Homan, Jr., Adelbert Hoover, Keith Hoover, Myrtle Hoover, Debbie and Enos Horst, Lisa and Mike Jamison, Jessica Janney, Alice Johnson, Richard Judy, Marsha Keller, Kim Kline, 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, Richard Morrison, 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, the Sarah Smith family, Stanna Smith, Steve Stump, Rosa Tichenor, Sandra Vandevander, Evelyn Varner, Raymond Varner, Amy Vaus, Judy Williams, Ann Wimer and Margaret Wimer.
