By Paula Mitchell
There was a time when people in this community hung horseshoes over their front door, on barns, sheds, and other buildings. The story behind horseshoe superstition has a long history dating all the way back to ancient times in 959 A.D. People believed that the horseshoe could keep evil spirits and bad luck out of their homes, and thus bring in good fortune.
Believing in witches claimed dominance in certain sections of the neighborhood. It was said that witches were afraid of horses and their iron shoes. People thought that witches never pass through a doorway with a horseshoe hung above it, and people even nailed horseshoes to witch’s coffins to keep them from coming out. So, naturally, horseshoes were placed outside over doorways to prevent witches from entering.
It was thought that hanging a horseshoe facing upwards in a “U” shape was said to keep evil out and bring good luck into the home. Conversely, hanging it upside down will have luck flowing out of one’s home.
There were several blacksmiths in the community, and they were considered of having a lucky trade. Iron was deemed magical because it could withstand fire. Most horseshoes have seven nails in them. Seven has always been referred to as a lucky number.
So, horseshoes and four-leaf clovers are meant to be good luck charms. Whether this is believable or not, one has to admit that a lucky horseshoe hanging above a door makes for interesting home décor.
Life’s instruction to aid in daily living include the following:
- Never laugh at anyone’s dreams.
- Talk slow but think quick.
- Call one’s family.
- Never interrupt when a person is being flattered.
- Don’t judge people by their relatives.
March has been quite typical. There have been freezing cold temperatures embracing cloudy skies, along with sunny and warm days. The interesting thing is that there has always been prevailing cold winds, with snow showers added to the mix. Earlier in the week, temperatures dipped down to 9 degrees. Still, there have been anxious landscapers who have gotten right to the summer grind of lawn mowing.
Quotes for the week are as follows:
- “It costs nothing to say something kind. Even less to shut up altogether.” — Nathan Fillion
- “Can you imagine what I would do if I could do all I can?” — Sun Tzu
- “It doesn’t matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” — Confucius
- “Never, never, never give up.” — Winston Churchill
- “You can never quit. Winners never quit, and quitters never win.” — Ted Turner
It is still great to sit by the fire to hear the “Talk of the Grove.”
Rick Adkins, son, Archie, and grandson, Tim, returned home last week from an amazing trip to Argentina. They enjoyed great gourmet meals every day, met amazing people and harvested some great trophies. It was a trip of a lifetime for sure. His advice is that everyone should take a trip to a country like Argentina just to realize how good they really do have it here in the United States. It was very eye-opening for the three gentlemen.
April is here and lots of volunteers are stepping up to clean the highways in this southern section of Pendleton County. It will be interesting to see how many bags of trash will be collected.
Virgil Homan, Jr. is continuing his therapy at Life Care in New Market, Virginia. His hip is healing well.
Good to hear that Charles Anderson is doing well following a smashed hand with 40 stitches to remedy that.
Recent visitors of Rosalee Grogg have been Terri Grogg, Marleta Wimer, Hendrix Bogan, Madison Grogg, Asher and Anthony Mauzy, Skyler Grogg, Dakota, Danielle, Braxton and Blakely Grogg and Tyler, Dora and Vance Grogg.
This week’s clickety-clacks for the chin wagers are as follows:
- Until 1965, people in Sweden drove on the left-hand side of the road.
- The first archeological evidence of soup being consumed dates back to 6000 B.C. with the main ingredient being hippopotamus bones.
- Although construction of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Strasbourg started in 1015, it was not until 1439 that the spire was completed.
- There are at least 805 volcanoes on earth for which there is at least one eruption with a known date of occurence.
- For a while Frederic Chopin, the composer and pianist, wore a beard on only one side of his face. “It does not matter,” he explained. “My audience sees only my right side.”
Concerns for this week are as follows: Charles Anderson, the Merl “Cub” Bennett family, the Paul Bennett family, Scherry Chambers, Charlotte Copley, Jeff Craig, Joy Darnell, Jeff Evick, Lee Roy and Ina Evick, Mary Eye, Ron Gilkeson, Lola Graham, Marlene Harman, Ramona Harman, the Carole Hartman family, Steve and Armanda Heavner, Starr Hedrick, Winona Judy Hewitt, Virgil Homan, Jr., Charlee Hoover, Lorena Hoover, Myrtle Hoover, Alice Johnson, Richard Judy, Margaret Kiser, Rex Landis, the Lorraine Lee family, Jay Linaburg, Angela Lung, Linda Malcolm, Morris and Sue Mallow, Yvonne Marsh, Neil McLaughlin, Naomi Michael, Joe Moats, Lincoln Moore, Ernie Morgan, Aaron Nelson, Kathy Nelson, Ken and Ruth Nelson, Cheryl Paine, Sutton Parrack, Betty Lou Propst, the Garry Propst family, Kara Propst, Linda Propst, Nathan Propst, Sheldon Propst, Bryer Puffenbarger, Eldon Puffenbarger, Willard Rader, Don Rexrode, Donna Ruddle, Barbara Simmons, Chloe Simmons, Erin Simmons, Eva Simmons, Charlie Sites, Ona Smith, Stanna Smith, Steve Smith, Berlie Sponaugle, Patricia Swecker, Harry Lee Temple, Charlotte Thompson, Rosa Tichenor, Sandra Vandevander, Jack Vogel, Amby Waybright Jr., Ron White, Judy Williams, Larry Wimer, Carol Windett and the people of Ukraine.