The English Language Contains a Plethora of Homonyms

Sugar Grove

By Paula Mitchell

Last week, the writer wrote about expressions and sayings that have “gone by the wayside.”  This week, she writes about English being such a hard language to conquer. Perhaps those who speak English as their “mother tongue” may find it quite difficult also.

Let’s give these a try:

1. When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
2. He did not object to the object.
3. We were too close to the door to close it.
4. A bass was painted on the bass drum.
5. The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
6. There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
7. Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.
8. The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
9. He could lead if he got the lead out.
10. We must polish the Polish furniture.
11. The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
12. The farm was used to produce the produce.
13. The bandage was wound around the wound.

No doubt about it, speaking English is quite hard!

Life’s little daily instructions include the following:

1. Share one’s umbrella.
2. Turn off cell phones in a restaurant.
3. Learn to say “No.”
4. Don’t procrastinate.
5. Think positively.

Jack Frost is directing the fall foliage. So far, he is giving rave views for a beautiful sight. A shower of rain fell Saturday evening, being greatly appreciated. The local residents took in the Treasure Mountain Festival, which has been added to the annals of history. There were reunions of many sorts, with all enjoying a general air of happiness and contentment.

Quotes for the week are as follows:

“If you have no critics, you’ll have no success.” — Malcolm X

“He looks like a Rolls Royce in a field of Volkswagens.” — Chick Lang said about Secretariat

“Failure has a thousand explanations. Success doesn’t need one.” — Sir Alec Guinness

“Two of the hardest words in the language to rhyme are ‘life’ and ‘love.’ Of all words!” — Stephen Sondheim

“I’m a true believer that you get out of something what you put into it.” — Jessica Chastain

There is never enough time to sit on the porch swing and hear about the “Talk of the Grove.”

On Sunday, Charles and “Pidge’” Anderson went to visit O’dell Lambert. Odell fell and broke his hip, and after time in the hospital, he returned home Friday.  

The Saturday wedding nuptials for Allison Hoover and Damien Morris were witnessed by many family members and friends at the Frieden’s Church venue in Weyers Cave, Virginia.  Celebrating their love were Tim and Jennifer Hoover, her parents, and Donna and Roger Hoover of Franklin and Tom and Paula Mitchell of Sugar Grove, grandparents.  

The hummingbirds will soon be “pulling up stakes” and heading south. When cleaning out their feeders, be sure to clean with water, instead of detergent.   

Noticeable litter has been strewn on the beautiful landscape in the last week, or so. When traveling to the Scandinavian countries one does not see any litter…at all!  Wish some of that pride could spill over into the Sugar Grove community, and county. 

This week’s clickety-clacks for the chin waggers are as follows:

• In 1903, newspapers reported that Niagara Falls ran dry due to a drought.
• Jimmy Stewart, the actor, twice received the Distinguished Flying Cross and a Presidential Medal of Freedom.
• Although commonly thought of as vegetables, eggplants, pumpkins, and cucumbers are actually fruits.
• The Big Dipper and the North Star are depicted on the Alaska state flag.
• A person can avoid sinking in quicksand by raising one’s legs slowly and lying on one’s back.

Concerns are for the following: Bob Adamson, Dyer Anderson, John Ashley, Roger Ashley, Mercedes Aumann, Richard Bennett, “Bo” Boggs, Marie Cole, Christian Dasher, the George Dasher family, Phil Downs, Benny Evick, Isaac Eye, Linda Eye, Marie Eye, Mary Eye, Thelma Fleisher, Carl Gant, David Gillespie, Lola Graham, Patsy Green, JC Hammer, Marlene Harman, Missy Harrison, Marvin Hartman, Steve and Armanda Heavner, the Grace Hedrick family, Jim Hiner, Evan Hise, Tim Hively, George Hevener, Edsel and Mary Ann Hogan, Virgil Homan, Jr., Adalbert Hoover, Donna K. Hoover, Keith Hoover, Myrtle Hoover, Tim L. Hoover, Debbie and Enos Horst, Lisa and Mike Jamison, Jessica Janney, Alice Johnson, the George Judy family, Richard Judy, Ruthlene Judy, Marsha Keller, Kim Kline, Ginger Knight, Tracie Knight, Laura Kropp, Melissa Lambert, O’Dell Lambert, Robert Lambert, Ronnie Lambert, Rex Landis, the Noah Mallow family, Roger and Skip Mallow, Yvonne Marsh, Ed May, Gene and Joan McConnell, 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, Andy Pond, Janice Propst, Eldon “Butch” Puffenbarger, Alda Propst, Janis Propst, Mike Propst, Sheldon Propst, Tom Rader, Brandon Reel, the Charles Rexrode family, Jason Rexrode, Linda Fay Rexrode, the Pam Rexrode family, Dennis Riggleman, Mike Roberts, Donna Ruddle, Jenny Ruddle, Mary Sawyers, Brittany Shriver, Annie Simmons, Erin Simmons, Eva Simmons, Greg Simmons, the Jeff Simons family, the Judy Simmons family, Nelson Simmons, Robbie Sites, Mike Skiles, Tina Stuben, Steve Stump, Elizabeth Terry, Linda and Larry Vandevander, Sandra Vandevander, Amy Vaus, Judy Waggy, Estelle Wagner, Mary Louise Waldschlager, Rene White, Norman Wilfong, Judy Williams, Ann and Ed Wimer and the Margaret Wimer family.