Mother Nature seems to be working hard to restore Rugby’s water table that was lowered during last year’s drought. Recent rains have raised streams and creeks in the area. Saturday night the stream below Walton Court sounded more like a rushing river than the usual babbling brook.

George Zepp found a stand of four Morel mushrooms this week on our property. We had always heard they were a real delicacy, but had never had a chance to try any. So I sliced them and sautéed them in butter and they were really good although they look a little bit like cut up squid which brings back bad memories for me… but I digress. There was an article about Morels in the March 26, 2008, Morgan County News that mentioned that there is a group of locals who like to hunt Morels. They actually have a website for those interested at www.TennOutdoorsman.com.

RUGBY’S HIDDEN HISTORY RESCHEDULED
Due to all the recent rains Saturday’s Hidden History walk had to be rescheduled. It will now be this coming Saturday, April 12, so you have another chance to catch this interesting lunch and walk to two historic homesites in Rugby. Barbara Stagg, Executive Director of Historic Rugby will inform and entertain beginning with lunch at the Cafe, followed by a walk to the Massengale Homeplace and the site of Hill House (a mile walk on an easy trail with several steep places). See the calendar below for reservation information.

CEMETERY CRAWL RESCHEDULED
Linda Konig says she has also decided to reschedule the “Cemetery Crawl.” This History Club outing is now this coming Sunday, April 13 at 4:00 pm EDT. Meet at the Christ Church parking area and wear comfortable shoes.

NEW INTERPRETER
Historic Rugby has hired a new interpreter, Cheryl Devel who is currently staying in the apartment at Ivy Cottage. Cheryl, who has a background in archaeology and anthropology, is planning on permanently relocating to the Rugby area with her husband and their horses.

HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION
There is a good opportunity on Saturday to do your part in protecting our environment by getting rid of household items that are considered hazardous, including anything that is flammable, corrosive, toxic or reactive with heat or other contact material. There will be a collection site at the Fentress County Fairgrounds Convenience Center from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm Central time. This is open to people from surrounding counties, as well as those who actually live in Fentress County.

Suggested items include old computers, televisions, monitors, fluorescent light bulbs, batteries, household cleaners, such as drain and oven cleaners, wood and metal cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners, polishes, and disinfectants. Other items you can bring include automotive products, fuel additives, grease and rust solvents, starter fluids, body putty, air-conditioning and refrigerant’s antifreeze, home improvements products, paint, paint thinners, strippers and adhesives, lawn and garden products, herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides.

For more information call the Solid Waste Office at 931-879-1135.

FENTRESS COUNTY ROUNDUP
Benita Howell pointed out that last week I had the wrong date listed for the Fentress County History Roundup. It is actually Saturday April 26 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Central time. If you would like to help with Historic Rugby’s display at this year’s roundup, you can contact Cathy Hannaway at rugbylegacy@highland.net. What is involved is taking Rugby books over and setting up a display. The round-up is especially interested in cemetery information and photos.

SEND ME YOUR PICTURES
As you will notice, I didn't have any new pictures this week. It would be a huge help if some of you could email me pictures from time to time so I have some selection for the newsletter.

BIRTHDAYS
April 13 Betty Stokes
April 14 Hadley Hury

A couple of belated birthdays have just been given to me:
April 4 – Judy Newport
April 6 – Cynthia Johnson

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

April 12–Tales of the Massengale Homeplace & Hill House – First of New Hidden History Series with guide Barbara Stagg. Entertaining lunch and walk to historic Rugby home sites. Includes a mile walk on an easy trail with several steep places. $24 fee includes lunch. Contact Historic Rugby for times and to register at 888-214-3400 or locally at 628-2441.

April 12 – Hike to Double Arch, Potter’s Cave and White Oak Overlook in Fentress County. Meet at Harrow Road Cafe in Rugby at 1:00 pm Eastern time or meet at the trail head at 12:30 pm Central time. To register or for detailed driving instructions, email Charles Gibbs at clgibbs@highland.net.

April 13 – History Club Cemetery Crawl. Group will carpool to several cemeteries including Stockton Cemetery in Mt. Helen to see the “comb-back” graves. Meet at the Christ Church parking area in Rugby at 4:00 pm EDT.

Historic Rugby Workshops – contact Historic Rugby at 1-888-214-3400 or locally at 628-2441 for details and reservations or check online for more information at http://www.historicrugby.org/workshop/workshop.htm

April 19 – Wildflower Walk and Slide Show – instructor Jack Carman

April 26 & 27 – Honeysuckle Basketry with instructors Beth Hester and Scott Gilbert

Exercise Group - Monday and Thursday at 9:00 am EDT at the Friendly House

Quilters Group - Wed. and Sat. 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm EDT at the Friendly House

NATURE NOTES by Linda Konig
One of the most charming things about wildflowers is their colorful names. A casual turning of the pages in any wildflower guide is enough to arouse anyone’s curiosity. Squirrel Corn, Spotted Cat’s Ear, Nits and Lice, Doll’s Eyes, Rattlesnake Master, and Devil’s Grandmother are just some of the odd names. Wildflower names may or may not be a clue to their identification, but they are often a clue to folk beliefs and the plant’s uses in the past.

This past week I found Bloodroot blooming in the flowerbed against the front fence at Newbury House. They are easy to identify because each plant has only one big attractively-notched leaf that wraps around the stem. This leaf doesn’t begin to spread itself out until the one flower blooms. This simple flower is snow white, but the plant’s sap is blood red. Eastern Native Americans used to mix this red juice with animal fat to make war paint for their faces. The women used it as a red dye for baskets and clothing. White people caught on to this use, using alum as the mordant to keep the color from “running.”

Down through the years people have used Bloodroot juice for practically any an every complaint from ulcers to skin cancer. All these uses are questioned today, but there is one property of the juice that has led to its modern day inclusion in toothpastes and mouthwash. An extract from the juice fights dental plaque. But please don’t chew on Bloodroot plants! For one thing your teeth will be bright red which would startle your friends. Worse, the taste is so awful it usually brings on vomiting and is poisonous if used to a great extent.