I believe this is the first year that Historic Rugby has sponsored a September wildflower walk, which is coming up this Saturday. This has been a spectacular year for flowers, and September is proving to be no exception. Linda Konig has been on the lookout for some really good places to suggest to wildflower instructor Jack Carman, so I think this will be a really interesting Saturday outing. Details for registering are in the calendar below.
On Friday night will be the History Night meeting where Noah Buck’s descendent, Wanda Hatfield will talk about Rugby’s Buck’s Mill and whether or not there was ever actually a Buck’s Bridge.
While this has nothing to do with the wildflowers or history, I did want to show y’all a photo of the night blooming Moonflower vine I have been growing. This is one of the vines that Historic Rugby started in its new greenhouse and is one of the plants we were selling at Spring Festival. While it took most of the summer to start blooming, it was worth the wait. I took this photo early in the morning before the nighttime blooms had closed.Congratulations to Butch Hodgkins
The Fentress Courier had an article recently about Rugby’s Butch Hodgkins being inducted into the Fentress Boys & Girls Clubs of Fentress County’s 2008 Hall of Fame. His honor was in the category of Humanities. The article lists a whole slew of awards Butch has received for his art. It says that “His artwork hangs in homes and public buildings in every state in the Union and several foreign countries.” Congratulations! Thanks to Jodye Weiler for bringing this to my attention.
Rugby Quilt Honored
Donna Heffner showed me a book called Quilt Pink for Hope which showed a quilt and related patterns that were submitted by the Rugby Quilters Guild. I believe I talked a little about this a while back, but I am not sure I had much detail. The book which was published this year by Meredith Books shows the quilts submitted which were used to raise money for breast cancer research. Out of 4,000 quilts sent, the project chose 100 for the book. So the fact that a quilt was chosen was quite an honor.
The text says that “JoNell Hester, her mother, and Mary Foster pieced this quilt in honor of friends Gaynell Stewart and Anna Lee Hawn. Fellow guild member Odell Nickerson hand-quilted it.” In the book, JoNell writes, “I have been involved with four quilts and have been overwhelmed at the wonderful response to this cause.”
A portion of the proceeds from the book were donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
Singers Practice to Begin
Ron Jackson has announced the first rehearsal for the Rugby Community Singers' Christmas concert. The rehearsal will be Sunday, September 14 at 2:00 p.m. at Christ Church. The program will include Christmas anthems, familiar carols, and popular Christmas songs. New members are welcome.
Benefit September 20
There is going to be a benefit concert, cakewalk and auction on Saturday, September 20 to benefit Steve and Annie Bell, longtime Rugby supporters and talented crafts people. Steve was seriously injured in a freak accident months ago and while he has use of his upper body, arms and hands, he still cannot walk. As a result, a number of folks in Rugby want to do something to help out. The benefit will begin at 6:00 pm at the Community Center in Rugby. The music will be provided by Butch Hodgkins of Lonesome County Line Band, Gerald Hanwright and others.
The organizers are soliciting donations, both monetary and items for the auction. They are also hoping many of those who come will bring goodies for the cakewalk – cakes, pies, cookies, etc., and asking everyone to bring finger food to share (drinks will be provided).
Donations may be mailed and/or dropped off at Rugby Commissary, c/o Rita Elliot, P.O. Box 8, 5569 Rugby Hwy.,Rugby, TN 37733
For more information, contact: Rita (at Rugby Commissary), 423-628-5166, Donna (Spirit of Red Hill), 423-627-4397 or Cheryl (Carriage House Gallery), 423-628-6569.
Mara Trumbo Class in Crossville
Recently returned from her Bronze Level Jenkins International Teachers oil painting course, Mara Trumbo will be sharing the "Wet-On-Wet" technique in a full day oil painting class at The Artist's Corner in Crossville on Saturday September 27 from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm Central Time. The subject is Victorian Roses. The cost of $65.00 will include the use of all materials (except canvas to be purchased at Painter's Corner) and lunch. Mara can provide transport for two Rugbeians in her car. Call if you wish to see the six paintings she has completed and/or sign up for the workshop on 423-628-6591.
Labor Day Hike Report
Benita Howell writes about the Labor Day hike around Rugby:
“Of the seventeen folks who started the hike, Julian, Rita, Jane,
Eric, and Mike went the whole distance. A highlight was the abundant
stand of cardinal flower, Lobelia cardinalis, growing in patches of
soil out in the stream at the Meeting of the Waters. It was in full bloom and being visited by lots of hummingbirds when we stopped there. Maybe when folks read next week's Rugby Week this will still be a sight worth a special trip down to the Meeting of the Waters.”
Jody Weiler Gives Thanks
Jodye Weiler asked me to pass along her thanks to everyone who tried to help her save her horse, Magic, from colic recently. Unfortunately, Magic died.
"It's extremely difficult dealing with the loss of an animal that has been with you for almost 19 years," she wrote "It's like losing a family member & I truly miss him. Thank you, one & all."
Hornets
Jodye Weiler also wrote:
“…there is the shell of an apple at the commissary that might be of interest to anyone familiar with the LARGE hornets we have been plagued with this year..this 'shell' is all that is left after these fellas have their way with it.
According to the internet they are called a European hornet ..locals refer to them as a 'yellow hornet'...they are quite large & lethal. Peter Erickson was stung by one and told me the pain was excruciating. They have devoured a section of one of my storage sheds..a section approximately 10 x 18...gone.!! They can be very aggressive..beware.”
Birthdays
September 9 - Kim Stagg and Harry Hester
September 10 - Robert Walton Crabtree
September 13 - Ted Chrisman
Calendar of Events
September 12 – History Meeting – Wanda Hatfield, a descendent of Noah Buck, will talk about Buck’s Mill and Buck’s Bridge. 7:30 pm EDT at the Friendly House
September 13 – Fall Wildflower Walk – Instructor Jack Carman. Walk around Rugby to see autumn wildflowers including several rare species. Plus slide presentation and book signing. 10:00 am to 5:00 pm EDT with lunch break. Fee $12, lunch additional. Contact Historic Rugby for reservation 888-214-3400 or locally at 628-7842
September 13 - Fall Harvest Dinner at Grey Gables - 6:30 pm EDT. Reservations required. Call 423-628-5252.
September 20 – Hidden History Walk with Barbara Stagg – Voices from the Past at Laurel Dale Cemetery. Noon to 4:00 pm EDT. Begins with a lunch discussion followed by a walk around the cemetery. Contact Historic Rugby for reservation 888-214-3400 or locally at 628-7842
September 27 – Wild Mushrooming Workshop – Instructor Harry “Whitey” Hitchcock. 9:00 am to noon EDT. Hike into gorges around Rugby, learning to identify many fungi. Fee $20. Contact Historic Rugby for reservations 888-214-3400 or locally at 628-7842
October 3-5 – White Oak Basketry Workshop –“From Tree to Basket”. Instructors Beth Hester and Scott Gilbert. 9:00am to 4:00 pm. Contact Historic Rugby for reservations 888-214-3400 or locally at 628-7842
October 3 – Lonesome County Line performance at Christ Church Episcopal 7:30 pm EDT
October 4 – Michaelmas Festival at Christ Church Episcopal - 10:00 am to 4:00 pm EDT. English Cream Tea seatings at noon, 1.30pm and 3:00pm - $10 per person – reservations required for tea – call 423-628-6250 or 423-628-1282.
October 4 – Community Potluck – 6:00 pm EDT (Please note the earlier than usual time)
October 4 – Janet Courtney from Rugby England talks about “Victorian England” 7:30 pm EDT at Rebecca Johnson Theatre
Exercise Group - Monday and Thursday at 9:00 am EDT at the Friendly House
Dulcimer Class – Tuesdays, 2:00 pm 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
The most exciting thing that Vi Biehl and I saw on our recent trip to North Carolina were the “Lamp Shade” spiders. We’d never heard of them before, but there they were on rocky bluffs above The Sinks, one of the Smokies most popular spots. She spotted them first and made some excellent photos of these spiders, each one with her back against the rock, her feet holding on to the smallest end of the “lamp shade” she’d made. The large end of the shade was pointed outward toward us. To the left is one of the photos.I could hardly wait to get home to look them up. Although these kinds of spiders are somewhat rare, I found them immediately in my Golden Guide to Spiders and Their Kin. They were Hypochilids, found in isolated areas of America, China and Tasmania. Vi found out more about them on the web. The species we found is named Hypochilus pococki. We have our own species on the Plateau which also lives on shaded rock bluffs near streams – the Hypochilus thorelli.
One of the fascinating facts about the Hypochilids is that they’re cribellate spiders. They have a cribellum, a sort of sieve through which they pull their silk threads, creating threads that are fine and wooly. The wooliness of the threads makes it harder for prey to escape.
Has anyone out there seen these spiderwebs around Rugby? If so, let me know.
