High winds and periodic outages of electric power made it a little frustrating to get some things done in Rugby last week. Our electric went out for a couple of hours on Monday night and then again for about five hours during the day on Tuesday. We were relieved when it came back on before the temperature dropped into the teens later in the week.
The roofers replacing the metal roof on the historic Thomas Hughes Library seemed oblivious to the gusts of high wind. And the Christmas wreaths and sprays that are hung around the village faired pretty well, although a few bows had to be rescued and reattached.
But fortunately the weather took a break in time for Saturday's Christmas at Rugby event.
From left to right: Benita Howell, Judy Newport, Mike Harris, Ron and Bethany Jackson sing carols on Kingstone Lisle porch. Photo courtesy of Jim McBrayer.
There were a lot of people in the village for the event and the Christmas dinner was nearly sold out last time I checked. It seemed like carolers were all around the village, making the evening very special for those who were walking among the lantern lit historic buildings, shops and the Café. People seemed to also enjoy watching Gerald Hanwright demonstrate the historic printing press at the newly restored Rugby Print Shop, as there were lots of folks crowded into the small building every time I went by. A big rain storm held off until late Saturday night.
Cheryl Cribbet wants to thank all of the wonderful volunteers who again helped with the event.
NEW YEARS EVE IN RUGBY
It is not too late to make New Years Eve plans in Rugby as there are two events going on.
There will be special dinners at both the Harrow Road Café and Grey Gables Bed and Breakfast. And both places are offering special lodging packages. For contact information, see the Calendar of Events below or check out the Historic Rugby and Grey Gables links on this page.
ONLINE GIVING NOW AVAILABLE FOR HISTORIC RUGBY
Barbara Stagg reports that Historic Rugby’s website is now set up for online giving and online membership - join or renew, thanks to great help from her son Randy Paylor and daughter Valerie Donegan. Just click on link at top of main page at http://www.historicrugby.org/ to check it out.
The entire website is also undergoing a major redesign, so you will see further improvements next year.
BIRTHDAYS
December 15 - Matthew Stagg, Rita Myers and JoNell Hester
December 17 - Barbara Mitchell
December 19 - Mary Hemminger
CALENDAR
December 20 - Christmas Open House at home of John and Kathy Hicks in Rugby on Sunday from 2-5 pm. All are invited.
December 24 -- Christmas Eve Service at Christ Church 5:00 p.m. with the traditional potluck afterward.
December 25 - Christmas Day Hike - everyone is invited to meet at the Cafe at 2:00 p.m. to go to Colditz Cove for the traditional Christmas afternoon hike.
December 27 – Annual Meeting - Big South Fork Chapter of Tennessee Trails - 3:00 p.m. at the Harrow Road Cafe
December 29 - Christmas carol sing and open house at Tom and Benita Howell’s home, Ambleside, from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.
December 31 – New Years Eve at Historic Rugby – special holiday dinner at Harrow Road Café. Lodging and special lodging/dinner packages are also still available including rooms in original Rugby historic buildings. Contact Historic Rugby at 423-628-2441 or Toll-Free 888-214-3400 for details and reservations.
December 31 - A "New Year's Eve Dinner Package" including Lodging, Plateau Gourmet Dinner and Country Breakfast will be held at Grey Gables Bed 'n Breakfast Inn in Rugby. $140.00 plus tax and gratuity on dinner, double occupancy. Dinner only is $20.00 plus tax and gratuity. Call 423-628-5252 for reservations.
January 2 – Community Potluck
January 16 – Book Club Meeting - The next selection is “The Known World,” by Edward P. Jones. This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel explores the moral complexities of slavery in antebellum Virginia through the experiences of free and enslaved blacks, black and white slave owners, and their interactions with one another and with whites in a society shaped by slavery. The book was published by Amistad, a division of HarperCollins, in 2003 (paperback edition 2004).
Quilters Group - Wed. and Sat. 2-4 p.m. Eastern at the Friendly House
By Linda Konig
I thought I'd write this week about everyone's favorite animal, the Mephitis mephitis, better known as the Striped Skunk. We see a lot of them, especially dead on the roads. They come out about dusk and are nocturnal. We also find evidence of where they've been the night before when they dig small round holes in our yards. Why do they do that? Mostly they're after grubs and ants. Some of their favorites are beetle and yellow jacket grubs. In fact, I read the other day that insects in one form or another make up about 70% of their diet. Their front feet are partially webbed and have long curved claws which help them to dig and grab prey. By the way, sometimes they'll break into bee hives to get the bee larvae. Amazingly, bee stings don't seem to bother them. I haven't been able to find out whether they lack nerve endings in their face or what. They also eat mice, eggs, carrion, berries, birds, chipmunks, baby rabbits, corn, worms, fish, crayfish, leaves, grasses, grains--you name it.
By the way, they do give plenty of warning before spraying, that is, if you give them plenty of warning first. They don't see or hear well, so try to see them before they see you. Their white stripes are there for a reason; be visually alert to your surroundings and don't startle them. They have short legs and tend to waddle, walking slowly. If you get too close to them, they will first give a purring or growling sound and also put on a defensive display. This is usually by rising on their hind feet, lurching forward, stamping their front feet and clicking their teeth. Kindly remove yourself from the area as quickly and quietly as possible. If you don't, their next step is to turn and aim with the two flexible nozzles located in their rear ends. The spray shoots 10 to 15 feet. And their aim is good.
Having said all that, I must say that there's no cuter sight in nature than a mother skunk with her half-grown babies following after her in single file. One summer a few years ago there was a skunk family living in the Central Avenue neighborhood. The mother and her babies were often seen, but all was peaceful between the Homo sapiens and Mephitis mephitis species. .
This Week’s Editors: Rick Murphy and George Zepp
