Just a reminder that there are two special events happening this week.
Saturday night is the English Country Dancing at 7:30 p.m. at the Friendly House.
And on Sunday, there will be a reception honoring "Miss Maggie" Barger on the occasion of her 90th birthday, at the Elgin Community Center in Elgin, TN. The event is a drop-in beginning at 1:00 p.m.
Damage from Intense Storm, February 11, 2009
Last Wednesday, a powerful storm hit Historic Rugby with a vengeance! The storm was brief, but intense. The most significant damage was to our treasured library. Barbara Stagg supplied the pictures below and also sent the following assessment: "John inspected in attic - absolutely no damage to the inch-thick sheathing that covers the roof - so only to the metal standing seam itself and to the back corner exterior wood. Could have been so much worse. "
top l to r: Tree lost at Trumbo home; tree down on path to Beacon HillBottom pictures: Railing blown off porch roof of Thornthwaite home
Community Singers Rehearsals
Rehearsals for the Rugby Community Singers will be on Sunday afternoons from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. at Christ Church. The first rehearsal for the next concert will be Sunday afternoon, February 22. The program will include a selection of sacred music, American, English, and Welsh folk music, and a medley of Broadway music from the musicals South Pacific and Sister Act.
New members are welcome and encouraged to attend. Ron Jackson says “Our goal is thirty members, but wouldn't it be great if I had to order more music? Who knows, we might be taking this fantastic group on the road.”
Noted Flower Expert to Visit Rugby in March
March 14, 2009 (10:00 am – noon ET), Scott Kunst of Ann Arbor, Michigan will be giving a lecture and film presentation on "Antique Gardens: American Home Landscapes From 1800-1940". From the scanty pioneer gardens of the early 1800s through flamboyant Victorian carpet-bedding, to the old-fashioned perennial borders of the early 20th century, Scott Kunst’s “Antique Gardens” illuminates 140 years of American yards and gardens. In colorful, fast-paced slides, it shows how plants, outdoor furnishings, and the design of American yards changed dramatically through the years. It’s an eye-opening primer on the landscape relics that survive all around us, and essential background for gardeners wanting to restore a historic landscape or enliven any garden with a touch of the past.
Ms. Kunst is considered “One of the foremost experts on antique bulbs and other heirloom plants in America.” (http://www.oldhousegardens.com/). Her program will be followed by a Spring Garden Luncheon at the Harrow Road Café. Also available for purchase from the New Historic Rugby Heirloom Nursery will be rare Antique Gladiolus Bulbs, including a few Parrots! Heirloom English Primrose Plants.
Program: $18.00 - Luncheon $12.00
Call 1-888-214-3400 To Purchase Tickets & For
Lodging In Historic Buildings
Call 1-888-214-3400 To Purchase Tickets & For
Lodging In Historic Buildings
Volunteer Gardeners Needed
Historic Rugby needs help doing the winter clean-up at the garderns at Kingstone Lisle and Newbury cleaned up. Rick Murphy is going to be working with HRI Executive Director Cheryl Cribbet to organize several garden work days. They are tentatively thinking of doing this on several consecutive Wednesdays starting Wednesday, February 25, subject to the weather.
If you can help, let Rick Murphy know and he will keep you informed of the schedule and any changes due to weather. Email him at rickmurphy1@aol.com or call him at 423-319-7842.
Next Week’s Newsletter
Rick Murphy will be doing next’s week’s newsletter, so if you have any news, please pass it on to him at rickmurphy1@aol.com or call 423-319-7842.
Birthdays
February 17 - Liam Neary
February 18 - Linda Brooks Jones
February 19 - Mike Stagg & Peter Erickson
Calendar of Events
February 21 – English Country Dancing 7:30 p.m. Eastern at the Friendly House
February 22 – Reception honoring "Miss Maggie" Barger on the occasion of her 90th birthday 1:00 p.m. Eastern at the Elgin Community Center
February 28 – Beekeeper Class 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Eastern, at the Advantage Center, 1326 Knoxville Hwy, Wartburg, TN. (Free - no charge). Call Charles Gibbs at 628-5678 for more information.
March 7 - Community Potluck – 7:00 p.m. Eastern
March 13 – History Night – George Zepp and Rick Murphy will talk about the fascinating life of Sarah (Sadie) Louise Kellogg Kimber Walton - 7:00 p.m. Eastern at the Friendly House
March 14 – St. Patrick’s Day Dinner at Harrow Road Cafe
March 14 - Scott Kunst of Ann Arbor, Michigan willl be giving a lecture and film presentation on Antique Gardens: American Home Landscapes From 1800-1940. 10:00 am – noon ET. Program: $18.00 - Luncheon $12.00. Call 1-888-214-3400 To Purchase Tickets.
Exercise Group - Monday and Thursday at 9:00 a.m. Eastern at the Friendly House
Quilters Group - Wed. and Sat. 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern at the Friendly House
HRI March Workshops
March 14 - Oil Painting in One Day “Roses Fantasy” 10:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m. Eastern. Instructor: Mara Trumbo. Learn how to master oil paints with Mara by following her personal step-by-step instruction. All supplies included. $58
March 21 - Fit, Fun & Yoga With Missy Kane (New) 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Eastern. Instructor: Missy Kane. A well balanced day with Missy Kane, starting with yoga then a hike through Rugby and in the Big South Fork. Covenant Health members will be along for health checks and tips. Bring your own picnic lunch. Film excerpts of the day will be shown on “Fit & Fun” on ETP-TV. $35
March 28 & 29 – 6-inch Nantucket Lightship Basket (New) 9:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Eastern. Instructor: Beth Hester. Make a strong, beautiful, functional and accurate reproduction of the famous Nantucket Lightship Basket -- an heirloom to treasure. Each student will have use of a cherry mold base, weaving with fine grade cane and staves with a hand-carved white oak handle. Challenging but rewarding, with participants learning carving staves, weaving, drilling, rim making and lashing. $165
TO REGISTER FOR WORKSHOPS: Call (423) 628-2441 or Toll-Free 1-888-214-3400
Lodging is available at Historic Rugby with a 10% discount to all workshop students.
Nature Notes by Linda Konig
Though cold February winds may blow and the skies turn gray, we're still on the countdown for spring. The end of last week found me eagerly looking and listening for hints of spring beauties to come. In my own yard, I found tiny curled-up green leaves and pink flower buds on the Flowering Quince bush, and the daffodils against the concrete garage are lifting their swollen flower buds higher every day. Meanwhile, Charles Gibbs' honeybees were gathering nectar at the Snowdrops around town, and wild bees were plying their trade at the Winter Honeysuckle. Oh, that fragrance! The promise of spring. In fact, Ron Jackson says that in NC this bush is called "First Breath of Spring."
Would you believe that the first English Primrose has already bloomed at Walton Court? I was just as thrilled, though, at the sight of red maple flower buds, hoary bitter cress' minute white flowers, and the rapidly growing henbit plants. ANY flowering plant, no matter how humble, receives a big welcome from me in February and March.
The birds, too, are raising my spirits these days. After winter's lack of birdsong, it's great to hear more and sweeter songs. Have you noticed? Those of you who stop at Burnette's in Allardt, take a look at the big "S" and "R" in the word "STORE" on the front of the grocery store. You'll see that the bold little house sparrows have once more built nests in the "S" amd "R".
