The solemn occasion for the closing on the property occurred at Thelma Frogge’s store (think gas, beer, cigarettes, lottery ticket sales and snacks), since Thelma is apparently now the closest notary.
A group of well wishers assembled on Friday to witness the ceremonial removal of the sale sign on the property.
Photo to the right shows Donna Heffner, Cheryl Cribbet and Annie Patterson. Photo by Rick Murphy
Annie and Donna have become a wonderful part of the Rugby community. They are very creative with their current shop, the Spirit of Red Hill, which is next to the Commissary. The community can’t wait to see what they will do with the building they will be reconstructing one of these days.
Congratulations, Donna and Annie!!
Photo by Jim McBrayer to the left shows well wishers gathering.
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Signs of Spring
Tree Work Begins
By Rick Murphy
Some of you may have noticed some activity near the Visitor’s Centre last week. The Pine Knot Job Corps’ Urban Forestry program is generously donating their time to do much needed tree work around Historic Rugby’s site over the next few months.
Instructors for the program are advising HRI about trees that are dead or diseased, as well as those close to buildings and parking, which need to be trimmed or removed. Students will be involved in the work under the careful supervision of the skilled program instructors. This week low-hanging and dead limbs were removed from pine trees near the Visitor’s Centre and the path that leads to the visitor parking area. Two trees between the Visitor’s Centre and Percy Cottage were removed after dead limbs had been noticed hanging over cars and a picnic table. The urban foresters identified one tree with serious interior tree rot. The other also showed signs of substantial damage from disease.
One of the features that Rugby is known for is its beautiful mature trees. As trees die or are removed around the site it would be good to start a replanting program where new trees are planted in appropriate places to replace the ones lost. Historic Rugby hopes to start by planting a few new trees by Arbor Day, which is April 29.
By Jessie Gully
(Editors Note: For those just joining us, this is Jessie’s report on her fifth week of dieting in the New Year)
This is the privy talk, so you may want to ask the children to leave the room. My body has not been happy that I have not sent in sugar, caffeine and fats. It has said, “We are not moving an inch until you restore our favorites.” So I have sent in more fiber to help stabilize our relationship.
This past week, however, I became “Lot's wife's first cousin” -- the pillar of concrete. It has not helped that I am resistant to drinking water and exercising. I am now drinking 12 glasses of water a day, sort of exercising and taking a magnesium citrate capsule with every meal.
This experience reminded me of something I did 15 years ago, participating in an Earth Watch at Mammoth Cave. For one week I was part of an archaeological team that recorded what had been left behind by local Indians in a back cavern not open to the public. We even had our own National Geographic reporter on assignment. Important was how I felt in my jump suit and yellow hard hat with light. Back we went into silence and darkness. Large spotlights were turned on once we had reached our room. We had laser surveying equipment to record the locations of items that were discovered. A professional photographer shot pictures of each item. And what did I find? It was hundreds of fossilized piles of human scat. The Indians had mined magnesium in the cave for trade and to use, and also relieved themselves there.
Eating fiber, I think is overrated. The Indians surely ate plenty of fiber and it seems they got stuck too. I wonder how it worked. Maybe it was spiritual? Maybe on the first full moon of spring everyone went to the cave, or a grumpy husband said to his wife, “Bye Hon, I'm going to the cave.” Well anyway if stuck comes to you, remember magnesium. It's so easy even a caveman can do it.
By the way, I have lost 10.6 pounds so far.
News from Facebook
We were very sorry to hear that Jane Fuchs’ mother recently passed away. We wish Jane and her family our best. Here is a link to the obituary: http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Betty-McKown&lc=4489&pid=148149060&mid=4533764&locale=en-US
Also on Facebook was an entry that Carman Roberson has been in the hospital in Nashville recently. We wish him a speedy recovery.
BIRTHDAYS
Jan. 31 - Jessie Gully and Mary Ann Lovett
Feb. 2 - Ed Gleason
CALENDAR
Wednesday, February 2 – Presidential Theme afternoon tea at Grey Gables from 1 to 3 p.m. Eastern time
Fri. and Sat., February 4 and 5 – Dinner at Grey Gables, 6 to 10 p.m. Eastern
Friday, February 4 – English Country Dancing 7 p.m. Eastern
Saturday, February 5 – Community Potluck, 7 p.m. Eastern
Friday, February 11 – History Night 7:30 p.m. Eastern at the Friendly House behind Christ Church. All are welcome.
Saturday, February 12 - Valentine Dinner at Grey Gables, "Ain't Love Grand?" -- a fun evening of comedic entertainment and good food. Call 423-628-5252.
Saturday, February 19 – English Country Dancing 7 p.m. Eastern
Tuesday, March 1 – Commissary reopens and post office services resume.
Friday, March 4 - English Country Dancing 7 p.m. Eastern
Saturday March 19 - English Country Dancing 7 p.m. Eastern
Fri. and Sat., April 8 and 9 – Rugby Quilts Exhibition event
Friday, April 15 – History Night Annual Dinner at Grey Gables. Willie Beatty, President of the Fentress County Historical Society, will talk about Buck’s Mill.
Rugby Book Group - the next book is Jonathan Franzen’s best selling novel “Freedom.” Here is a link to a Wall Street Journal review of the book. http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/08/16/jonathan-franzens-freedom-review-revue/ A date, time and location have not been set, but at least you can find the book now and start reading.
January and February 2011 – Historic Rugby Winter Hours: The Schoolhouse Museum will be open Monday – Friday 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern (weather permitting). Weekday and weekend historic building tours can be arranged with advance reservation by calling the toll-free number, 1-888-214-3400. Lodging will be offered throughout winter on a self-catering basis. The Café, Visitor Centre and Commissary (including the Post Office) will be closed for repairs and rearrangement. Normal operations will resume in March.
February 2011 – Grey Gables will be open for meals the first Friday and Saturday night in February. A limited menu selection will be offered to provide a choice for food service during the time the Harrow Road Cafe is closed for rejuvenation. Reservations are not required, but appreciated. Call 423-628-5252.
Quilters Group - Wed. and Sat. 2 – 4 p.m. Eastern at the Friendly House
By Linda Konig
Well we finally got a break in the weather this past week, so Vi Biehl, Peggy Erickson and I ventured down to the area called Shadow Mountain Estates (a lot of farmland, partly developed), just south of Crossville. We were looking for Short-Eared Owls and Northern Harriers.
We saw a Short-Eared Owl! It was a good thing I had my binoculars, though. It was flying very low and was somewhat hard to see against the background of blue sedge grass. Bear in mind, the sun was setting, so it was prime time to see Short-Eared Owls.
The owl kept dipping down into the underbrush, then flapping upward again, probably after a mouse or vole. The way it was flapping its wings convinced me that's what we were looking at. Most owls and hawks do more soaring, but Short-Eared Owls do a lot of vigorous wing-flapping up and down.
Three days later, I went back alone to the spot, thinking I might have better luck spotting the birds that way. That appeared to be true because this time I saw two Short-Eared Owls in that same field. They seemed unafraid to stay higher in the air for fairly long periods of time and also flew much closer to me. I could see why their Latin name is Asio flammeus (flammeus being Latin for flaming or fiery). The low sun seemed to be catching their brown feathers on fire. For a few good photos of them, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short-eared_Owl . These owls are definitely uncommon in Tennessee and are only here during winter.
Perhaps the most interesting find for me were the owl pellets we found on the ground. At least we thought they were owl pellets. After reading more about these owls and the Northern Harriers (a kind of hawk), I learned that even experts cannot tell the difference in the field between pellets of Short-Eared Owls and Northern Harriers. What makes it even harder is that these two species are usually found living in the same areas, catching the same prey. Only certain lab tests can determine which is which. Hawks and eagles spit up pellets, too. Those pellets contain bones, feathers, teeth, hair, etc. that the birds can't digest. They’re regurgitated the next day.
I carefully tore into the pellets after I got home. They were very moist, partly from lying on ground still wet from snow. Then I read on the web that the pellets should be dried for 30 days before you get into them. You also have to be careful in handling them since they often contain bacteria and viruses from rodents the birds have eaten. The only interesting thing I found in these was a tiny piece of bone that looked as if it could be the topmost part of a leg bone. Mostly they were hair (rabbit fur?) that had been so tightly compressed and intertwined it was like trying to pry apart thick felt. Oh well, I got more in a different spot when I went back again Friday. I plan to let these dry out for 30 days before taking them apart. Stay tuned.
This Week’s Editors: Rick Murphy and George Zepp
