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Voices
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Exploring Hendricks County
By Jackie Horn
The thing I’m most grateful for is my family. We’re looking forward to being together for Thanksgiving again.
Greatly Grateful
Autumn is my favorite time of year and with it, my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving. I appreciate Thanksgiving because other than grocery stores, it isn’t commercialized. I’m kind of happy that it’s passed over as merchandisers jump from Halloween to Christmas. Somethings should remain “untouched”. Thanksgiving is a time to focus on how incredibly blessed we are, not what more we want.
I tend to be an optimist. I see the blessings in everything and appreciate all that life brings. Even “bad” things are learning experiences. Challenges are opportunities. Some may say I’m Pollyannaish but it works for me. Maybe more people ought to try it.
So as hokey as it is and it is Thanksgiving, I’d like to share a few of the things I consider blessings.
My family is first. I’m thankful that John and I were able to pick up after 60+ years and move to Plainfield to be closer to our son’s family. In the past year and a half, we’ve attended so many cross country meets, soccer and football games, school open houses, and music recitals, I couldn’t even count them. If there’s been one thing to be grateful to COVID for, it’s the opportunity to spend even more time with the grandkids. When the schools were closed during the shutdown, we went exploring and took them with us. They were so bored, they jumped at the chance to go somewhere with the Grands. I’ve missed that this year.
This community comes next. John and I have enjoyed meeting our neighbors and making new friends. For anyone wondering how to meet people in a new area, my number one tip is to have a garage sale. EVERYONE in the neighborhood stopped by to see what we were selling and introduce themselves. Next, pick up a local newspaper (in my case, The Republican) and see what’s going on. We’ve participated in a road rally, attended a fish fry, made art projects with the younger kids, viewed constellations, and even picked up a writing gig because they were either advertised or written about in the paper. I suppose Face- Book might be a good resource but I’m “vintage” and still prefer newsprint.
John and I appreciate the local newspapers for ideas for fun activities. We discovered monthly art projects were available from an advertisement in The Republican.
I’m grateful for my health. Now more than ever I realize just how blessed I am for my body and mind. My body certainly is not model-quality but it’s perfect for me. It allows me to do what I want to do. I hike, bike, paddle, pick up small children and hug. Yep, it aches sometimes but that reminds me I’m alive.
I’m thankful for the beauty and wonder of Nature. I love plants of all kinds, even weeds (those are wildflowers, thank you.) It amazes me how everything in Creation has its place and fits together. I marvel at the engineering involved in hives, plant structures, and bird flight. Nature confirms to me there is a God and He is good.
This brings me to faith. I am so very blessed to have my faith, especially during the past two years. It has helped me make it through so many dark hours.
There are so many more things I could list but these are the Biggies. We all have so much to be thankful for but do we take the time to recognize our blessings? No matter how grim you feel your life is, someone else has it worse. Appreciate what you have. I make it a point each night to write down one way I was particularly blessed that day. On tough days it has been as simple as “I’m thankful for my bed.”
So on this one day a year, take a minute to appreciate all you have. Be glad you have a couch to sit on to enjoy the football game. Enjoy every bite as you eat your pumpkin pie. Take a walk and absorb the beauty and wonder around you and offer praise to your God or the universe (your preference.) Gather with your loved ones (This is a blessing after last year!) Hug them tightly and be greatly grateful.
Memories of Past Times
Lucille Stamper (1927-1915), did something more of us should do. She took time to write down her memories for her grandchildren and friends. While going through some of the files in The Republican office, we found an envelope with a few of Lucille’s stories. The article following is one of her memory treasures.
Doll Quilts
If a doll quilt that is still in existence today could talk, it could tell you many interesting things.
One that I am thinking about is about 17 inches square; each little block is 3 and one-fourth inch square. The blocks are black and white print and blue material with little red, yellow, and white flowers. It is a 25 block quilt, tied at the comers of the blocks with pink yarn. The binding around the edge is blue and finished with hand stitching. The back of the quilt is white.
This little quilt could tell you that it was made about 50 years ago by my mother for one of our daughters when she was a little girl. It was made from fabric left over from one of Mother’s house dresses; yes, that is what the women called their cotton dresses that they wore and that in itself is another story. Many of the doll quilts were made from fabric left over from a little girl’s dress and so in later years she could say, “I remember my dress that was made from this fabric.”
Some doll quilts could tell you that they were made by little girls for their dolls. If you looked at them, you could see that they were crudely stitched by little hands and very plain and homely. You could see the crowded, crooked, and imperfect stitches, and puckers here and there on the tiny quilt blocks. Also noticeable would be the haphazard pattern of the fabric, some not even cut straight, but the finished product would be proudly displayed for all the family to see.
I can remember some of our grandchildren sitting on the bed beside me when I was sewing on the sewing machine and they were making their own creation. They wanted a little help and advice but they did it and were proud of their little blanket or scarf or whatever. “Look what I made, Mamaw,” was what I often heard.
A little doll quilt might tell you that a special little girl sat on the floor by her mother and worked diligently with her little hands while the mother was piecing a larger quilt. Quilts and comforters back years ago were always made by the women; old worn quilts were covered with new fabric and stitched together and probably yam tied, and thus a new bed cover was created, heavier and looking brand new.
A little doll quilt might tell you that it was made on a quiet evening in the family home while Father and son worked on a puzzle or played checkers; Grandma was knitting over in the corner and Grandpa was sitting by the fireplace or heatin’ stove, smoking his pipe or maybe snoring in his comfortable chair. Mother and daughter were concentrating on their quilt making, and it was just a quiet evening of family togetherness except for the occasional crack of the fire and Grandpa’s snoring.
Making a doll quilt was a small-scale sewing project that was an effective way for a Mother or Grandma to interest the little girl in sewing, a skill she would need later in her life as a wife and mother.
It does not matter who made the doll quilt; I just know that they were made with great care and much love and they were such an important bond between mother and child or grandchild or between a child and a favorite doll. Just look at any old doll quilt and hear it telling you a story.
JUST AN OBSERVATION
By Janet Beam
SMALL TOWN CAFÉ
There is something about a small town café where everyone knows you, knows your history, and welcomes you anyway. Once upon a time it seemed that every small town had its own café. It would be a place to gather for morning coffee and right the many wrongs in the world. It would be a place to catch up on the local news – who was ill, who had died, and all the other latest. Living in Jamestown for many years, the mainstay was always Dick and Judy’s. Judy was (and is) a wonderful cook and served the most delicious home cooking. In addition to the good food, there was the camaraderie that made the place so special. Most people eating there knew each other (or you soon would after a few visits) and the conversation flowed from table to table with many people adding their viewpoints.
Most small town cafés have the same hometown feel. They offer a sense of community, which seems to be in short supply these days, what with wearing masks, having to stay 6 feet away from everyone and being afraid to venture to some place new. In order to have that sense of community though, the café needs to be small, with tables close together and a welcoming feel to them. The waitresses tend to know the regulars and their usual drink orders. There is something about going into a familiar place and having your iced tea set in front of you before you even get settled. These cafés really don’t even need to be in a small town; I am sure cities have small neighborhood restaurants with the same welcoming charm.
Whenever we travel, these small hometown cafés are the one we always seek. The food and atmosphere is much better than at a chain restaurant. Since we have moved from Jamestown and Dick and Judy’s has closed, we have eaten at all the local places in Danville and there are many good ones who fit the bill. But I sure would like to have one more meal of chicken and noodles from my old hometown café. If you haven’t found it yet, why not look this week for your own small town charmer.
Just an observation.
A Note From Bee
Just about the time I had finished my mother came up the stairs. To say she was mad is an understatement. Today it would be socially incorrect but she called me a brat and said she might have to send me to the girls school. That was her favorite threat. This was followed up by a spanking. I was reminded of my horrible deed for several years because the wallpaper was not changed for several years.
Bee Jones
A Squirrel About Town
By Archy
Archy remarked on how the scurrying had increased among humans now that the holiday season had arrived.
“They seem to be going in several directions at once,” he said. It’s supposed be a season of giving thanks and being grateful. What’s the hurry?”
I said something about commercialization, family gatherings to furnish food for, and school children set loose from their classroom coops.
“Quite unnecessary, don’t you think?” the squirrel said. “How much effort is there in saying ‘Thank you’ and ‘You’re welcome’?
I answered that humans tended to express those sentiments with offerings and gifts. It was starting to seem silly to me as well.
“‘The best things in life aren’t things,’” Archy quoted. “I believe that was your Oscar Wilde’s sentiment. “Why make a spectacle of being thankful?”
I never know when Archy is asking a question or waxing rhetorical.
“Simple gestures mean the most,” he continued. “We squirrels can say ‘thank you’ with the slightest motion of our tail. ”
I tried to think of human gestures - a smile, a pat on the back.
“Encouragement can be a gift,” Archy said. “Letting others know they’re appreciated, even when they haven’t done anything special. Just being there when there’s no crisis to face, just being there. Like Thoreau said, ‘I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual.’”
“Exactly,” I said. “Thanks, Archy.”
Thinking Spring Bulbs? Hints & Solutions
By Colletta Kosiba Hendricks County Master Gardener
Plant spring bulbs now, enjoy later.
No, it is not too late to plant those bulbs, but get it done soon!! Bulbs are so amazing the entire life cycle is encased in each bulb. Remember to: 1. Buy varieties for zone 5. 2. Check bulbs before buying or planting: should be firm - no mold, lesions or soft spots.
3. Plant in well-drained soil. Full or part sun- Plant at correct depth-Mulch- Water after planting (mother nature did that for us this year)!
4. Protect from pest animals. Fertilize at planting and during spring growth.(best to do in spring as products like bone meal in the fall draw animals in to dig and eat bulbs)
Ready-made “cages” can protect bulbs against maurading critters. You can also creat your own with hardware cloth or chicken wire.
Bulbs, leaves, blossoms eaten: To discourage smaller animals, use commercial or homemade repellents or scare tactics. To mention a few, dog or cat hair spread around bulb bed; hot pepper spray or aluminum pie tins on twine, plastic scare owls). For deer try a commercial deer repellent, or grow bulbs under protective netting supported by metal or wooden hoops.
Bulbs are being dug up. After planting, place hardware cloth, chicken wire, or other protective barrier over soil, and secure it in place. Use well-decomposed organic amendments when planting.
Squirrels and chipmunks love crocus and tulip bulbs. Skunks dig in search of insects and worms, but may also be attracted to organic fertilizers such as bone-, fish, or peanut meal.
Bulbs seem to disappear from the ground. Plant bulbs in an underground chicken wire cage. You can make your own, or purchase them readymade
In spring. Allow the bulb leaves to remain in place until they fade completely. To hide fading foliage, plant annuals.
To improve soil fertility in spring spread an inch of compost, or feed with a low-nitrogen bulb fertilizer.
If bulbs have become crowded (they multiply) dig and divide them.
Daffodils are lovely to look at, but unattractive to critters.
You can’t plant bulbs if you haven’t botany.
Renee is the Youth Services Manager at the Danville-Center Township Public Library. She is a former classroom teacher, reading specialist, and school librarian. She’s a mom of two, wife, and one-half of the blog Raising Real Readers. You can connect with her @raisingreal on Twitter and @RaisingRealReaders on Instagram and Facebook. She is proud to call Danville home.
Time
Recently, my family kicked it back all the way to 2020 and had ourselves a good, old fashioned quarantine. While we did our best to keep up on schoolwork, jobs, cooking, and cleaning, we also relished in the fact that our busy evenings were wiped off the calendar.
Whether we like it or not, our society tends to honor the business of being busy. Busy working to make money, busy on our devices, busy decorating our homes, busy picking up/dropping off kids, busy portraying a lifestyle. Like a hamster running in its wheel who reminds us that no matter how hard you run, you still only have the same amount of time as anyone else.
If making time to read with, to, or around your kids is frequently at the bottom of the list because you’re busy, consider the following:
According to the World Atlas, the U.S. ranks 125th out of 194 developed nations. I don’t know about you, but I’d trade in a few of those shiny Olympic medals we seem to be great at earning for a higher ranking on that list.
According to a study at the University of Minnesota, reading can reduce stress by up to 68%.
Statistics also show that reading fiction can boost emotional intelligence, specifically empathy.
To some, making time to read or read with your kids feels like flossing. You know you should do it. You know it’s good for you, now and in the long-run. You know your dentist will notice if you don’t do it. Yet, many of us don’t take the time to do it. Our teachers need you to read together. The future of workforce development needs you to read together. Humankind needs you to read together. Most importantly, your child desperately needs you to read together.
The best memories are made on the laps of a parent/ grandparent reading to/with a child. We don’t need statistics to tell us this. We know it in our hearts and our heads, just like we know we should floss. So, if you are caught up in the hamster wheel, choose to jump off. Pick up a book. Let your child watch you read it. Make time to read to your child or with your child.
Everyone will be thankful.
A Bark From the Past: Henry
[Editor’s Note: The Republican’s first four-footed correspondent was Henry. A mixed breed rescue dog, Henry would make observations about being a dog in a small town. The articles have been languishing in the computer’s memory and we thought a new audience might enjoy some canine commentary.]
Hey, did everybody get a chance to see and hear those flocks of big, beautiful birds that flew over Danville last week? The sound they made was wonderful! When I heard them, I thought they were either flying very low or perched someplace close, because the noise they made was so loud! But, I didn’t see them until I looked up. They were so high! I can’t imagine how loud it would be up there with them. My human called them sandhill cranes. I hope I get to see them again!
Birds are just the neatest animals, aren’t they? They come in so many different sizes and colors—red and yellow and blue! It’s hard to picture a brightly-colored mammal! And it would be odd if a mammal had a voice like a bird. Wouldn’t you like to hear a cow try to chirp? And imagine a mammal flying! Oh, wait a minute. I forgot about bats. Okay, there are flying mammals. But, my point is, birds are very special animals! You think so, too, right?
Okay, then, I have a bone to pick with you. I guess it’s traditional to eat turkey on Thanksgiving. So, show me where it says you have to eat a bird. You just admitted that birds are special animals, and yet, you’re probably chowing down on a turkey for Thanksgiving. Why is it okay to eat some birds, but not others? There are plenty of sparrows and robins and goldfinches. Why not eat them? Because they’re song birds, right? Why eat a turkey just because it can’t carry a tune? I’ve heard lots of humans on the radio who can’t sing either, and you don’t see any of them being eaten.
Do you remember the pretty little wild turkey that wandered around Danville last year? People watched out for her! I saw policemen stop traffic so she could cross the street! Would you eat her? No! What makes one turkey eatable, and another not?
And birds are closely related to dinosaurs, which were just big lizards. Eating a 14-pound lizard sounds yucky, even to me! So, let’s rethink this turkey thing.
As I understand it, this is the time of year to take stock of your blessings and be thankful for them. I think I should do that, too. So, what am I thankful for? I am thankful for a home where I can stay warm and dry and where my humans love me. I am thankful that I am healthy and strong. I am thankful for all my brothers and sisters, who make life fun! I am thankful that my humans didn’t get mad when I archaeologied all over the back yard. I am thankful that Ms. Betty lets me talk to you! And mostly, I am thankful that I am Henry! I couldn’t wish for anything better than that!
Thought for the Day: President Abraham Lincoln declared the fourth Thursday in November would be a national day of Thanksgiving. That doesn’t mean you don’t have to be thankful all the other days of the year. Take the time to consider your blessings daily.
Thanksgiving Memories of Vivian
It’s that time of year where we think about all the blessings we are thankful for. Another good thing to do is take some time and remember past Thanksgivings. My favorite memory of Thanksgiving as a child is the wonderful meals my Mom would prepare. She worked most of her life as a nurse and she was good at it. You could not find a more compassionate and caring person. She worked for Dr. Cook’s office in Danville for years and everyone loved her. Consequently, her meals were always a rush when she got home from work. She could find more ways to throw a quick meal together for five hungry people. But at Thanksgiving and Christmas it was different. She took her time and created and, oh, the smells that emanated from her kitchen. She would start the night before preparing things. She made these yeast rolls that had to rise for hours. You could smell them a block away and pies, oh, what pies.
You know when I think about it, my Dad, brother Ron, and I loved to rabbit hunt and we would be out in the fresh air all morning tromping through the woods so that made things taste even better. I wonder if they have Thanksgiving dinners in Heaven? If they do, you can bet Mom is in charge of the yeast rolls.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Noel Gatlin
-Phillips Brooks
