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4C's clothing and household giveaway May 10

Weekly community news column by Elizabeth Woodworth

On May 10, the Mock Orange Moon is full, which greatly increases the chance of frost throughout the northern half of the United States. Lunar apogee, on May 12, when the moon is farthest from Earth, quickly reduces the power of the moon on livestock. I suppose it also lessens the hold a full moon has on humans. When the clovers bloom, flea season begins for pets. Strawberry Rains often follow the May 15 cool front. Major storms are most likely to occur May 8-14. (Countryside)

I bought a 4x4 raised bed last fall. The Boy put it together when he was home for the holidays. I have a couple of straw bales in it. I'm letting nature get them wet for planting. Between the two, I have a few pea plants. There should have been more, but the rain keeps uncovering the seed, so the results haven't been spectacular. I weeded that little spot, put up a trellis and tried to get the plants headed that direction. In less than an hour, the bed had a visitor. I looked out the kitchen window and saw a big rabbit hop over the side and disappear around the end of a bale. He/she was in there three or four minutes, checking out the plants for blooms or peas. Not yet. But now that rabbit will be on his lunch rounds. While this one was checking peas, the mate was checking out the clover. We probably won't have peas this summer. It doesn't bode well for the green beans that I am planning to put there as a second crop.

On Wednesday, May 10, the 4C's clothing and household giveaway will be from 9 to 11:30 a.m. on the Methodist Church parking lot in Harrisburg. Donations will be accepted starting at 7:30 a.m. Please enter the alley from Poplar and exit on Locust.

On Saturday, May 13, the Southern Illinois Spinners and Weavers Fiber Fair will be at Massac County 4-H Fairground at North Avenue and Korte Road in Metropolis. It runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The market place has spinning fibers, yarns, handcrafted textiles, soaps and pottery, along with spinning and weaving demonstrations. Come see, You might like to become one of us. No fee.

Sunday, May 14, is Mother's Day. Americans spend some $2.4 billion on flowers for Mother's Day. When we didn't have much money, Mother wore a corsage of flowers from the backyard. We kids also had a flower for that day. Hers was white because her mother was dead; ours was red for our living mother. When we were older and could buy flowers, we got her a florist corsage. Remember when they were delivered early Sunday morning, between sunrise service and morning church? I do remember how shocked I was the first year her corsage came on Saturday. All good things come to an end, and Mother's Day delivery was one of those. Most of the women who influenced my life are no longer with me. Happy day to their memory and blessings to the women who have taken their places.

On Wednesday, May 24, the Eldorado truck-load plant sale will kick off at 7 a.m. and continue until the plants are sold on the parking lot of First Christian Church.

Thanks to those who filled, delivered and placed sandbags to keep homes and businesses from rising waters. To Kelly and John, your quick action makes all of us feel safer. High water is scary. When in it, one sometimes doesn't know what to do – back up or keep going. Some 10 years ago, during a rain event like this, I tried to get home from election night at the courthouse. I remembered Mom saying that she was on the last truck that left McKinley school for the square in '37. I have read and seen pictures (and listened to her) that while uptown was dry, the rest of the city was awash. That night, as I was trying to get home, I understood what was going on. The closer I got to Raymond and Sloan, the deeper the water got. It is true. One doesn't know what to do. Backing up means stopping and doing that on a flooded street – and I mean spread-out flood, not just water running down a hill – which doesn't seem to be a good idea. Besides, where do you go that isn't flooded? Going ahead could mean a stalled car, no help and a long, wet walk. I was fortunate that I did get through. Since then, I have been very leery when we have heavy rains. I will not drive through water so high that I cannot seen the pavement. I don't like to drive on streets that are running water, but there I can see where I am driving. I pretty much stay home. It's safer for me and I can't get into trouble that would place someone's life at risk to get me out of it. The city has done a good job with flood control, but not even our pumps, the dredging of creeks and tireless clearing of debris can overcome the amount of rain that fell.

"A day without a friend is like a pot without a single drop of honey left inside." (A.A. Milne)