Silver and Diamond sisters recognized

On Saturday, March 21, at the regular chapter meeting, Delta Xi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. recognized 20 members as Silver Star and five were recognized as Goden. Robbie Davis, Jewell Holland, Joelene Fleming, Sarah Lightner and Lillie Nelson were honored for having more than fifty years of active membership in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. The 20 members have over twenty-five years of membership.

The recognition was a part of a Sisterly Relations activity chaired by Marsha Pruitt. Cecelia McCorkle crafted and hand-made each honoree a corsage of silver or gold with pink tea roses. Each member also received a copy of a poem composed by Mrs. McCorkle.

The chapter also has over 15 members with less than 25 years active membership.

Lillian L. Morgan is the president of the local chapter and Marsha Pruitt is chairman of the Sisterly Relations Committee.

 

The Rowan Redbuds

The Rowan Redbuds Garden Club met Thursday, March 26, at the Rowan Public Library.
President Kim Fahs presided. Jan Enright from Jan Enright Creations gave a presentation about “Finding Curb Appeal.”
If you are interested in visiting the Rowan Redbuds Garden Club,  call 704-754-8905 for more information.

 

Olde Rowan Fiber Guild

Submitted by James Parker

Do you know what these things are: Snood? Coif? Henin? Fontange? Mob cap? Fascinator? They are the names given to those things women have worn on their heads over the centuries.

Olde Rowan Fiber Guild’s own Nancy Gaines is especially enamored of the fascinator, that giddy cupcake perched forward on the forehead, and will hold a fascinator-making workshop at the Guild’s April 20 meeting.

The workshop, set for 6:30 p.m. will be at the Guild’s new meeting space, Center for Faith and the Arts, at Haven Lutheran Church. There is a $5 fee.

Participants should bring basic sewing needs: sturdy scissors, long straight pins, thread and needles, including a curved one; fabrics, soft, patterned or plain, felt or tuille, bright or dark. Be prepared to share and swap, especially if you have a glue gun. Top it all off with bits of trim, lace, buttons, sequins, ribbons, flowers, as you create your own fascinator.

P.S. In my day, a fascinator was a lacy crocheted scarf draped around her head, iresistable in the moonlight.

While you are there, you can find out about the May meeting,  learning about and trying our hand at Inkle Loom Weaving.

Don’t forget about Pick and Pay. Bring materials, tools, patterns, magazines, books … anything fiber related to put out for Pick and Pay. Then find something new to take home. Suggested minimum payment for Pick and Pay is $5. All proceeds go to the 2016 speakers fund.

 

If it’s spring, it’s time for festivities at Hurley Park

The annual Hurley Park Spring Celebration will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. next Sunday, April 12 at the corner of Lake Drive and Annandale Avenue.

The event will include music by the Salisbury Swing Band, Magic by Glen, the Carolina Artists, fun by Wacky Doo the Clown, the City of Salisbury Fire Department, the Rowan County Master Gardeners, an Arbor Day celebration, juggling by Cole McDonnell and carriage rides by Horse & Carriage LTD of Salisbury.

Free refreshments will be provided by Cheerwine and Hurley Park.

For more information call 704-638-4459.

 

High Tea, Anyone?

The Salisbury Symphony’s final concert of the season is themed “English Elation,” in celebration of the anticipated announcement this coming fall that Queen Elizabeth will be the longest-reigning monarch in British history.

Much English-themed music is programmed by Music Director David Hagy, including the “Orb and Sceptre March,” written by William Walton for Queen Elizabeth’s coronation in 1953.

At 4 p.m. on the afternoon of the concert — Saturday, May 9 (the day before Mother’s Day) – the Salisbury Symphony is hosting a High Tea in the Crystal Ballroom at Catawba College. Catered by Buttercup Catering with delicacies, tea, and trimmings, it promises to be authentic. Music students at Catawba will provide a musical ambiance, and bed and breakfast Across The Pond will give away a one-night’s stay for two.

Tickets are $15each and seating is limited.  For reservations, call the Symphony office at 704-637-4314, or email Linda Jones at ljones@catawba.edu

 

Kneeling Gardeners 

Kannapolis — The Kneeling Gardeners met on March 23 at Trinity United Methodist Church in for an evening with Dr. Harold Bales, better known as “The Southern-Fried Preacher.” Bales lives in Kannapolis and is a native of Knoxville, Tenn. He received his education at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Tennessee Wesleyan College (B.A.) and Vanderbilt University (M. Divinity and D. Ministry). In semi-retirement, Dr. Bales writes a weekly column entitled “The Southern-Fried Preacher” for nearly 30 years and provides daily nuggets from his website, as well as editor and author of numerous books and frequently published essayist touching on ethics, religion and public issues. He is a pastor, preacher, and teacher and lecturer. At the meetaing he spoke on Biblical and Holy Land Plants.

There are six kinds on trees in the Bible. Architectural Trees are the Gofer tree (Genesis 6:14), Cypress, Cedar and Cedars of Lebanon. The Old Testament says these were used to build houses and Solomon used these to build the temple. Pitch in the wood is important for strength. Holy Land trees are short and knarled. Cedar trees were praised as the queen of trees. Fruit trees, shrubs and vines are next. There are six varieties. The Fig (Mark 11: 12-20) historically all gardens had fig trees. They should be planted on the south side of the house. Bethpage in Hebrew means “house of unripe figs.” We have many churches in the area with Bethpage in the name. Bethpage was a little town on the Mt. of Olives. Next is the Date Palm. This tree is important since every part of the tree can be used. The fruit eat the heart of the palm; make wine, fronds for huts, and the wood for building. The Olive Tree comes from the Mount of Olives which is a famous range of hills overlooking Jerusalem. At the bottom of the mount, there is a little garden there named Gethsemane which means oil press. This grove of olive trees is thousands of years old. This root stock was there at the time of Jesus. One tree is 26 feet in diameter and oil used to be pressed there on this large flat rock. Tradition has it that this is where Jesus prayed. This is why the olive tree is so symbolic during Lent. The word Olive broken down is O-LIVE. The Pomegranate Shrub is symbolic for the fruit. It appears on vestments of kings and leaders and carvings adorn many pulpits. It is associated with early fertility since there are so many seeds found in a pomegranate. The Grape Vine is important since is symbolizes the blood of Christ. The Apple Tree was found in the Garden of Eden with Eve offering the fruit from the tree to Adam.

Herbs of Biblical times are Hyssop (Psalm 51:7), Dill, Frankenscience, Myrrh, and Myrrh Bark. Flowers of that time are Anemone, Climbing Rose, Cornflower, Narcissus, Morning Glory, Tulips, Mustard, and Daisy. There is absence of Lily of the Valley because it is bitter and poisonous. It is also known as Mary’s Tears or Eve’s Tears.

He offered approaches to make a Biblical Garden at home. One would need an herb section, trees, grape vineyard and biblical flowers. Statutes or other symbols and benches would be the finishing touch.

President Chris Wielandt reported that 60 people attended the annual banquet in March. The plant sale is scheduled for May 2 at the church and plant sitters are needed for after the plants are delivered.

The refreshment table was filled with Biblical foods such as figs, dates, nuts, grape punch, cheese, breads, chicken, jams, berries, radishes, celery and carrots and Zinfandel cake for desert. Earl and Shirley Gray  provided a display table of plants including Lenten Rose, Crown of Thorns, and Jesus in the Manger, Tulips, Dwarf Narcissus and herbs.

Refreshments were provided by Ann and Larry Doyle, Earl and Shirley Gray, Millie Fink, Brenda Trott and Jill Roach. Guest speaker for May will be Rusty Harris on small junipers (Bonsai). Anyone interested in gardening is invited to attend.