Category: Miscellaneous
Various items that do not fit any particular category
THE HISTORY OF SCARECROWS
For thousands of years scarecrows have helped save crops from birds and other animals and provided an outlet for human creativity. Scarecrow genealogy is rooted in a rural lifestyle. The Egyptians used the first scarecrows in recorded history to protect wheat fields along the river Nile from quail flocks. Farmers installed wooden frames in their fields and covered them with nets. Then they hid in the fields, scared the quail into the nets and took the bird’s home to eat.
Greek farmers in 2,500 BC carved wooden scarecrows to look like Priapus (the son of the god Dionysus and the goddess Aphrodite) who was supposedly ugly enough to scare birds away from the vineyards and ensure good harvests. The scarecrows were painted purple with one hand holding a club to scare the birds and a sickle in the other for good harvests. As the Romans marched across Europe they followed the Greeks and introduced Priapus scarecrows. Simultaneously the Japanese had scarecrows called kakashis shaped like people. They dressed them in raincoats and a straw hat and often added bows and arrows to look more threatening. Kojiki the oldest surviving Japanese book from 712 features a scarecrow known as Kuebiko who appears as a deity who cannot walk but knows everything about the world.
In Germany scarecrows were made to look like witches whilst in medieval Britain children were used to patrol the crops and wave their arms and throw stones. Later on farmers stuffed sacks of straw, made faces from gourds and leaned the straw man against a pole.
During the Great Depression in America scarecrows could be found across the whole country until after the Second World War when farming began to use chemicals to protect their crops. For thousands of years scarecrows have helped save crops from birds and other animals and provided an outlet for human creativity. Scarecrow genealogy is rooted in a rural lifestyle. The Egyptians used the first scarecrows in recorded history to protect wheat fields along the river Nile from quail flocks. Farmers installed wooden frames in their fields and covered them with nets. Then they hid in the fields, scared the quail into the nets and took the bird’s home to eat.
Greek farmers in 2,500 BC carved wooden scarecrows to look like Priapus (the son of the god Dionysus and the goddess Aphrodite) who was supposedly ugly enough to scare birds away from the vineyards and ensure good harvests. The scarecrows were painted purple with one hand holding a club to scare the birds and a sickle in the other for good harvests. As the Romans marched across Europe they followed the Greeks and introduced Priapus scarecrows. Simultaneously the Japanese had scarecrows called kakashis shaped like people. They dressed them in raincoats and a straw hat and often added bows and arrows to look more threatening. Kojiki the oldest surviving Japanese book from 712 features a scarecrow known as Kuebiko who appears as a deity who cannot walk but knows everything about the world.
In Germany scarecrows were made to look like witches whilst in medieval Britain children were used to patrol the crops and wave their arms and throw stones. Later on farmers stuffed sacks of straw, made faces from gourds and leaned the straw man against a pole.
During the Great Depression in America scarecrows could be found across the whole country until after the Second World War when farming began to use chemicals to protect their crops.
Web Casey Memorial Day
Photography Exhibition
A YEAR IN THEIR LIVES
& OTHER WORK
Twyn Yr Odyn photographer Roy Carr has spent the last year developing a documentary project on sheep farming, taking an interest in the Cynon Valley where he has worked with three farms.
He has charted key events in the farming year: lambing, shearing, hay making, ‘dipping’, selling and winter grazing, capturing the interaction between people and their animals as he tells the
story of a farming year.
There is an intimacy about his photographs which comes from the relationship he developed with the people working the land, providing an insight into their work.
Roy explained that this posed challenges:
“I come from a landscape background. I spent hours carefully composing an image and waiting for the light. It was a slow, meditative process as I tried to communicate my connection to, and passion for the outdoors. People hardly ever featured in these photographs.
Here people are central. I wanted to capture them and their way of life, so I had to look for them and get to know them. My people skills were important as I was making photographs in their homes and they could ask me to leave.
I moved from a very slow, deliberate approach to being much more spontaneous, responding to the action in front of me. Still, the patience I had learned in landscape photography proved useful as I waited for people or animals to come into a space which had the potential to create an interesting image.
I relished the idea of creating a body of photographs and the project has gone in different directions as it progressed. In part this is because I started from a position of ignorance. As I learned about what the farmers did and how they did it, there new possibilities.”
This project features in an exhibition at the Cynon Valley Museum in Aberdare (open Tuesday to Saturday 10am until 4pm) running from 15th June until 14th July. He will also be displaying some of his landscapes.
Roy will be giving a walk-through talk about the exhibition at 2pm on each of the Saturdays that the exhibition is on. The Cynon Valley Museum is on Depot Road (next to Tesco), Aberdare, CF44 8DL, telephone 01685 886729. He can be contacted at roycarr6 @gmail.com
A Love Story by Maureen Richards
True Love
by Maureen Richards
Sitting quietly on a rocking chair in the corner of the old farmhouse kitchen, resting her weary bones, Beatrice warmed her cold calloused weathered hands, near the log burning stove. The candlelight fell gently across the room, catching a glimpse of her ageing frame.
Although time had fetched its cruel grooves of life experiences onto this beautiful face and the long hair that once hung like ebony silk now grew with strands of silver and gold was drawn neatly back into a bun held with a pretty clip. She could still turn heads. Her eyes, the deepest ocean blue, still held the charm, kindness and love that once captured the hearts of many a young handsome soldier, hadn’t changed at all with time.
As she sat, her eyes closed and the warmth flowing around her like a thick woollen blanket, her thoughts led her back to the many bitter sweet memories that this time of year held for her …
There he stood by the kitchen range, his uniform pristine, the gold buttons glistened in the early winter sunlight breaking through the small leaded window. How dashing he looked, his thick brown hair groomed and his brown eyes had a twinkle of devilment. His face framed with a beard well trimmed and clipped. His smile, “Oh, his smile” sighed Beatrice. How perfect. How handsome. Although he had the air of an officer, she also knew his gentleness, his love, his devotion to her. Her man, her soldier!
They were too young, everyone said, but they were in love. They knew this was True Love, deep strong and lasting a life time. In secret they got engaged. This sealed their love. They knew things were changing war was looming. Soon he would be called for duty. Their stolen hours of love spent in each others arms would sustain their parting. His orders arrived, he had to go.
At the station along with hundreds of families and armed forces Beatrice was held tightly in his arms. His body trembled, he couldn’t speak. Beatrice stifled a sob from deep inside her. Why must there be wars? All this emotion, the wrench from loved ones arms. All so young. All so brave! Finally, as Beatrice looked deep into her dearest Edward’s eyes she whispered, “bring yourself back to my arms and our ‘Love Child’”. He was ecstatic, their stolen hours of love had borne fruit. This gave this handsome soldier a feeling of completeness. He was so proud, he would be the perfect father. His darling Beatrice would be a perfect mother and in the meantime, she had a little of him with her until his return. Oh! How they wished war was over so they would be together a complete family.
The months trickled by. How she missed him! His letters from the front encouraged her, as no doubt her were to him. Her family were wonderful, their love and support helped her to cope. Her time was near for the birth of their ‘heavens blessing’. She longed for Edward to be with her at the baby's arrival. He tried desperately to get compassionate leave but the intensity at the front had increased in magnitude.
Many a soldier longing for home and peace knew this would only be achieved by determination and bravery.
Holding her beautiful baby girl in her arms she gazed at her all night. She was adorable, thick brown hair like Edwards and deep ocean blue eyes of Beatrice. Her new grandparents were so proud. With just a glimpse of this new arrival, their hearts were bursting with joy. If only Edward as here, Beatrice would ask him to name her. They hadn’t decided, not knowing whether a boy or girl. At that moment baby stirred. Cradling her close baby was fed. Beatrice cuddled baby all night.
She watched the candle flicker its light around the room gradually diminishing with the hours.
Suddenly a voice she had longed to hear whispered “My darling Beatrice, she is beautiful. Please call her Edith my little Edie. I am proud of you. She has the beauty of her mother. My Beatrice, I love you”. His face gently brushed hers as he left a gentle kiss on her lips. She watched as he walked towards the kitchen range still alight keeping the room warm. He turned and smiled, blew a kiss, then was gone. Had she imagined it? Her dearest Edward here with her?
Thew next morning Beatrice announced to her parents her baby's name, Edith and repeated what she had heard from Edward, “ my little Edie”. After that special night Edward’s letters stopped coming. Beatrice grew more worried every day that passed. Her parents could only support her and pray. Days turned to weeks, weeks into months, little Edie flourished. Beatrice was such a good mother, loyal, attentive and so protective. How she loved her! But Beatrice parents could also see their daughters heart breaking longing for news of Edward, they saw the sparkle in her eyes grow dim. This perfect mother slowly dying inside. She always put her baby first, she was the reason for living. Beatrice worked hard on their farm and any spare time she spent making bread, cakes and pies, depending oon supplies and sold them in the village store, they were a great success.
Little Edith’s extended family adored her. Grandparents took her for walks and visits to relations daily, her little life was idyllic. But at night when the house was still and silent Beatrice waiting for Edward’s return.
Occasionally she would see him standing, as she remembered by the kitchen range smiling at her. So young, so handsome. Held out his arms to her, but she couldn’t leave with him, she must stay with her little Edith. She 
promised love and protect her forever. This she did. This was how they found her sitting in her rocking chair near the kitchen range. Her heart broken but a gentle smile remained upon her lips.
Many times on the cold winter’s nights villagers reported seeing Beatrice sitting by her kitchen range warming her hands, in her old rocking chair waiting for her Edward’s return from war. She never did leave the old farmhouse or broke her promise to little Edith.
How she loved them both, so completely.
WENVOE VILLAGE SHOW
WENVOE VILLAGE SHOW SATURDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER
Just a quick reminder of the village show. The full list of entry categories will be published next month and will include produce, crafts, photography and flowers. There will also be community events during the judging period based in the village to entertain adults and children alike. We are still happy to accept help from anyone interested, so feel free to contact us and we would be delighted to hear from you.
Thanks from Heulwen and Sue, available on the following numbers – Heulwen 07411178797 Sue 07880936301
I am sure that we can make this years event an occasion to be remembered. Thanks and we look forward to seeing you there
London Trip
ADVANCE NOTICE
ADVANCE NOTICE
Clwb Clonc -Would you be interested in weekly, hour-long, drop-in chat sessions to practise your Welsh? These are aimed at learners of all abilities who wish to converse with other Welsh speakers. For further information contact: Janet Tabor janet.tabor@hotmail.com
Summer Reading Challenge -The challenge encourages children aged 4 to 11 to read six books during the long summer holiday. Children receive special rewards each time they finish a book and there's a certificate for everyone who completes the Challenge.
Students- Find Out About Summer Volunteering -Volunteering in your local library will give you the opportunity to gain new skills and work experience for your CV, and you’ll have fun helping children to read more at the same time.
Day Trip to London Saturday 14th July – Price £20 per person. Book your place now in the library.
Village Show Saturday 8th September Look out for regular updates on this event.
Visit us– Find us behind the Community Centre
Recycling—Remember that we sell bags for garden, food, recycling and dog waste.
