OCTOBER 2020 Life at Crowfields

DID YOU KNOW?

October has two full moons this year: one on the 1st is called Harvest Moon. This happens about every three years, when the Full Moon, which is closest to the September equinox, happens in October. This marks the beginning of fall. The full Hunter’s Moon will be on the 31st. The Hunter’s Inside This Issue

Moon this year will also be a “Blue Moon.” Halloween, the spookiest night of the year, is celebrated in Did You Know? 1 st many countries throughout the world on October 31 , the Tracking the Seasons 2 eve of “All Hallow’s Day.” A combination of the ancient From the Editor 3 celebration of the festival of All Saints with the Pagan autumn festivals celebration. The belief is on this day the The Property Manager’s Report 4 spirits can wander the earth freely. Children celebrate by Employee Profiles 6 dressing up on costumes and requesting “tricks or treats,” to Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes all the neighbors. Apparently, next to Christmas, spending in the Garden 7 on Halloween is the second highest for holidays. Activities and More in October 11 Here’s some October weather lore: Governor Cooper’s Phase 2.5 12 Announcements and Reminders 13 If ducks do slide at Hallowtide, Out and About Crowfields 14 At Christmas they will swim; If ducks do swim at Hallowtide, From the Kitchen 15 At Christmas they will slide.

The Crowfields Chatter is Edited by

Janet Moore and published by Gayle Connell. If you have ideas, an article or photos you would like to submit, contact Janet at 778-9300 or [email protected]

The end of the summer is not the end of the world. Here's to October...

A.A. Milne

Page 2

Tracking the Seasons By Janet and Ed smith, from the Chatter Archives, November 1997

Page 3

Tracking the Seasons By Janet and Ed smith, from the Chatter Archives, November 1997

Submitted by Janet Moore, Editor

Letter from the Editor —Janet Moore

For a year now, I’ve been editing The Chatter with the able assistance of Gayle Connell. (To be honest, I couldn’t do it without her). Now it’s time to hear from you. Communicating well with our friends and neighbors is challenging in the best of times. But these are extraordinarily difficult times. Covid-19 put an end to First Friday and Simple Suppers. No more parties at the clubhouse, or indoor exercise classes, or history lessons from Bill Spellman, or travels through Greek mythology with Martin Snyder. Gone too are the wonderful lectures organized by the Social Committee, in-person board meetings and work sessions. All of these activities provided us with opportunities to gather, exchange ideas, and even break bread. Without them, there is a void that even Zoom can’t fill. With that in mind, and knowing that Covid-19 will be with us well into 2021, I am developing a readership survey to learn how we can improve The Chatter and identify other ways you would like to be kept informed. The electronic survey will go out later in October so that the results can be tabulated and reported back to you before the end of the year. The goal is to start 2021 with your recommendations incorporated into the January newsletter. When you get the survey, I hope you will take the time to fill it out. It won’t be a long one, and it will help make this long-standing publication better as we all figure out how to live and communicate in the time of Covid-19.

The Property Manager’s Report Page 4 By Charles Bennett

Greetings,

As this year quickly nears its end, I prepare now for the upcoming one. I am currently focused on budget preparation. Reviewing this year’s profit and loss; performance reports help guide me to achieving a positive forecast result. Annually, I review all reserve items to ensure future repair and replacement cost are on track. Inflation rate increases are added as well as applying current costs to each item. There are sixty-four individual line items contained with-in the community reserves and thirty-four clusters, including roofs, exterior repairs, painting, and fences that all have to be accounted for. An extensive work book of Excel spreadsheets assists me in compiling and computing all this information. Consolidation of the community made this task more streamlined, and as many of you are aware, a large variety of talented people live within this community. One such resident was willing to share her talents to help me build this complex Excel work book. Many late evenings and lots of head scratching were needed to make my vision become reality. Her vast knowledge and years of experience made it happen. I lot of people don’t like to blow their own horn so, I will do it for her. Carolyn Jones assistance was invaluable and I truly do appreciate her dedication and insight. I knew she was up to the task as she had assisted me with another such project, a payroll spreadsheet, a year earlier. Her spreadsheet designs now save me countless hours of work and help ensure more consistent and arcuate computations. This is just one example of residents volunteering their time to make this community better. Every day, week, and month, these volunteers work hard to preserve, improve, and protect this community, to ensure its future existence. I fortunately get to work alongside them. Their guidance help lead me as I perform my duties as your Property Manager. We all owe them a big thanks. With the future in mind, I would like to say that Pete and I are in the process of updating our Grounds Plan for 2021. This year’s objectives were mostly achieved. Re-landscape work at C, D and E cul-de-sac was on schedule until the heat of summer put on the brakes. Grounds staff will be returning to this area soon to pick up where they left off. Pete hopes to have this project wrapped up before the leaf litter is in full swing. Pete and staff recently have been able to sow and overseed many areas where bare spots existed. Much success has been achieved, and thanks to rain and cooler temperatures, these areas are turning green once again. A few more areas still need attention, and weather permitting, they should be able to address them, too. On average the grounds crew receives approximately twenty-five work orders per month. Some simple to resolve, others consume days of work, not to mention continuing to maintain a seventy-two-acre park for your viewing and physical pleasure. Unexpected weather events continually make Pete alter his planned work schedule, and sometimes I don’t know how he makes it all happen. I do appreciate Pete and the grounds crew for their dedication and persistence. Speaking of the grounds crew, it finally looks like we have a full grounds crew! A new hire Jesse Edwards started September 10th, and another new employee, Nick Penley, is scheduled to begin October 5th. These two hires should bring us up to the required employee count for grounds. If all goes well, and they are able to complete their 90-day review period, they will become full time employees. Keep your fingers crossed all goes smoothly. I know Pete will appreciate the added help as leaves begin to fall.

The Property Manager’s Report Page 5

By Charles Bennett

The rush is on the get clusters ready for paint. Cooler weather is not far off and much work is still needed to ready three more clusters. P cluster is ready now for paint, and Q cluster is 60% ready. F and A clusters are next. Some work has already been done at F cluster with a couple more weeks’ worth of work required to complete. Painting can commence even though temperatures are falling. Our paint manufacturer states their product can be applied as long as siding surface temperatures stay above 35 degrees, after the paint is applied, and dries. Unfortunately, our contractor has been pulled away for other jobs on their schedule, but should be returning in early October. J.T. and James can work in conjunction with them to see the project through, hopefully before years end, and with a little luck and some determination, they should be back on track. J.T. and James have been busy the past few weeks cleaning roofs and gutters, so repair work was further delayed. No problem with not having enough to do around here, I mean, everywhere you look there are loads of beautiful mature trees. Never a dull or idle moment for this duo.

Speaking of mature trees, or just trees in general, soon the grounds staff will be busy clearing leaves. Please keep in mind, they will be in the roadways and parking areas with loud equipment and will be unable to hear as approach in your vehicle. Please use extreme caution as you drive through the community. A near miss occurred just the other day. One of the grounds staff’s elbow was brushed by a passing cars mirror while he was blowing debris from the road. The vehicle never slowed or acknowledge the near miss. Please be highly aware, and share this urgent information with visitors and caregivers. Please remember to purge your utility areas of unwanted items that may have accumulated over the summer. These areas are quite difficult to maneuver in while you have a backpack blower strapped to you. Sometimes items get damaged as we move around these tight spaces. If do you have items you need to discard, please contact the office and we can assist you. We will do our best to clean these areas, and remember, the more items you store in these small spaces, the less cleaning we are able to do.

By the way--we are looking for clean, used sheets, towels and rags for use at the maintenance building. We have lots of greasy project that require lots of clean-up. If you are unable to drop them off at the shop location, give the office a call and we would be happy to pick them up at your door.

Until next time, watch your backs, as you know it is the bewitching month. I hear that a treat will keep away the trick. And I think everyone knows I like a good treat.

Best, Charles Bennett

I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.

L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

Crowfields Employee Profiles Page 6 -Bill Spellman, HR Chair

Crowfields Employee Profiles

As the fall foliage season begins, this month’s profile highlights two of our grounds personnel who will soon be busy with the annual “gathering of the leaves”.

Lloyd Proffitt (left in photo) has been a member of the grounds crew for over seven years. He and his wife Cathy are the parents of four children, two girls and two boys. Previously employed by Asheville’s Curbie Recycling Service, with a weekly route that brought him through the Crowfields community, Lloyd works in a variety of landscaping areas and is sometimes on campus after hours doing custom landscaping projects for individual owners. Like Chance Simpson (profiled last month), Lloyd is a motorcycle enthusiast, and one can occasionally see his large Harley Davidson parked at the maintenance building.

Jesse Edwards (right) is Crowfields’ newest employee, joining the grounds crew this past month. An Asheville native and graduate of Clyde A. Erwin High School, Jesse most recently worked in the automotive service industry, including Asheville’s eco-friendly Zips Car Wash, and Super Lube of Asheville. He becomes the third motorcycle owner on staff and enjoys all things automotive. We welcome Jesse to the Crowfields community.

“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the Fall.” --F. Scott Fitzgerald

Gods, Goddesses and Heroes in the Garden Page 7

Myth in the Garden Series by Martin Snyder

The Sacred Bee

“Bees, now, I think, are heavenly creatures - they spew honey, though people suppose they get it from heaven. But at the same time, they sting, because where there's sweet, you'll find bitter there too.”

[Petronius, Satyricon]

There was no time to lose. The Titan goddess Rhea had to move fast. As soon as she delivered her sixth child Zeus (Jupiter), she had him spirited away to a mountain cave on the island of Crete. Rhea next wrapped a large stone in a baby blanket and went to announce the birth to her husband Kronos (Saturn), king of the Titan gods. [right] Without so much as looking at his son, Kronos swallowed the ersatz infant just as he had all of Rhea’s other five children. Power-hungry Kronos was content believing that another possible challenge to his throne had been removed. Rhea smiled and returned in silence to her chamber.

Meanwhile, in the cave on Mount Dicte in Crete, the mountain nymphs were busy tending to baby Zeus. Their first concern was providing nourishment for the infant. A local she-goat named Amalthea was recruited to provide milk, and the swarms of bees that inhabited the cave fed the newborn god honey from their hives. For little Zeus the cave was quite literally a land of milk and honey.

Now it was unlawful for anyone-god or human-to enter the cave where Zeus was hidden. At certain seasons of the year, however, a light streamed forth from the mouth of the cave attracting the attention of passersby. On day, four men attracted by the magical light and the prospect of plundering the cave’s honey, protected themselves with armor and made their way into the cave. As they began to take the honey, they saw the cradle and swaddling

Page 8 Gods, Goddesses and Heroes in the Garden

Myth in the Garden Series by Martin Snyder

clothes of Zeus, and at the sight the joints of their armor burst, and it fell to the ground. Thus. unprotected they were attacked by the sacred bees [black- figure vase, below] and by Zeus, who thundered and would have slain the intruders with his lightning bolt, but was prevented by Themis (the Titan goddess of law and custom) and the Moirai (the Fates). They reminded the angry godling that the cave was a holy sanctuary and might not be defiled with blood. Zeus therefore contented himself with turning the men into birds. Spoiler alert: Zeus grew to adulthood safely within the confines of the Cretan cave over the course of many years in human time. In the eternal time of the gods, however, it was little more than the blink of a divine eye before the full-grown Zeus confronted power-hungry Kronos and forced him to disgorge his immortal and therefore indigestible siblings. Thus, were born the Olympian gods with Zeus as their king.

The ancient Greeks as well as many other Mediterranean cultures practiced beekeeping on a large scale. In Greek mythology the Cretans were generally credited with the invention of apiculture, and beekeeping and the production of honey is still a thriving industry (and tourist attraction!) on Crete to this day. Greek folklore contains many myths concerning bees and honey, and the Greeks had many very ancient religious rites in which honey was used. These myths and rites are probably even older than the knowledge of apiculture.

A fertility or mother goddess, usually called the Great Mother, had long been the supreme divinity in the ancient world, especially wherever settled agriculture was the way of life. She was venerated in many forms as the personification of fertility and maternity. She was the principal object of worship in the Aegean world before the invasion of the Greeks, and her cult was particularly well established in Minoan (pre-Greek) Crete where it seems to have been closely connected with bees and the production of honey. Her cult was the dominant force in a matriarchal culture.

Gods, Goddesses and Heroes in the Garden Page 9 Myth in the Garden Series by Martin Snyder

On the Aegean island of Rhodes, gold and electrum plaques have been discovered which represented the Mother Goddess herself in the form of a bee [above]. These plaques were in all probability worn strung across the top of a priestess’ garment, fastened at the shoulders. Often a priestess of the Great Mother held the title of Melissa (μέλισσα), the Bee. Nymphs also sometimes held the title. Perhaps the Great Mother’s priestesses were named after the industrious, chaste, yet prolific creature whose honey was so prized by all. For example, in Ephesus, an ancient city of Asia Minor, the bee was a symbol of the city’s Mother Goddess, Artemis Polymastos (Many-breasted Artemis). Melissa was an early title for her priestesses. The “bee coin” [right] was employed by the city of Ephesus in Asia Minor during the 4th century BCE. [ΕΦ=Eph=Ephesus]

Many Greek myths are attempts to refashion pre-Greek stories. And that brings us back to the not-so-simple story of the birth of Zeus. We know that the cult of the Great Mother goddess was practiced in Crete from time immemorial. We also know that from the earliest times the goddess was worshiped in caves, and that her priestesses were likely called melissae, bees. It is hardly coincidental that so many of these details overlap with the myth of Zeus’ birth.

Gods, Goddesses and Heroes in the Garden Page 10

Myth in the Garden Series by Martin Snyder

Religions tend to be very conservative. They do not simply vanish when an invader like the patriarchal Greeks arrives. Often they go underground and re-emerge within the invader's religious structure. They are blended in a process called syncretism into the invader’s religion, but they often retain much of their character and detail.

In the myth of the birth of Zeus, the Great Mother was literally evicted from her sacred cave. Her priestesses, her “bees,” became both the nymphs who tended to the infant Zeus and the literal bees who protected him and supplied him with honey. Thus Zeus, the king of the Olympian gods, replaced the matriarchy of the Great Mother with his own patriarchal rule. Patriarchal attitudes and practices remain unfortunate legacies of the Greeks to Western civilization.

Battle of the Greeks and Amazons, part of the frieze from the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus

Sources: Arthur Bernard Cook, “The Bee in Greek Mythology” in Journal of Hellenic Studies v. 15 (1895) 1-24

G. W. Elderkin, “The Bee of Artemis” in The American Journal of Philology v. 60 no. 2 (1939) 203-213

Hilda M. Ransome, The Sacred Bee in Ancient Times and Folklore (London 1937; republished Mineola, New York 2004)

Page 11 Activities and More for October 2020

Governor Cooper announced on September 22, North Carolina may move into Phase 3, soon. This change, in Safer -at-Home, will allow larger venues to open at limited 7% capacity, dependent upon the key coronavirus metrics continuing to stay stable. He will continue to monitor the data, before making a statement on the move from Phase 2.5 to Phase 3 on October 2nd.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends vaccination against the flu for everyone 6 months and older with any licensed, age-appropriate flu vaccine. Vaccination against the flu can make illness milder and reduce the risk of more serious outcomes, making it especially important for those at higher risk of complications, such as people over 65, children younger than 5, pregnant women and those with certain medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease or obesity. Some of those

MPORTANT same groups are also at high risk of complications from COVID-19. I

ACTIVITIES UPDATES

Starting on September 29, Crowfields Walkers will meet at the Clubhouse at 8:30 AM instead of at 8:00 AM

Crowfields Writers will meet in the Clubhouse on October 15th at 1:30. Please wear a Mask. Authors presenting short works should bring 6 copies, if possible.

Mah Jongg is played on Mondays from 1:00-4:00 and Wednesdays from 1:30-4:30, both at the clubhouse, on the porch or inside, weather dependent.

Senior Exercise meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:00 in the Clubhouse parking lot. Please bring light weights (or soup cans) and a mask. Folding chairs from the Clubhouse are used for balance, along with some seated activities. Chairs are sanitized before and after use.

Happy Hour Fridays at the Circle. 5:00 pm. Bring a chair and your beverage. Please remember your masks and to sit at least six feet apart. No invitation is necessary---everyone is welcome.

Crowfields Walkers meet at the Clubhouse Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 8:00 a.m. at the Clubhouse. The route usually takes about one hour and no one is left behind. Your pace is our pace.

NEW—King Goslin is starting up again with Tai Chi and Rock-in-Chair (Modified Pound Class) beginning Oct. 5th, outside location to be determined with 12 participants, indoor classes at the clubhouse with 6 participants, on Mondays and Wednesdays, 10 am for Tai Chi and 11:30 for Rock-in-Chair classes. For more information contact King between the hours of 10 am -10 pm at 828-333-0550 or [email protected] .

Page 12 Governor Cooper’s Phase 2.5 reopening restrictions began on September 4th and runs through October 5th.

10 Things Mentally Strong People Do To Handle a Pandemic

1. They limit their exposure to news and media. 2. Accept their feelings as normal.

3. They carefully choose the leaders they follow.

4. They limit social media and exposure. 5. They display self-compassion for lack of productivity. 6. The focus on facts. 7. They meditate. 8. They limit toxic people. 9. The focus on self-care.

10. They know their personality needs: introvert vs. extrovert

For more in-depth information about this topic, click on this link https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-pulse-mental- health/202004/10-ways-mentally-strong-people-handle-pandemic

Page 13 ANNOUCEMENTS, REMINDERS, INFORMATION, ETC…

Volunteer Opportunity:

Seed Programs International, an Asheville based nonprofit organization, is looking for one volunteer to put together 100-200 seed packing kits from the comfort of their home. Seed Programs International will provide and deliver all the supplies included in these kits to your home. There will be no cost to you, only your time.

Seed Programs International is dedicated to providing good quality vegetable seeds, expertise, and training materials to humanitarian organizations worldwide to alleviate hunger and poverty.

For more information about this volunteer opportunity, please contact Rosanna Kingston by phone at (828) 337-8632 or by email at [email protected].

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER

th Friday, October 9 , Regular Voter Registration Deadline Thursday, October 15th, Start of Early Voting Tuesday, October 27th, Deadline to Request and Absentee Ballot

st Saturday, October 31 , Early Voting Ends

rd Tuesday, November 3 , ELECTION DAY Absentee ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day. Polls will be open from 6:30 am to 7:30 pm for in-person voting.

Out and About Crowfields Page 14

Earl Lester Shook, Jr., M.D., 96, died peacefully in a Savannah senior facility on Sept. 8th, 2020. Earl and Margaret, married 65 years, lived at FF 709 Lane for more than two decades. Earl left Crowfields after Margaret's death in July, 2018. Earl was an early practicing and teaching urologist in Asheville; he was devoted to his family, to people, to golf, and he was an excellent woodworker.

Their four children are: Dr. Tom Shook of Savannah, GA, Bill Shook of Laguna Beach, CA, Claudia S. Chenelle of Cape Town, So. Africa, and John Shook of Philadelphia. PA. There are seven grandchildren.

Please make any remembrance in Earl's name to the charity of your choice.

TALENT UNDER THE STARS Submitted by Helen Eill

It was good to be seen. Those of us who were lucky enough to attend the Crowfields talent show on the evening of September 9th, experienced Crowfields at its most fun in months. Carefully managing our forays away, sticking close to home, creatively creating meet -ups, we were ready to get together. We brought our own chairs, most wearing masks, we sat together at a distance and enjoyed the talents among us. Gwenda Ledbetter, Maggie Crowell, Sonny Bayes, Carole Cole, and Randy Robins kept us smiling and laughing, rocking and tapping. A beautiful setting on a beautiful evening. Thanks to the organization and work of Bonnie Gordon, we could hear everything. As the light faded the spotlights illuminated our entertainers.

When Bonnie gets an idea, just get out of the way! She gets it done and makes it look easy. Many thanks to talented performers, an appreciative audience, and Bonnie.

`

Page 15 From the Kitchen Recipes by Gayle Connell

Creamy Chicken and Butternut Squash Gratin

This is a great way to use up leftover chicken, a rotisserie chicken, or you could use leftover turkey, it works well, too. 3 tbsp olive oil 1 large onion, I prefer sweet onions like Maui or Vidalia, roughly chopped 1 good sized leek, well cleaned, by slicing down the length and washing under running water, then sliced 1 small to medium sized butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and chopped into 1” cubes (you want about 2+ cups of prepared squash) ¼ cup butter ¼ all-purpose flour If you have cooking questions, 3-1/4 cups chicken stock or would like to request a 1 heaping tbsp Dijon mustard recipe, email me at 3 tbsp Greek yogurt or sour cream [email protected] Salt and pepper to taste 1-1/2 to 2 cups cooked chicken, torn in pieces 2 tsp dried thyme or 3 tsp fresh chopped thyme (you can change the herbs to suit yourself) plus extra for sprinkling on top before baking ½ cup Panko bread crumbs or dried homemade bread crumbs ½ cup Gruyère or swiss cheese, grated (add more, if you like it cheesy) ¼ cup melted butter

Preheat oven to 350°. Heat 1 tbsp oil in large pan over medium heat. Add onion and leak and sauté until soft. Remove from pan and set aside. Place squash cubes in large pot of boiling, salted water for about 6 minutes, drain well. Set aside. Using the same pan you used to sauté the onion/leek mixture, add the remaining 2 tbsp. oil, and over medium heat sauté the drained squash, seasoned with salt and pepper for about 4-5 minutes. You don’t want to necessarily brown it but a little is ok, set aside Melt butter in large pan, stir in the flour to make a roux and cook over medium heat for 2-3 minutes, to cook out the flour taste, do not let it brown. Add the stock, a little at a time, stirred until smooth. Add mustard, thyme, yogurt and stir. Add chicken, leeks and onions, and cubes squash, stir to blend.

Spoon mixture evenly in a 3-quart oven proof dish, that has been lightly oiled. Mix bread crumbs, grated cheese and extra thyme together well and spread over the dish, drizzle with melted butter and bake for 25-30 minutes until golden and bubbly.