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November – December 2016 | Page 1
Page 2 | November – December 2016
About Cover Artist Monica Sabolla Gruppo
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Montana
Born and raised in Italy, artist Monica Sabolla Gruppo inherited the love for brushes and colors from her maternal grandfather, an award-winning painter. She has spent the last 20 years nurturing her creative soul fulltime through painting, crafting and photography, always growing and evolving, experimenting and trying new techniques until she decided to answer her calling and devote herself to painting as a profession. Monica lives in England with her beloved husband and their sweet Golden Retriever, and she’s passionate about infusing creativity, beauty and inspiration in every aspect of her life. Monica is represented for licensing by Linda McDonald, Inc. in Charlotte, N.C.
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November – December 2016 | Page 3
Publisher’s Notes
Quilting, Crafting, Primitive, Etc.!
The Country Register of the Northern Rockies & Great Plains including North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, & Northern Idaho Dee Sleep, Publisher Produced by Chicken Creek Communications 10563 Chicken Creek Road • Spearfish, SD 57783 605-722-7028 Office www.countryregister.com/nrgp www.chickencreek.net Publisher’s contact numbers across the USA & Canada for The Country Register Send $3 to any publisher below to obtain a paper from another area: * Indicates these editions are available on–line at www.countryregister.com.
Country Register Founder: Barbara Floyd, 602-237-6008, info@countryregister.com, located: Phoenix, AX USA * Alabama: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD 21774, 866-825-9217, Fax 866-261-9641 * Arizona: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 602-942-8950 * Arkansas: Lenda Brown, P.O. Box 32581, Oklahoma City, OK, 73123, lenda@countryregister.com * California: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, P 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 602-942-8950 Colorado: Jan & John Keller, 16755 Oak Brush Loop, Peyton, CO, 80831, 719-749-9797 * Connecticut: Michael Dempsey, 10213 Fanny Brown Road, Raleigh, NC, miked@countryregister.com * Delaware: Merle and Gail Taylor, P.O. Box 594, New Market, MD, 21774, info@countryregisteronline.com * Florida: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, florida@countryregisteronline.com * Georgia: Linda Parish, P.O. Box 389, Lexington, GA, 30648, tcrga@windstream.net * Idaho (N): Dee Sleep, 10563 Chicken Creek Rd., Spearfish, SD 57783, 605-722-7028, dee.sleep@chickencreek.net * Idaho (S): Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, P 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 602-942-8950 * Illinois: Lenda Brown, P.O. Box 32581, Oklahoma City, OK, 73123, lenda@countryregister.com * Indiana: Gail & Merle Taylor, P.O. Box 594, New Market, MD, 21774, info@countryregisteronline.com Iowa: Linda Glendy, P.O. Box 6, Tama, IA, 52339, IowaCountryRegister@mchsi.com * Kansas: Cindy Baldwin, 988 9th Ave., McPherson, KS 67460, kansas@countryregister.com * Kentucky: Chris & Kelly Kennedy, 5804 Whiterose Way, New Market, MD 21774 443-243, cowprintdesigns@gmail.com Maine: Gail Hageman, 221 Winslow Rd, Albion, ME 04910, 207-437-2663 * Maryland: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, ads@countryregisteronline.com * Massachusetts: Michael Dempsey, 10213 Fanny Brown Road, Raleigh, NC , 27603, countryregister@bellsouth.net Michigan: Bill and Marlene Howell, 3790 Manistee, Saginaw, MI, 48603-3143, 989-793-4211 * Minnesota: Kim & Mickey Keller, 12835 Kiska St. NE, Blaine, MN, 55449, minnesota@countryregister.com * Missouri: Lenda Brown, P.O. Box 32581, Oklahoma City, OK, 73123, lenda@countryregister.com * Montana: Dee Sleep, 10563 Chicken Creek Rd., Spearfish, SD 57783, 605-722-7028, dee.sleep@chickencreek.net * Nebraska: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 602-942-8950 * Nevada (N): Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, P 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 602-942-8950* Nevada (S): Glena Dunn, 4568 Carol Circle, Las Vegas, NV, 89120, 702-523-1803 New Hampshire: Kathleen Graham, 330 North Road, Deerfield, NH, 03037, countryregister@metrocast.net * New Jersey: Merle and Gail Taylor, P.O. Box 594, New Market, MD, 21774, info@countryregisteronline.com New Mexico: Jan & John Keller, 16755 Oak Brush Loop, Peyton, CO, 80831, 719-749-9797 * New York: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, ads@countryregisteronline.com * North Carolina: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 888-942-8950 * North Dakota: Dee Sleep, 10563 Chicken Creek Rd., Spearfish, SD 57783, 605-722-7028, dee.sleep@chickencreek.net * Ohio: Barb Moore, P. O. Box 37, Cable, OH, 43009, ohiocountryregister@yahoo.com * Oklahoma: Lenda Brown, P.O. Box 32581, Oklahoma City, OK, 73123, lenda@countryregister.com * Oregon: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 602-942-8950 * Pennsylvania: Dave & Amy Carter, PO Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, ads@countryregisteronline.com * Rhode Island: Michael Dempsey, 10213 Fanny Brown Road, Raleigh, NC , 27603, miked@countryregister.com * South Carolina: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 888-942-8950 * South Dakota: Dee Sleep, 10563 Chicken Creek Rd., Spearfish, SD 57783, 605-722-7028, dee.sleep@chickencreek.net * Tennessee: Chris & Kelly Kennedy, 5804 Whiterose Way, New Market, MD 21774 443-243, cowprintdesigns@gmail.com * Texas: Lenda Brown, P.O. Box 32581, Oklahoma City, OK, 73123, lenda@countryregister.com * Utah: Available * Vermont: Chris & Kelly Kennedy, 5804 Whiterose Way, New Market, MD 21774, cowprintdesigns@gmail.com * Virginia: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, ads@countryregisteronline.com * Washington: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 602-942-8950 * West Virginia: Dave & Amy Carter, PO Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, ads@countryregisteronline.com * Wisconsin: Scott & Jennifer Hughes, P. O. Box 276, Altoona, WI, 54720, jennifer@countryregisterofwisconsin.com * Wyoming: Dee Sleep, 10563 Chicken Creek Rd., Spearfish, SD 57783, 605-722-7028, dee.sleep@chickencreek.net CANADA * Alberta: Ruth Burke, P.O. Box 97, Heisler, AB, T0B2A0,780-889-3776, countryregab@yahoo.com * British Columbia: Bryan Stonehill, Box 1338, Summerland, BC, V0H 1Z0, 800-784-6711 * Manitoba & Saskatchewan: Scott & Marj Kearns, Box 850, Kipling, SK, S0G 2S0, countryregister@sasket.net * Ontario: Harriet Ramos, Box 60, 4338 Innes Rd., Orleans, ON K4A 3W3, 343-882-5812
I love quilting and sewing. I believe I’ve already shared that I made my first quilt 20+ years ago while I was pregnant with my oldest daughter. And while I loved the experience and the end result of a beautiful crib quilt, I must admit that I’ve struggled to find time to keep quilting ever since! I’ve had plenty of time for quilt supply shopping, however. I’m sure many of you can relate to this. Because of this passion, quilting and crafting will always be a big part of The Country Register. But there are many more crafting and shopping interests for women in our area. We’ve had great success with our Dee Sleep annual Fiber Issue that comes out in March/April, Publisher of for example. I would love to continue to expand The Country Register coverage in other subject areas such as scrapbooking, of ND, SD, WY, antiques, primitive/vintage/repurposing, jewelry MT & N. ID making, painting, and more! This is a “specialty shopping” publication, and the options are truly endless. I can certainly use the help of fellow business owners and crafters to accomplish this expansion objective. If you know of a business, event or individual from the region that should be a part of this publication – either as an advertiser or an article – please let me know. And if you would like to help sell the ads or write the articles, let me know that, too! I am excited to continue to bring this newspaper to shoppers, shops and readers all across the upper Midwest and Rocky Mountain region. Thanks for patronage! The Country Register of the Northern Rockies & Great Plains November – December 2016 • Volume 6 Issue 6 The Country Register of the Northern Rockies & Great Plains is published every two months. Copyright 2016. Reproduction or use, without permission, of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited by law. The Country Register is a registered business trade name. Chicken Creek Communications produced The Country Register of the Northern Rockies & Great Plains. Subscription price: 1 year, 6 issues, $18.00. Single copies: $3.00. This paper is furnished free at each advertiser, highway welcome centers tourism centers, shows, events, and other selected locations throughout North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, and Northern Idaho. Articles published in this newspaper, which are contributed from outside sources, express the opinions of their authors only and may not express the viewpoints of the management and staff of The Country Register. Such articles that are accepted for publication herein may be edited at the sole discretion of the publisher. Responsibility for products advertised in this newspaper lies with the advertisers themselves. Though The Country Register will not knowingly publish fraudulent materials or fraudulently obtained materials, we are not liable for any damages arising from the purchase or use of products advertised herein.
Index: See page 11 for advertiser’s index. Next Deadline: Ads and articles for the Jan/Feb 2017 issue are due December 7, 2016.
Page 4 | November – December 2016
Quilting with Barbara
Christmas Crafting Rush Begins; Cultures Come Together Like Quilt Yesterday the view from our windows overlooking the countryside was gold – grass, trees, stubble in the fields, all gold – punctuated only by the few dark spruce trees we have nursed along since we moved here. This morning all is white. Fields, drooping flowers, lawn furniture and even spider webs on the deck railings are stark white, with only a few of our neighbor’s black cattle making a contrast. Although meteorologists are promising the return of slightly warmer temperatures in a few days, it’s obvious that the days of fall are numbered and Old Man Winter, as my father used to call him, has given us his first warning: “Get out parkas and boots; change to winter tires; clear away garden remains. Here I come!” For us as quilters and crafters, the rush to finish making gifts for Christmas begins. Some well-organized people (they do exist, I’m told) have had their projects finished for weeks, or even months. And then there are the rest of us. Although we may be chronically short of time this time of year, there are a few Christmas-project hacks. What about getting together with a few friends to work assemblyline style on their projects and theirs? That might work. What about scaling back the size or complexity? Only you will know. And then there’s the fall-back position: delay, delay, delay! Have a top finished? Give it to the intended recipient with an IOU for quilting and binding, or a gift card from a professional quilter so the giftee can choose the quilting pattern and have it finished it on someone else’s schedule, not yours. Have a project only partly finished? Present the recipient with a picture (taken from the pattern) of the object to be finished with a dated commitment for completion. Haven’t even started? Try a gift card from a store good for a pattern and/or fabric of the recipient’s choice along with your promise to construct said object. This latter tactic can be dangerous, but at this stage we’re desperate, right? All these hacks are compromises, but that’s life.
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Holiday Word Scramble Unscramble the words. Key is below.
1.________________
leves
a diminutive being in folklore given to mischievous interference in human affairs
2.________________
nrecad
Second of Santa’s eight reindeer
3.________________
gogegn
a drink made from a mixture of beaten eggs, cream, and flavorings
4.________________
icseilc
a hanging, tapering piece of ice formed by the freezing of dripping water
5.________________
wfoanksel
a feathery ice crystal, typically displaying delicate sixfold symmetry
6.________________
tideylue
of or pertaining to the Christmas season
7.________________
thewra
an arrangement of leaves and/ or flowers in the shape of a circle
8.________________
kfcrituae
a cake containing dried fruit and nuts
9.________________
wpisohr
show reverence and adoration for a deity
10._______________
ebmeredc
The 12th month of the year in the Gregorian calendar
11._______________
rginegte
a polite word or sign of welcome or recognition
12._______________
edierner
a deer of the tundra and subarctic regions of Eurasia and North America
Diverse Cultures Resemble Quilt Pieces
13._______________
lhoydia
a day of festivity or recreation when no work is done
Speaking of compromise, years ago when I was teaching ESL (English as a Second Language) to a class of newly-arrived high school students from ten different countries, we ESL teachers found ourselves in a slight dilemma when December (Christmas party time) rolled around. It was our job to acclimatize these students to our celebratory customs without denigrating their own. Many cultures celebrate light or enlightenment at this darkest time of the year, so we incorporated aspects of Diwali, Kwanzaa, Tet, Chinese New Year and Hanukkah – all representative of students in our classes – in our celebration, but Christmas with its connotations of light, the star that the Magi followed, and the arrival of the Light of the World, the reason we celebrate, was always in the background. The celebration was a success. Compromise. It was only in later years that I realized the Christmas-based activity and our culture was the background or foundation which supported the other diverse pieces and displayed them to advantage, much like the background of a quilt supports and emphasizes the blocks, resulting in a unified whole. May we all emulate such quilts! Merry Christmas!
14._______________
osenass
each of the four divisions of the year: spring, summer, autumn, winter
15._______________
elstni
a form of decoration consisting of thin strips of shiny metal foil
16._______________
sngdires stuffing
17._______________
psnrtese gifts
18._______________
eirtnw
the coldest season of the year
19._______________
iesolmtet
a parasitic plant with white berries, traditionally used as a Christmas decoration
20._______________
ianrtitdo
an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior
Barbara Conquest writes her column from Blue Sky Quilting in Tofield, AB. © Barbara Conquest.
1. elves, 2. dancer, 3. eggnog, 4. icicles, 5. snowflake, 6. yuletide, 7. wreath, 8. fruitcake, 9. worship, 10. December, 11. greeting, 12. reindeer, 13. holiday, 14. seasons, 15. tinsel, 16. dressing, 17. presents, 18. winter, 19. mistletoe, 20. tradition
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November – December 2016 | Page 5
Wyoming
Moving Day Blues Part 2 – Tips for Moving (With Cats) In my last article I shared a little about my thenupcoming move and the process of ‘camouflaging’ my fabric boxes so that my husband would not know how much fabric we were really moving. (Note: The fabric in those boxes seemed to somehow multiply during the move so that even I was surprised at just how much there was when I began to unpack, but that’s another story.) In this article, I’d just like to say that I learned a lot during this move and decided that I might need to impart some of my newfound ‘wisdom’ to those of you thinking about moving in the near future – especially those of you with cats. First, if you’re on the north side of 50, moving will not be as easy as you may have remembered. During the process I began to wonder what we had been drinking when we decided this was a good idea – especially moving from a one level home to one with three levels. I kept repeating, “I love the kitchen and the quilting studio,” over and over to myself. That vision kept me going. We won’t talk about what dear hubby kept repeating while moving a king size mattress to the third level. Second, don’t do it in the hottest month of the year!!! The mountains of western North Carolina are known for their temperate climate but even here we have about three weeks of unbearable heat. As luck would have it, we closed on our new house and moved during this stretch. The second mantra in my head was, “It will all be worth it in the end.” But, as I huffed and puffed, even I was having my doubts. Third, make sure you are prepared to move the furry children and all the problems that come with that task alone. I have moved many cats through the years but it had been twelve years since the last major move and I needed a refresher—especially with these three. I read everything I could about successfully moving the fur babies and had a long discussion with my vet. As advised, we waited until everything had been moved into the new house, saving their move for the last trip over. My husband thought I was worried for nothing. After all, we were only moving 14 miles so how hard could this be? Their beds were in place, litter and food were ready and a plug in was in the wall of their new room. (You know, one of those sold by the pet store that is supposed to help everyone be ‘stress free.’) We put Miss Lacey, our escape artist, in her carrier first and covered it to try and keep her calm. (Lacey is the feral I rescued three years ago who still gets very nervous about change. And she also absolutely hates a carrier.) Immediately, she became enraged and it sounded as though five cats were trying to break free but I had reinforced the lock and we were good to go. The vet had given us meds for sweet Lily to try and keep her from getting carsick and we administered them as directed – receiving battle scares for our efforts. A few band-aids later, we were ready for the third ‘child.’ Gracie was given special treats and tucked into her carrier with her special toy. She seemed content. I felt like a very organized and well-planned “mom” and I mentally patted myself on the back. So far, so good.
The problem was that no one told the fur kids about these wonderful tricks that were supposed to help everyone’s anxiety. Lily got carsick three miles from the old house. (So much for the meds), Gracie howled the entire ride and, as soon as they were let out, poor Lacey ran behind the washer and hid for the first three days. Maggie the dog tried to comfort her friends but was met with hissing and growling. It was a very long first week. To make matter worse, Lily seemed to be out for revenge. I woke the third morning to the sound of water. I listened intently as I tried to figure out what could be making the sound. The new house was full of new and different sounds but this definitely sounded like water. I imagined a burst pipe and groaned – just what we needed! I checked the master bathroom, the guest bathroom and the kitchen and found nothing. Then, as I approached my studio, the sound grew louder and I knew I was on the right track. As I entered the bathroom adjacent to my studio, the source and the culprit were apparent. Lily sat on the edge of the walk in tub/shower combo happily playing with the handles that turned on the shower. She was oblivious to the flooded floor and watched with glee at what she had done. (I’ve always said she should have been a dog because she is definitely the smartest cat I’ve ever owned.) I’m sure I muttered something like “Lily, what have you done?” As I reached to grab Lily and turn off the water, my foot slipped and down I went. Maggie, the dog, came running and barking to see what was wrong. Gracie began to howl and pandemonium ensued as Lacey ran up the stairs to hide. Let’s just say, it was not a good morning but at least I can laugh at it now. Two hours of clean up and I was back on task for more unpacking as we tried completing this transition. Each day had its own adventure but ever so slowly, the fur kids seem to have forgiven us and we are settling in. The shower handles have been tied together so that Lily cannot repeat her trick and the mountains of boxes seem to actually have an end in sight. Soon, like childbirth, the pain of this move will all just be a memory. Yes, it will all be worth it in the end and I can’t wait to sit in my new studio, happily stitching away as I gaze out the windows to the beautiful mountain just outside. I’m sure I will have help from the fur kids but this ‘furless’ mom wouldn’t have it any other way. Deb Heatherly is the Creative Grids® designer who created both the Creative Grids® Cat’s Cradle Tool and the Creative Grids® Strippy Stars Tool. Deb lives in the mountains of western NC and travels doing lectures, trunk shows and workshops on a variety of Creative Grids tools for both guilds and shops. Contact her at Debscatsnquilts@aol.com to schedule a Creative Grids® in your area. Look for a feature story about Deb’s Cats n Quilts in the 2016 fall issue of QUILT SAMPLER magazine that hit newsstands in early September.
Page 6 | November – December 2016
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Fall River Fibers Moves to Historic Sandstone Building By Peggy Sanders On a warm fall day Terry Slagel welcomed me into her new location for Fall River Fibers, a Hot Springs, SD, shop that had previously been located inside Hot Springs’ Ace Hardware. The fiber store has moved “uptown” in more ways than one as it now all on one level in a convenient one-room space. The relocation to a locally quarried sandstone building, constructed in 1906, is indicative of her family’s dedication to Hot Springs and the old ways, including all things related to fiber arts. Terry moved her business to 629 North River Street, known as the Evanston Block. It is directly across from the smallest Union Depot in the world, which is used as a visitor information center several months of the year. During February and March 2016 a small group rented the building and did a great amount of renovation and cleaning on their own dimes. As the work progressed individuals began to drop in to look over the project and to inquire about purchasing the building. The group realized they needed to tie it up or risk not having the use of the building. Gary and Terry Slagel and Christine and Jason Heidebrink formed an LLC and purchased the building. Fall River Fibers rents 700 square feet of the building and Chautauqua Craftsmen and Artisans of the Black Hills, Inc. (CCABH) is a nonprofit art center that rents the other 3,200 square feet. Classes are offered on various fiber, crafts and art topics and for multiple levels of expertise during different times of the day. “We offer classes that take no prior knowledge and anyone can walk in and do them such as the doodle class, on up in skill levels,” Terry said. Several of the classes are under the auspices of Community Education of the Black Hills and are listed in their advertising. A few of the classes that are scheduled through December are a stranded knitting class, basic weaving with a rigid heddle loom, tri-loom weaving and the joy of handspinning. Terry sells several different models of looms and spinning wheels. She also carries supplies for knitting, crocheting and felting. Maria McCoy, also known as M1 Designs on Ravelry, is an expert knitter and pattern writer who recently moved to Hot Springs from Spearfish. A class she will offer is block knitting and over the course of 16 sessions a knitter will have 16 different blocks. Maria’s classes are free to anyone who buys their supplies at Fall River Fibers. Fiber arts are for children too and Terry has many fiber kits including rug hooking, potholder looms (both metal and plastic) beginning crochet and knitting, beadwork, friendship bracelets and lap looms, in kits or by themselves. The store stocks an extensive selection of books that include illustrated storybooks for children that relate to fiber arts. Adult readers will also be pleased with the varied choices of books and CDs. Terry has some finished work for sale and display samples of garments and home décor
5 Fall River Fibers offers classes covering fiber, crafts and art topics for multiple levels of expertise in Hot Springs, SD. The shop also sells several different models of looms and spinning wheels and carries supplies for knitting, crocheting and felting. Owner Terry Slagel and her family are dedicated to Hot Springs, SD, and the old ways, including all things related to fiber arts. 4 textiles from commercial yarn companies from whom she orders to inspire and encourage others; the latter items are not for sale. An unusual bison blend yarn from a regional vendor is available at the shop. The bison wool is coarse and to soften it, the company blends it with silk, alpaca or other wools to create a delicate product. Fall River Fibers also sells yarns from a local vendor who raises llamas, shears them, and
after the necessary cleaning procedures, spins the wool into yarn. Please see communityeducationclasses.org for details on classes or contact Terry directly at fallriverfibers@yahoo.com, 605-890-2750 or 605745-4684. Fall River Fibers is also on Facebook or at www.fallriverfibers.com. Peggy Sanders is a national-award winning columnist who can be reached through peggy@peggysanders.com.
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November – December 2016 | Page 7
South Dakota
Check Out Our Website!
Great Design • Great Content Optimized for Mobile For You, Our Readers
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Countryberries Designs Angel of Peace
This pattern is free for
you
to
use.
Please give the artist credit. Not for commercial
use.
Enlarge
pat-
this
tern to your desired size. This pattern was
designed
for
wool applique and embroidery but can be needlepunched, hooked
or
even
painted. Try it in pastel colors for a traditional look
or
dark colors for a more primitive look.
Designed by Kathy Graham
Have fun!
Countryberries LLC Whimsies and necessaries for your country home and garden 330 North Road Deerfield, NH 03037 603-463-7615 www.countryberries.com
Page 8 | November – December 2016
Camera’s Last Stand
Back in the day, women would often carry “brag books” in their purses. These were little albums showing their kids’ or their grandkids’ photos. The modern version is on our cell phones with the addition of video capabilities that can be a blessing or a curse, depending on how the pictures were taken. Years ago, I started compiling a special brag book that I entitled “My Non-Brag Book” with all the worst photos we ever took. It’s been a source of great fun as we giggle and cackle at our collection of blooper photos. It started with my Aunt Ruth Jean sending me a picture, taken by my cousin Jim, just as she was cleaning her teeth with her tongue – mouth closed. It made her look like a chimpanzee. I opened up the letter and kept giggling at the worst picture my aunt ever took. She had a wonderful sense of humor and wrote that her son told her when she saw the horrible photo, “Mom, the camera never lies.” That started a fun book that I enjoy to this day. I’ve added a few photos of my own over the years. One day, I fixed my hair in a modified “beehive” like my fashion conscious sister, Christy, and I honestly thought I looked hot. That same day, I went to a big box store and had a photo taken for my membership card and about croaked when I saw the photo. It was, to put it mildly, hideous. I have never worn that hairstyle again. My next photo was for another ID card and I had lightened my hair and thought the blonde streaks looked like a million dollars. The photo with the new “do” made me look pasty and washed out. Another zinger in my hairstyling Hall of Shame. Now it is a bit of a fun thing. Instead
In This Land Of Little Rain Cowboy Poetry by Jane Ambrose Morton
What Would I Have Done? I don’t blame Bill for selling out, for what would I have done? At our age, it would not have been and easy place to run.
We might have hired a manager, who would have hired a crew, but income wouldn’t be enough to pay them and us, too.
Nineteen-thousand acres is a formidable amount, and that’s without school sections, which we did not try to count.
Though conservation easements might have helped us work it out, I wasn’t the decider, so Bill took a different route.
No child or grandchild had know-how, nor did they have the means. The jobs they have and lives they live, involve big city scenes.
I will not try to second guess. He did what he thought best. Were I the one who had the say, I would have been hard pressed.
It would be hard to split the land, sell pieces separately. The croplands and the pastureland make one whole entity.
©2012 Jane Morton. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
“IN THIS LAND OF LITTLE RAIN” Tales of a family and a ranch—told through poetry of the West. TO ORDER CONTACT JANE MORTON 12710 Abert Way, Colorado Springs, CO 80908 719-495-9304 • dickandjane2@earthlink.net
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of Photoshop-ping 20 lbs off my figure and/or reshaping things a bit with a pair of shears, I just leave the dreadful photos as is and think, “Okay, another candidate for the non-brag book.” Of course, no one but those in the nefarious book and myself actually look at these nasty pictures, but it serves a couple of purposes for me. One lesson learned is a reminder that looks are truly not the end all and true beauty is not measured by a good photograph. We’ve all known the super vain soul who you can’t stand to be around. I keep telling myself that we are all marching towards aging, which ultimately is the greatest equalizer of the impossible goal of youthful outer beauty lasting forever. Accepting a rotten photo now and then is the least of our worries and, in its own way, has great value in the lesson of humility. I am always amazed at how shocked I am to see a wretched photo of myself. We all know that angles of the camera matter – a lot. I learned a neat trick while getting a photo for my new auto license. The woman manning the camera told me that I should think like a turtle. She said to look straight at the camera and then the second before taking the shot stick my neck out propelling the face forward. She proclaimed that this eliminates another nemesis of the photo you don’t want “out there” – the double chin shot. It worked! Having taken a number of hideously horrid photos lately, I can now understand Jane Jetson, the cartoon character of the future. She answered her videophone holding up a made-up mask with a perfectly coiffed hairstyle. Sounds good to me and apparently the future is now. I’ll see y’all at the beauty parlor! Copyright 2016 by Susan Salisbury Springer. All rights reserved. Used by permission, no reprint without author’s permission. Ms. Springer has a degree in Family & Consumer Sciences and writes about life in the shadow of the Cascade Mountain range in the Pacific Northwest. She can be reached at ssspringer@consultant.com.
My Journey with Lazarus by Kerri Habben
Free There is muchPattern I could tell you about Lazarus.
Find free patterns First, andmore most importantly, we at: have traversed many miles together. We’ve walked back and forth, and throughout the journey, JacquelynneSteves.com he has been, for the most part, a consistent partner in fulfilling one of life’s responsibilities. Certainly, he has slowed down over the years and at times has preferred a state of rest. Like most of us, he sometimes had to overcome inertia. There were moments he simply wanted to sleep. In short, his engine could hum, but he was beyond his prime. At times, though, a new spark unplugged his former vitality and he would seem years younger. Lazarus also had his stressful moments. On occasion, he would grow tense and react strongly. But it was more a reflex than out of anger. Sometimes his belt slipped down. His cutting edge wasn’t quite as sharp as it once had been. Then early last autumn, Lazarus and I were walking together across the lawn when it happened. He clunked out. I say clunked because Lazarus is, after all, a lawnmower. I have a suspicion that you are reading this pondering two things. Why would a person name their lawnmower and how did it come to be “Lazarus?” I confess that I enjoy bestowing names upon things. Our old printer was “Herr Gutenberg.” The rain barrel is “the Baron.” The composter is the "Madame” due to its resemblance to a long, black skirt worn in more elegant eras. The lawnmower did not have a name at all until a couple of years ago. At the end Use of one summer, it stopped working and we assumed that it was, well, dead. this pattern for embroidery, wool applique, punch needle or rug hooking, painted projects or Seasons rolled around toyour another springcan anddream I wasup! able to start the lawnmower. It whatever imagination Reduce or enlarge pattern as desired. seemed the engine was, indeed, alive. Thus, it came to pass that he was called Lazarus. Commer cial use is strictl y pr ohibited. Commercial strictly prohibited. The last couple of years have been difficult ones for Lazarus but he has been We love to see the projects that you have made from our patterns. If mowing our lawn for about fourteen years. We all have the right to grow weary. It you decide to post projects based on one of our patterns on a blog or evolved that, when please I went give downdesign to thecredit shed (which does notSteves. have a Thank name),you! I would website, to Jacquelynne express a hope as I left the porch. “Well, let me go see if I can wake up Lazarus.” There were times Lazarus struck a nerve, literally. The starter cord would retract and snap back to hit my arm, sometimes leaving a bruise or making my fingers go
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South Dakota
November – December 2016 | Page 9
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Advertiser’s Index Always Your Design, Dell Rapids, SD............................................. 9 The Bakery Fabrics, Belle Fourche, SD..........................................12 Bay Leaf Café, Spearfish, SD.......................................................12
$25 Gift Certificate Winner Cindy Steffensen
Betty’s Quiltery, Rapid City, SD...................................................12
Won a $25 gift certificate to her favorite advertising shop –
Fall River Fibers, Hot Springs, SD.................................................. 7
The Quilt Yard,
Heartsong Quilts, Hot Springs...................................................... 7
in Pierre, SD
Black Hills Visitor Center, Rapid City, SD....................................... 9 Creative Closet, Townsend, MT..................................................... 2 Dakota Quilt Company, Spearfish, SD...........................................12 Fiber House, The, Sheridan, WY.................................................... 5 Knothole, Spearfish, SD..............................................................12 Nuts & Bolts Fabric Shop, Edgemont, SD........................................ 7
To enter the next drawing, fill out the form below and mail it in!
Quilt Connection, Rapid City, SD.................................................12 Quilt Yard, The, Pierre, SD..........................................................12 Quilters Corner, Faulkton, SD....................................................... 9 South Dakota Quilter’s Guild, SD.................................................12 Strawberry Patch Quilt Shop, Newcastle, WY.................................. 5 Vicki’s Quilts Down Under, Missoula, MT........................................ 2 Wall Drug, Wall, SD..................................................................... 9
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South Dakota
“Tree in the Snow” Primitive Sewn Wallhanging Materials • Ten or twelve green fabric strips – in a variety of solids and prints. Each strip is 10” long, and width can be any size from 1” up to 2 ¼” (Fabrics can be repeated) • Wide brown grosgrain ribbon – 8 inches; or other brown fabric (for tree trunk) • Thread – green, tan, white • Panel 10” x 18” of rustic fabric in a light color (I used a bumpy linen) • Panel 17” x 24” of darker rustic fabric (I used khaki) • Doily (with tears is acceptable), or crocheted bureau scarf, etc. • Hemp string or other rustic string • Scrabble letter with hole drilled through front at top edge to hang, in your choice of word (I used JOY, PEACE) • Random buttons, wooden star painted gold with center hole, brass fastener, dowel, string for hanging. Sew strips together to form a panel 10” x 16”. Do not sew traditional seams but just overlap each strip on the previous one and top stitch. Flip some strips over so fabric back is sometimes showing. Trim to even up edges of panel, using rotary cutter if you have one. Lightly draw a line from top left corner to right lower corner and cut panel along line into two triangles. Grasp bottom right corner and flip it over while bringing it up to meet top left corner. This will form a Christmas tree shape – very pointed at the top and broad at bottom. (Fabric will be flipped over, but will remain on the right-hand side of the stationary (left) piece.) [See this demonstrated on my blog: LeavesAreFree.tumblr.com/treeshape] Stitch the two halves together down the center using a wide zigzag stitch. Now both fronts and backs of several materials are showing, and raw edges. Set aside Position smaller background panel, centering it on larger background panel. Top stitch in place – decorative stitch is optional. Raw edges desirable Position tree in center of layered panel and stitch around edge of tree about ½” from edge. Position brown ribbon or fabric as tree trunk and stitch in place.
See this demonstrated on the Leaves Are Free blog at www.LeavesAreFree.tumblr. com/treeshape. Cut a piece of doily approximately 4” x 12” for snow. Position over tree trunk, allowing some trunk to show, and stitch into place using matching thread and zig zag stitch around edges and through center if desired. Sew a few randomly-cut doily pieces around tree like snowflakes. On hemp or other string, thread letters alternating with buttons to spell your word. Lay this across the tree and hand-stitch into place in a few spots. Using a tapestry needle, bring hemp to back of wall hanging and knot. With a pointed tool or awl, pierce a hole in treetop and secure star with brass fastener or other means. Hem sides, leave bottom edge raw, fold top to make a rod pocket. Thread a dowel through rod pocket to hang on string or rest on pushpins. Ann St. Martin Stout writes from Newport NH where she guides her family and home creatively through the seasons. Her blog is www.LeavesAreFree.tumblr.com; Write to her at: leavesarefree@gmail.com
Enjoying Christmas What we call the “Farmer’s K-Mart” in Rapid City, SD, moved from a modest-sized building to a former Sam’s Club, and the display space expanded many times over. Although touted as a farm supply store, Peggy Sanders many of their items could be used by city or country folk. The store’s market buyers must have been aware that burlap was au courant in the decorative world, but when I saw a display labeled “Redneck Christmas wrap,” I laughed right out loud. There were piles of burlap sacks featuring various logos. How refreshing to see levity during the Christmas rush. It has been enjoyable picking things out this year as our extended family finally agreed to give gifts only to the children. Coming up with new ideas for each youngster is an annual challenge. One stop was a hobby store that has been in business longer than I have been around. I had not been in there for years and it was so entertaining and fun that I know I will go back often. My list included supplies and instructions on how to make balloon sculpture animals and other creations and a Chinese jump rope. A rocket car propelled by vinegar and soda is the perfect gift for a young city boy with a fenced yard. It will give the thrill of a rocket but will stay on the ground. One daddy told me his four-year-old likes things that “blow up,” and her package will also need a dose of soda and some vinegar for good, harmless and messy fun. One of the boys has been learning “magic” tricks, actually illusions, and he is getting good at it; he will receive a few more ideas and gadgets to increase his repertoire. The baby boy is now one year old and he will get a soft tractor; he already knows the noise to make when he drives it around. The baby girl is too young to care so she will receive clothing. Next year, look out, she’ll be more aware and we will probably have to suspend the tree from the ceiling. We put up a tree and a few baubles here and there, but it is low key. My aunt recently told me they are going to vastly pare down their decorations this year as they have no business being up on ladders and it took them an entire month to put it all away last year. She also decided what traditions they could do without and which ones they could not, and have toned the entire season down considerably. I laughed to myself when she gave me details as we did the same thing years ago. Christmas is a fun time when you don’t take all of the trappings so seriously. Peggy Sanders is a national-award winning columnist who can be reached through peggy@peggysanders.com.
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Northern Black Hills, South Dakota