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November – December 2015 | Page 1
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Cover Artist: Betty Padden, reknown Folk Artist Betty Padden, reknown Folk Artist, has been honing her craft in the studio she shares with her husband Bob in Auburn, Massachusetts. The two have a creative partnership that has evolved and lead to many adventures over the years. With their handcarved sign business, Wooden Apple Signmakers, businesses fromall over the country seek out Betty’s skill at instilling their signs with her artistry. She and Bob carefully craft each sign, imbuing it with the character that will speak visuallyof the uniqueness of its owner. Betty’s passion for Nature and Whimsical intrigue derived from growing up withUncle Carl whose mishchieveousness and love of Nature made an impression on her.
To honor Uncle Carl and to keep his spirit alive, Betty’s carved collections, Santa Carls and Santa Carls Tree Company , consists of delightful Santa’s and whimsical elves who live in and among Nature. As caretakers of Nature, you never know when you may see them peeking out at you as you roam around your very own gardens! As demand for Betty’s art grew, Betty partnered with Linda McDonald, Inc. to guide her into the exciting world of Licensing. As such, the demand for Betty’s art lead her to painting on canvas and watercolor paper. Whether on greeting cards, wall art, sculptures and many other product’s featuring Betty’s art, Betty’s love of nature is apparent. Betty’s capacity for the age old tradition of storytelling, coupled with her artistic renderings, brings the Magical celebration of Nature alive especially during the Holidays. And if you believe in your heart, as Betty believes, that we are all caretakers of the World, then if you are so very quiet, you may also be able to peek among the boughs of your trees and see tiny faces peeking back at you!
Welcome guests: DIY holiday ready home (Family Features) A holiday-ready home is filled with small touches that celebrate the season. Welcome guests with these easy DIY projects that lend an extra special feel to your home. Extend a warm greeting with a faux fur wreath that dresses up the front door, such as this design from the crafting experts at Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores. Then, put some empty Mason jars to use with a display perfect for an entryway table or ledge. Make it even prettier by nestling the jars among some evergreen branches and finish them off with a pretty bow or twine. Find more ideas for DIY projects to spruce up your home this holiday season at joann.com.
glue. If needed, secure poms with T-pins or pearlhead pins. Using blue/grey decorative ribbon, create a bow with trailing ends and glue in place with hot glue.
Rose Gold Holiday Mason Jars Crafting time: 1-2 hours • Skill level: No experience necessary
Supplies and Tools: – Smooth Mason jars – Jelly jars – Rose gold spray paint Pompom Fur Wreath – Provided templates: Deer head, tree, Crafting time: Weekend project • Skill level: Some experience necessary snowflake – Scissors Supplies and Tools: – Pencil –Pompom makers: 2 1/2-inch, 3 3/8-inch, 4 1/2-inch – Sharpie –Bernat Softee Chunky Yarn: Grey Heather, – Detail paintbrush Taupe Grey, Natural (2 skeins each) – White enamel paint –Scissors – Gold acrylic paint –Hard foam tubular 12-inch wreath – Medium flat paintbrush –Bernat Faux Fur Pompoms: Grey Lynx, White – Scrap strips of fabric Rabbit (2 each) – Baker’s twine –Hot gun and glue sticks Lightly spray inside or outside of smooth Mason jars and jelly jars with rose –T-pins or 2-inch pins with pearl heads gold spray paint. Allow each coat to dry completely. –Decorative ribbon: 2 1/2-inch-by-12-foot, blue-grey Locate templates at joann.com by searching for the project title; print Follow directions on pompom maker packages to create three different sizes templates and trim shapes. If the outside of the jar was spray painted, trace the shape with a pencil. If the inside of the jar was spray painted, trace the of poms of various colors using chunky yarn. If desired, mix yarn to give some shape on the glass with a Sharpie. pompoms a speckled look. Make about 50-60, depending on the fullness of the desired look. Fill in each design using a detail brush and white enamel paint. Apply After making pompoms, place pompoms around wreath, varying sizes and additional coats as necessary. incorporating fur pompoms, as well. The overall look should be a kind of hilly Paint jar rims gold. terrain look to give it depth. Apply a thin layer or dry brush gold acrylic paint on jelly jars for added Once desired placement has been achieved, glue them in place with hot texture and dimension. Index: See page 14 for advertiser’s index by name and by community as well as upcoming events. Next Deadline: Ads and articles for the January/February 2016 issue are due December 7, 2015.
Embellish jars by making bows and knots with scrap strips of fabric or baker’s twine around rims of jars. Fill with sprigs of dried flowers or branches or other seasonal decorations, or for jars painted on the outside, fill with candies or treats for an edible gift.
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November – December 2015 | Page 3
Editor’s Notes
Pumpkin spice everything
The Country Register of the Northern Rockies & Great Plains including North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, & Northern Idaho Dee Sleep, Publisher Erika Young, Editor Produced by Chicken Creek Communications 132 W. Hudson St. • 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, 132 W. Hudson Street, 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, 132 W. Hudson Street, 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, 132 W. Hudson Street, 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, 132 W. Hudson Street, 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: Daniel & Stacy Tueller, 153 S 2050 W, Provo UT 84601, stacytueller@gmail.com * 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, 132 W. Hudson Street, 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
It’s that time of the year when I’m ready to grab the nearest pumpkin spice anything, dig out my winter attire, grab my camera and go on long drives to watch fall evolve in the Black Hills. I know I say this about each season, but Fall is by far the one I enjoy the most. I don’t know if it’s the pumpkin flavor coming out of hibernation or if it’s the cool weather allowing me to pause and slow down for a few months before the warmth returns a busy schedule full of park days and outdoor activities. As I was putting together this issue of the Country Register it kept me well reminded that Christmas is going to be here before I know it. It also reminds me that I am not nearly as ready as I would like to be for upcoming holiday season. I start making lists of who wants what presents, Erika Young where can I get them, what will I serve for the Editor of meals? The list seems to grow each year and The Country Register expectations become greater. I have learned to take of ND, SD, WY, a step back and really look at the bigger picture. MT & N. ID What are the best gifts? How do I help my children understand the best presents are not those under the tree, but those that are present with us. This has become one of the most challenging lessons to not only accept myself, but to teach. The next time I sit down to write this it will be 2016, which is hard to believe! It seems like yesterday that we rang in the new year. I hope that each and everyone of you have a great holiday season. See you next year!
The Country Register of the Northern Rockies & Great Plains November – December 2015 • Volume 5 Issue 6 The Country Register of the Northern Rockies & Great Plains is published every two months. Copyright 2015. 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.
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Sidney, Montana
Distressed parents and teachers: head lice September always brings a familiar question: “Do you have essential oils that are beneficial to keep head lice under control?” The first time that question is asked each year, I know schools are back in session. The answer to the question is “Yes!” It also brings back many memories of when our own children were in school and the many days spent as a volunteer checking for those pesky head lice! Head Lice have been and will continue to be a problem among school-age children. Young children are cozy creatures who like to share. They get their heads together to share secrets, caps, combs and, to all parents’ and teachers’ distress, head lice. Broad treatment is necessary, because if the nits (eggs) of the head lice are not destroyed, the problem will recur. Essential oils are an excellent way of dealing with head lice.
Head Lice Oil Blend
Eucalyptus Essential Oil 30 drops Geranium Essential Oil 30 drops Lavender Essential Oil 20 drops Grape Seed Oil 5 tablespoons (2 ½ ounces) Blend the above oils together in an amber or dark colored bottle with a tight fitting euro-dropper lid. If possible, allow it to set for four days to “synergize.” This allows the essential oils to thoroughly blend and have a greater effect. It can be used immediately after blending if necessary. To Use: After shampooing the hair and head, massage the Head Lice Oil Blend into the hair and scalp. If possible, cover the head with a shower cap and leave it on the head as long as possible (overnight would be best). In the morning, shampoo the hair and comb through the hair with a fine tooth comb. Using the fine tooth comb is an important step, as this helps get rid of the nits (eggs). When using the fine tooth comb, pay special attention to the area behind the ears and the back of the neck as this is an area where the nits love to hide. Wash the fine tooth comb thoroughly with soap and water after using. After you have combed through the hair with the fine-toothed comb, rinse the hair again. For the final hair rinse, fill a glass quart jar or measuring cup with warm water and add two drops of rosemary essential oil to the water. Rinse the hair thoroughly with this solution. When the hair is dry, re-comb the hair with the cleaned comb. You will need to repeat this process every two days for a week to keep the nits from hatching. Do not continue to repeat the process longer than one week unless there is a new outbreak. Instead prevent re-infestation in the following ways: Add two drops of lavender essential oil, two drops of eucalyptus essential oil, or two drops of rosemary essential oil to the daily shampoo. Caution: Do not use commercial shampoo that advertises “pure essential oils added.” Most are packaged in plastic. Pure essential oils will absorb the chemicals used to produce the plastic container, and these chemicals can be harmful. Instead use a good grade of unscented shampoo and add your own pure essential oils with each shampoo. This way you know the essential oils are pure and fresh. If you are interested in making your own shampoo from scratch, e-mail me at; info@ flinthillsaromatherapy.com If your child has slept in his or her bed, sat on upholstered furniture, or ridden in the car, you will need to wash and shampoo those areas as well. This may mean cleaning your complete house and car! Making a Head Lice Spray is also a good prevention. It can be used to spray the car seat (if cloth upholstery) before the child sits in the seat. (Leather seats will need to be covered with a bath towel that has been sprayed) You can
also use this blend to spray pillows, bedding and other upholstered furniture AFTER you have thoroughly shampooed the child’s hair and scalp.
Head Lice Spray
In a 4 ounce Glass or metal spray bottle with a fine mist spray cap blend: Cajuput Essential Oil 10 drops Lavender Essential Oil 30 drops Eucalyptus Essential Oil 10 drops Thyme Essential Oil 5 drops Rosemary essential Oil 10 drops Apple Cider Vinegar 1 teaspoon 3 ½ to 4 ounces distilled or boiled and cooled water Blend all the above ingredients together and shake well before each use.
To purchase Pure Essential Oils and other supplies go to www.flinthillsaromatherapy. com Or e-mail: info@flinthillsaromatherapy.com . You may reach us by phone @620394-2250. If you prefer to purchase the above blends pre-made, please contact me.
Must see Christmas flicks Are you a movie buff? A Christmas fanatic?
Who isn't, right? Well, you've come to the right place, because we're crazy about movies and Christmas, too. And, thankfully, there are some good Christmas movies out there ... the kind that put you in the holiday spirit year 'round, even during the dog days of summer! A Christmas Story - Any discussion of the best Christmas movie can begin and end here. The classic tale of little Ralphie - who so desperately wanted a Red Ryder BB Gun despite the misgivings of his parents and teachers (and even a makeshift department store Santa Claus) - is the best Christmas movie ever made. There's a reason it's shown on television each year virtually non-stop for two consecutive days! "You'll shoot your eye out!" is one of the most memorable movie lines - Christmas theme or otherwise - of all-time. Miracle on 34th Street - Santa Claus is real, and this movie proves it. You could argue this is the best Christmas movie ever made. We're not convinced it's better than A Christmas Story, but we grant you that you could make a good argument nevertheless! Babes in Toyland - Few movies made in 1934 (or before) still capture our hearts. But Babes in Toyland features Laurel & Hardy, and when this pair of beloved comedians is involved, you can safely say the project is a hit. Babes in Toyland has been remade several times over the years, but we still like the original the best due to the aforementioned duo. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - Chevy Chase is one funny guy (at least he used to be!), and the Lampoon's Vacation series is comprised of many instant hits. They're all funny and memorable in their own ways, and Christmas Vacation is no different. Wayward cats, senile aunts, a scrooge-like boss and a cousin that can only be described as "eccentric" combine to help this movie bring a little humor to the Yuletide season. A Christmas Carol - Speaking of Scrooge, no Christmas movie marathon is complete without his appearance, along with the ghosts that haunt him. Charles Dickens' novel is among the most beloved of literary classics, so why should the movie be any less popular? A Christmas Carol has been filmed numerous times for both the big screen and television, and most of them are pretty good. This story is too strong to mess up. So when you visit the movie store, take your pick. Jeremy White, a writer for Imaginary Greetings, Inc. (www.imaginarygreetings.com), is a regular contributing author specializing in features, sports, business and food writing, and frequently contributes to a variety of print and online publications. For additional tips on how to truly light up your child's eyes this holiday season like never before visit http://www.greetingsfromsanta.com.
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Sneaky holiday downsizing I have arrived at the stage of my life where I wish to downsize my possessions. A great idea came to mind when my sister-in-law showed me her Advent Box that had 25 little drawers for the placement of small gifts. The look of sheer ecstasy was oozing out of her as she demonstrated opening a drawer each day from December 1 leading up to December 25. After seeing her pleasure in the anticipation of her "Advent Box," I had an epiphany. I quickly came up with a plan to unload tons of loot from my ever-increasing stash of great stuff. Many items I had around the house were found on sale at liquidators, thrift stores and antique malls. A few items were things I enjoyed for a time and just wished to pass along to another worthy soul. Some items were new, some were not but all of the gifts given were in gift-able condition and appropriate for the receiver. I bought two huge red shopping bags. Into each bag, I placed 25 wrapped gifts that were numbered 1 through 25. I then gave a packed bag of gifts on December 1 to each of my sisters and instructed them to open the item with the corresponding number of the day. December 1— gift #1, etc. I saved the best gift for December 25. My sisters loved this. Every day in December they had the fun of opening a new item. One sister has a cherry theme in her kitchen so all the "cherry" items were in her bag. Another sister loves antique Coca Cola items and a few collected items were in her bag. I ran around the house and found things big and small that were of value but that I no longer wanted and knew they would love. This became my guilty pleasure—which was to unload 50 things from my house, making it fun for me and the recipient. The giddy joy I had while wrapping up the items was a gift I gave myself that day. It really is more blessed to give than to receive. Be sure to pack your bag in the order that the recipient will open the packages. Start with Day 25 item on the bottom and set the others on top ending with Day 1 gift. I attached a note telling them to open one item per day for the next 25 days ending with Christmas. That year I had a great sense of satisfaction of passing along things I no longer wanted or used to someone who really would enjoy them. As I prepare for the upcoming Christmas Season and look at my newly acquired collections from this past year, I think I'll do it again and add to my list of recipients. My heart sings as I hunt for the items in my various stashes to give away in an Advent Bag and it is a painless, albeit hilariously sneaky way, to downsize my loot. Susan Salisbury Springer is a Home Economist with a B.A. in Family & Consumer Sciences. She can be reached by email at ssspringer@consultant.com. Copyright 2015 by Susan S. Springer. All rights reserved
November – December 2015 | Page 5
Fun and affordable stockings
Creating memorable holiday stockings for the whole family should be fun and simple. Once the big gifts are out of the way, stuffing stockings can be a breeze. Stockings are a perfect way to give small, creative gifts. Don’t limit yourself by thinking inside a small, sock-shaped box. Some of the most thoughtful and sentimental items are pocket-sized and make perfect stocking stuffers. Create stockings bursting with jelly beans, mobile phone accessories, DVDs, framed photos, movie passes or amusement park tickets. Save money on all your stocking stuffers by shopping at discount stores, like Dollar General. Dollar General offers a wide assortment of gifts that are ideal for stockings. Not to mention, it has a great selection of holiday items that cost only a dollar. Here are a few tips to help you create a fun stocking: 1. Take advantage of discount prices. You can buy a variety of fun items at discount stores, especially for kids. For instance, Dollar General has stockings, candles, pens and pencils, notepads, cards and toys that all start at one dollar. For young adults and teens, there are arts and crafts, scrapbooking items, make-up, lotion, digital cameras, chocolate, games and more. 2. Stick to a theme. If your creativity is already shot when it comes to holiday gift-giving, brainstorm stocking themes to get your gears turning. Does your 12-year-old love sports, books or wildlife? Maybe your son loves videogames, or your daughter loves dance. Either way, there’s probably a hobby or interest that you can base the stocking around. Once you establish a theme or pattern, it’s easy to find related gifts that family members will love. 3. Include one big item guaranteed to please. For each family member, save one of their home-run presents for their stocking. It doesn’t have to be huge or expensive, just something you know they will adore. Perhaps a nice piece of jewelry, a tech gadget, concert tickets or a prepaid gift card. If you splurge a little on one gift and get a variety of other goodies at discount prices, you’ll still have a personal, memorable stocking at a great value.
Page 6 | November – December 2015
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Missoula, Montana
Cinnamon Honey Butter Ingredients
1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter, room temperature 1 cup powdered sugar 1 cup honey 2 teaspoons cinnamon
Instructions
Cyberspace: blog hop As the school year gets started for many, others may look at the calendar and realize we’re nearing the end of the year. Regardless, it is a time to consider new opportunities. Did you enjoy Row by Row Experience™ this summer? Wondering how you might put your quilt together into something usable with all those rows? The winner, Nancy Cargo, at my shop chose to use my new Road Trip design, available at patternspot.com. What a fun opportunity it was to participate in this experience! Soon I’ll be completing six years in the quilting industry as a professional. Many changes have occurred but each year it is exciting to review what has been accomplished and what new opportunities are presenting themselves. October is Fall International Quilt Market in Houston. Many quilt shops and professionals will journey there to see what the latest ideas are and make plans for the next year. This year I’ll be sharing about our book, You Can Quilt! during a schoolhouse session. We’re hoping that your local quilt shop owners will attend and consider how the book would make a great standard curriculum for teaching a beginner or a specific skill to anyone. Another opportunity includes blog hops going on in cyberspace, which typically include learning opportunities and product giveaways. From the comfort of your electronic device of choice you can learn about Electric Quilt software and pickup many seasonal themed rows in the EQ Seasons Row-along – this runs through October 6. Many of the rows will continue to be available for FREE, but some will be available for purchase after this date. I launched a new block ‘Dogwood.’ Even if you don’t have EQ, the patterns are being shared in PDF form. The row wasn’t just a bunch of these blocks, check out my blog post to see what it became. This is an early spring flower so piece it now and have a beautiful new wall hanging ready when the season arrives. As an Island Batik Ambassador (IBA), I get to play with the latest fabrics that they premiere at Fall and Spring markets. The latest fall fabrics will be featured in a new hop running October 9 – November 6. You’ll also see what the IBAs think of our new book and all of the different blocks made up with Island Batik fabrics. You might even get some tips on a variety of finishing ideas. Watch my blog for all the details. Two of my new quilt designs Dangling Diamonds and Jewels (Fire Island Jewels version) will be released at Fall market with Island Batik fabrics. Here is a sneak peek with a close up of my quilting on them. There are lots of new opportunities happening. Who knows what will be next? The key is to be open to them when they become available. Marlene Oddie is an engineer by education, project manager by profession and now a quilter by passion in Grand Coulee, WA. She enjoys long-arm quilting on her Gammill Optimum Plus, but especially enjoys designing quilts and assisting in the creation of a meaningful treasure for the recipient. Follow Marlene’s adventures via her blog at http://kissedquilts.blogspot.com and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ kissedquilts.
Use the whisk attachment on your mixer to beat the butter for 1 minute. (You can do this with regular beaters of course. Or a wooden spoon.) Add the powdered sugar, honey, and cinnamon. Beat on low until the powdered sugar is incorporated, then beat on medium for a bit. Scrape the sides and bottom, then beat again until it is smooth. This recipe will fit into 6 4-ounce mason jars, or 3 half-pint mason jars. Store this however you normally store butter. Put it in the fridge if you plan on keeping it for a while, or on the counter if it will be eaten within a couple days. Either way it should be served room temperature.
Notes This will keep in the fridge for as long as butter keeps in the fridge, at least 5-6 months.
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November – December 2015 | Page 7
Devils Lake, North Dakota
Glorious frugality: the peanut butter broker My introduction to the concept of Glorious Frugality began with observing a well-to-do friend mixing her own generic bran flakes with bulk raisins versus purchasing the commercial bran flakes with raisins included variety. This was a gal who could afford whatever she wanted. Marveling at this, I started asking questions—a lot of questions—about her money-saving habits. We chatted about various stores that offered hefty discounts on merchandise. Any store, she said, with the word “Liquidator” in the title is worth popping in to see what’s for sale and for how much. Now, keep in mind, there is a caveat to this. Buy only what you will use/eat in a reasonable timeframe. When frequenting, what I call, the “Used Bread Store” you need to pay attention to the expiration dates and freeze what’s perilously close to creating a nifty penicillin science project. These bread outlet stores often have fresh, simply surplus, goodies from the bakery for pennies on the dollar. At my local grocery store, the manager has “specials” and I know where all the special bins are throughout the store. These bins often contain boxes of assorted groceries with a puncture on the outer box but upon inspection, the inner bag is still intact. It might be a lidless spice jar but the inner seal is unbroken, etc. While on the hunt for the bargain priced deals, have you ever noticed the music in grocery stores? A relaxing and hypnotic elevator music that puts you into a type of shoppers trance? I often wonder if there isn’t a subliminal messaging encouraging one to shop till you drop. Grooving to the tunes, I wheel my cart like a grocery zombie towards the “Elderly Meat Department” to see what is for sale. Peering into the infamous “manager’s special” refrigerated bin, I keep an eye peeled every time I shop until I find cuts of prime quality meat and freeze them once I get home. I will often take the pack of multiple chops to the butcher and have him rewrap it for single use and ready for the freezer. This saves me a lot of effort with the dreaded and often messy re-wrap later plus avoiding the expense of buying freezer wrapping supplies. I felt a little cheesy requesting this service but they seemed happy to do it. In another grocery store in town, I found roasts that were miss-marked for, get this, 10c per pound! I thought it had to be a mistake and kept looking for the “For Pet Use Only” sticker but it was simply a screw up by the meat department. Their policy, I was told that day, was “If it is priced and on the floor (meaning set out in the cooler for sale), they would honor the price. That was my supreme coup. My hoarder’s instinct kicked in full gear and I threw every roast they had into the cart. Score! Since that unbelievable find, I have formed a group of women in my circle who appreciate bargains and deals. When we chance upon something great we’ll call in a “Bargain Alert.” One concept I have learned over the years was not to get too excited about a fabulous deal until you think about how you will use the item. Buy only what you will truly eat or use within a reasonable time. And my rule is to buy only name brands in massive quantities. I know I like specific name brands of some canned fruits but an off-brand can be a
hit or a colossal miss. I buy only a can or box of the unknown product and then note on my grocery list to watch for it again if it is a good find. One example was a jar of “fried apples.” I had enjoyed these many times when I lived in the East but rarely saw them in the West. My liquidator grocery store had them in abundance and I bought enough for the year. A known brand (to me), an excellent product, and I saved 75% off retail. These go well with the aforementioned pork chops as a side dish. The real secret is to stop whenever you pass by your favorite bargain shopping haunts. Many times the deals of the century fly off the shelf in minutes. Case in point is a chance observance of a clerk placing jars of peanut butter for 25c a jar. I bought them all and called in the Bargain Alert ladies for their orders at the unheard of price. The jars had not yet expired, which was a personal requirement for peanut butter. Being at the right time and place is my greatest hint. That day I played the role of “peanut butter broker.” One negative is that I’m at these stores so often that shoppers think I work there! On more than one occasion, I was asked for directions to a specific product and I knew where it was. Well, at least I know where to apply for a job if need dictates! Susan Salisbury Springer is a home economist with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Family & Consumer Sciences. Copyright 2015 by Susan S. Springer. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Contact Ms. Springer at ssspringer@consultant.com
Page 8 | November – December 2015
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Casper and Sheridan, Wyoming
Pumpkin Waffles Prep Time: 15 minutes – Cook Time: 20 minutes Yield: About 7 - 8 Belgian waffles
Ingredients 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 2 tsp baking powder 3/4 tsp baking soda 3/4 tsp salt 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp ground ginger 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg 4 large eggs, yolks and whites separated 1 pinch cream of tartar 5 Tbsp granulated sugar, divided 1 cup milk 1 cup buttermilk 1/4 cup canola oil 1 cup canned pumpkin puree 1 tsp vanilla extract Vegetable oil cooking spray Syrup for serving
Directions Preheat oven to 225 degrees and preheat a belgian waffle iron (non belgian should work fine too) to medium heat. In a large mixing bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg for 20 seconds. Create a well in center of mixture then set aside. To a separate medium mixing bowl add egg whites and cream of tartar, then using an electric hand mixer set on high speed, whip until soft peaks form, then add 2 Tbsp of the granulated sugar and whip until medium-stiff peaks form. In a separate medium mixing bowl whisk together milk, buttermilk, canola oil, pumpkin puree, vanilla extract, egg yolks and remaining 3 Tbsp granulated sugar. While whisking, slowly pour milk mixture into flour mixture and mix just until combined (batter will be slightly lumpy), then fold egg whites into batter. Spray waffle iron lighlty and evenly with cooking spray then pour necessary amount (whatever fills your waffle iron, mine was a scant cup) into waffle iron and cook according to manufactures directions. Keep warm in preheated oven and repeat process with remaining batter. Serve warm with syrup of choice.
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Crochet a snowflake gift topper
November – December 2015 | Page 9
Not a “good-looking” man Point, click and pay! The gift is on its way! One last stop online… hope it gets here on time. “Shipped!” the email read. “Delivered!” the post office said. I had not seen it. I panicked a bit. All other presents were wrapped. Where is it? It’d been a week, so I made a call to the company where I had ordered it all. The customer service was lacking,
What You Need
1 ball #1 White (makes several snowflakes) Size 7 (1.65mm) steel crochet hook OR SIZE NEEDED TO OBTAIN GAUGE Fabric stiffener Blunt-end yarn needle
How to Make It Chain Loop Snowflake Ch 8; join with sl st to form ring. Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in ring; (ch 12, sc in ring) 11 times; ch 5, yo hook 4 times, insert hook in first sc and draw lp through (yo and draw through 2 lps on hook) 5 times -- trtr made and 12 ch-12 lps counting trtr as lp. Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in top of trtr, ch 6, sc in next lp; (ch 6, sc in next lp) 10 times; ch 6, join with sl st in first sc. Rnd 3: Sl st into ch-6 lp, ch 3; in same lp work 2 dc, ch 3, and 3 dc; in each ch-6 lp around work 3 dc, ch 3, and 3 dc; join with sl st to top of beg ch-3. Rnd 4: Sl st into each of next 2 dc and into ch-3 lp; ch 3, in same lp work dc, h 3, and 2 dc; *(ch 5, sl t in 5th ch from hook) 3 times, sl st in top of last dc made -- triple picot made; ch 1, in same ch-3 lp work 2 dc, h 3, and 2 dc; ch 3, in next h-3 lp work sc, ch 3, and sc; h 3**, in next ch-3 lp work dc, ch 3, and 2 dc; rep from * around; end last rep at **; join to top of beg ch-3; fasten off. Open Chain Loop Snowflake Ch 8, join with sl st to form ring. Rnd 1: Ch 3, work 2 dc in ring; (ch 12, 3 dc in ring) 5 times; ch 12, join with sl st to top of beg ch-3 -- 6 ch-12 lps. Rnd 2: Sl st in each of next 2 dc and into first 6 ch of ch-12 lp; ch 3, in same lp work 2 dc, ch 3, and 3 dc; (ch 7, in next ch-12 lp work 3 dc, ch 3, and 3 dc) 5 times; ch 7, join with sl st to top of beg ch-3. Rnd 3: Sl st in each of next 2 dc and into ch-3 lp; ch 3, 2 dc in same lp; *(ch 5, sl st in 5th ch from hook) 3 times; sl st in top of last dc made -- picot lp made; ch 1, in same ch-3 lp work 3 dc; ch 3, in next ch-7 lp work sc, ch 3, sc, ch 4, sc, ch 3, and sc; ch 3**, 3 dc in next ch-3 lp; rep from * around; end last rep at **; join with sl st to top of beg ch-3; fasten off. Star Snowflake Ch 8; join with sl st to form ring. Rnd 1: Ch 6, dc in ring; (ch 3, dc in ring) 4 times; ch 3, join with sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-6 -- counts as beg ch-3 and first ch-3 lp. Rnd 2: Sl st into first ch-3 lp, ch 1; in each ch-3 lp around work sc, hdc, dc, ch 3, dc, hdc and sc; join with sl st to first sc. Rnd 3: Sl st in each st to next ch-3 lp and into ch-3 lp; *ch 6, sl st in 3rd ch from hook; ch 6, sl st in 6th ch from hook; ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook; ch 3, sc in same lp -- picot lp made; ch 6, sl st in 3rd ch from hook, ch 3**, sc in next ch-3 lp; rep from * around; end last rep at **, join to first ch of beg ch-6 lp; fasten off.
Finishing Saturate Snowflake in fabric stiffener, stretch and pin flat to plastic-wrapcovered surface. When top side is still tacky, turn it over and rep for bottom side. Hang to finish drying. Attach ribbon or cord for a hanger.
but I did hang up with a number for tracking. I wrote down the code with numbers and letters hoping my next call would turn out better. The two hard-working ladies were not avail— They couldn’t help while sorting the mail. “Come back this afternoon. We’ll help then.” I felt like I would never win. Back to the computer to check online where I found a date with delivery time. Another piece of the puzzle laid out! Was it really delivered? I had my doubts. Down to the post office I started to tread with info in my hand and hope in my head. On his way home, my husband stops. He brings in the mail and on the table it drops. Each afternoon his routine’s the same. So why was the mail picked up early that day? “9:30 in the morning in your P.O. box… So it fit behind the door with its turning lock.” The packaged was picked up, but where could it be? I marched up the hill, ready to scream. I looked in all my best hiding places, every nook and closet, all possible spaces. I searched the whole house, tore each room apart. My husband looked outside through both of the cars. “Move things! Look under!” “I’ve looked everywhere.” Another week went by. It just wasn’t there. “It has to be here. I am losing my mind. I’ll go out to the pickup and see what I find.” An empty pop bottle and other trash, a ponytail holder on top of the dash. My husband on the other side holds up an envelope he suddenly spied. “Is this what you’re looking for? From under the seat?” My shopping complete, my face filled with heat. “You’ve got to be kidding! What a relief!” My husband hung his head, knowing he’d caused me grief. I love that guy—he does the best he can. He is attractive, but is not a “good-looking” man.
Page 10 | November – December 2015
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Faulkton and Pierre, South Dakota
Christmas cookie festivities Three days before Christmas is a busy time at the Potts’s house. Every year, our three young adult children come home from college or their jobs to “make cookies”, for Christmas day festivities. This is not your typical make a batch of cookies and call it good kind of activity. No. The Potts children spend one whole day mixing, rolling, cutting, baking and frosting their favorite Christmas cut out cookies. The process begins about 10:00 a.m. Everyone is in their pajamas for the day. Janelle and Joelle get out the mixing bowls, measuring spoons, cups, rolling pin, cookie sheets and ingredients. Brett gets out of bed. I stand by shaking my head and staying out of their way as my kitchen is completely destroyed. Every bit of counter top space is covered with something. Often they “biff” each other in the face with flour (for a little drama) and of course a lot of flour ends up on the floor. Several batches of cookies have to be made because every cookie cutter we’ve ever collected has to be used (a big shoebox full), reindeer, stars, bells, Santa, trees, shamrocks, diamonds, hearts, and many more. Cookies are piled three deep on every counter waiting for the final touches.
color options there are. Which happens to be the primary colors, and new a few years ago, five florescent colors. However, my children are not happy just using these varieties. Our table becomes a color lab where new hues of food coloring are invented that would dazzle your eyes but not your taste buds. After all how appetizing does khaki green frosting look? Or lavender? Or fuchsia? Try maroon? Yikes! Every year it’s a different color spectrum. (I have the pictures to prove it!)
Without question, the absolutely best part of cookie making is creating the frosting color palette. In advance, great care is taken to buy as many food
Psalm 34:8 says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.
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Next, every cookie has to have some kind of sprinkle, be it chocolate, red, or green sugar, silver balls, red cinnamon candies or multi-colored specks. I can’t really say each cookie is a work of art, but it definitely is a color explosion. All in all the day sweeps by quickly with lots of laughter and fun. Making memories, that’s what it’s all about. It won’t be long now and I’ll be getting a phone call: “Mom we’ll be home December 21st to make cookies. See ya!” I just smile.
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Quilts That Redeem Etc.
November – December 2015 | Page 11
Ennis and Townsend, Montana
I don’t have any gum in my mouth Certain behaviors, thoughts and attitudes are taught and ingrained in us from an early age. I think of a story my Mom shared with my husband and me years ago about teaching my sister a lesson in being polite. My sis was maybe five years old, and Mom took her curly brown head to a barber back then. At the end of each haircut, she was given a “reward-for-notsquirming” piece of bubblegum. The barber evidently forgot or was distracted after one particular haircut and wasn’t forth-coming with the afore-mentioned reward. My sister boldly asked for her piece of bubble gum. Embarrassed, my Mom ushered her out the door and proceeded to explain that it wasn’t polite to ask for something intended as a gift and please don’t ever ask him again. Leave it up to the barber to offer it. Well, when she got her next haircut, the barber (again) didn’t offer her a piece of bubble gum. She did well to remember the lesson and didn’t ask the barber for it. However! She nonchalantly said, “I don’t have any gum in my mouth.” Always with a chuckle, my husband and I have come to use that phrase between just the two of us to handle situations when we might want something from the other person, but it wouldn’t be polite to ask. We don’t do: “Gee, if you really loved me, you’d __________. (Get me some ice cream! Give me a back rub!! Do the dishes!!! Etc.) You get the picture. Instead, we’ll say something like; “I don’t have any ice cream in my mouth.” Because it’s with a grin, it usually works! You get the point.
Sometimes it can feel a little awkward to boldly ask God to bless us. Oh, it’s not hard to ask Him to “fix” lots of things, but to take a moment at the beginning of the day to say, “Lord, would you please bless me today?” I know I’ve written of it before, but the blessings that walk through my studio door remind me again and again that this is an “ok” thing to do. To ask my Abba Father boldly does not mean I’m being impolite or wrong. In fact, He tells us to ask Him for things. Matthew 7:7 and Luke 11:10 both say the same thing: “For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” As our Father, He delights in us (Psalm 149:4 “For the Lord takes delight in His people …”) He wants to give us all good things! My prayer at the start of the day has two parts. Please, Lord, let me be a blessing to those who walk through my door and please, also bring me a blessing. Well, actually, it’s a three-part prayer because I thank Him, in advance, for what He’s going to do. He’s even OK with me saying to Him, “Daddy, I don’t have any gum in my mouth.”
I developed a keen sense of smell after working in the fine fragrance industry. Whereas it is desirable in the perfume trade and in my culinary experiments as a Home Economist, it has been a challenge when confronted with, shall we say, overpowering nasal assaults. Recently, it happened again. I was trapped in an elevator with someone who was immersed in cheap cologne. There is something about a cheap fragrance that rings out like a siren warning of impending doom. I’ve got it figured out. It sure seems that folks who don’t want to take that five-minute shower deduce that spraying themselves with their (cheap) cologne will be “good enough.” It isn’t. Case in point, I was shopping for a new Cadillac and preparing for the test drive. The salesman hopped in the passenger side of the car and the immediate
olfactory sensation was a mixture of musky “peuwee leuwee” body odor and what I call now, “Karate Chop #7.” How I longed, at that moment, for a clean person with just a hint of grandpa’s Old Spice aftershave. It probably would have been helpful to the sales team had I requested a confidential chat with the manager. The poor salesman could have made a better impression. The open shirt with medallion resting on his hairy chest didn’t help either. I hate it when a man thinks that he’s sexy ... and isn’t. The truly sexy guys are the ones who are not aware of their attractive impact. I have concluded since this episode that sometimes just taking a bath with a good deodorant soap is all it would take to attract the ladies like a magnet. As my luck would have it, I got a brief respite from an enclosed vehicle with a foul odor. The Krispy Kreme donut sign lit up as I was driving down the road on my test drive. With salesman in tow, I squealed like a bat out of hell into the parking lot hoping to snag a free donut. The day was saved by a donut. If they could bottle the smell of freshly made donuts or cinnamon rolls, that would be heaven. Whether gentlemen or ladies, what I find is that less is more. Spraying from head to toe with a strong, albeit lovely, fragrance that signals your arrival or departure from a mile away is overkill. A light misting can be more enticing than a full headlong dive into the golden liquid. Having sold fine fragrances back in the 1980s, I developed a nose for the exquisite. Going to Paris and visiting some of the famous perfumers was a real education. What I learned was that the scent you choose to wear should be treated as your unique personal signature accessory to a wardrobe, selected with care and of the highest quality. This may or may not be the currently advertised popular brand of the year. $250 for a 2.5 ounce eau de parfum spray bottle of fine fragrance at a Parisian perfumer was my guilty extravagance and worth every penny. Every time I spray a bit on it reminds me of my glorious trip to Paris and makes me feel like a million dollars. A girl needs that now and then. Perhaps that is what my salesman felt as well as he doused himself with his chosen fragrance that fateful morning. As they say in France, c’est la vie!
Written by Sherry Osland of Praise Works Quilting in Abilene. In business and ministry for 13 years. For examples of quilting (as well as pictures of Hand-braided rugs and Quilts That Redeem books, for sale) go to: facebook.com/praiseworksquilting Contact information: sherryo51@hotmail.com or 785-263-4600.
Overpowering nasal assaults
Susan Salisbury Springer is a Home Economist with a B.A. in Family & Consumer Sciences. She can be reached at ssspringer@consultant.com Copyright 2015 by Susan S. Springer. All rights reserved.
Page 12 | November – December 2015
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Dell Rapids, South Dakota
Christmas Soup Ingredients
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1 pound kielbasa, sliced 1/4-inch thick, on the bias Vegetable oil, as needed 8 cloves garlic, minced 1 pound dried red kidney beans, soaked for at least 4 hours or overnight 2 quarts chicken broth 1 pound red potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch cubes 6 ounces fresh kale, washed, rinsed and torn into 1-inch pieces 1/4 cup red wine vinegar 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
Directions 1. Brown the kielbasa in a 7-quart Dutch oven and set over medium-low heat until it has rendered most of its fat, about 15 minutes. Remove the kielbasa from the pot and set aside. If you do not have a least 2 teaspoons of fat, add enough vegetable oil to make 2 teaspoons. 2. Cook the garlic in the fat for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent the garlic from burning. Add the beans and chicken broth and cook, covered, for 45 minutes. After 45 minutes, stir in the potatoes, cover and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. 3. Toss the kale into the pot, cover and cook for an additional 10 minutes, or just until it is tender, but not mushy. 4. Sprinkle with the vinegar and pepper and stir to combine. Return the kielbasa to the pot and cook just until heated through. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve hot.
Reindeer Chow Ingredients
14 Cups Chex cereal 18 oz holiday m&ms 12 oz semi sweet chocolate, bar or chips ½ Cup unsalted butter 1 Cup peanut butter 1 tsp vanilla extract 4-5 Cups powdered sugar
Instructions Melt the peanut butter and butter in a microwave safe dish. Microwave in 30 second intervals until butter is melted. Add the chocolate a little at a time until all is melted into the mix. You might need to microwave one last time to make sure everything is melted and add the vanilla. Stir together. In a large bowl add half of the cereal. Drizzle half of the chocolate peanut butter mixture into the cereal in the bowl. Mix with a spoon. Place one large paper bag into another one. Add ½ cup of the powdered sugar and half of the mixed cereal into the bag. Close this tightly and shake vigorously. Add more powdered sugar ½ cup at a time if needed until all the cereal is coated. Add ¼ of the m&ms into the bag and toss. Place in an air tight container. Continue these step with the remaining ingredients. Keep stored in an air tight container. I personally love to keep it in the freezer, YUM!
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November – December 2015 | Page 13
No such thing as a free lunch
I’ve heard about scams for at least fifty years, and others Craig’s List is an online buy/sell/look for work and other have been aware much longer that. So, why do individuals keep things site. Transactions can be legitimate and good, but not all falling for the stories? Even with the advent of new scams, can’t are. One scam of which I am aware goes like this. A person lists an people see there is no such thing as item and the asking price. A “buyer” calls the seller and offers to a free lunch? pay a price considerably higher than the listing price. The catch? Twice on the farm we’ve had someone drive in and say they After the buyer’s check is received, she requires the balance of the have been spreading asphalt, finished their project and have overpayment be remitted to her. Often a cashier’s check is used, some left. They offered to lay it for us, at a huge discount. giving the impression of validity. No matter the type of check the We’d heard about before so knew it was a scam. If they did seller deposits it, the bank accepts it and not until a week or ten have asphalt it would be inferior and not a bargain. The other days has passed does the bank notify that the check was no good. reason we knew it was not true is this is a rural community. If The seller is out all of her money and if the item was picked up, someone was having asphalt put down, it would be known. also the item and its value. Most of us who use the Internet have been contacted The ‘please help me’ call from a “relative” is another current by the “Nigerian prince” who wants to send us a windfall scam. You get a call from your “grandson” who says he is in jail inheritance. To claim it all we have to do is wire him a certain and needs you to send him money for bail. He never gives his name, Peggy Sanders large amount of dollars to cover his expenses and then he will just says “your grandson.” He tells you not to tell his parents, just wire the money to us. Don’t fall for it. hurry with the money. Imagine if a person who receives the call “Sweepstakes” and “prizes” scammers particularly target the elderly by doesn’t even have a grandson and tells the caller so. The caller just hangs up telephone. These callers announce, ‘You have won ten million dollars and a and tries another number. Grandparents who are in touch with their grandsons new Cadillac,’ or something similar. They ask the scam victim to send money for know it’s a bogus call. How nice that sometimes grandparents have just spoken upfront costs; unfortunately it is all a ruse to separate you from your money. The to their grandson and they know better. Yet there are those who fall for it. Why? calls for additional money usually follow. Please, if you get these types of calls, Never hire a contractor who knocks on your door soliciting work. That is hang up. Don’t give them any information or money. Do call law enforcement. as plain as it can be said. Commonly after hailstorms contractors seem to come Then there is the email you might receive from a known friend. The story out of the woodwork, as it were. They know home owners are in dire straits line is the friend is on a trip overseas and their money and passport has been and want their roofs, windows or siding fixed now. That is when unscrupulous stolen. The friend needs you to immediately wire funds. I received one of these contractors pounce. Do not sign anything! Do not let them inspect your roof. under the name of a fellow I know who does travel to Europe often yet it was Often they will tell you they need you to sign a paper giving permission for obvious the message was made up. I notified the man so he could change his them to get up on your roof. They know you won’t read the paper, after all it’s password and stop the hacker. a simple thing to let them look. Later you discover you have signed a binding If someone calls you, NEVER give out your bank account number, a Personal contract with the company for repairs. Identification Number (PIN), your social security number, credit card number Yes, some of these situations may cause you consternation, but it’s much or anything else to give someone access to your personal information. These better to get everything agreed to in specific writing. If possible have a trusted callers can be clever. They might offer numbers, say social security, and ask you family member or neighbor look over any deals before you sign simply because to confirm them. No matter what number they give do NOT correct them. They they may be more objective. It is a whole lost easier to decline to sign your are fishing (in the vernacular of the internet the word is spelled phishing). name to something than to try and get out of a legal contract once you have Anything they can find out from you makes their “job” of stealing from you buyer’s remorse. that much easier. People who get ripped off are good, trusting folks and crooks know that; If you originate the call—such as ordering a product over the phone, only they have the art of convincing down to a science. Beware and know there are then do you give out your credit card number. times when it pays to be very suspicious. Scams are insidious, disgusting and cause untold problems. Arming yourself Peggy Sanders is a national award-winning columnist who writes from the family farm with knowledge and wariness is a necessity. Current, common scams include, but are not limited, to these: in southwestern South Dakota. She can be reached through peggy@peggysanders.com.
Allow yourself to be filled with thanksgiving!
Let your eyes wander. As you pick out things that you’re thankful for in your life today, consider the people who these things may remind you of. Say thank you to yourself for remembering these people.
You’ll find that as you consider the people you remember, just prompted by the things that are surrounding you, you’ll feel gratitude welling up within you. The people may be folks you see every single day. Or they may be people who long ago left your life, either moving on to other things, or perhaps moving away. Or you may have lost them through death. Gratitude reminds you of the good people you’ve been blessed to have in your life, both now and throughout your life. As you recall these people, you’ll begin to think of the things you learned from each of them. Being thankful for things leads you to remember the people you connect in your mind with those things. People in our lives make our lives vibrant and meaningful. Gratitude can help you in many ways. When you’re grieving, gratitude can bring back the joy that each person brought into your life. Gratitude helps you grow. What are you grateful for today? By the way, do you want to learn more about this topic? If so, go get my brand new free audio training here: self improvement training
Then think about each person. When was the last time you saw them? What do you remember most fondly about each one?
Cynthia Ann Leighton is the author of Slow Self Improvement Guide, the definitive blog to help people grow. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9164596
It’s surprising the benefits you can get when you give thanks. It doesn’t need to be a public display. Being thankful in the privacy of your own heart and mind helps you.
You can start simply. Your thankfulness can stay a private matter. You can test out being thankful, and you can do so fairly easily. Tell yourself what you’re thankful for, maybe even write yourself a note. You’ll grow when you say thank you to people. You also grow from the simple attitude of thankfulness. Your attitude matters! Give thanks for something you’re grateful for. Do it privately, by grabbing a pen and paper and starting a list. Or simply take some time to think with your eyes closed. For a moment, look around where you are now. You could probably come up with a list of a hundred things you are thankful for that are visible to you in the space where you’re at, in this particular hour of this particular day.
Page 14 | November – December 2015
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The Country Register 132 W. Hudson Street Spearfish, SD 57783
November – December 2015 Entry OR visit www.chickencreek.net, click on The Country Register to sign up online Name_________________________________________________________
Always Your Design, Dell Rapids, SD................................................12 Betty’s Quiltery, Rapid City, SD.......................................................16 Black Hills Visitor Center, Rapid City, SD........................................... 5 Creative Closet, Townsend, MT........................................................11 Dakota Quilt Company, Spearfish, SD...............................................16 Flip–Side Fabrics, Sidney, MT........................................................... 4 Heartsong Quilts, Hot Springs.........................................................15 Hill City Mercantile, Hill City, SD.....................................................16 Knothole, Spearfish, SD..................................................................16 Lillle Norge Fest, Rapid City, SD......................................................15 Nuts & Bolts Fabric Shop, Edgemont, SD...........................................15 Quilt Connection, Rapid City, SD.....................................................16 Quilt Essential, Devils Lake, ND........................................................ 7 Quilters Corner, Faulkton, SD..........................................................10 South Dakota Quilter’s Guild, SD.....................................................15 Stitches that Bind, Ennis, MT.........................................................11 Sunrise Mall.................................................................................. 8 The Fiber House, Sheridan, WY......................................................... 8 The Quilt Yard, Pierre, SD...............................................................10 The Bakery Fabrics, Belle Fourche, SD..............................................16 Vicki’s Quilts Down Under, Missoula, MT............................................ 6 Wall Drug, Wall, SD........................................................................14
Advertiser Directory by Community
Sidney, Montana............................................................................ 4 Missoula, Montana......................................................................... 6 Devil’s Lake, North Dakota............................................................... 7 Casper, Wyoming............................................................................ 8 Rapid City, SD................................................................................ 9 Edgemont, Faulkton & Pierre, South Dakota.....................................10 Ennis & Townsend, Montana...........................................................11 Dell Rapids & Hot Springs, South Dakota .........................................12 Black Hills, South Dakota.......................................................................16
Upcoming Events Lille Norge Fest, Rapid City, SD........................................ November 21 Townsend Christmas Stroll, Townsend, MT........................... December 5 Holiday Craft Fair, Casper, WY......................................December 24-25
Phone________________________________________________________ Email ________________________________________________________ Address_______________________________________________________ City_____________________________ State ____________ Zip__________ Favorite Shop Advertised____________________________________________ This is My Favorite Shop Because______________________________________ My Favorite Feature(s) of The Country Register____________________________ Found This Issue At_______________________________________________ Are You a: n Regular Reader or
n First Time Reader
What stores would like to see in The Country Register? (include town) ____________________________________________________________
Entries received by December 7, 2015, with all questions answered will qualify for the drawing. One gift certificate is given away each issue.
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Black Hills, South Dakota