What’s Inside?
• Cup of Tea with Lydia - Page 4
• Mystery Quilt - Page 4
• Become Inspired - Page 5
• When Grace Amazes - Page 6
• Yvonne Hollenbeck Poem - Page 6
• Fall Color Pallet - Page 7
• Friends, Family & Fall…
Filling Your Fall Bucket - Page 8
• Things to do in Fall - page 8
• Fall Adventure Guide - page 9
• Fall Recipes - Page 9
• Robyns Nest DIY - Page 10
• Savoring Fall - Page 11
• And Sew on - Page 12
• A Comfy Cozy Quilt - Page 13
• By the Yard Comic - Page 13
• In Your Suitcase - Page 13
• Countryberries - Page 14
• Shelterwood Book Giveaway - Page 15
• Idaho Section - Page 15
• Jacquelynne Steves Free Pattern - Page 16
Use the Country Register as a Travel Guide on your next adventure!
Index on page 14 to help you find & explore a new shop!
Editor’s Notes
“I’ve Got A Bucket Full of Fall Time”
www.MoxieMarketingMW.com
• 605-568-0181 • Kelsey Ruzicka • Publisher of this Country Register!
As the new school year begins and we find ourselves at the end of August, we also find ourselves greeting a new season. Fall is a fan favorite. It is full of pumpkins, leaves, changing colors, apple cinnamon, and pumpkin spice everything. I’m definitely a super fan of fall.
For me, fall signals one major thing every year. Gratitude. With the changing of the leaves, fall is that crisp reminder that nothing stays the same.
We reflect on the spring days of renewal and hope. Along with the summer days of warmth and adventure. Listing out month by month all the things to be thankful for. It really puts into perspective how fast time can melt by, and how grateful I am to get to have that time.
I am also so very grateful to have readers and advertisers like you. Getting to do what I love and live the dream I dreamt up as a young girl, is something I never take for granted. I am very grateful for your support and patience as I’ve wrapped my arms around more papers.
So before we blink and find ourselves in the holiday season, I wish for you all to be able to stop and smell the crisp fall air, taste the pumpkin spice and jot down those gratitudes.
With gratitude, Kelsey
kelsey@moxiemarketingmw.com Office: 605-568-0181
Kelsey Ruzicka
Publisher of
The Country Register of ND, SD, WY, MT & N. ID
The Country Register of the Northern Rockies & Great Plains including North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana & Idaho Kelsey (Snyder) Ruzicka, Publisher Produced by Moxie Marketing of the Midwest, LLC PO BOX 2015 • Belle Fourche, SD 57717 605-568-0181 Office www.countryregister.com/nrgp www.moxiemarketingmw.com
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.
Owners: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 602-942-8950
* 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, 405-470-2597, 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: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD 21771, 866-825-2917, Fax 866-261-9641
* 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): Kelsey Ruzicka, P.O. Box 2015, Belle Fourche, SD 57717, 605-568-0181, kelsey@moxiemarketingmw.com
* 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: Kelsey Ruzicka, P.O. Box 2015, Belle Fourche, SD 57717, 605-568-0181, kelsey@moxiemarketingmw.com
* Kentucky: Chris & Kelly Kennedy, 5804 Whiterose Way, New Market, MD 21774 443-243, cowprintdesigns@gmail.com
* Maine: Deborah Daney, 660 Country Club Road, Sanford, ME 04073, 207-324-7482
* Maryland: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, ads@countryregisteronline.com
* Massachusetts: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, ads@countryregisteronline.com
* 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: Kelsey Ruzicka, P.O. Box 2015, Belle Fourche, SD 57717, 605-568-0181, kelsey@moxiemarketingmw.com
* 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: Michelle Hatch, 20 Chester Street, Chester, NH 03036, 603-571-1822
* 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: Kelsey Ruzicka, P.O. Box 2015, Belle Fourche, SD 57717, 605-568-0181, kelsey@moxiemarketingmw.com
* 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: Gail & Merle Taylor, P.O. Box 128, Owens Cross Roads, AL 35763, 888-616-8319, Fax 800-609-0278
* Rhode Island: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, ads@countryregisteronline.com
* South Carolina: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 888-942-8950
* South Dakota: Kelsey Ruzicka, P.O. Box 2015, Belle Fourche, SD 57717, 605-568-0181, kelsey@moxiemarketingmw.com
* 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: Michelle Hatch, 20 Chester Street, Chester, NH 03036, 603-571-1822
* 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: Kelsey Ruzicka, P.O. Box 2015, Belle Fourche, SD 57717, 605-568-0181, kelsey@moxiemarketingmw.com
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
Fall Festival
The Country Register of the Northern Rockies & Great Plains September/October • Volume 14 Issue 5
The Country Register of the Northern Rockies & Great Plains is published every two months. Copyright 2024.
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. Moxie Marketing of the Midwest, LLC produces The Country Register of the Northern Rockies & Great Plains.
Subscription price: 1 year, 6 issues, $20.00. 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.
SEE OUR AD INDEX ON PAGE 14
Next Deadline: Ads and articles for the November/December 2024 issue are October 7, 2024.
A Cup of Tea with Lydia: Priori-TEAS
By Lydia E. Harris
I love all things tea and all things writing. So, years ago, when I received a call from the editor of TEA: A Magazine to write an article, I was doubly excited.
“I have a tea shop I need written up for my next issue,” she said. “Are you interested?”
Interested? Of course! Who wouldn’t want to be published in this prestigious magazine?
It would require a trip to Whidbey Island, about an hour’s drive and ferry trip away, and would need to be completed in three weeks. It sounded appealing. But the day before, I learned our daughter had developed problems in her last trimester of pregnancy and was put on bed rest. She needed my help with meals, housework and caring for her two-year-old son. Though I love all things tea and writing, they can’t always be my priority.
I paused and swallowed hard. “I would love to write the article,” I said. “But I can’t at this time.” I explained my situation and asked her to keep me in mind for future writing.
My daughter was my priori-TEA. I knew I had made the right decision. Even so, during the next weeks, I kept thinking about the assignment I had declined and wished I could have accepted it.
After the birth of our second grandson, Alex, a healthy baby boy, my daughter was on her feet again. To my surprise, I received an email from the same editor. “I didn’t publish the piece on the tea shop yet. Could you write it now?”
I smiled. The timing was perfect. I sensed God had honored my priority towards my family and had saved the assignment for me. Now I did have time to make tea and writing a priori-TEA.
My husband and I enjoyed our trip to Whidbey Island to visit Anna’s Tea Room, which was new to us. We received a warm Victorian welcome from the proprietor, who was eager to tell us about the tea shop while we sipped delicious blends of tea. I enjoyed a black flavored tea while my husband sipped an autumn blend that combined Earl Grey and apricot teas. We also sampled tasty foods, including a decadent chocolate dessert.
I returned home eager to share my warm memories with readers.
When the copy of TEA: A Magazine* with my article arrived, I was thrilled. The background palette for my two-page spread used my favorite pastel colors—pink, periwinkle, and blue. It looked so beautiful, and I felt gratified to see my priori-TEAS rewarded.
My husband and I returned to Anna’s Tea Room several times over the next years and took our granddaughter Clara there for a tea outing. “It’s so fancy,” Clara said as she touched the lace curtains.
During our last visit, we sadly learned that Anna’s Tea Room was closing. However, the owner generously shared her recipe for the rich chocolate dessert on her menu. I’ve included the recipe for Chocolate Satin Pie for you to enjoy. When I serve it, my tastebuds dance and I’m reminded of the time God rewarded my priori-TEAS.
*This magazine was published from 1994 to 2012 and I had the joy of writing for it several times.
Lydia E. Harris is a tea enthusiast and the author of three books for grandparents: GRAND Moments: Devotions Inspired by Grandkids, In the Kitchen with Grandma: Stirring Up Tasty Memories Together, and Preparing My Heart for Grandparenting, all available at amazon.com.
From Lydia’s Recipe File: Chocolate Satin Pie
Melts in your mouth and is easy to make.
Purchase a ready-made 9-inch chocolate pie crust or make your own. (See recipe below.)
Pie Filling
Ingredients:
1 12-oz. can evaporated milk
2 large egg yolks, beaten
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips (12 oz. bag)
Directions:
1. In a medium-sized saucepan, combine the milk and egg yolks. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until the mixture thickens. Do not boil.
2. Remove from heat and stir in chocolate chips. Stir until melted and combined.
2. Cool filling. Then pour it into the pie crust and chill for several hours or until thickened.
3. When ready to serve, top with whipped cream.
4. If desired, garnish with nuts, shaved chocolate, or swirls of chocolate syrup. Or for the holidays, top with crushed candy canes.
Serves 8 to 10
Variations: Spread a layer of peanut butter on top of the pie crust before adding the cooled chocolate pudding.
For a sweeter dessert with a milder flavor, use milk chocolate chips instead of semi-sweet chips. You can also freeze this pie and serve it slightly frozen.
Homemade Chocolate Pie Crust
24 Oreo cookies (or any chocolate sandwich cookies)
5 T. butter, melted
9-inch pie pan
1. Crush cookies with frosting in a food processor or place them in a plastic bag and crush them with a rolling pin to make fine crumbs.
2. Place cookie crumbs in a mixing bowl. Add butter. Stir with a fork.
3. Press cookie crumbs into the bottom and sides of the pie pan. Chill for 30 minutes.
Mystery Quilt - 2024
Designed by Ann Jones, Nevada, MO
If you have any questions contact Erica at Nine Patch Quilt & Fabrics, Nevada, MO ericaskouby@gmail.com or 417-667-7100. Miss one of the parts? Check www.countryregister.com
Become Inspired
By Annice Bradley Rockwell
As the long days of summer begin to wind down, there is a noticeable shift in the air. Cooler breezes and crystal-clear sunshine greet us now as fall slowly arrives. Tall corn fields and overflowing gardens lining our country roads bring us a feeling of fall and a promise of a bountiful harvest. Our pumpkin vines are loaded with huge orange and white pumpkins and speckled among the garden beds are striped gourds in green, white and orange—perfect for our country decorating. As we enjoy our happy, fall weekends, we notice our local farm stands selling colorful, freshly harvested bundles of Indian corn. Weathered harvest baskets are filled with just-picked apples of all varieties. And cider spiced with cinnamon and clove is an ideal treat as we shop for other special fall delights.
Fun Fall Destinations
Harvest festivals and antiques shows are a fun fall destination to celebrate the season. Gatherings of vendors offering everything from handcrafted scarecrows to handpoured jar candles in splendid scents like pumpkin souffle and cornbread and honey are blended with food trucks offering signature specialties like hot apple dumplings with vanilla ice cream or pulled pork barbeque sandwiches with a side of baked beans. These celebrations, whether large or small, provide us a chance to bask in the glory of fall.
Antiques shops are also filled with fresh inspiration and vibrant color in fall. Displays are often rearranged and layered to reflect a season of creating added warmth and ambiance in our home. Tin lighting paired with antique redware along with handhooked textiles of a fall scene are the perfect tablescape for fall. Freshly picked pumpkins arranged with warm-toned garden mums in antique stoneware crocks create a new look on our front step and around our keeping room fireplace. And a towering scarecrow designed with tobacco pickets, a classic checkered flannel, overalls and a worn hat add autumnal interest to our garden beds. These creations can become part of a family tradition where everyone leaves with a finished fall project.
Harvesting Blessings
Whether it is venturing out to find just the right elements to change your accents to fall or gathering with friends to enjoy a harvest festival or a nighttime agricultural fair, fall is a time of fun. All around us nature is providing a bounty all her own. And as we take the time to celebrate this new season, we will indeed be harvesting blessings of our very own.
--Annice Bradley Rockwell is an educator and owner of Pomfret Antiques. She is currently working on her book, New England Girl. NewEnglandGirl2012@hotmail.com
Enter to Win a $25 Gift Certificate
The Country Register isgivingawayone$25GiftCertificatetobespentatalocal advertisingShoptooneofourluckyreaders!Useittogoshoppingatyourfavorite Country Register advertiser. ThedrawingwillbeheldonOctober1standthewinnerwillbeannouncedinour November-Decemberissue.Thegiftcertificatewillbemailedtothewinner.
Entry Deadline is October 1, 2024 (Namesarenotsold,givenawayorusedforanyotherpurpose.)
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PleasetellusaboutalocalNRGPquiltshop,antiquestore,giftshop,etcthatyou wouldliketoseeadvertisinginthatyouwouldliketoseeadvertisinginthe specialFallissueofin The Country Register:
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Skillet Rosemary Chicken Ingredients
• 3/4 pound small red-skinned potatoes, halved, or quartered if large
• Kosher salt
• 2 sprigs fresh rosemary, plus 1 tablespoon leaves
• 1 clove garlic, smashed
• Pinch of red pepper flakes
• Juice of 2 lemons (squeezed halves reserved)
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 4 skin-on, bone-in chicken breasts (6 to 8 ounces each)
• 10 ounces cremini mushrooms, halved
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Cover the potatoes with cold water in a saucepan and salt the water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook until tender, about 8 minutes; drain and set aside.
2. Pile the rosemary leaves, garlic, 2 teaspoons salt and the red pepper flakes on a cutting board, then mince and mash into a paste using a large knife. Transfer the paste to a bowl. Stir in the juice of 1 lemon and the olive oil. Add the chicken and turn to coat.
3. Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken, skin-side down, cover and cook until the skin browns, about 5 minutes. Turn the chicken; add the mushrooms and potatoes to the skillet and drizzle with the juice of the remaining lemon.
4. Add the rosemary sprigs and the squeezed lemon halves to the skillet; transfer to the oven and roast, uncovered, until the chicken is cooked through and the skin is crisp, 20 to 25 minutes.
Cowgirl Poet, Quilter, Entertainer
Yvonne Hollenbeck
Her Feet Would Rock a Cradle
Her days were long and lonely when they settled on the range on a new and virgin homestead out where everything was strange. She’d left her home in Iowa to come with him out West and she had to do without so much, but did her level best.
Not any other woman lived for many miles around; the only view she had was of the rolling prairie ground. But while her man would toil as the barns and sheds were built, her feet would rock a cradle while her hands would piece a quilt.
She claimed it was her sanity and pleasing to create the pretty blocks of patchwork during hours she would wait for him to ride the ranges, and would watch ‘till he’d come home from a window of their cabin that was built from blocks of loam.
Then in evening after supper, by a lantern burning low, he would read her favorite stories from the Bible she loved so. She would piece a “Jacobs Ladder” or a “Star” by oil lights and would sew them into blankets for the cold Dakota nights.
Now the quilts are worn and faded and are packed in her old chest, along with other trinkets . . . she has put them all to rest. There’s photographs of loved ones and of friends she used to know, the little shoes her babies wore, and the Bible she loved so.
Once more her days are lonely with the children grown and gone and it’s been so many years now since her husband has passed on. Her mind goes back to days gone by; she wanders without guilt, when her feet would rock a cradle while her hands would piece a quilt.
Order Yvonne’s new book, “A Stitch in Rhyme” at www.yvonnehollenbeck.com just $15 + $3.50 postage.
© Yvonne Hollenbeck; 2023 Yvonne Hollenbeck, from Clearfield, SD, performs her original poetry throughout the United States, captivating audiences in her wake. She is one of the most published cowgirl poets in the West and is not only a popular banquet and civic entertainer, but also co-writes songs with many western entertainers. Yvonne also pens a weekly column in the “Farmer-Rancher Exchange” and writes articles about life in rural America in various publications throughout the West. For more information, visit https://www.yvonnehollenbeck.com
When Grace Amazes
by Kerri Habben Bosman
This September 6th it is eighteen years ago since my grandmother passed away. It was at exactly 1:12 pm as I sat alone with her in her hospital room. My mother was down the hall by the elevator waiting for friends on their way to see her.
My grandmother was 99 years old. Her name was Augusta Weisgerber Mai.
For much of her life she was called Gussie. When it was discovered that the midwife had incorrectly recorded her as “male” on her birth certificate, everyone began to teasingly call her Gus. She liked the shorter version so much that it stuck. It inspired her playful streak.
To me, she was simply Huba. I began calling her this when I was nine months old. She became Huba to all my friends as I grew up. It is Huba who taught me how to crochet when I was nine years old. She especially taught me how much love flows through our hands and into what we make. I felt her passion and creativity; this devotion fed my desire to learn. Through watching her share what she made, I discovered how much tangible grace there is in giving. It is a grace that affirms two ways, both for being able to give and for knowing your gift was accepted and appreciated.
Writing From Life
by Jeanette Lukowski
[…Blank…] of the Month Club
In her later years, Huba kept extra items she’d made in her back bedroom. We’d be sitting in her living room, visiting with friends. It didn’t matter if she’d known someone twenty years or five minutes, when someone compelled her, she would catch my eye. Then she would give the slightest movement of her head towards the hallway leading to her cache of blankets. I would always know which one she wanted me to bring. Together we’d watch the person’s face light up when receiving the unexpected gift.
I remember hearing about a Block-of-the-Month program at a local quilt store perhaps 10 years ago? While I was intrigued by the name, I was too distracted by other things to ask questions that day. Perhaps a year later, in the summer (when life feels a little more relaxed for me), I finally got around to asking.
Huba learned to crochet when she was eight years old from a shopkeeper near where she lived. There were square potholders in the store window and my grandmother liked them. She stared at them so long and for enough days in a row that the lady invited her in and asked her if she wanted to learn.
For that store, Block-of-the-Month was connected to a class offered once a month. During the day. In the middle of the work week. Not an option for my work schedule. But the idea stayed with me.
A few years later, I ran across a store promoting a different kind of Block-ofthe-Month program. Simply purchase the four necessary fat quarters to create the block (she supplied the pattern for free); if you returned to the store the following month, with your finished block, you would then receive that month’s free pattern—and get a discount on any additional fat quarters purchased to make THAT block. I was hooked! I received and made my January block, and February block—but then the store experienced a fire, and closed on February 28th. No March block pattern. Or April, or May…you get the idea.
For the rest of her life, crocheting was a haven for her. She crocheted through every joy and every grief that life brought her way. Her hands moved the same when the sun was shining and when the winds blewtoo hard. She only stopped the last three weeks of her life when aplastic anemia had weakened her.
When I married my husband, Wayne, his family became my family. Everyone receives a handmade gift for their birthday and for Christmas. It is a gift of grace to shower love upon all of them and to receive it in return.
It took me six years to figure out a different project in which to use those two blocks-of-the-month.
I also donate much of what I make, from baby hats to blankets. When asked about this, I answer that it is for my grandmother, who taught me. Her hands are still now, so I carry on her work.
Not one to abandon an idea, though, the idea resurfaced on its own in about January of 2022. I was trying to figure out a wedding gift, when I remembered a cute little panel of seasonal gnomes I had purchased during the previous summer. What if I made mini wall hangings with the gnomes?
When I was sitting with Huba eighteen years ago this September, I doubted she could see me. When I’d come in, her eyes were open, unmoving, and vacant. But I didn’t touch her. I didn’t want to draw her back when there was nothing physical remaining here for her.
Viola, Gnome-of-the-Month began. I measured the center framing of each gnome, pulled out some graph paper, and started configuring. Using 2-1/2” squares of fabrics, I could outline each gnome’s frame with seasonal designs specific to that month! Batting, backing fabric which wraps around to become faux binding in the front, and a hanging pocket across the top; each finished wall hanging measures roughly 10” x 13”.
Instead, I sang to her. Portions of three of her favorite hymns: How Great Thou Art, Will the Circle be Unbroken, and lastly, Amazing Grace. She stopped breathing during the third verse at the line, “And grace shall lead me home.”
When I hear this hymn without warning, my eyes fill with tender, redeeming tears. I look up to say thank you for this last moment of grace Huba and I shared together.
The pace of creating 12 mini wall hangings in a month-and-a-half almost killed me, though. Okay, not literally killed me, but I get bored by the redundancy of working on a singular project for a long time. Knowing I had purchased two of the gnome panels—and had decided to use the second to make myself a set of Gnome-of-the-Month mini wall hangings—I worked on a variety of other projects until about November of 2022.
Kerri Habben Bosman is a writer living in Cape Carteret, NC. She can be reached at 913jeeves@gmail.com.
December 1st, I hung the first of my new mini wall hangings, and returned to working on other projects. Then, sometime mid-December, I began working on January’s gnome. To my surprise, the joy of working on the gnome mini wall hangings had returned!
That’s when it hit me: the [whatever]-of-the-Month program is enjoyable ... if I only focus on completing one of whatever each month. An idea for any craft! Big or small, quilting or hand-work, scrappy or color-themed. Variety!
© Jeanette Lukowski 2023. Jeanette is a mother, grandmother, teacher, and author who lives in Mankato, MN. She is inspired by the lives of strong women. Her email address is:
Friends, Family & Fall… Filling Your Fall Bucket Things to Do in Fall
As we turn the page to another season we find ourselves in the cozy and vibrant arms of the fall season. You’ve heard the phrase, “fill your cup so that you may pour out to others?” I find fall alot like “filling your cup.” But in this sense we fill our fall buckets for the colder months ahead.
It is the “calm before the storm” so to speak in our area. The weather takes a deep dive into winter and the cold can linger in our neck of the woods. So, it is a great time to plan a road trip, head to a festival, check out the pumpkin patch in the next town, and attend Oktoberfest. It is a chance to prepare for the coming drearier months of “no travel advised” that we naturally feel compelled to explore. Like a squirrel gathering and storing nuts for winter, we gather and store experiences and supplies. Filling our bucket full of memories and mental happiness nuggets.
Fall is truly a fan favorite sort of season. Even if you’re not a die-hard fan of fall, chances are good that you know someone who is. They can be spotted sipping pumpkin spice drinks, snapping photos of the trees in all their splendor, and savoring sweater weather. Why is fall so beloved by so many? Why does it warm our hearts and fill our bucket so well?
It is the season of change and turning a new leaf. We often find ourselves pushing our personal and business goals to finish out the year strong. Mother nature is visually and constantly showing us change. We are creatures of the earth, and it is hard not to feel inspired by the changing environment around us. How many of you have cleaned out a closet, started a new work out plan, purged items weighing you down, entered into a new sewing project or tried something new in the transformative season of fall? Change and refresh fills our bucket.
It is also the season of festivals, pumpkin carving, corn mazes, harvest picking, football, and more. This season is over-flowing with opportunities to make memories and gather with friends and family. Tailgates with friends, pumpkin picking with our kiddos, drives through the awe-inspiring foliage are ripe for memory making. Holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving are key components of the season and are cherished holidays with loved ones. Memories made and connections with those around us fill our bucket.
So, in these months before winter let’s prepare our minds and souls for those shorter days of sunlight and colder nights by filling our fall buckets.
Butterscotch Bread Pudding
Ingredients
• 11 (10.75 ounce) loaf day-old bread, torn into small pieces
• 4 cups milk
• 2 cups brown sugar
• ½ cup butter, melted
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup butterscotch chips
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter a 9x13 inch baking dish.
2. In a large bowl, combine bread, milk, sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla and butterscotch chips; mixture should be the consistency of oatmeal. Pour into prepared pan.
3. Bake in preheated oven 1 hour, until nearly set. Serve warm or cold.
Go Apple Picking
Visit a Pumpkin Patch
Get lost in a corn maze
Take a fall hike
Carve jack-o-lanterns
Make mulled apple cider
Go to a fall festival
Have a fun fall day with your family
Go on a hayride
Roast pumpkin seeds
Go to a farmers market
Build a scarecrow
Go on a fall drive
Bake a pie
Knit a sweater
Have a fall Bonfire
Go Antiquing
Make a fall craft
Jump in a pile of leaves
Make caramel apples
Recipes for Fall
Butternut Squash Soup
Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Cinnamon Rolls
Pumpkin Pie
Apple Pie (pg. 15)
Chili and Cornbread
Tomato Soup
Skillet Rosemary Chicken (pg. 7)
Butterscotch Bread Pudding (pg. 8)
Elevated Grilled Cheese
(Bacon, Apples, Ham, tomato, etc)
Fall Festival ADventure Guide
South Dakota
Heartland Corn Maze | Harrisburg, SD opens - Aug 7- Oct 25 open Fri, Sat, & Sun.
Spearfish Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze | Spearfish SD, Sept 6-Oct 31 open - Fri, Sat, & Sun.
Sidewalk Arts Festival | Sioux Falls, SD - Sept 7
Hill City Quilt and Fiber Arts Show | Hill City, SD - Sept 7-8 - See ad on page 7
Mazing Acres Pumpkin Patch | Yankton SD, Sept 11- Oct 31, open - Fri, Sat, & Sun
North Country Fiber Fair | Watertown, SD - Sept 20-22
South Dakota Festival of Books | Brookings, SD - Sept 20-22
Big Stone Pumpkin Patch | Big Stone, SD - Sept 21-Oct 27 open Saturday & Sunday.
Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup & Arts Festival | Custer, SD - Sept 26-28
SD Make It With Wool State Competition | September 28 - See page 11
1880 Train Oktoberfest Express | Hill City, SD - Sept 28
Great Downtown Pumpkin Festival | Rapid City, SD - Sept 28
Fall Festival & Car Show | September 28 - See ad on page 7
Down the Road Shop Hop | Sept 28- Oct 5 - See ad o page 11
Oktoberfest | Deadwood, SD - Oct 4-5
Prairie Village Hobo Marlin Pumpkin Train | Madison SD - Oct 5
Sioux Falls Junkin’ Market Days | Sioux Falls, SD - Oct 11-12
2024 KELOLAND Arts & Crafts Show | Sioux Falls, SD - Oct 18-19
Yankton’s Harvest Halloween | Yankton, SD - Oct 26
Take a drive through Spearfish Canyon to see all the fall colors.
Go horseback riding in Sica Hollow State Park | Sisseton SD
North
Dakota
Hazen Rockin’ Harvestfest | Hazen, ND - Sept 7
Arnegard Spud Fest | Arnegard, ND - Sept 7
Medora Annual Hot Air Balloon Rally | Medora, ND - Sept 7-8
Minot Fall Flea Market | Minot, ND - Sept 7-8, Oct 12-13, Nov 9-10
Papa’s Pumpkin Patch | Bismarck, ND - Sept 8-Oct 19
Grafton Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch | Grafton ND - Sept 9-Oct 8 open Sat & Sun.
58th Annual Annual Potato Bowl USA | Grand Forks, ND - Sept 10-14
Rheault Farm | Fargo ND, Sept 21, 22, 28, 29
Williston Fall Craft and Vendor Show | Williston, ND - Sept 21, Oct 26
Grafton’s Falls Arts and Craft Show | Grafton, ND - Oct 12
Fargo Autumn Craft and Vendor Show | Fargo, ND - Oct 22
The Big One Art and Craft Fair | Fargo, ND - Oct 25-26
Go see a musical | Medora ND
Take a fall drive through Lake Metigoshe State Park
Take a fall hike through Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Wyoming
Downtown Cheyenne Oktoberfest | Cheyenne, WY - Sept
Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival | Jackson, WY - Sept 4-15
Sheridan Born in a Barn | Sheridan, WY - Sept 13-14
Apple Fest | Lander, WY - Sept 14
Higher Ground Fair | Laramie, WY - Sept 21
Riverton Fall Harvest Festival | Riverton, WY - Sept 28
Green Acres Corn Maze | Casper, WY opens late September through Halloween and only opens Saturdays and Sundays.
Annual Kids Pumpkin Walk | Laramie WY - Oct 5
North East Wyoming Quilt Show | Gillette, WY - Oct 5-6 - See ad on page 7
Fall Fest | | Townsend, WY - Oct 5-6 - See ad on page 11
Ellis Harvest Home | Lingle, WY - Oct 11, 18, 25
Pumpkin Trail | Riverton, WY - Oct 14
Lander Fall Craft Fair | Lander, WY - Oct 25-26
Casper Craft Fair | Casper, WY - Nov 15-16
Make a fall trip to Yellowstone National Park
See fall foliage on a visit to Phelps Lake | Grand Teton National Park
Montana
Sweet Pickins Pumpkin Patch | Kalispell, MT opens Sept 16 - Oct 30
Kootenai Harvest Festival | Libby, MT - Sept 16
Kalispell Autumn Festival Craft Market | Kalispell, MT - Sept 22-23
Great Northwest Oktoberfest | Whitefish, MT - Sept 28-30 and Oct 5-7
Fall Gathering at Moon-Randolph Homestead | Missoula, MT - Sept 30
Fall Harvest Festival at the Historical Museum of Fort Missoula | Missoula, MT - Oct 1
Townsend Fall Fest | Townsend, MT - Oct 4-6
Stevensville Scarecrow Festival | Stevensville, MT - Oct 6-8
McIntosh Apple Day and Liquid Apple Night | Hamilton, MT - Oct 7
Downtown Harvest Fest | Billings, MT on Oct 9
Alpine Artisans Tour of the Arts | Seeley Lake, Condon, Ovando, and Lincoln - Oct 14-15
Harvest Festival Market | Hamilton, MT - Oct 19
Autumn Art and Craft Show | Big Sky, MT on Oct 26
Conrad Mansion Ghost Tours | Kalispell, MT opens Oct 27-28
Take a fall hike in Glacier National Park
Take a fall hike in Morrell Falls
Idaho
Idaho Spud Day | Shelley, ID on Sept 16
The Farmstead Corn Maze and Pumpkin Festival | Kuna, ID open Sept 20- Oct 30
Linder Farms Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch | Meridian, ID open Sept 20- Oct 31
Leap Into Quilting Quilt Show | Boise, ID on Sept 27-28 - See ad on pg 15
Harvest Festival Street Fair | Emmett, ID on Sept 29-30
Fall for History | Wallace, ID on Sept 28-Oct 1
Magic Valley Corn Maze | Hansen, ID opens Sept 30-end of Oct
46th Annual Quilt Show | Washington - See Ad on Page 15
Scarecrow Stroll | Boise ID open Oct 1- Oct 31
Trailing of the Sheep | Wood River Valley, ID opens Oct 2-6
Fall Harvest Festival | Boise ID on Oct 5-6
Lava Hot Springs Oktoberfest | Lava Hot Springs, ID on Oct 6-7
The Great Pumpkin Festival | Pocatello, ID on Oct 7
Idaho Gourd Festival | Boise ID on Oct 26-27
Pumpkin Basket
Welcome to Fall!
Fall and pumpkins are two of my favorite things. Here is a VERY simple pumpkin project that can be done with recycling old things or using new.
You will Need:
You will need a wooden basket, this can be an old one to recycle or new; a cork of about two inches tall, this can also be an old wine bottle cork or a new one. You will also need orange and brown paint and paint brushes, a hot glue gun and glue, bows, leaves and any other embellishments you want.
Step One
I removed the handle that was on the basket and painted the outside of it orange (actually my granddaughter painted it), so your basket is upside down. We painted the cork brown.
Step TWO
Step THREE
All you have to do next is glue on your bows, leaves, and other embellishments.
So cute!
Savoring Fall
By Janet M. Bair
I’ve been seeing signs of fall since July when fall decorations arrived in the stores. I love fall but I like to let summer linger as long as possible. I don’t put my lawn chair indoors until the first snow in December.
Fall is a great time for brainstorming new ideas for poems, stories or articles while walking on a deserted beach. With the summer crowds gone, it’s fun to leisurely look for seashells while my husband is birdwatching. One of my favorite places for that is the Cape Cod National Seashore. Off-season at any beach resort is usually cheaper and has less traffic.
Although I am reluctant to let summer go, there are many things to look forward to in fall. A local Apple Festival held on the town green near us is a fun time to view crafters as well as eat hot apple crisp. Depending on the day, it can still feel like summer or have just the right chill in the air.
We are fortunate to have a local cider mill close by which makes the best apple cider and apple cider donuts around. They offer “pick your own apples” on the weekends. The smell of cinnamon and apples wafts through the screen door of their shop even before you enter. Waiting in line for your donut is a pleasure just for the opportunity to breathe in “fall.”
Also, near us is a “pick your own” pumpkin farm which has a gorgeous view of the fall foliage from the top of their hill. After selecting my pumpkin, I use it for a decoration for a while before I cook it up. My husband processes it in the food processor and then I am ready to make pumpkin bread. Last year we had so much butternut squash from our garden, I don’t think I bothered to buy a pumpkin. Butternut squash works just as well in pumpkin recipes, at least it did for pumpkin bread.
Fall is when cranberries are harvested and cranberry English muffins appear in the stores as well as cranberry muffins. I usually end up making an apple pie in the fall too.
Homemade pies taste so much better than store bought and are much cheaper. Autumn is also the nicest time to go on leaf crunching walks in the woods. As soon as our New England leaves start changing colors, I like to go for a walk at a local park that has a waterfall and a red covered bridge. I love watching the golden, red, and orange leaves swirl around us, nearly covering the trails.
There are a variety of small-town Country Fairs held each weekend in autumn. One of my favorites is the Durham Fair, Connecticut’s largest agricultural fair. There are three animal barns, with cows, pigs, sheep, goats and bunnies. Having had several pet rabbits over the years, the bunnies are my favorites. This fair has lots of them in a huge variety of breeds.
Whether you like to see the flower displays, showing off the largest sunflower entered that year or the quilts that are real labors of love, there is something for everyone to see at these fairs. From tractor pulls, demolition derby, and fair rides to the largest pumpkin grown in the summer which reached nearly a ton, this fair is a full day affair. Lots of music on several stages plus food booths all throughout the fairgrounds, you can literally eat your way through the day. If you walk as you eat, maybe the calories don’t count?!
Wherever you live, take time this fall to search out a new trail or path to walk on, try a treat from a new shop and savor one of the many flavors of fall. This season is fleeting; you don’t want to miss it.
“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven… a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 - © Janet M. Bair of Ansonia, CT. You may contact her at librarybair@hotmail.com
And Sew On
By Wayne M. Bosman
It might have been the cowboy shirts. Or maybe the black corduroy pants.
Either way, some of my earliest memories center around Mom’s sewing machine. When I was quite young, Mom made most of my brothers and my clothes. Dad hadn’t settled into a career yet and making your own clothes was a thrifty way to keep the budget balanced. There were four of us brothers, all under five years old and it seemed that by the time each child outgrew an outfit there wasn’t much left of it to hand down to the next youngest.
When my two older brothers were at school during the day my brother Ron and I spent a good bit of time in Mom’s bedroom watching her work at the old Singer treadle driven machine. We were both fascinated with it, watching the treadle go up and down and listening to the steady sounds as she used her “spare” time keeping us in clothing. She still remembers when Dad got her the electric motor for the machine. It was 1947.
The cowboy shirts were a memorable special project for her, finishing one for each of us before Christmas. I remember the corduroy pants for the softness and warmth in the Wisconsin winter. Mom grew up in a time when many, if not most, of her friends made their own outfits. She had a drawer full of patterns that she had made or wanted to make.
Eventually, as we became teenagers and as she had to spend more time being the unpaid worker at Dad’s growing business, the Singer started to gather dust. She made some clothes for my sister, who was six years younger, and did alterations on the tight pants that were the style then. By the time bell bottoms were in vogue, the Singer was retired.
As time went on, my fascination with sewing machines remained. I spent 49 years as a car mechanic and learned to value machines of all types for their simplicity and usefulness. Every once in a while I would happen on a sewing machine that spurred my curiosity. I would usually end up buying it and spending happy hours getting it back in working order. I never learned to actually sew with them, so they would end up in the hands of someone who could.
The latest acquisition is a 1984 Montgomery Ward machine that cost $10 at an estate sale. I always have mixed feelings when I get something from an estate sale. Someone is clearing out all of the personal items from another person’s life. The buyers are looking for useful things and it is easy to forget that someone loved and used those things. When I opened up the machine, the care that the previous owner had put into it was evident. The tools are neat, clean and organized. There was a small sampler of some of the stitches, but even more, it felt loved. I went online to find an operators manual and threaded the machine. It worked beautifully. My wife Kerri’s eyes lit up as she tried it out.
Kerri learned to sew from her mother. Her skill of choice is crocheting, so she only pulls out her mother’s 1960 Singer when she decides to make a new apron or alter a dress for dancing. Because she really enjoys the handwork, she has hand-sewed each of my grandchildren pillowcases that are personalized to each’s particular interests and favorite colors. National Parks, sports teams, zebras, the Eiffel Tower, flamingos, dinosaurs and sea creatures have all appeared on the pillowcases. She always does the final stitches with a little prayer that laying their heads on the things that they love will bring good dreams. It can’t hurt, can it?
Wayne M. Bosman is a retired auto mechanic living in Cape Carteret, NC. He has the good fortune to be married to Kerri Habben Bosman, who is a regular contributor. His email is wbosman1@gmail.com.
In Your Suitcase
Words can be found in any direction (including diagonals) and can overlap each other. Use the word bank below.
The Comfy Cozy Quilt
by Deb Heatherly
The leaves are falling, the days are cooler and it’s time to pull out those fall quilts for snuggling. Nothing feels better on a chilly day than a flannel quilt. Whether it’s used for a quick nap, to wrap up at a Friday night football game or just to cuddle under while watching a good movie, a flannel quilt just makes you feel loved.
This quick and easy quilt can be stitched up in no time at all. Pre-wash and dry your flannel before starting because flannel tends to shrink and then cut and sew this in a day. Sew in rows and then sew the rows together. Tip: I use sticky notes to hide all but the row I’m working on. This will help you stay organized so that the right colors end up in the correct position.
With just 3 colors, fabric selection is easy. Make it in school colors, Christmas colors, winter blues or whatever fabric ‘speaks to you’. Gather a group of friends and have a quilting party! Have everyone pre-cut their squares, bring their favorite fall treat and then settle in for a day full of fun.
The Comfy Cozy Quilt finishes at 71” x 71”. Mine is well loved and starting to show its age, but it’s the first thing I pull out every year in the fall! I keep telling myself to make a replacement, but wrapping up in this one is like hugging an old friend.
SWIMSUIT DRESSES FLIPFLOPS HAIRDRYER HAT JACKET MAKEUP PAJAMAS PANTS SANDALS SCARF SWEATER SHOES SHORTS SOCKS SUNSCREEN SWEATER TSHIRTS TOILETRIES UNDERWEAR SEPTEMBER
Deb Heatherly is a designer for Creative Grids® rulers and the author of eight popular pattern books.
Creative Grids® fans are invited to join her Facebook group, “Grids Girls”, for tips and inspiration, and two free mysteries each year - https://www.facebook.com/ groups/770429649800457/. Shop Owners are invited to join her group just for you, “Grids Girls for Quilt Shop Owners Only” https://www.facebook.com/ groups/273593657256524. Visit Deb’s website at www.Debscatsnquilts.com.
1 ¼ yd. Color 1: Dark
Cut (7) 6” x WOF strips.
Sub-cut (41) 6” squares
1 ¼ yd. Color 2: Medium
Cut (7) 6” x WOF strips.
Sub-cut (40) 6” squares
1 ¼ yd. Color 3: Light
Cut (7) 6” x WOF strips. Sub-cut (40) 6” squares
Outer Border:
Cut (7) 6” x WOF strips
Binding:
Cut (8) 2 ½” x WOF strips
Backing: 4 yds.
Countryberries Designs
Count Jack O’ Lantern
Make a wool or cotton appliqued wall hanging. Create a punchneedle or hooked rug piece. Paint the Count on paper, wood, canvas. or right on a pumpkin! Enlarge this pattern to your desired size. Whatever craft you choose, have fun! Not for commercial use. Please give the artist credit.
Designed By Kathy Graham
Countryberries
LLC
Whimsies and necessaries for your country home and garden 330 North Road Deerfield, NH 03037 603-463-7615 www.countryberries.com Like us on Facebook
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Iron Skillet Apple Pie
Ingredients
½ cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
2 refrigerated 9-inch pie crusts, divided
5 Granny Smith apples, peeled & sliced
1 cup white sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place butter in a large iron skillet and place in preheating oven until melted, about 5 minutes.
2. Stir brown sugar into melted butter and place back in oven until bubbling, about 5 minutes.
3. Gently lay 1 pie crust on top of butter-brown sugar mixture, without pressing crust down. Arrange apple slices on top of pie crust.
4. Mix white sugar, cinnamon, and flour together in a bowl; sprinkle over apple slices. Place the remaining pie crust over apple slices, making slits in the top crust for ventilation. Seal the 2 crusts together.
5.Bake in the preheated oven until top crust is lightly browned, about 45 minutes.
yellow and orange; bouquets of pink and purple mums replacing bedraggled petunias in the garden; wooly bears making their pilgrimage across the road and flocks of little birds foraging on the lawn.
For me, the one unmistakable sign of the autumnal change is the sound of the geese. Long before I see them, their honks fill the heavens with the music of the season. Standing on the back step or driving down the road, I scan the sky for their tell-tale v-formations. No matter how many flocks I see, it is always a bittersweet moment – because while I welcome their sight and sound, I know what it means … winter is coming.
WELCOME TO IDAHO!
Yet, how do the geese know when it's time to go? Who tells them? For that matter, how do the smaller birds know? It's usually in late August that I begin seeing flocks of blackbirds lining the telephone wires, clusters of sparrows congregating in the trees, and crowds of geese pecking away in corn fields.
Also, in late August, the flower garden begins to take on a different look as the bright splashes of summer color give way to the deeper, richer hues of autumn. How do the cosmos know when it's time to close up shop and make way for the chrysanthemums?
Join us as we explore the state of Idaho and their shops and events. The great state has much to see and offer. And is close to so many connecting Oregon, Washington, Montana & Wyoming shops and events as well!
Birds don't have access to all the modern technology that we do – such as the weatherman telling them the exact day and time of the autumnal equinox – nor do they have the convenience of a calendar to flip. So how do they know? Do they see deserted beaches as folks close up their summer homes? Do they notice the sudden reappearance of school buses after a long absence?
No, they have something better than external indicators, they each have an internal indicator – one placed within them by their Creator. They don't need gadgets and gizmos. They know by instinct when it's time to begin preparing for the next step in their journey.
Boise Basin Quilters Guild Leap Into Quilting
Quilt Show
Friday, September 27th Saturday, September 28th 10:00am to 5:00pm
Hundreds of Quilts, Live Demonstrations, Shopping, and More!
Tickets + Information BoiseBasinQuilters.org
that is sure to come when your children go back to school. Actually, this might be the perfect time to sit down with your children and start planning ways to cope with the upcoming school year. This is especially important if your child is in sports, a cheerleader, or in the band. Are any of these activities going to cause a scheduling conflict? Now is the time, before the busyness of the new school year comes at you fast and furious. If your children were involved in these same activities last year, now would be the time to review how last year played out. You may want to ask your children for ideas on how you might improve the flow
Is your child beginning the school year at a new school? Are they entering Middle School or High School for the first time? This would be a great opportunity to let them express their fears or concerns. And this would be the time to let them know you are on their side. That you are there for them, and that they are not alone, and it is okay to be anxious over a new situation. Everyone feels that way, and that this is a normal reaction. After your planning meeting comes to a close, celebrate however you choose. Above all else, as hard as it might be, look for ways you can sit down at the dinner table at the end of these busy times…and without any cell phones. This may be the biggest challenge, but in the end, it will make a world of difference. This could be the time to console the child who didn’t play so well that day, or perhaps his team lost their game. Whatever you talk about, it should be a reflection on their day. Life is short. It won’t be long before your children will be gone. And it is then, that you will have time to enjoy the empty nest syndrome, where peace and calm will reign before you begin
Expo Idaho 5610 Glenwood Boise, Idaho
York. While her husband is tending to his vast gardens and road-side vegetable stands, Judyann
Free Embroidery Pattern – May not be sold or used for commercial purposes. Use this pattern for embroidery, wool applique, punch needle or rug hooking, painted projects or whatever your imagination can dream up! Reduce or enlarge pattern as desired.
