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The Country Register of New Jersey and Delaware
Editors’ Corner
May, more than any other month of the year, –Fennel Hudson wants us to feel most alive.
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o f NJ an d D E and DE Gail & Merle Taylor, Editors & Publishers P. O. Box 128, Owens Cross Roads, AL 35763 Phone: 888-616-8319 • Fax: 800-609-0278 email@CountryRegisterOnline.com • www.countryregisteronline.com
The Country Register of NJ & DE • May & June 2018 • Vol. 19 No. 1
The Country Register is published every other month. Copyright © 1998. The Country Register of New Jersey, Inc. is one of a national network of independently owned and published specialty newspapers licensed by The Country Register with exclusive rights to publish in the states of New Jersey & Delaware using logos and graphics owned by The Country Register. Page header, footer, and icons accompanying regular features in this edition are copyright © 2006 by Tracey Miller and this publication and may not be reprinted. Reproduction or use, without obtaining permission, of editorial or graphic content by anyone in any manner is strictly prohibited. Articles published in this newspaper, which are contributed by outside sources, express the opinions of their authors only, and may not express the viewpoint(s) of the management or 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 purchase or use of products advertised herein. Notification regarding any consumer complaints related to merchandise purchased from our advertisers would be appreciated and would assist in our publishing efforts.
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The Country Register Publisher Contact List
The Country Register began in Arizona in the Fall of 1988, to provide effective, affordable advertising for shops, shows, and other experiences enjoyed by a kindred readership. Since then the paper has flourished and spread. Look for the paper in your travels. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, VISIT WWW.COUNTRYREGISTER.COM
The Country Register Founder: Barbara Floyd 602-237-6008, Phoenix, AZ
Publications All Across The United States & Canada USA Arizona: Barb Stillman, 602-942-8950 Arkansas: Lenda Williams, 405-470-2597 California & N. Nevada: Barb Stillman, 602-942-8950 Colorado: Jan & John Keller, 719-749-9797 Connecticut: Amy Carter, 866-825-9217 Delaware: Merle & Gail Taylor, 888-616-8319 Florida: Amy & David Carter, 866-825-9217 Georgia: Linda Parish, 706-340-1049 Idaho (N): Dee Sleep, 605-722-7028 Idaho (S): Barb Stillman, 602-942-8950 Illinois: Lenda Williams, 405-470-2597 Indiana: Gail & Merle Taylor, 888-616-8319 Iowa : Linda Glendy, 641-751-2619 Kansas: Cindy Baldwin, 866-966-9815 Maine: Deborah Daney, 207-608-9102 Maryland: Amy & David Carter, 866-825-9217 Mass. & RI: Amy Carter, 866-825-9217 Michigan: Bill & Marlene Howell, 989-793-4211 Minnesota: Kim & Mick Keller, 763-754-1661 Missouri: Lenda Williams, 405-470-2597 Montana: Dee Sleep, 605-722-7028 Nebraska: Barb Stillman, 602-942-8950 Nevada (N): Barb Stillman, 602-942-8950 Nevada (S): Glena Dunn, 702-523-1803 New Hampshire: Michelle Hatch, 603-571-1822
New Jersey: Merle & Gail Taylor, 888-616-8319 New Mexico: Jan & John Keller, 719-749-9797 New York: Dave Carter, 866-825-9217, North Carolina: Barb Stillman, 602-942-8950 North Dakota: Dee Sleep, 605-722-7028 Ohio: Barb Moore, 937-652-1157 Oklahoma: Lenda Williams, 405-470-2597 Oregon: Barb Stillman, 602-942-8950 Pennsylvania: Amy Carter, 866-825-9217 Rhode Island: Dave Carter, 866-825-9217, South Carolina: Barb Stillman, 602-942-8950 South Dakota: Dee Sleep, 605-722-7028 Texas: Lenda Williams, 405-470-2597 Utah: Glena Dunn, 702-523-1803 Virginia: Amy Carter, 866-825-9217 Washington & E. OR: Barb Stillman, 602-942-8950 West Virginia: Amy Carter, 866-825-9217 Wisconsin: Scott & Jennifer Hughes, 715-838-9426 Wyoming: Dee Sleep, 605-722-7028 CANADA Alberta: Ruth Burke, 780-889-3776 British Columbia: Bryan Stonehill, 800-784-6711 Manitoba & Saskatchewan: Scott Kearns, 306-736-2441 Ontario: Harriet Ramos, 343-882-5812
www.countryregisteronline.com
The snow is gone. (We hope!) The sun on our faces does really make us feel alive. This is the perfect time of year to explore! Tuck your copy of The Country Register under your arm and head out for a day of local-business retail therapy. The shops and events advertising within our publication can certainly help you find that special item that will make your home say: “Spring is here!” Everyone should get out to visit our advertisers and to enjoy the events they have planned. Check the Events Listing and ads in this edition and call your friends. Road trip! In this edition we have featured many shops with articles. Read about the shops and plan trips to those that are of interest to you.
Did someone say “Spruce up for Spring?” Our advertisers offer furniture, curtains, linens, wallpaper, collectibles, and everything else you need for any redecorating project. Don’t forget to honor your parents in May and June! Our advertisers have loads of great gift ideas for both moms and dads. Plan your shopping trip and be sure to check the ads for their new spring hours or call ahead to verify. Visit our facebook page for updates on our advertisers also.
Let’s Go ShoppingAND THE GR ANDKIDS! GRANDKIDS!
Memorial Day Memories Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, in its beginning was established to honor the Union soldiers who had died during the Civil War. I remember one particular Decoration Day in my youth. The date was May 30, 1953. A high school senior, I was invited to recite the Gettysburg address, in keeping with the original purpose for that special event, at the traditional small-town ceremony in the local cemetery. Be assured, public speaking was not my forte, especially at the tender age of eighteen. But, it was an honor to have been asked and I was determined to do my best. At that time, Decoration Day was observed on May 30, which happened to be the same day designated in Mississippi to celebrate the Confederate President Jefferson Davis’s birthday. In time, the commemorative date was changed to the last Monday in May. Later, after World War I, the reason for the event was expanded to honor all those who had died in any United States military conflict. After World War II, the name was officially changed to Memorial Day. In 1968, a further change was made when the Uniform Holidays Act was passed to create three-day weekends beginning in 1971. Preparing for my “big day,” as many had done before, I memorized Lincoln’s great address, practicing it repeatedly until I felt comfortable with the words. That was the easy part. Conquering my fear was a much greater hurdle. My classmate, Janet Repasky, nearing her eighteenth birthday, had invited several girl friends to her home on the eve of Decoration Day for a sleep-over birthday celebration. “Sleep” at such a teen party is really a joke as we talked and ate during the entire night. Lurking in the back of my mind throughout the night loomed the approaching dreaded Gettysburg address recitation.
by Gayle Cranford
As morning came, I began to worry that, now, I would be so “wasted” with lack of sleep that I wouldn’t be even slightly functional, let alone able to recite the well-known Lincoln’s Gettysburg address. At that period of time, all of us were subliminally aware that Decoration Day was unofficially the beginning of the summer season. White shoes became “legal” to wear. Summer clothes were dragged out again for warmer days ahead. An anticipated parade, complete with proud uniformed veterans of past wars, would be held that morning. Family gatherings would follow in b a c k y a r d s . Remembrance flowers would be placed at loved ones’ graves. But, as teens, we were unaware that, traditionally, the American flag was to be flown at half-staff from dawn to noon. The day was to be a solemn occasion for our country, not necessarily a day of fun. After Janet’s party, I shook off sleepiness, returned home to dress for the ceremony, and drove to Riverside Cemetery. Sitting on the dais, my nerves manifested in shaking. I had to gain control. Hearing my name as I was introduced by the emcee, I rose unsteadily and approached the microphone. It was time to deliver. I found my voice and recited the address without a hitch. With relief, I again sat down and composed myself before anticipating atta-girl-congratulations following the ceremony. Happy doesn’t begin to describe my feelings of elation. It was May 30, 1953...a day that lives in infamy for me. That Memorial Day was, indeed, a memorable one in my young life. –Gayle Cranford writes from her home in central Pennsylvania. Besides golf, she also enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, writing letters to the editor, and working with her church groups.
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May & June 2018
Events Listing
Advertiser Index
Shops are listed alphabetically by location. Cities & Shops
P age # Page
Cape May............................. 16 Fiber Arts Yarn Shop Historic Cold Spring Village Stitch by Stitch Edison ................................. 11 Stamp & Scrapbook Expo Elmer ................................... 12 Peggy’s Country Gifts/Antiques Haddon Heights ................... 4 Haddon Heights Fall Festival Marmora .............................. 16 Dollard Baker Sew & Vac Mount Holly .......................... 6 The Village Quilter Morristown .......................... 10 Acorn Hall Mullica Hill ........................... 5 Creamy Acres Farm Needles & Pins The Parsonage Antiques & More Pedricktown .......................... 7 Heart Felt Designs
Cities & Shops
See shop & show ads for complete details. P age # Page
Pitman ................................... 4 Olde Pear Primitives The Scarecrow Factory Red Bank ............................. 10 Antique Center of Red Bank Salem ..................................... 7 Cawman’s Antique Mall Suse-E-Q’s Cottage Vineland .............................. 13 The Pin Cushion West Creek ......................... 8, 9 KC Creations Delaware Dagsboro ............................. 15 Serendipity Newark ................................ 15 The Blue Hen Bed & Breakfast The Blue Hen Quilt Shop
Out of State ............... 11, 14, 15
May
Day
Event
Page #
5 5 6 12 13 19 19
Mothers Day Open House - Scarecrow & Olde Pear, Pitman ..................... 4 Let’s Paint with Mom - Creamy Acres Farm, Mullica Hill ............................ 5 Tri-State Antique Market, Lawrenceburg, IN ................................................ 14 Kiddy Kraft Day - Creamy Acres Farm, Mullica Hill ..................................... 5 Demonstrations - Fiber Arts Yarn Shop, Cape May .................................... 16 Huge Yard Sale - Creamy Acres Farm, Mullica Hill ....................................... 5 Patriotic Open House - Heart Felt Designs, Pedricktown ............................ 7
Day
Event
2 3 3 9 9 23, 24
Spring Yard Sale - Cawman’s, Salem .................................................................. 7 Opening of Scantily Clad - Acorn Hall, Morristown ................................... 10 Tri-State Antique Market, Lawrenceburg, IN ................................................ 14 Americana Open House - Scarecrow & Olde Pear, Pitman .......................... 4 Annual Dairy Day - Creamy Acres Farm, Mullica Hill .................................. 5 Quilt & Fiber Arts Show - Historic Cold Spring Village, Cape May ......... 16
Day
Event
June
Page #
July
Page #
1 Tri-State Antique Market, Lawrenceburg, IN ................................................ 14 19-22 Quilt Odyssey, Hershey, PA .............................................................................. 15
Wanted: Budding Writers Interested in Visiting Shops Like Those Seen in TCR The Country Register is in search of folks who love shopping at just the type of shops and events advertised here on our pages. If you are a budding writer, or even one with lots of experience, we want your help! We need folks throughout the state who are available to visit shops in their spare time and write about their experience. Send an email with where you live and, if available, a sample of your writing. We will get right back to you. Email samples in a text file or MS Word doc to in@countryregisteronline.com.
Book Review –
By Charles Marshall
The Good Dad Guide
Most dads want to be awesome dads who are willing to do whatever it takes to help their children grow into successful adults. They want to have fun doing it! With his trademark humor, Christian comedian and motivational speaker Charles Marshall helps guide dads through the joys and trials of fatherhood. With intriguing insights, biblically based wisdom, and stories from his life and the lives of others, he explores seven key attributes of awesome dads and shares • why real men change diapers • how to maximize time with your kids • why sometimes let your kids fail • when you need to fight for your kids • becoming a father can be the best thing you never intended From encouraging dads to participate in their children’s lives to sharing practical ways to prepare kids for adulthood and everything in between, Charles Marshall helps men gain the confidence they need to be awesome dads.
ISBN: 978-0-7369-6528-6 HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS Register to win a copy of this book and others reviewed here, courtesy of the publishers. Just complete and mail the form on page 15. Please print clearly because the coupon will be the mailing label. You can also register by sending the info on the form to our email address info@countrtregisteronline.com with the subject line: Free Books
The Knitting Savant
By Andrea Springer
Welcome to the Neighborhood! We’re a more mobile society than we’ve ever been in history, picking up and moving for any number of good reasons. However practiced we are at relocating, sometimes starting over in a new community has its challenges. We need to search out where to pay our utilities, locate the library, grocery store, or any of a long list of other places that were part of the natural rhythm of our lives in our previous home. I’ve always thought knitters had an advantage when it came to finding a toe-hold in a new place. All we had to do was find a local yarn shop and learn the times and places other knitters gathered together to work on their projects. In my mind, it was a surefire way to connect with like-minded people. So, color me surprised when we received a message recently from a friend who relocated to another state. Before leaving town, she and I met for a cup of coffee, and we’d discussed how lucky she was. Not only were knitting groups a great way to make new friends, but her new location had two cool yarn stores to patronize! However, her message back to her “knitting tribe” made me sad. She stopped at the first of the shops and inquired about the times for their “open” knitting group. When she showed up for her first visit, she took advantage of the empty chair at the table. The shop owner didn’t introduce her. No one spoke to her or welcomed her. The group simply continued their conversation like the chair was still empty. Fortunately, my friend is
made of stern stuff, and she simply worked on her project and left before the group session was over. Her visit to the other shop was a different story – the owner was warm and welcoming, and the knitting group was full, but they eagerly pulled up another chair and welcomed her. She ended by saying, “There’s no question who will be getting my business!” Her story is a challenge to me as someone who likes to meet up with friends and work on projects. We were all new to this craft, a shop or group, or community at some point in our lives. There were people who invited us to join in and mentored us as we took on projects. Knitting groups have introduced me to so many people I might never had crossed paths with. Our craft has never been about excluding others, but rather, passing on what we’ve learned over the years to a new group of eager learners. If you’re a knitter – or you want to be – and find yourself in a new community, try out the knitting groups and find one that fits your interests and personality. If you’re a knitter in one of those groups, please remember what it was like to be “new to the neighborhood.” Pull up another chair to the table, and make this person feel welcome. You might have just met a new friend. –Andrea Springer blogs at www.knittingsavant.com where she helps folks remember that they have everything they need to be successful in knitting and in life. You can share comments with her at andrea@knittingsavant.com or follow Knitting Savant on Facebook and Twitter.
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The Country Register of New Jersey and Delaware
HADDON HEIGHTS - PITMAN
Enjoy 10% OFF STOREWIDE at our Mother’s Day Open House Event
Saturday, May 5th from 10-7
We have the most amazing, all natural soaps, lotion bars, bath bombs and lip balms to make Mom feel pampered!
Don’t forget to shop with us during: Pitman Craft Fair - Saturday, May 19th
Join us Saturday, June 9th for Americana Open House
Shop from our large selection of local and American made unique decor.
Hey... Don’t Forget DAD!
Natural beard oils, balms, whisker wax and aesthetic hair and skin treatments.
The Scarecrow Factory and Olde Pear Primitives look foward to seeing you!
Hrs: Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat 10-5; Thur 10-7; Sunday 12-5
11 S Broadway, Pitman, NJ 08071 (856) 269-4730 Check us out on FACEBOOK for updates
Salvage Style
by Marla Wilson
Springtime Chair Bench
If you are a junker or re-purposer, you have no doubt seen benches made from chairs. They have been around for years. I have made a number of these and they have all been fun and very different from each other. You can use two or three chairs. They can be matching or all different. You may choose to paint them all one color or use many colors. The seat is plywood and can also be painted or upholstered, using any durable fabric. I have used upholstery fabric, burlap, blankets and vintage quilts. Your bench can be as plain or as fancy as you want to make it. For this particular bench, I used two matching chairs. I removed the seats and cut a piece of plywood the correct size to go over both with about a half inch overhang. I lightly sanded, primed and painted the chairs green and white. It took three coats of paint before I was happy with the finish. Since these chairs were a little plain, I wanted to add an embellishment. I cut six flowers out of thin plywood, painted, glued and nailed them to the chairs. I chose an old quilt for the seat covering. I cut it the size of the seat plus three inches all the way around. I laid the plywood on the back
side of the quilt and used a staple gun to attach it to the plywood. I screwed the seat to the chairs and it was done!! This bench will be a great addition to the front porch when spring weather finally gets here. –Marla Wilson is the owner of The Rusty Wheel, a gift boutique in Scandia, KS. The shop features her floral designs and repurposed "junk," as well as home decor . Follow The Rusty Wheel on Facebook, or www.therustywheel.vpweb.comor contact her at stumpy1954@hotmail.com
Haddon Heights Fall Festival October 6th, 2018- 10 am to 4pm Rain date October 7th
Downtown on Station Avenue Crafts • Antiques • Entertainment • Food and Fun Interested crafters & antique dealers please contact: Brett Harrison at (856) 310-0827 or info@haddonheights.biz
www.haddonheights.biz
Sponsored by the Haddon Heights Business & Professional Association
Creamy Acres Farm
by Kerri Habben
A Delightful Haven For The Whole Family Our modern world is often one of distractions, where a quieter, simpler pace is difficult to find in the rush of daily life. At Creamy Acres Farm you will discover a delightful place to relax and enjoy with your entire family. Nearby to some of the area’s busiest regions, it is conveniently and appropriately located down a country road. A dedicated family business for fifty years and counting, there is truly something for everyone. Here you will discover a dairy far m complete with educational tours, a garden center and greenhouses, a country store, party venues, and seasonal events. There is also a shop, Le Jardin, in Mullica Hill at 36 Main Street. And, of course, there is a petting area and an ice cream stand. Both of these are a favorite with children and the young at heart. In 1968 Larry and Jeanne Ambruster began a dairy farm with 30 cows. Today that amount is 100 cows and Larry still helps with the milking twice a day. The Ambruster’s four grown children, Leslie Conto, Stacey Harrell, Scott Ambruster, and Ron Ambruster, and their families all are a vital part of Creamy Acres, contributing their efforts and talents to the business they grew up with and treasure today. Sadly, Jeanne passed away in 2006, but her spirit and heart remain with her loved ones and friends at Creamy Acres through her life-long efforts to offer a peaceful haven and the timeless beauty of a garden to all who come to the farm and greenhouse. Dairy tours began in 2003 and provide a unique opportunity for everyone of all ages to learn up close about the workings of a dairy farm. With so much of life occurring at the press of a button or the touch of an app, Creamy Acres reminds us that the work of our hands is more important than we sometimes realize. In 1985 the Ambrusters added a garden center to their work. Today there are 20 greenhouses producing everything from annuals to perennials, potted containers to hanging baskets for wholesale and retail customers. It is the area’s largest indoor greenhouse. At the Country Store you will find garden items, food and gifts. There is grass-fed beef raised on the farm available as hamburger patties and ground beef, as well as a variety of fresh farm eggs, local jams and jellies, sauces and honey.
Creamy Acres has two party barns, the Milk House and the Feed Room. Ron’s wife, Kim Ambruster, maintains this portion of the business. Each covered venue is for rent and can accommodate around 40 people. Some activities include a hayride, visiting with the animals and a special project. Spring birthday parties are held on Saturdays and are popular throughout April, May and June. There are also four private party rentals for fall occasions; the Chicken Roost Inn, the Wagon Shed, the Corn Crib, and the Scare Room. They are an ideal setting for fall birthdays, reunions, outings, and school groups. Wagon rides to the pumpkin patch to choose your own pumpkin can be part of this lovely experience. For the more brave among us, Ron creates a Night of Terror at Creamy Acres, which is the largest and scariest haunted attraction in New Jersey. It has been featured on HGTV’s Scariest Haunted Houses and draws up to 5,000 people each year. A “Paintball Zombie Hayride” runs at the same time as the Night of Terror. There is a Fall Fest with daytime fun and hayrides as well as a kiddie Corn Maze. For the holidays there is a Night of Lights wherein the dairy barn is transformed into a Christmas wonderland. For the present season an Easter Egg Hunt is what everyone enjoys. Creamy Acres is “nestled between hilly fields and dairy cow pastures.” For half a century the work of the Ambruster family has brought joy to the community through offering a place to “lighten your step and calm your mind, body, and soul.” Here you will find a part of our heritage and most of all you will create treasured memories with your own family. Creamy Acres Farm, LLC is located at 448 Lincoln Mill Road, Mullica Hill, NJ 08062. For more information call 856223-1669 or go to their website is www.creamyacres.com. They are also on Facebook. Check the event listing in the Creamy Acres ad on the facing page and call to make reservations for those dates that you wish to take your family to participate in. Be sure to let them know that you read about them here in The Country Register. Kerri Habben is a writer in Raleigh, NC.
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May & June 2018
MULLICA HILL
T H E PA R S O N A G E FEATURING EVERYTHING FROM SMALL KITCHEN ITEMS TO PIECES OF LARGER FURNITURE!
533 Mullica Hill Road Mullica Hill, NJ 08062 • (856) 218-7467 NeedlesNPinsNJ@gmail.com
The Parsonage is the NEW Antique Shop located in the original Parsonage of the Trinity United Church with 8 rooms in a 2 story building The Parsonage has something for all antique enthusiasts!
• Large selection of all Quilting Fabrics • Variety of Classes Offered Daily • QOV Shop • Books and Supplies
Upcoming Events: • May 5 – Harrison Township Day • May 12 - Art Festival
www.needles-pins-nj.com 20% OFF One Day’s Full Purchase TCR-M/J
Hour s: Hours: Mon - Fri 10-5; Sat & Sun 10-4
Machines, Classes & BOM’s Excluded MUST Present Coupon In Store
Antiq ue ique uess & M Moore
NOW Offering 2 Night Retreats
@ParsonageAntiques
31 S. Main Street, Mullica Hill, NJ 08062
856-534-1963 Hours: May & June Open Monday- Saturday, Closed Sundays Please call for hours
O pe n 11-5pm W nd pen Weednesd sdaay – Su Sund ndaay
Visit www.harrisonhistorical.com
Cr cr es FFaarm is one of the ffew ew Creeamy A Acr cres working D air Dair airyy ffaarms sstititilll in the aarrea…. Visit our Greenhouse featuring…. perennials, herbs and annuals along with original designed flower combo pots, urban container vegetable and herb pots and patio tomatoes. Buy local. Eat Fresh. Educational tours for the greenhouse, pre-k and up.
Creamy Acres Farm is one of the few working Dairy farms still in the area…Dairy Tours available for all ages(call ahead with a
group of 15) Birthday party packages available.. Shop our Country Store filled with… country – vintage and urban home, garden décor and Fairy Garden décor – beautiful irons and slate inserts, jams, dressing, grillin sauces, mustards, candies, nuts, and other goodies, along with local honey, farm fresh eggs and local produce. Sa Satt Ma Mayy 5* - Let’s Paint with Mom – New Event this year! 1 to 3 • Come celebrate Mother’s Day with your child or grandchild at Creamy Acres! Each pair will create a 2 canvas composition that when put together, makes one image! Participants will be guided by professional artist and art teacher, Kimberly English. All supplies are included for $40 per pair. Suggested age: 5 & up. Sa t. Ma Sat. Mayy 12* - Kiddy Kraft Day – All Day • Bring the kids to Creamy Acres. Enjoy browsing the greenhouses and gardens while your kids are creating a gift for Mother’s Day! Afterwards enjoy the playground and petting area and visit the snack bar for an Ice cream ! Cost: $10 per child. Sa t. Ma Sat. Mayy 19* - Huge Yard Sale! Come out to the farm’s huge parking lot and sell/shop for your treasures. Yard Sale will take place from 9 to 1 • The yard sale will run alongside the Garden Center with a playground/Barnyard Friends for the kids to play and our snack bar will be open for food/Ice Cream. Fee for a 10 X 12 area is $15, ($10 of this fee will be going to “Kids Alley Learning Center”, Camden NJ…www.kidsalley.org ) Pre-registration is required. Limited number of spots available. Sign up for the Yard Sale by May 16 to: stacey@creamyacres.com) Sa t. Ma Sat. Mayy 26* - “Let’s Make a Fairy Garden” 1:00 pm • Create a magical Fairy Garden with just a few plants, a miniature patio set, a pebble stone path and a touch of Fairy dust! $40 which includes: Instruction, container, soil, gravel, 5 plants, 3 accessories and after care instructions. (children must be accompanied by an adult) Please call to Reserve for this event. Sa t. JJune une 9 - 4th Annual Dairy Day! Come Visit the farm and learn where your milk comes from! Sat. * Please call to rreser eser ents.. 856-223-1669 eservve eevvents • Activities for the kids • Ice Cream eating contest • Milking Demo of a real cow
We serve “Hand Dipped Ice Cream, Milkshakes & Root Beer Floats”
Recipe Exchange
Potato Ham Soup
A favorite from the founder of The Country Register
1 medium onion chopped fine Cooked ham cut in bite size pieces 2 garlic cloves crushed 1 tsp. thyme 3 stalks of celery, chopped or sliced 1 tsp. rosemary (dry) or fresh Saute in olive oil or butter 1/2 tsp oregano Add two quarts of chicken broth Pepper to taste 3 large sliced carrots (You use left over baked potato, just cut them up with skins on and add after the carrots are soft.) 4 C. diced potatoes Directions: Bring to boil and simmer just until veggies are soft. Add 1 qt. half and half or part half and half and the other part whole milk. Just bring to hot temp but do not boil. Serves about 7 or 8 * Submitted by Barbara Floyd, Founder of The Country Register
Row by Row Junior
by Jeannette Kitlan
Unique Summer Activity for Kids and Families “I learned to sew on a sewing machine and I made this!” That’s what hundreds of quilt shops across America and Canada hope to hear from kids age 6-14 in their communities this summer. Local quilt shop proprietors are welcoming kids, June 21 through October 31, by participating in Row by Row Junior. It’s the kids’ version of the widely popular summertime travel event for quilt making fans known as Row by Row Experience. Kids visit shops in person, collect free sewing patterns designed just for them to make, and become inspired by the colorful, creative world of sewing right in their own hometown. “We want to introduce kids to the intrinsic benefits of learning how to sew,” says Janet Lutz, creator of Row by Row Experience. “Making things on a sewing machine incorporates all the elements of STEM education in an artful way that builds perseverance and self-esteem.”
When offered for the first time in 2017, Row by Row Junior was the largest initiative of its kind ever attempted in the sewing industry. This year, six new patterns and project ideas designed around the theme “Sew Musical” will appeal to kids and their families. “Fostering intergenerational relationships and learning to sew at home is important to the Row by Row Junior program,” says Lutz. Kids will enjoy the uniquely educational experience of visiting the shops. At home, families can find free tutorial support and activities online by visiting this website: www.rowbyrowexperience.com. Row by Row Experience® is the popular, summertime travel event now entering its eighth successful year. Over 2800 brick and mortar quilt shops spanning the US, Canada, and Europe participated in 2017. Please see ads for participating shops.
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The Country Register of New Jersey and Delaware
MOUNT HOLLY
Stories of a Farm Wife
by Tammy Page
Our Farm Dog Hank
The Village Quilter Quilting Cottons Cottons,, Supplies and Classes
Free Spirit is back! Long liv ula. livee Kaffe and TTula. 10 Charles Str eet Street Historic Mount Holly Holly,, NJ 08060 609-265-0011 ~ Joyce D oenges Doenges Open Ev ery D ay Every Day ues 10-4, W ed-Thu-F ri-S at 10-6, Sun 12-4 Mon-Tues Wed-Thu-F ed-Thu-Fri-S ri-Sat Mon-T
Shop Online At www .thevillagequilter .com www.thevillagequilter .thevillagequilter.com Mount Holly and the Mill Race Village www .millr aceshops .com www.millr .millraceshops aceshops.com
2018 Row by Row Experience
Coming to Shops June 21 – September 4 Quilters, get ready for Row by Row season! It’s that time of year when brick and mortar quilt shops say thank you to their traveling customers. Stop into any participating shop across the US, Canada and Europe while traveling on summer vacation and receive a free themed row pattern. “Sew Musical” is the new theme for 2018 but that’s not the only thing new this year. Four other terrific changes are sure to jazz up your RxR experience this summer. First, are the new shape options shops can use to design row patterns. A big square, a chunky panel, and a long, skinny strip join the classic row for enhanced variety. It will be exciting to see how quilt makers put the new shapes together. Second, is the extended pattern collection period. This year, folks will be able to collect row patterns and purchase kits after Labor Day. The patterns won’t be free like they are June 21 through September
4 but you can still get them. Fall travelers will love this change. Third, is a big, beautiful new RxR website to inspire and inform. It has a built-in Google map to locate participating shops and see their rows. Use it as your go-to travel companion on any mobile device. Fourth, is the addition of “CharmStamps” to the lineup of popular collectible “FabricPlates” designed by ZebraPattern. “Charm Stamps” are sweet 5” fabric squares personalized for shops. Look for them everywhere and have fun using them in sewing projects. Read about our special programs, Row by Row Junior for kids age 6-14 elsewhere in the edition. Early reports indicate Row by Row “Sew Musical” will be a chart topper at quilt shops this summer. We hope you tune in. For more information, visit the official website: www.rowbyrowexperience.com.
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Flag Day – June 14 Flag Day is celebrated on June 14. America made the Stars and Stripes her national flag on June 14, 1777. The idea of honoring the flag on the day of its adoption is believed to have begun in Wisconsin where a schoolteacher, named Bernard J. Cigrand, arranged for his students to celebrate what he called “Flag Birthday.” Throughout the years, many other schools and eventually
by Jo Branham different cities began to hold Flag Day celebrations. On May 30, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a Proclamation establishing June 14 as Flag Day. However, it wasn’t until August 3, 1949 that President Harry Truman signed an Act of Congress that designated June14 as a national holiday. Many cities have festivities to celebrate our flag! God bless America!
A farm dog’s life is pretty simple and easy. Just ask Hank, our Australian shepherd who we purchased from a small farm family. He was the last one available and we could not have been luckier. His deep brown-red and white fluffy coat and big brown eyes won us over. He was so adorable and well-behaved. You know if you go and look at puppies, you’re going to end up bringing one home. In our case, after my husband and I decided we had to have him, we traveled to Franklin College to show Hank off to our son who then was a freshman. Needless to say, he was the hit of the dorm that day. From the beginning, Hank was a gentle, old soul. He was a quiet pup and minded well. He liked to be around people and would lay at our feet ready for a rub on his head and ears. He was easy to train to go outside although he was not an exclusive indoor dog he never had any accidents in the house. His favorite time to be indoors was on cold, rainy nights where he could cuddle up in front of the fireplace. He wasn’t a finicky eater, eating any scrap you gave him, especially vegetables. I never knew a dog who loved vegetables like he did. I have to admit that living among cattle, he had his fair share of cow patties and cow feed too. It was not unusual for him to also bring dead animals to the front yard to show off his finds. If you’ve never been around a farm dog, you might not know that they eat anything and, I mean anything fresh or rotten. During deer season it’s not unusual to see a part of a deer out our back door. Those times, Hank was not allowed to come into the house and looked at us with those big brown eyes as if to wonder why we didn’t
let him join us indoors. Oh, the smell! As our grandchildren started coming along, Hank would allow them to lay all over him and they soon loved him as much as we did! He would run to greet them each time they drove into the driveway and stay close as long as they were visiting. Every morning and night Hand would wait by the back door for my husband, Bud to go to the barn to feed. Bud would walk or get into the truck and Hank would run beside him all the way to the barn. Once at the barn, Hank would not leave his side. I remember there was one cow that did not care for Hank and she would run after him if he came near her calf. It was comical to see him go out of his way to steer clear of her. Just a few years ago, at age eleven, Hank started slowing down. At his annual summer shave (he would get so hot with his thick coat), our groomer found a lump on his rump. We had not noticed it under his thick coat. We took him to the vet and discovered it was cancer and fast growing. We were all devastated. We were told to take him home and try to make him comfortable. Only a few months later our dear, beloved Hank died. It was a very sad, sad time and we cried like babies. We buried Hank on the hill over-looking the barn, his favorite place to be. His grave is marked by a wooden cross that my dad made for him. Two years later we reminisce about him often and miss his terribly. -Tammy page lives with her family on a working farm in central Indiana. She enjoys collecting items remember from her youth, cooking and decorating her home.
Farm Recipes from Tammy Page Creamed potatoes
I always made some sort of potato with the Salmon Patties. Here’s one of Page kids’ favorites. (See other recipe.)
Peel 5 nice-sized potatoes, cut into 1-2-inch sizes (they don’t have to be perfect squares) Boil on stovetop just until they start to soften-not too much like mashed potatoes. Drain. Put back on stove on low heat and add: 1 ½ cup milk mixed with 1 heaping tablespoon of corn starch 4 pats of butter Salt and pepper to taste. Pour all of the above in at once and stir gently over low heat. If milk mixture does not start to thicken, you can add a little more corn starch but you’ll need to mix it with a little milk to dissolve it first. I remember having these when I was growing up and my mom taught me how to make them. They are soooo yummy! *Submitted by Tammy Page, whose “Stories of a Farm Wife” appears in this edition.
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May & June 2018
PEDRICKTOWN - SALEM
hings s i n r u F ecor D d n a itive m i r P • ntry • Cou age • Cott
Suse-E-Q ’s Cottage 107 A West Broadway (Rt 49), Salem 856-935-0669 (across from Historic Salem Oak) Wed to Sat 10 - 5 Sun Noon - 4 Closed Mon & Tues
Patriotic Open House Sat., May 19th - 10 am to 5pm Refreshments & Door Prizes Special Drawing: $50. Gift Certificate to Heart Felt Designs Lots of Patriotic Wooden Flags, Wreaths & Florals, Vintage Patriotic Prints on Canvas, Primitive American Flag Draped Wooden Ladders, Candles (Large Selection), Potpourri, Birdhouses, Signs, Glass Candle Cylinders, Lighting, Table Linens, Curtains & MORE! Facebook: www.facebook.com/HeartFeltDesignsCountryShop PHONE: (856) 299-2133 • WEB: www.heartfeltdesigns.com Hrs: Mon. 10-5 (Call First), Tues.- Sat.: 10-5, Thurs.’till 8 (Call if coming after 5), Sun.: 12:30 -5 (Call First)
24 So. Railroad Ave., Pedricktown, NJ Minutes from Comm. Barry & Del. Memorial Bridges
Farm Recipes from Tammy Page Salmon Patties
A Page kids’ favorite. See also my Creamed Potato Recipe in this edition.
1 can of Salmon (be sure to debone) Couple dashes of salt and pepper 1 sleeve of saltine crackers (crushed) ¼ cup milk 1 egg Mix all together and form into biscuit-size patties. Fry in skillet in ¼ cup hot oil. You might have to add a little oil to keep just enough to cover the bottoms of the patties. Let patties get a good crisp on one side and then turn. My family likes them crispy. *Submitted by Tammy Page, whose “Stories of a Farm Wife” appears in this edition.
Pack a Picnic –Enjoy The Outdoors
by Susan Baldani
Warm weather is finally here, so let’s get outside and welcome the new season. There are many fun activities to be enjoyed, and one of my favorites is having a picnic. In this day and age when we can go to the finest restaurants or dine at home in comfortable surroundings, I’m always happy to see people eating outdoors. Whether it be on a park bench, at the beach, or even in your own backyard, enjoying a meal while surrounded by nature makes it extra special. Don’t have a fancy picnic basket? Don’t worry. Take a cooler, load it up with whatever it is you like to eat and drink, put in an ice pack, and you’re all set. Some of my favorites are cold fried chicken, turkey sandwiches, salads, fruit, and some refreshing drinks, like iced tea or lemonade. Of course, for those of you who like to really relax, toss in a bottle of wine (or two). Find a pretty spot, bring along a nice, thick blanket, some utensils and napkins, and you have an outdoor party all ready to go. While enjoying your meal, remember to turn off and put away your electronic devices. Look around and appreciate nature, such as the full leafy trees, birds singing, or the vibrant flowers just in bloom. Spend time speaking with and listening to others and focus on what they
are feeling. In today’s world, where multitasking is as common as breathing, relax and open your senses to the world around you. Breathe in the fresh air, and let the sun warm your body and lift your spirits. Besides food, have a frisbee on hand, or if it’s windy, a kite. You can even bring along a favorite board game to play with your friends and family. If you decide to have a picnic all by yourself, don’t forget to pack one of your favorite books. Find a quiet place, and if there is a pond or lake within sight, all the better. There is something about water that adds to a sense of tranquility. Picnicking is an easy and fun activity you can do on a regular basis. It can be fancy one day with expensive cheeses and wines, and then the next it can be casual with sandwiches and soda. Discover some new favorite spots in the area to visit, and appreciate your surroundings while enjoying your feast. The family favorite Picnic Cake recipe below is easy to prepare and sure to be a hit at your picnic. –Susan Baldani has an MA in Education and a BA in Psychology. She enjoys writing and in addition to writing articles about small town life, is currently working on her second book. You can contact her at suebaldani@yahoo.com or through her website at www.mywritingwall.com
Cawman’s Antique Mall Antiques & Things on Consignment
S ee us on Facebook
Ov er 40 Vendors in 12,000 sq ft Over
Spring Y ard Sale Yard June 2nd 9am-?
Rain Date: June 3rd
www.CawmansMall.com 529 SSalem alem Q uinton R oad Quinton Road Salem, NJ 08079 856-935-0423 Hours: Wed-S un ed-Sun 10am-5pm
Recipe Exchange
Grandma Charlotte's Picnic Cake The perfect ending to any picnic.
Mix together ahead of time: 1 egg 1 c. buttermilk 1 t. soda 1 t. vanilla
Then blend together separately: 1/2 c. butter 2 c. brown sugar 2 c. flour 1/4 t. salt 1/2 c. pecans - add to above
Then remove 1/2 c of the dry ingredients and set aside for topping. Add the dry ingredients to wet and mix well. Place into an 8" x 8" baking pan. Bake at 350. After 5 minutes of baking, sprinkle the 1/2 c of topping you saved onto the cake. Return to oven and bake until toothpick comes out clean.
Page 8
The Country Register of New Jersey and Delaware
WEST CREEK
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May & June 2018
WEST CREEK
Page 10
The Country Register of New Jersey and Delaware
MORRISTOWN - RED BANK
Morris County Historical Society at Acorn Hall
Est. 1964
The Antique Center of Red Bank Daily 11-5pm
Take a special day trip and visit Acorn Hall, a beautiful 1853 mansion, which was remodeled in 1860 in the Italianate Villa-style. Donated to the Society by Mary Crane Hone, Acorn Hall is known for its authenticity, historic house and exhibit tours, lush Victorian gardens, and charming Gallery Gift Shop, which is open to fulfill all of your gift-giving needs.
Sundays 12-5pm
100 DEALERS – ALL SPECIALTIES 195 West Front St. (732) 842-3393
226 West Front St. (732) 842-4336
Red Bank, New Jersey 07701, Exit 109 Garden State Parkway
Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., and Sunday, 1 – 4 p.m Exhibit: Now on display: Floersheimer’s Custom Gowns – a collection of classically-styled 1980s wedding gowns and accessories donated by Mrs. Jeanne Floersheimer, owner of Floersheimer’s. Opening June 3: Scantily Clad: Bathing Suits of the Early 20th Century – a selection of a dozen men’s, women’s, and children’s bathing “costumes” exclusively from MCHS’s historic textile collection.
See website for more details - www.MorrisCountyHistory.org Find us on FaceBook, Twitter and Instagram 68 Morris Avenue, Morristown, NJ 07960 (973)267-3465
Ann’s Lovin’ Ewe
by Ann Stewart
Unplug and Reconnect My daughter came home from college for “lamb therapy.” She went out to the barn and sat on a hay bale. The lambs chewed on her shirt, jumped up on her lap, pawed at her knee, bleated their little meows, sucked on her fingers, and kissed her. It’s a moment not often found in a world fixating on phones, snapping selfies, or listening through ear buds. We all need a place that helps us unplug and reconnect. Where’s your place? The peepers sing a percussive song from the stream wrapping around our farm. Add another layer of birds calling in the trees, and the lambs skipping about the pasture have a call-andresponse with their mama ewes. It’s a symphony of spring. That’s what I hear outside when I listen. Right now, what do you hear? Take off your earbuds and listen. Put away your cell phone, close your eyes and listen to your own surround sound. Even if it’s the swish of the dishwasher, the cat snoring, and the rumble of an old refrigerator, it’s a privilege that we can hear and differentiate so many intriguing noises. For just for ten minutes, try to fully absorb everything around you. Set the timer on your phone. When it goes off, you’re done.
When you’ve started listening to sounds, listen to people. The other day I was on the phone going through the checkout at Costco. I was too busy texting with somebody far away to really talk with the person right in front of me. I wonder what that felt like to the clerk helping me? I was in my own little world and I kept her out of it. It’s way more fun when I look at a name tag and say, “So Claire, what kind of a day are you having?” Or compliment the singer in church, “You sounded wonderful on that last hymn!” or before class introduce myself to the person sitting nearby. Stretch yourself and try getting to know one person you don’t know. You’ll find that the next time you’re in line at the grocery, or in church, or class, you’ll have one more connection. The musical Dear Evan Hanson has a song that brings the audience to tears. The lyrics resonate with listeners and the title of the song suggests the reason: You are not Alone. It’s a simple reminder in a complicated world. You are not Alone. And you won’t feel like it if you stop and listen and engage. –©2018 Connect with Ann about her award-winning novel Stars in the Grass at www.AnnMarieStewart.com No reprint.
Town and Country Cooking
Brunch for lunch
The feeding of family and friends on Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, graduation day or any busy spring weekend may be simplified by offering brunch as an alternative to breakfast and lunch. Cooks are entitled to holidays, too! Monte Cristo Bread Pudding is a cross between a breakfast casserole and the famous, batter-dipped ham, turkey and cheese sandwich of the same name. This dish is meaty and cheesy enough to satisfy those who might roll their eyes at the prospect of combining the morning and midday meals. Layered Brunch Casserole is a hearty meat-and-potatoes dish that also has the capacity to please hungry crowds. Either dish pairs well with Orange Biscuit Pull-Aparts, which are best served warm from the oven. Then, after brunch, the rest of the day can be carefree, especially if someone has made reservations for dinner.. –A trained journalist, Janette Hess focuses her writing on interesting foods. She is a Master Food Volunteer with her local Extension service and enjoys collecting, testing and sharing recipes.
Layered Brunch Casserole 3 medium russet potatoes, baked, peeled and grated Salt and freshly ground pepper 1 pound mild sausage, browned and drained 1 4½-ounce can diced green chilies 8 ounces Monterrey Jack cheese, grated 1 cup cottage cheese 2 cups milk 7 eggs, lightly beaten ½ teaspoon dry mustardg Prepare 9- by 13-inch dish with butter or cooking spray. Spread potatoes in dish and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Spoon sausage over potatoes and cover with green chilies. Thoroughly combine remaining ingredients and pour over green chilies. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 45 minutes. Makes 10 to 12 servings.
by Janette Hess
Orange Biscuit Pull-Aparts 1½ teaspoons zest of orange 1/3 cup sugar 1 10-count can refrigerated buttermilk biscuits (7½ ounces) 2 tablespoons butter, melted Non-stick cooking spray 1 tablespoon soft cream cheese ½ cup powdered sugar 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed orange juice 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract Combine orange zest and sugar in small bowl; stir to combine. Dip biscuits in butter and then in sugar mixture. Arrange in overlapping row on large baking sheet or dish that has been prepared with non-stick cooking spray. Bake at 425 degrees for 13 to 16 minutes. Watch closely. If tops begin to brown too quickly, cover loosely with sheet of aluminum foil. For icing, combine all remaining ingredients and beat until smooth. Apply icing while pull-aparts still are slightly warm. For an orange ring, double all ingredients and arrange biscuits in an overlapping ring
Monte Cristo Bread Pudding 3 tablespoons butter, melted ½ loaf day-old French or Italian Bread (8 ounces), torn into pieces 8 ounces Swiss cheese, grated 8 ounces ham, diced 4 ounces thick-cut deli turkey, diced 6 eggs, lightly beaten 2½ cups milk ¾ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon black pepper ½ teaspoon onion powder 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper Seedless raspberry jam, if desired Melt butter in 9- by 13-inch baking dish. Place bread, cheese, ham and turkey in dish and toss lightly. In separate bowl, beat eggs lightly and then whisk in milk, salt, pepper, onion powder and cayenne pepper. Pour over bread mixture. Using fingertips or spoon, work liquids into bread mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour, or until top is nicely browned. Serve with warmed jam, if desired. Makes 10 to12 servings.
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May & June 2018
EDISON - OUT-OF-STATE
A Mother’s Gifts
by Kerri Habben
“All that I am or hope to be I owe to my mother.” One Mother’s Day about 30 years ago I gave my mother a coffee mug. The vessel is adorned with a cottage and garden, and at the bottom of it is a quote from Abraham Lincoln. It says, “All that I am or hope to be I owe to my mother.” My mother has given me many gifts over the course of our life together since I was born 45 years ago. Perhaps the most important one is that for as long as I can remember she told me that she would always love me. She said that she may not always approve of what I did, but that she would always love me. Because of this assurance I never doubted her devotion to me. It made me want to be a better person and to make good choices. She encouraged me to always come to her because, “Communication is everything. If you cannot communicate, you don’t have anything.” Is it any wonder that we became best friends? I learned from my mother how to love with a whole heart. She gives fully of herself, even as she maintains her own identity. She has always been genuine, never pretending to be something she isn’t. She never hides a part of herself because someone may or may not approve. She may cloak it in a way to suit the environment, but she is always beautifully authentic. For all of these reasons and more she is one of the bravest, strongest people I know. Three years ago Mom had a mastectomy. Not from breast cancer with the traditional markers; after some analysis and pondering, the tumor board’s best guess was squamous skin cancer. Before she went to the hospital, I sat in the living room one night as she rested. My packed bag was ready. For as long as she was there, I would be there. I came to the chair to pray, believing that when I sat down I would beg for her
to live. However, I found that I was flooded with gratitude. My prayer was something like this: “Thank you, God, for all of the years You have given me with Mom. You know that I want more time. But she is Your child, and I know that You will not let her down. You know what is best for her. Therefore, I humbly pray, ‘Thy Will Be Done.’” In 2015 God answered my prayer with a healing and a cure. Between then and these last months, we had two and a half years of joy and sheer thankfulness. We returned to the rhythm of our lives, cooking and knitting together, sitting on the porch and enjoying the garden. We laughed, did our errands, and watched hockey and baseball. We sang hymns and praised God for each new day. It is now spring-time 2018, and I find that my unexpected prayer has lived close to the surface once for six months now. For whatever the cancer was then, it metastasized to the brain. On March 13th my mother passed away in our home with myself and a dear friend at her side. Through the sadness these truths I know: my mother loves me, and I will always love her. God, whose she is, holds her in the palm of His hand. She is now in a place of peace I cannot begin to fathom. As her coffee mug from 30 years ago says, “All that I am or hope to be, I owe to my mother.” –Kerri Habben is a writer, photographer, and crochet instructor living in Raleigh, NC. An avid crocheter and knitter, she learned these skills from her grandmother and mother. She donates many of her yarn creations to those in need. Kerry has gathered a decade of essays she is working to publish and can be reached at 913jeeves@gmail.com.
Free Pattern 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.
Free Embroidery Pattern! May not be sold or used for commercial purposes. For more fun and creative inspiration, please visit:
www.JacquelynneSteves.com
Short Stories by a Mystery Book Author The Making of a Cozy Mystery I’m a cozy mystery author. When researching for my debut novel, A Vase of Mistaken Identity, I found a favorite cozy definition: “Cats, quilts, and not a lot of blood.” So clear, I understood the recipe right away. So clever, I can still remember it. But could I plot a mystery that included all the angles? Cats: According to the definition, I needed a cat for my story. But not just any ole momma cat, snoring on the sunwarmed carpet. I wanted an interesting animal. So I closed my eyes and sent out an inner casting call. Soon Betty padded into my brain and meowed a hello. Here was a freedom-loving calico with golden eyes and a crooked whisker. Perfect. She even had a habit of slipping through the smallest door opening, darting across the lawn, and springing over the fence onto the neighbor’s yard. Betty often chose to hang out with the wrong crowd - the strays next door. Last count – eleven mousers making mischief all over that dilapidated house. The bad habit got Betty into more than one scrape. Even so, my heroine, Thea James, adored her furry feline. In fact, I grew quite fond of Betty myself. And crossed “cats” off the list. Quilts: The Log Cabin quilt has always been my favorite pattern. Maybe it's because the colors can be arranged in so many ways, yet the result is always gorgeous. Or maybe because it was the first quilt I ever made. Since I needed a quilt for my cozy mystery, I designed a small Log Cabin quilt for my rookiequilter-heroine, Thea, to sew. I named it "Kitty in the Cabin." As the book progressed, her work on the quilt did, too. My design featured a center block fashioned into the shape of a kitty's head.
by Cathy Elliott
I used a variation on a nine-patch to give it a little twist and some extra personality. Pictured is the prototype created by my cousin, Linda Gholson, quilter extraordinaire. She chose the 1930's reproduction fabric and hand-quilted it with lovely details like French knot eyes, whiskers, and little fish stitched around the border. Quilts? Check.
Not a lot of blood: This idea agreed with my Care Bear’s preference in books and movies. If blood had to be spilt, I didn’t want to be there when it happened. In a cozy mystery, the crime happens behind the curtain. Or, off stage. Then the reader doesn’t have to live through a nightmare-making, murder scene. In my story, the crime happened years ago, the body recently discovered by happenchance. Our heroine, a bit more clumsy than usual, stumbled smack into the mess. Poor Thea. But hurray for me! Now I could paste an imaginary, gold star by the last requirement for a proper cozy. All done. Then, I had only to write the book. But then, that was the fun part.
–Cathy Elliott is a full-time writer living in California whose mysteries reflect her personal interests of crafting and collecting. She also cherishes time with her grandchildren. Her plot-twisting works include A Vase of Mistaken Identity, Medals in the Attic, and A Stitch in Crime. www.cathyelliottbooks.com
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The Country Register of New Jersey and Delaware
ELMER
Peg g y’s Country Gifts & Antiques
Established 1987
Special sales on select items
203 E Ellm er St & Park Av Avee Elm er, N J 08318 • 856 856--358 -2310
Kitchen Kettle Jams, Jellies and more! Old Shutters • Old Wagons Candles & Homespun Material Potpourri • Legacy greeting cards LIGHTED PICTURES • DECORATED OLD CHAIRS Lots of Seasonal Items • 3 w. Bulbs, also Brown wire lights Decorated trees & tree decorations Crossroads Candles • Thompson Tarts • ANTIQUES: Crocks, Jugs, Butter Churns, Coffee Grinders, Kitchenware, Yelloware, Wood Advertising Boxes, Benches, Buckets, Water Cans, NOW OPEN! Military Building Military Cupboards - late 1800-1900’s, Enamel top tables, Milk Bottles - NJ, WWII items Old Quilts, Cookie Jars, Vintage Doilies, & More! We buy and sell! Bldg open Fri & Sat.
PLEASE NOTE HOURS:
Th, Fr, Sat 10:30-4 (Please call if coming from a distance.)
Observations and Confessions
The Thrill of the Hunt Warmer days have finally arrived and many will take to the road on vacations to various locations. Whether it’s trips to the mountains, the beach or to visit friends and relatives, if you’re like me, they are an excuse to explore interesting places along the way. I’m always on the look out for quilt shops, antique stores and businesses that repurpose older items into new uses. My daughter once described it as an adult treasure hunt and I think she is right. I love the thrill of finding things to bring home, as well as the unexpected memories trig gered by spying something from my past. Many times, it’s a game or a toy that brings back special memories. I vividly remember sitting and playing Chinese Checkers with my cousins on summer nights after a long day at the beach. I had a round metal set that opened so that you could store the marbles inside. When I recently ran across a similar set, I felt myself smiling. I swear I could almost hear my cousins laughing and smell the Coppertone my mom would slather on my sunburnt shoulders. Sometimes it’s the excitement of finding new additions for a collection or seeing a friend do the same. My friend Cacia is constantly on the lookout for
by Deb Heatherly
lavender transfer ware and it was exciting for us both when she found a piece on a recent trip. She had explained to me earlier that the pieces she looks for are getting harder and harder to find. She loves to use the pretty plates on special occasions and now, even though it’s not something I collect, I find myself searching for pieces for her. Plates, games, dolls— almost anything vintage appeals to me—but my favorite things to look for are vintage sewing machines and sewing collectibles. I love to imagine the people who used them and what they created. Was it a grandmother who was teaching her granddaughter to sew her first seams? Was it an expectant mom making tiny layettes for the baby that was soon to enter the world? Or was it a quilter like myself piecing scraps together to create quilts to keep her family warm? Pin cushions, darning eggs, needle cases—no matter what it is—each piece holds a childlike wonder to me and I will have to admit that many of those finds end up following me home. One of my all-time favorites is a red metal thread holder. Its paint is peeling in places and its center pincushion was lost long before this treasure came to live with me but I love it all the same. I’d like to know its history and how it ended up
in a second-hand store. I’m sure it was once a prized piece for some lucky seamstress and I think this little beauty deserves a much better retirement than the shelf of miscellaneous goods that I found it abandoned on. It looked very out of place sitting between plastic flowers and a chipped cup and saucer. If inanimate objects had feelings, I’d almost say it was sad. That’s why I just had to bring it home. It now sits in a place of honor in my sewing room. While any sewing themed item makes me happy, I will have to admit that by far my biggest weakness is old metal toy sewing machines. I collect the tiny machines, the boxes they came in and even advertisements about toy sewing machines. I’ve almost run out of places for my hubby to put up shelves to hold them but that does not stop the search. I blame this obsession on my upbringing and it happened like this. You see, I learned to sew at a very young age on my mother's Kenmore. She was a very accomplished seamstress and after seeing my serious interest, she bought me a ‘real’ machine of my very own. I fondly remember making my clothes and, by the age of ten, proudly wearing my self-made fashions to school. I loved that machine
and it was one of my most prized possessions but I’ve often wondered if my never having a toy machine is what fuels my fascination with these little cuties. I like to tell my mother that my addiction to them is all her fault. She then reminds me that I would never have been able to make the things I made on a toy. I’ll close by quoting the old saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” Sometimes the most out of the way places yield the most fun rewards. My advice to you is to be on the lookout for adventure. You never know what you will find. And, hey, if you spot a lonely toy machine, give me a shout. I know where it can find a good home. Shops advertising here are a great source for you collecting activity. See ads for those who sell antiques and more! –Deb Heatherly is a designer for Creative Grids® rulers and tools. When not in her studio, she is on the road doing Creative Grids® lectures and workshops for guilds and shops across the country. She is the designer of the Creative Grids Cat’s Cradle tool, Strippy Stars tool, Turbo 4 Patch and the Ultimate Flying Geese tool, and the author of the books ‘Cat’itude, Strippy Stars, and 4-Patch Panache. Visit her website at www.Debscatsnquilts.com
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May & June 2018
VINELAND
Quilting with Barbara Spring, you say? Bring it on! Winters in northern climes like ours can be long and miserable, so for temporary relief in March we spent a few days on Vancouver Island where spring enters Canada in February or March, rather than April or May as in the rest of the country. My winter-induced lassitude disappeared as soon as I saw the first green grass and a few crocuses shortly after we deplaned, and in a day or two I decided to stop at a few quilt shops to add to my stash. The welcome and enthusiasm from staff at two stores in particular, Kismet in Port Alberni and Kaleidoscope near Duncan, reinforced my stash-building tendencies, and I was lucky enough to find several useful pieces to add to my collection in just a few minutes at each store. As all quilters know, time is of the essence when someone who doesn’t quilt is waiting for someone who does. So how could I be quick and efficient and keep peace in the family? Upon reflection, I realized my search which on the surface seemed random really conformed to a few personal unwritten principles and procedures which I had unconsciously developed over the years and would like to share. First, check out the marked-down fabrics, even the ugly ones. They too need a home and you may find them surprisingly useful. Case in point: a few years ago, I bought several metres of a fabric I considered ugly (I didn’t like the colors) because the price -- but not the quality – was extremely low. I assume other shoppers shared my attitude because there was so much left on the bolt. This fabric lived in my stash until this past winter when I hauled it off the shelf. Because I had bought a sizeable quantity it made perfect backing for a single quilt, a lap quilt and a wall hanging!
by Barbara Conquest
Ugly no longer, it was a perfect complement to the tops, and inexpensive too. Win-win. Try for variety in your stash – dark, medium, light, bright, pastel, large prints, small prints, abstracts, florals… We tend to buy our favourite colors over and over, which narrows variety. The impact of a quilt depends greatly on contrast. In fact, some veteran quilters consider contrast more important than color. If you have an assortment of fabrics of different values and colors, there’s a good chance that you’ll find just what you need in your stash, avoiding an emergency trip to a shop. Look for neutrals – greys, tans, creams, tone-on-tones – especially if they are on sale. Neutrals are needed in most projects, so buy as much as your budget allows. You’ll use them. Avoid directional fabrics unless you have a concrete plan for them. They must be cut and placed carefully; your options will be limited and fabric wasted if they can be used in only one orientation. Avoid theme fabrics if buying for your stash. Even if the colors are perfect, an inappropriate print may destroy the intended mood of the quilt. Exception: when you are collecting them for future use in a theme quilt. (Ask me how many pieces of cat fabric I have). The most important guideline? When you see a fabric that you simply must have, buy some, no matter the cost (within reason). If you have diligently accumulated a varied group of fabrics, it is very likely something you already have in your stash cupboard will complement this special purchase, and you will be well on your way to starting a new project. Happy hunting!
Planning a Wedding? We also feature Bridal Fabric, Appliques, Ribbons & Silk Flowers! MACHINE EMBROIDERY, QUILTING & SEWING KNITTING & CROCHETING CLASSES AVAILABLE
657 N Delsea Drive, Vineland, NJ 08360 (856) 692-5460
Fabrics: Quilts & Dress • Notions Yarns • Upholstery Fabrics Vinyls • Foams • Patterns OPEN: Mon, Tues, Wed, & Fri 9:30-6, Thurs 9:30-8, Sat 9:30-5:30
20% OFF Any One Item
With coupon only. Not valid with other offers. Expires June 30, 2018 - TCR
–© Barbara Conquest writes her column from Blue Sky Quilting in Tofield, AB.
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Prescription for Adventure
by Naomi Gaede Penner
Decorate with History, Happiness, and Hugs “What do we do with mom and dad’s old stuff ?” asks the younger generation. It seems that vintage chic is out of vogue and Crate and Barrel, IKEA, Target and other look-alike furniture is where decorating takes place. Does it matter? “In happy and long-lived cultures, people often display items from their families’ past,” says The Blue Zones of Happiness author Dan Buettner. “We find that in happier cultures around the world, folks feel like part of a continuum.” In The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living, author Meik Wiking attributes the Danes’ happiness to living out “Hygge,” a word characterized by coziness/ hominess/sense of well-being. One way that is created is by surrounding oneself
Rt. 55 Exit 32
with objects from the past that hold emotional significance. It is with immense pleasure I have tea at Diane’s house. Her Danish ancestry is displayed through plates, paintings of a family house from the old country and more. A small wooden secretary comes to life when she says, “I remember when….” I’m both a historian and a daydreaming nostalgic. Inside my house, a plant sits in a pickle crock, the old farm door hangs horizontally from my kitchen ceiling, a moose rack looms above my living room and reminds me of tasty roasts my mother prepared; and then there’s a heavy ceramic cup and saucer from my grandmother that came out of an oatmeal box. Outside I see my grandparents’ red farm pump and wagon
wheels. I can almost hear them talking in Low German. My heart is warmed. There’s more. “When I was growing up, my daddy and I had our differences,” my mom explained. “Farm families needed a lot of kids, preferably boys. I was his ‘boy’ because my folks had three girls before a boy came along. He worked me hard, and I often resented it.” That was growing up on the Peabody, Kan., farm. Decades later, after my parents moved to Alaska and homesteaded, my mom’s parents went up to help, taking along a little green wooden ice cream freezer. Mom and grandpa made homemade ice cream. Mom told me, “That was the freezer we used on the farm.” She smiled. “We’ve made peace. I understand things better as an adult.” The green freezer now graces my fireplace mantel and is stuffed seasonally with floral décor. There’s more. “Why do I keep that?” I ask myself. My mother-in-law’s pinecone china dinnerware sits high above my head on a kitchen shelf. Every Thanksgiving, I set my table with those plates, bowls and serving pieces. I imagine the repeated stories around past holiday tables; many evoked by my husband and his two brothers as children. Laughter. Teasing. Arguing? The tug of a pant leg from under the table by the largest wiener dog
in history? That’s where the peas ended up from the middle brother. Now my children, grand boys, and even a sly dog, gather around a table set with pinecone china. After my husband died, I kept his cowboy boots and hats. The loud tap of his boots on the hardwood floor had annoyed me to no end. When I’d say something, he’d look perplexed, as if to say, “Who would want to sleep any later?” Now those boots and hats adorn my house. One hat hangs on a fence picket from my great-great grandfather Abraham Gaede’s farmhouse that was near Ebenfeld, Kan. To my delight, my son has artfully tied together past and present: IKEA furniture and a reel-to-reel tape player. Old cameras are displayed on a corner shelf and modern LED lights are suspended over his kitchen bar. He treasures his father’s tools and enjoys a contemporary standing desk. He, too, has warmed his house into a home. He keeps the stories going. I’ve decorated with history, not just anyone’s, but mine. My lineage of Kansas farm and Alaska homestead hug me and bring me happiness. © 2018 Find and purchase Naomi’s Prescription for Adventure books, at www.prescriptionforadventure.com
Page 14
The Country Register of New Jersey and Delaware
OUT OF STATE & WEB-BASED
Become Inspired
Aft er all, th After thee wool of a black sh sheeep is just as w arm. warm. Ernest Lehma
by Annice Bradley Rockwell
Decorating, Entertaining and Living in the Early American Style A Pure Part of Our Past As we approach the month of May in New England it is often with a sense of deep appreciation. Gone are the days of wind and cold and now we are divinely blessed with longer days that often beckon us to linger outside just a little longer. Gardening chores that await us give us the opportunity to focus on something pure that was an important part of our collective past. Preparing the soil for our perennials and planting them with an eye for aesthetics is an investment of time that will yield abundant pleasure in the years to come. Looking upon the fragrant blooms of lavender or smelling the wafting scent of lemon balm as we brush up against it on an early summer’s morning we are indeed reminded that from our hard work always comes reward. Seeing these springlike signs of the season appear year after year reinforces the wonder of nature to restore and renew. Creating a Colonial Kitchen Garden Creating raised garden beds in which to grow vegetables and herbs is an efficient way to garden and it is one that is steeped in tradition. Raised beds typically make lighter work of gardening tasks such as planting, weeding and watering and their design conjures up memories of colonial kitchen gardens. Kitchen gardens were often planned to be just off of the kitchen of the home for culinary and medicinal use. Having the herbs virtually right at hand was a planned convenience that also served to add
beauty to the homestead’s landscape. Some of the herbs used in a kitchen garden include thyme, mint, rosemary, lavender, basil and chives. Each with its very own distinctive look and flavor, they added a fresh taste to colonial dishes. Today having your own kitchen “clipping garden” offers similar culinary and aesthetic joy. Using rock, brick or wooden timbers to define the space, garden herbs can be planted where they can be readily used and enjoyed. Typically hardy, these perennials can be used fresh or preserved dry to be enjoyed in the winter months when the herb garden is in its seemingly sleeping state. Returning to a Simpler Time As warmer days begin to become more common, take the time to create spaces in your yard that can be enjoyed and used to create a look centuries earlier. Feel the pleasure of connecting to a simpler time by going out to the herb garden on a June morning to gather a fresh bouquet of herbs just after they have dried from the morning dew. See the work of gardening not as a chore but as a peaceful delight. And as you seek to shift to the season of summer the hard yet happy work of your gardening efforts will provide you with blessings beyond what you had ever planned – Annice Bradley Rockwell is an educator and owner of Pomfret Antiques in Connecticut. She is currently working on her book, New England Girl. NewEnglandGirl2012@hotmail.com
Page 15
May & June 2018
DELAWARE - PENNSYLVANIA - WEST VIRGINIA
Welcome to
Serendipity Quilt Shop
31821 Cannon St. Dagsboro, DE 19939 (302) 732-6304 • Open Mon-Fri 9-5; Sat 9-4 • Over 3500 Bolts of premium cotton fabrics • Flannel • Wool • Stitchery Like us on • Quilting and Sewing Classes FACEBOOK • Books, Patterns and Notions
WWW.SERENDIPITYQUILTSHOP.COM
The Blue Hen Bed & Breakfast is located on
1202 Nottingham Rd. Newark, DE 19711 302-218-8713 www.bluehenbnb.com
Rt 273, 1.7 miles west of Downtown Newark, Delaware. Originally built in 1692, this historic B&B is easily accessible to the University of Delaware. The Blue Hen offers 3 main guestrooms, all with private baths. We are pet friendly. It’s the perfect venue for guest’s special occasions. |r s¥W£8 ¥£yW | £C±£ W ¥sc£WP£ C£* £ | ¥ ©H¥ O£ Don Eschenbrenner, CRI www.bnbarts.com
to choose
from!
It’s Finally Spring! Start Something New!
Blue Hen
cedar lakes conference center
Quilt Shop In Tax-Free Delaware!
bric!
open for fall!
Clas
ses!
Patterns!
Fa
ripley, west virginia
oct
14 15 16 17 18 19 SALES - SERVICE
Notions!
Kits!
Precuts!
Thread!
2018
OFFICIAL RETAILER
73 Marrows Road, Newark, DE 19713 302-533-5215 www.bluehenquiltshop.com Visit us on Facebook!
7 8 9 10 11 12
Book Review –
By: Lori Siebert
2019
101 Inspirational Thoughts for Mom
This perfect gift for Mom comes wrapped in Lori Siebert’s bright, whimsical art. Filled with loving quotes and sentiments and splashed with the colors of joy, it’s a tender tribute to the special woman you call mom. Beautiful images by Lori Siebert fill every page with color and become the background for heart-war ming quotes such as: "Motherhood: All love begins and ends there." by Robert Browing. Each simple and heartfelt thought has been chosen to cheer, to honor, and, above all, thank Mom for her loving devotion to family. Celebrate her by placing this sweet gift into her hands to brighten her day and bless her heart.
www.quiltcampcedarlakes.com email Linda@thatssewspecial.com or call 330.877.6546
REGISTER TO WIN A COPY OF THIS BOOK Register to win a copy of this book and others reviewed here, courtesy of the publishers. Just complete and mail this form. Please print clearly. You can also register by sending this info to our email address on the top of Page 2 with the subject line: Free Books
Name Street Address ISBN: 978-0-7369-6383-1 HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS
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Page 16
The Country Register of New Jersey and Delaware
CAPE MAY - MARMORA
St i tc h B y St i tc h
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Washington Commons • 315 Ocean St., Unit 9 Cape May, NJ 08204 < Cross Stitch & all the “goodies” < Needlepoint & Patanayan Wool < Custom Framing < Nancy Spruance Trunk Show We will be having classes. Please call for information. OPEN EVERY DAY 10AM - 5PM (Please Call First:1-800-868-3215)
I f we don don’’t hav avee it , we will oorrder it . We sship hip aan ny wh wheere re..
Send your sewing machine to the Spa for Spring!
We Also Sell Babylock & Janome Sewing Machines
Dollard Baker Sew-Vac 609-390-0343
www .DBSe wV ac .com www.DBSe .DBSewV wVac ac.com
232 S. US Route 9, Marmora NJ Exit 25 (Garden State Parkway) A fourth generation business since 1921
we’ve got yarn NEXT GENERATION YARN SHOP with NEW Yarns, Faces, and Tech Support Classes: Lear oc het, Learnn to Knit, Cr Croc ochet, Needle FFelt, elt, Spin & Wea eavve
Come join us!
Open Tuesday - Friday 10AM to 5PM
Why Tools are Important...
• Mother’s Day May 13th is SPECIAL at Fiber Arts! Arm Knitting, Needle Felting & Knit Machine Demonstrations • Guilds: Schedule a “Holiday at the Shop” - with a Workshop, Lunch in Cape May and store-wide discounts!
315 Ocean St., Cape May, NJ www.FiberArtsYarnShop.com 609-898-8080 • FREE Parking
• Exceptional Yarns • Patterns • Buttons • Knitting Machines
An Early American Living History Museum 720 Route 9, Cape May, NJ (3 MiLES North of Cape May City)
Admission is $14 for adults, $12 for children 3 to 12. Children under 3 admitted free. Free Parking
Call for more information 609-898-2300 or visit website:
www.hcsv.org
Quilt & Fiber Arts Show June 23 – 24: 10am - 4:30pm Historic Cold Spring Village is featuring fiber arts at the 27th annual Cape May Quilt and Fiber Show, Saturday and Sunday, June 23-24. The event will feature Viewer’s Choice quilt show, speakers, demonstrations and vendors. Mark your calendars!
by Susan Baldani
and Other Things My Father Taught Me Fathers sometimes get the short end of the stick. There is always a lot of fanfare around motherhood and Mother’s Day (as there should be). After all, like many of us, I would be totally lost without my mother. But fathers matter equally as much; they just usually keep a lower profile. How often do we hear “she was like a mama bear” or how often do people on television shout out “Hi Mom”? Well, what about Dad? Mothers are wonderful. They comfort us after bad dreams, take care of us when we’re sick, and soothe our broken hearts when people hurt our feelings. But what about knowing how to change a tire, or what kind of screwdriver to use, or how to install a car radio? I learned all these things from my father. I didn’t want to be one of those women who always had to hire someone to install a new porch light, or spackle and paint a room. And my father made sure I wasn’t one of those either. Besides, as well as being handy he is also frugal, and his philosophy is “why hire someone if you can do it yourself ?” Even though as a kid I didn’t get a kick out of holding the flashlight or handing him tools while he fixed something, I was forced to learn things that my mother did not have the time or inclination to teach me. And I learned a lot about tools.
Years later, when I rented my first apartment and then bought my own house, I worked right alongside the males in the family doing what had to be done. Men and women alike were always somewhat amazed at the things I could fix, or how I could solve a myriad of household problems. I even knew my way around a car and could often diagnose what the trouble was. Granted, I couldn’t always fix it, but I usually knew what was wrong. My father and I didn’t always agree on things while I was growing up, which is natural. However, he taught me things that I will never forget and often need to know. I’m lucky to still have my father, even after some health scares over the last few months, and for that I am very thankful. I have more things to learn from him yet, and maybe he can learn some things from me too. Happy Father’s Day Dad, from your handy and “not afraid to get her hands dirty” daughter. Thank you for all you have taught me –Susan Baldani has an MA in Education and a BA in Psychology. She enjoys writing and in addition to writing articles about small town life, is currently working on her second book. You can contact her at suebaldani@yahoo.com or through her website at www.mywritingwall.com