®
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The Country Register of New Jersey and Delaware
Editors’ Corner
Fall is our favorite time of year ®
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 • Sept. & Oct. 2016 • Vol. 17 No. 3 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. To receive a sample paper from another area, please mail $3.00 in U.S.A. or $4.00 in Canada to that area’s editor. 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 Alabama: Amy & David Carter, 866-825-9217 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: Michael Dempsey, 919-661-1760 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 Kentucky: Chris & Kelly Kennedy, 443-243-1118 Maine: Gail Hagerman, 207-437-2663 Maryland: Amy & David Carter, 866-825-9217 Mass. & RI: Michael Dempsey, 919-661-1760 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: Kathleen Graham, 603-463-3703 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: Michael Dempsey, 919-661-1760 South Carolina: Barb Stillman, 602-942-8950 South Dakota: Dee Sleep, 605-722-7028 Tennessee: Chris & Kelly Kennedy, 443-243-1118 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
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If you are a long time reader you probably remember that fall is our favorite time of year! The crisp cool mornings, the vibrant fall colors and all the wonderful home choices in décor make us want a new wreath for the front door, a center piece for the table and the newest colors in table linens. With the change of seasons you will also find the biggest change of the year in the shops. They have stocked up on fall items and are introducing holiday and Christmas products as those holidays grow closer. When you see in the shop ads, “New Items Arriving Daily,” never is this statement more true than this time of year. The upcoming last 4 months of the year also have the largest number of events of the year: open houses (fall and Christmas), craft, antique and quilt shows, shop hops, and fall clearance sales. See page 3 of this issue for a listing. But all of the details are in the ads – so mark your calendars accordingly. If you are one of those folks who likes to get ahead on your Christmas shopping – now is the time to get started. Make
your gift giving easier this year by visiting our advertisers! And there is no time like the present (no pun intended), when you can pick from the largest selection of the season, to get started. Our purpose in publishing The Country Register is to get you out there shopping! Our advertisers – the locally owned businesses – depend on your patronage for their success. The Country Register’s success relies on you mentioning to our advertisers that you saw their ad in our paper. We know it doesn’t seem like much and we know you think everyone else might do it so you don’t need to. However if every reader would let the shops know they appreciate the paper and that you saw their ad, it would really make a world of difference! This truly is a circle and we appreciate your help keeping the circle going. We hope you had a wonderful summer and are ready for fall.
Let’s Go ShoppingAND THE GR ANDKIDS! GRANDKIDS!
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An Autumn Day Seasonless Parable
By Kerri Habben
Some years ago I worked at an office in the downtown section of Raleigh and, each day, I walked to the post office. At the time, the street was a pedestrian mall but about ten years ago it was converted back to accommodating vehicular traffic. When I was there, though, there was a center median of sorts with a low ledge where one could stop and sit. Throughout each season a man sat every morning upon this ledge near the now previous county courthouse. He always had a portion of a loaf of bread and spread out crumbs for the birds. They would gather at his feet, their feathers shimmering in the light. Each morning I nodded at him or said hello, depending upon how immersed he was in his task. He never asked for nor
seemed to accept money, though I noticed that the thin windbreaker that appeared in the fall was the same jacket he wore in winter. He was always clean and quiet, and sometimes when he thought no one was looking, the slope of his shoulders drooped. But his hands were always gentle as he spread forth the bits of bread. On a whim one day, I brought a loaf of bread to work and offered it to the man on my own daily pilgrimage to the post office. He thanked me with a smile and an appreciative sound from his throat. Then he returned to feeding the birds. I watched him for a moment, wanting to say something to this kind soul whose life’s circumstances likely were far from ideal. I sought something affirming to say to this man who seemed to have little but still gave of himself. Cont’d >
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September & October 2016
Events Listing
Advertiser Index
See shop & show ads for complete details.
Shops are listed alphabetically by location. Cities & Shops
P age # Page
Cape May ............................. 13 Historic Cold Spring Village Stitch by Stitch Elmer ..................................... 5 Elmer Harvest Day Peggy’s Country Gifts Haddon Heights ................. 15 Haddon Heights Fall Festival Morristown .......................... 10 Acorn Hall Mullica Hill ........................... 6 Amelia’s Teas & Holly Creamy Acres Farm Needles & Pins Newton ................................ 11 Wilbur’s Country Craft Fair Wilbur’s Country Store Pedricktown ........................ 16 Heart Felt Designs Pedricktown Day The ETC Shop
Jack o’ Lanterns One of the most popular autumn decorations is pumpkins. And around Halloween a lot of those pumpkins will have faces that flicker in the evening darkness. Where did the idea of carving faces in pumpkins come from? Why are they called jack o’ lanterns? Carving vegetables has been a common practice in many countries for centuries. The Maori people used gourds to make lanterns over 700 years ago. It is believed the idea of carving jack o’ lanterns for Halloween came from Ireland. They often used turnips and potatoes. The jack o’ lantern was supposed to either represent spirits or ward them off, depending on where you lived.
Cities & Shops
P age # Page
Red Bank ............................. 10 Antique Center of Red Bank Salem ..................................... 4 Cawman’s Antique Mall Suse-E-Q’s Cottage Vineland ................................ 5 The Pin Cushion West Creek ......................... 8, 9 KC Creations Woodstown ............................ 7 Pumpkin Show The Scarecrow Factory Delaware Bethany Beach .................... 12 Sea Needles Dagsboro ............................. 12 Serendipity Newark ................................ 12 The Blue Hen Bed & Breakfast Out of State ............... 11, 14, 15 Web-Based ........................... 14
by Jo Branham Another theory about where the practice of carving jack o’ lanterns began is told in an Irish folktale about a man named Stingy Jack. There are many variations of this story, but in all of them Jack tricks Satan who is trapped by Jack. Only when Satan agrees not to take another soul, including Jack’s own, does Jack let him go. When Jack dies, he has nowhere to go. He’s been too sinful to go to heaven and Satan promised he wouldn’t take him. Jack asks how he will be able to see to travel. Satan gives him a flaming ember that will never go out. Jack carves a lantern out of a turnip and begins to wander the Earth for a resting place. He became known as “Jack of the Lantern” or jack o’ lantern.
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“You take good care of your birds,” I finally offered, thinking it a compliment. Instead, it appeared that I had offended him. His shoulders jerked up straight and stiff and, in his eyes, emerged an intense light. Then he spoke strongly and distinctly. “You’re right, sir,” I responded to his words. “I thank you.” I went on my way knowing I was not acknowledging him for feeding the birds but for something more. For I had just listened to the most brief but the best sermon I’d ever heard. I think of this man when I am driving and watch cars zipping dangerously between lanes simply to get ahead and when customers quickly grow rude and impatient with clerks at a store. I think of him when a person using a walker or wheelchair struggles to make his or her way through a crowd of people who are paying no attention to anyone except
themselves. I think of him when I contemplate the words, “Give us this day our daily bread.” What a bountiful world it would be if we all spread about bits of bread in the form of kind gestures and deeds along with small acts of unexpected gentleness. Perhaps you are wondering what the man answered to me that day on a pedestrian mall that is now a busy street. You’ll recall I carefully said the birds were his. “No, ma’am,” said he. “Them’s God’s birds.” As are we all. One day and one crumb of bread at a time. –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. Kerri has gathered a decade of essays she is working to publish. She can be reached at 913jeeves@gmail.com
September
Day
Event
3, 4 10, 11 10, 11 15-18 17 17 17 17, 18 17, 18 24 24 24, 25
Hands on History - Cold Spring Village, Cape May ..................................... 13 Harvest Open House - Scarecrow Factory, Woodstown ............................... 7 Revolutionary War Encampment - Cold Spring Village, Cape May .......... 13 Quilt Extravaganza, Oaks, PA .......................................................................... 15 Fall Festival starts - Creamy Acres Farm, Mullica Hill ................................... 6 Open House - The ETC Shop, Pedricktown ................................................ 16 Harvest Gathering Open House - Heart Felt Designs, Pedricktown ........ 16 Country Craft Fair - Wilbur’s, Newton ........................................................... 11 Civil War Weekend - Cold Spring Village, Cape May ................................... 13 Fall Fest/Harvest Gathering - KC Creations, West Creek ........................ 8, 9 Fall Festival, Woodstown..................................................................................... 7 Village Sampler Weekend - Cold Spring Village, Cape May ........................ 13
Day
Event
1 1 1 1 7-9 8 8 8 15 15, 16
Fall Outdoor Yard Sale - Cawman’s Antique Mall, Salem ............................. 4 Harvest Day, Elmer .............................................................................................. 5 Pick a Pumpkin Discount Day - Scarecrow Factory, Woodstown ............... 7 Fall Festival, Haddon Heights .......................................................................... 15 Pumpkin Show, Woodstown............................................................................... 7 Anniv Celebration/Craft Show - Heart Felt Designs, Pedricktown .......... 16 Sidewalk Sale - The ETC Shop, Pedricktown ................................................ 16 Pedricktown Day, Pedricktown ........................................................................ 16 Pumpkin Fest - Cold Spring Village, Cape May ............................................ 13 Quilt Show, Warwick, NY ................................................................................. 11
Day
Event
5
Candlelight Walk - Cold Spring Village, Cape May ....................................... 13
October
November
Autumn Word Scramble Unscramble the words. Key is below.
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The Country Register of New Jersey and Delaware
SALEM
Cawman’s
Antique Mall
Hrs: W 1 0 a m e d - Su n -5pm
Antiques & Things on Consignment
Fall Outdoor Yard Sale on October 1st, 9am til– (Rain date is Oct. 2nd) Ov er 40 Vendors in 12,000 sq ft • SSee ee us on F acebook Over Facebook
529 SSalem alem Q uinton R oad, SSalem, alem, NJ 08079 Quinton Road, 856-935-0423
Suse-E-Q’s Cottage Primitiv e • Country Primitive Cottag e Furnishing Cottage Furnishingss and Decor 107 A West Broadway, (Rt 49) (across from Historic Salem Oak) 856-935-0669 Wed to Sat 10 - 5, Sun Noon - 4 Closed Mon & Tues Major Credit Cards Welcome
Pie Safes Today, pie safes are often used for storage. Pie safes have a number of different names. You may know it as a pie cabinet, pie chest, pie cupboard, kitchen safe or meat safe. They became popular very quickly and were soon considered a necessity in many American homes. They were most likely introduced to America by German immigrants, often called the Pennsylvania Dutch, during the 1700s. They were made in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, where many of these immigrants settled. Often the same size as a large bureau, pie safes were made of wood, usually soft pine. They were not only convenient for storing pies and other perishable foods; they also prevented food from spoiling and protected it from mice and insects. The shelves, doors and (usually) the sides
by Jo Branham were made of either a screen material or perforated tin. The punched tin or screen offered ventilation to keep the food cool and fresh while making it next to impossible for mice or insects to get inside. The perforations in the tin were often in the form of a design, such as an eagle, stars, tulips, willow trees, and much more. The pie safe remained popular until the ice box came along in the 1800s. With an even better ability to keep food fresh, the ice box soon became the new rage. Today, pie safes are often used for storage. They will hold just about anything from linens to children’s toys. No matter if you want a pie safe to use as part of your home decor or just for storage, you will find many choices at shops and events advertised here in The Country Register.
Salvage Style
by Marla Wilson
Hanging Message Board
I came across this piece at the local antique mall. It was a facing board off the front of a chest of drawers. At the time, I did not have any idea what I would do with it, but I could see there were lots of possibilities. I finally decided on a message board. I cleaned up the piece and removed the loose paint leaving as much of the original as I could to keep the character. I then painted it. I cut a piece of ¼-inch backer board to fit one of the openings that would have originally held a drawer. I painted the backer board with two coats of standard black chalk board paint. This now comes in a variety colors, if you prefer something less traditional. I cut a piece of hardware cloth to fit the other two openings. Hardware cloth is a wire screen and can be purchased by the roll at hardware stores. This works well as a magnet board. I chose to hang this with the legs on top because that looked better.
To assemble, I stapled the hardware cloth to the back of the bottom two openings, and screwed the chalk board to the back of top opening. I put small cup hooks across the top of the bottom opening to hang keys, dog leashes, etc. and strung a piece of jute between the legs to display small pictures or notes with clothespins. Finally, I attached a couple of hangers to the back. The burlap flower in the picture is a magnet. I now have a hanging message center. I love it to display the grandkids photos and artwork, appointment cards, etc. and keep my keys and leashes from being lost. –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 kitchen and baby gifts, home decor and fashion accessories. Follow The Rusty Wheel on Facebook, or www.therustywheel.vpweb.com or contact her at
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September & October 2016
ELMER - VINEL AND VINELAND
Rt. 55 Exit 32
Elmer Harvest Day Saturday, October 1st from 10 am to 5 pm Come out for the day and enjoy all the fun! Including: Antique Cars • Crafters • Music Games for kids • Food Venders Fire Truck Rides Information booth and much more! Pony rides & petting zoo (at Peg g y’ y’ss Country Gifts & Antiques Antiques))
If you are on the “web” then you should be in The Register! You want to be found don’t you?
QUIL TING & SEWING CLASSES AV AILABLE QUILTING AVAILABLE Fabrics: Quilts & Dress Notions • Yarns Upholstery Fabrics • Vinyls Foams • Patterns
657 N D elsea Driv e, Vineland, NJ 08360 Delsea Drive, just off the intersection of Rts Rts.. 47 & 56 (Landis A Avve.)
(856) 692-5460
Planning a Wedding? We also feature Bridal Fabric, Appliques, Ribbons & Silk Flowers! 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 October 31, 2016 - TCR
Established 1987
P e g g y ’’ss Country Gifts & Antiques 203 E Ellm e r St & Pa r k Av Avee • E Ellm e r, N J 0 8318 • 856 856--358 -2 310 We now carry: Handmade Soap - all natural “Cherokee Pride Soap Company” Kitchen Kettle Jams, Jellies and more! Old Shutters • Flexible Flyer Wagons LIGHTED PICTURES • DECORATED OLD CHAIRS • Candles & Homespun Material Potpourri • Legacy greeting cards • Lots of Seasonal Items • 3 w. Bulbs, also Brown wire lights Decorated trees & tree decorations • Bella Taylor Handbags • Old Sleds Crossroads Candles • Thompson Tarts ANTIQUES: Crocks, Jugs, Butter Churns, Coffee Grinders, Kitchenware, Yelloware, Wood Advertising Boxes, Benches, Buckets, Water Cans, Cupboards - late 1800-1900’s, Enamel top tables, Milk Bottles - NJ, Old Quilts, Cookie Jars, Vintage Doilies, & More!
Fal lions ! t a r o dec
Join us for Harvest Festival on Oct 1st – 10am to 5pm. NOW OPEN! Military Building Military WWII items – We buy and sell! This building open Fri & Sat
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER HOURS:
Thur - Sat Only 10:30am – 4-ish Other hours by appointment. CALL IF COMING FROM DISTANCE.
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The Country Register of New Jersey and Delaware
MULLIC A HILL MULLICA
Ice Cream Stand and Store Hrs: Mon-Fri: 10am-6pm; Hayrides 1pm - 4 pm & Sat 10am-6pm
Fall FFes es tiv estiv tivaal ssttar ts... Sat ur ep 7th Satur urdda y, SSep epttember 117th
Cr cr es FFaarm is one of the ffew ew Creeamy A Acr cres working D air Dair airyy ffaarms sstititilll in the aarrea…. Dairy tours available for all ages by reservation only.
Shop our R e ttai ai o rre e ffor or aall l Re aill St Sto yo u r F a ll D ecor: Mums, Fa De a w, Pumpkins, Corns Stra Cornstta l k s, Str Ya rd & H ome D e cor ati ons corati ations Home De Along with other goodies including dressings, sauces, mustards, Call N ow: • TToo Schedul our Scho ol Now: Schedulee Y Your School Gr ou p f or a H a yrid e & Pumpkin Pi cking Grou oup for Hayride Picking snacks, local honey, farm fresh eggs and seasonal produce. To R es er Your P Res eser ervve ““Y Paar t y Spot Spot””
533 Mullica Hill Rd, Mullica Hill NJ 08062 • (856) 218-7467 Shop Hours: Mon - Fri 10-5; Sat & Sun 10-4
nded Expa w e N Area!
Large selection of all Quilting Fabrics Classes Offered • Row by Row Participant
www.needles-pins-nj.com
•B ed Baa rny rnyaa rd P Ped edaa l K Kaa r ts • Cornfi el az ther FFun un A ctiv es Cornfiel eldd M Maz azee & O Other Activ ctivii tities • Take a Hayride to the Pumpkin Patch • Rent a “Party Spot” for your Fall Birthday • Visit our Barnyard Walk
H ome of ““TT he N ight of TTerr err or” & “H aunt ed P aintB tr on! Night error” “Haunt aunted PaintB aintBaa ll ” at attr traa cti ction! Open ev er hur rid ur ct ever eryy TThur hurss da y, FFrid ridaa y & Sat Satur urdda y in O Oct ctoober Visi eb si or mor et ai ls: Visitt the w web ebsi sitte ffor moree ddet etai ails: www .n ight of or .com www.n .night ightof oftterr error or.com
Become Inspired
By Annice Bradley Rockwell
Decorating, Entertaining and Living in the Early American Style Nature’s Palette As summer slowly melts into fall we notice a vibrant shift in the days. The air becomes much more crisp, New England foliage ripens to the colors that only nature’s palette can provide and we become increasingly aware of the beauty that belongs only to fall. A Season of Change Fall brings with it an excitement for the home decorator. Home interiors, porches, yards and patios can be transformed easily with the bounty of nature to capture the essence of this special season of change. With nature’s bounty all around us, we have countless ways to use the produce of fall to enhance our home displays. And experiencing the abundance that is provided by nature is a special part of the joy of autumn. Venturing to a local apple orchard on a sparkling fall afternoon, one could spend time enjoying the experience of being among the apple trees actively harvesting a full bushel basket or two to be brought home to use for homemade apple pie or to serve as a colorful accent in a country basket or wooden trencher. Hayrides through a pumpkin patch offer a similar experience that truly embraces the wonder of fall. Bringing back a collection of hand-selected pumpkins, squash, corn stalks and gourds we have the perfect elements to recreate the ambiance of autumn to surround us throughout the season. Our interiors bask in the glow of fall as we incorporate our carefully chosen touches of nature in and among our
favorite pieces. Candles in the comforting scents of New England Buttery or Pumpkin Cornbread suggest a setting of warmth and coziness as the evenings begin to creep more quickly into our days. An Inspiring Experience One of the biggest attractions in fall to a home decorator is a trip to an outdoor fall festival or shop. While sipping a cup of hot mulled cider, one can stroll the grounds of a harvest gathering and find special treasures to bring home. From country antiques, to the festive food of fall, a harvest festival is an outing of fun that should be shared. Visiting country shops staged with the beauty of fall can be an equally inspiring experience. With a desire to entice shoppers to visit, shopowners work especially hard to recreate their spaces to encourage and inspire the eager country shopper. As the fall season advances, spend time enjoying that natural beauty that abounds. Make an event out of the experience of gathering portions of the bounty of fall. Take time to treat yourself to a treasure of the past and create an inner setting of warmth to bring you a sense of being truly welcomed home. As you plan to pursue the pleasures of fall, take time to share the simple yet spectacular joys of fall with those you hold dear. – Annice Bradley Rockwell is an educator and owner of Pomfret Antiques. She is currently working on her book, New England Girl. NewEnglandGirl2012@hotmail.com
TEA ROOM AND CHRISTMAS SHOP
Antique Elegance in a Relaxed Atmosphere
Full Lunch Menu ~ Sweet Treats Afternoon Tea Served Daily! Large Selection of Loose Teas Available Tea Gift Sets Including Tea Forte and Davidson’s Organic Teas, Tea Accessories, Books, Tea Sets, Children’s Tea Sets Authorized Byers Choice Dealer Jim Shore Figurines ~ Unique Ornaments
www.ameliasteasandholly.com 26 South Main St., Mullica Hill, NJ 08062 (856) 223-0404 Hours:
Thur - Sat 11-4; Sun 12-4
Reservations Recommended Parking in Rear of Building
Just Do It!
by Cathy Elliott
“Emma’s Legacy” Recently, I signed up for a workshop to learn to make a little quilt called, “Emma’s Legacy.” It’s just the kind of pattern I like best – very old-fashioned and scrappy. Reminiscent of the collection of quilts in grandma’s linen cupboard, tenderly pieced with parts of grandpa’s best shirt or baby’s christening dress. In those days, folks used what fabric they had, giving it new life in the form of a functional coverlet. A treasure cherished by generations that followed. As Jane Austen would say, “I was all anticipation” until I heard that this pattern was so very complicated. The pieces are small and there are a lot of them to sew together in an intricate way. And then, there are the points! Oh, my. All those points must match perfectly. One gal told me that after attempting the “Emma’s Legacy” quilt, she had renamed it “Emma’s Lunacy.” She failed to finish it. After hearing her take, I thought about backing out of the workshop. Seriously. Did I want to set myself up for failure? I called a meeting with me, myself, and I to regroup. Where was that old American-can-do-spirit? What about “nothing ventured, nothing gained?” Or “say ‘yes’ to the dress?” Okay, maybe that last cliché doesn’t apply here. But you get my drift.
So I decided not only to take the class, but to complete the quilt on my newly acquired 1945 Singer Featherweight. A tiny sewing machine for a tiny quilt. I feel a little victorious before it’s time, facing the lunacy project with renewed passion. But I am confident that with a little American ingenuity, I can see it through to the end. Now, to focus that same spirit toward a certain writing project I’ve been tickling around the edges. It’s time to p l u n g e forward into the fray, ready for battle, expecting victory. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, eh? – Cathy Elliott is a full-time writer, creating cozy mysteries and more on her trusty laptop. She has authored three cozy mysteries with the newest - A Stitch in Crime just released, in tandem with the RErelease of a companion book, A Vase of Mistaken Identity. www.cathyelliottbooks.com; www.pinterest.com/ cathyelliott10/ or Facebook - Author Cathy Elliott –Quilt Photo Courtesy of The Tater Patch, Merrill, OR. Emma's Legacy quilt pattern is available for purchase at The Tater Patch.
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September & October 2016
WOODSTOWN
South Jersey Pumpkin Show
Big Pumpkin Weigh Off Friday Oct 7th New Jersey’s Big Pumpkin Weigh Off offers $4,400 in cash and prizes for 2016. Giant pumpkin growers and pumpkin enthusiast will be planting seeds, watering, and fertilizing, pampering and burying vines from spring to fall, as they prepare for their moment in the spot light. Pumpkin growers and backyard gardeners from any state are being invited to bring their heaviest pumpkin out to the South Jersey Pumpkin Show Big Pumpkin Weigh Off on Friday, October 7th from 5pm to 7pm.at the Salem County Fairgrounds, Woodstown, New Jersey. If you’re a pumpkin grower this is a great late season opportunity to show off your prize pumpkin and potentially win a portion of the $4,400 in prize money up for grabs. Pumpkins must be left on exhibit until 4pm on Sunday. The weigh off will begin as the pumpkins start arriving to the fairgrounds. All entries will be weighed
on a certified scale and pumpkins must be in good, sound condition. All pumpkins must be at least 40% orange/ yellow in color. No white pumpkins or squash will be accepted in the weigh-off. First to third place pumpkins must weigh a minimum of 680 pounds to qualify for placements. New Jersey’s only Big Pumpkin Weigh Off has become a popular tradition for the festival now in its thirteen-year history. The giant pumpkins will be on exhibit all three days and families will have an opportunity to take photos. In the event of severe weather conditions the Weigh-Off will be held on Saturday, October 8th from 10am to noon. Entry forms, weigh off rules and prize money payout can be found at on the website. In addition to the weigh-off, festival goers will enjoy artists, craftsmen, contests, costumed dog parade, amusement rides, pumpkin themed activities, Pumpkin Fun Food Contest,
live bands, Headless Horsemen, wine sampling and Fall Home Show. Admission is free and parking is $5.00 a carload and parking fee is good for all three days in 2016.
Visit the show website at: www.sjpumpkinshow.com for the latest show information, further details and events schedules. The website also features photos from previous shows.
T he Scarecrow Factory Harvest Open House September 10th 10-5 & 11th 11-4
Refreshments • Fun • Enter to Win 1 of 2 $25 Gift Certificates
Join us Saturday, September 24th for Woodstown Fall Festival Crafters • Live Music Handmade Scarecrows Lining the Streets
Saturday, October 1st
Pick a Pumpkin for Discount Day Spooky • Fun • Special Discounts
www.thescarecrowfactory.com 25 East Avenue (Rt. 40) Woodstown, NJ 08098 “Like” us on FB: ScarecrowFactoryCountryStore (856) 769-1050 Fall Hours: Tues - Sat 10-5; Sunday 12-4
im he bhres, t o t d tc e fildlemade Wairecrows r a e W h han nd Sc wit kins a My! Pump ...Oh
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The Country Register of New Jersey and Delaware
WEST CREEK
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September & October 2016
WEST CREEK
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The Country Register of New Jersey and Delaware
MORRISTOWN - RED BANK Est. 1964
The Antique Center of Red Bank Sundays 12-5pm
Daily 11-5pm
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
Town and Country Cooking
by Janette Hess
Happy Harvesting Ah, summer! While the heat and humidity drive us out of the kitchen, the garden and its bounty draw us back in. Every day we experiment with ways to make the most of the vegetables we have either harvested or purchased. In Chorizo Baked Beans, fresh peppers, tomatoes and onions enhance the flavor of traditional baked beans. With the addition of a bit of chorizo sausage, these baked beans become muy caliente, just like the temperature outside. In Andouille Stir Fry, seasonal vegetables serve as the basis of a quick side or main dish. And who doesn’t love garden-fresh okra when it’s combined with flavors that mimic gumbo? Italian Squash Bake gets its zest from Italian dressing and its richness from those round, buttery snack crackers found in most pantries. When made with vegetables alone, it’s a favorite side dish. When made with vegetables and shredded chicken, it’s a unique main dish. For best results, pick or purchase zucchini that is about 1½ inches in diameter. It will have fewer seeds, softer skin and better flavor. Happy harvesting! Andouille Stir Fry 6 ounces fully cooked andouille sausage, halved and sliced 1 tablespoon canola or olive oil 12 small, tender okra pods, trimmed and sliced . ½ onion, chopped 1 tablespoon butter 1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped 1 large tomato, peeled and chopped 2 cups halved, sliced zucchini (use small, tender zucchini no larger than 1½ inches in diameter) 1 tablespoon reduced-sodium Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon garlic powder ¼ teaspoon dried thyme, crushed Hot pepper sauce to taste Using large, non-stick skillet or electric skillet, sauté sausage in oil over medium to medium-high heat until sausage is lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Remove from pan and set aside. Melt butter in skillet and add okra and onion. Slowly sauté until okra has lost is stickiness. Transfer sausage back into pan and add all other ingredients. Cover and simmer until zucchini is just tender, about 8 to 10 minutes. Stir occasionally. Makes 6 servings.
Italian Squash Bake 2 cups sliced zucchini squash (use small, tender zucchini no larger than 1½ inches in diameter) 2 cups sliced yellow summer squash 1 ripe tomato, peeled and chopped 1 14-ounce can artichokes, 8 to 10 count, drained and quartered 1/2 cup Italian salad dressing Freshly ground black pepper 1½ cups shredded rotisserie chicken, if desired 12 round, buttery crackers, processed into fine crumbs 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese Cooking spray –Cut squash lengthwise before slicing and measuring. Combine squash, tomato and artichokes with dressing. Season with desired amount of black pepper. Marinate 15 to 20 minutes at room temperature, stirring occasionally. Add chicken, if desired. Using slotted spoon, transfer mixture into 9- by 13-inch baking dish that has been prepared with cooking spray. Discard any excess dressing. Toss cracker crumbs with Parmesan cheese and sprinkle over vegetables. Bake uncovered at 350 for 35 to 40 minutes. Makes 8 servings. Chorizo Baked Beans ½ pound high-quality chorizo sausage 1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced 1 large tomato, peeled and diced 1 onion, diced 2 15-ounce cans pork and beans, lightly drained 1 15-ounce can pinto beans, well drained 1 cup hickory or other smokeflavored barbecue sauce –In medium skillet, brown and drain chorizo sausage. Add bell pepper, tomato and onion. Saute 2 to 3 minutes to allow vegetables to absorb sausage flavor. Transfer to large casserole dish and add remaining ingredients. Stir to combine. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Note: Chorizo varies in spiciness. If milder beans are desired, conduct a taste test before adding the full amount of chorizo to the beans.
Morris County HistoriCal soCiety at aCorn Hall The perfect autumn day trip is to beautiful Acorn Hall! Take a guided tour of the 19th century Italianate villa-style house museum, see the current exhibit, and enjoy fall’s finery in the gardens. The Oak Leaf Gallery Gift Shop is also available. Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., and Sunday, 1 – 4 p.m.
Exhibit: Finest, Fancy, and Fashionable: 125 Years Dressing the Bride (1840-1954), bridal accessories, photographs, and more! – through October 23rd – Coming November 6th - Reporting Presidential Elections from Washington to Obama through rare newspapers.
See website for more details – www.AcornHall.org Find us on Facebook – Twitter – Tumbler 68 Morris Avenue, Morristown, NJ 07960 (973) 267-3465
Celebrating Halloween I remember going trick or treating as a child. I was a country girl, so Dad drove me to houses of people we knew and let me knock on the door. “Trick or trick!” I said as they opened the door. Where we lived, it was always treats. I rarely heard of any tricks being played on folks. Now there were often yards who had toilet paper floating from trees, but that was the extent of the tricks in our area. We were usually invited inside to sit a spell so the adults could visit and I would eat candy and watch whatever was on TV. Sometimes the church I went to would have a Halloween party and a hayride. That was fun! In elementary school we always had class parties. We would dress up in our costumes and parade through all the classrooms. The teachers would award prizes for the best costume, the funniest costume, etc. Then we would eat goodies until time to get ready for the bus. One year, one of the parents brought in pop. I remember this clearly because I had a grape soda and cheese popcorn and probably a cupcake, too. But I remember the grape soda and cheese popcorn especially, because they didn’t set well on my tummy. I wouldn’t touch either of those things for years. Dressing up in costumes, trick or treating and having parties are all part of
by Jo Branham older traditions that began long ago and have been passed down through time. Most of them have changed a good deal. People playing tricks were a problem for a number of years. Tipping over outhouses, opening farmer’s gates so their animals got loose and egging houses were the most popular “tricks.” This was another reason communities began having parties in which everyone was invited. The town leaders hoped that with something fun to do, the vandalism would stop. It worked pretty well, although it didn’t totally solve the problem. In the 1950s, with the baby boomers coming along, the parties began to focus mostly on children and were held in the school classroom. Some brave parents even allowed their children to have Halloween parties in their homes. Okay, so where does the dressing up come from? In Ireland (and many other countries) it was believed that the spirits of the dead walked on Halloween. People wore masks when they went out after dark on that evening in hopes that the spirits wouldn’t recognize them. No matter how you celebrate Halloween, I hope you have a safe and fun holiday. And don’t eat your candy all at once. –Jo Branham lives in Nashville where she writes. She enjoys shopping and her cat.
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September & October 2016
NEWTON - W AR WICK, NY WAR ARWICK,
Wilbur’s Country Store
Warwick Valley Quilters Guild presents:
Stars of the Valley Quilt Show
Sandfordville Elementary School - Sandfordville Rd., Warwick, NY Saturday, October 15, 10 - 5 & Sunday, October 16, 10 - 4
Cookie Cutters British Foods & Candy Gourmet Items Aprons Preserves & Pepper Jellies Yankee Candles Linen Calendars Wind Chimes Greeting Cards Braided Rugs, Chair Pads & Placemats
Venders • Lectures • Appraisals • Food • Boutique • Raffle Quilt
For more information visit: www.wvqg.org/
Sept. 17th & 18th, 2016 Saturday & Sunday
735 Rt. 94
between Newton & Blairstown, NJ
Rain or Shine
908-362-8833
From 10AM to 4:30PM
arts crafts
food
Held in a charming country setting at Wilbur’s Country Store & Barn Shops 735 Route 94 between Blairstown & Newton, NJ 908-362-8833
September - So Much to Celebrate
by Jo Branham
There is much to celebrate in September along with the glee many parents feel with school starting back. September is Classical Music M o n t h , International
Square Dancing Month, and National Courtesy Month. As we all know, I like to eat, so National Blueberry Popsicle Month, Honey Month and Better Breakfast month are celebrations that are right up my alley. Some celebrations you might not have known about but would like to celebrate this month are: the 6th is Read a Book Day, the 10th is Sewing Machine Day and the 19th is National Talk Like A Pirate Day. (Strangely, a day that actually does get celebrated much.) The 11th has a number of holidays, including Grandparent’s Day and 911 Remembrance Day.
Free Pattern
Find more free patterns at: JacquelynneSteves.com
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. Commer cial use is strictl Commercial strictlyy pr prohibited. ohibited.
We love to see the projects that you have made from our patterns. If you decide to post projects based on one of our patterns on a blog or website, please give design credit to Jacquelynne Steves. Thank you!
CRAFTS PEOPLE and ARTISTS FROM FOUR STATES
Cook’s Library with Patsy The poet Lemm Sissay says, "We are our story." It's so simple and yet so true. Each of us is walking around with a story of who we are and how we fit into the world. Although we may not realize it, this story is affecting every decision we make, how we interact with others, what we expect from the world, and what we give to those around us. The big question is whether this story is our own or one someone assigned to us. Did we think it through or did it just develop over time with a little bit from this experience and that one, influenced by a comment here or there? For most people it's the former, for some people it's a mix. I don't think it's possible for our story to be completely our own, with no outside influence. Do you think of yourself as good at art or cooking or jumping rope? Do you think of yourself as bad at housekeeping or running or math? How did that develop? Is it really true? It's probably not an absolute. We humans seem to come with few of those. Sissay says, "We are simply the story. The truth of it." The question is if those are really our stories, or just ones we have acquired because of someone else’s actions. I came into the world being an aunt, and I love the role, but it’s not a story I wrote myself. These are big questions to ponder when it’s too hot to do much other than think! This month I’m sharing with you a lemon cookie recipe given to me by a lovely lady named Lydia. She volunteered
By Patsy Terrell
for me at Radio Kansas a couple of decades ago and brought these in one day. They’re so light and perfect that I asked for the recipe, and she was gracious enough to share. It’s super easy to whip some up and so quick you don’t mind doing it even in the summer. They’re perfect with a glass of the coldest ice water you can imagine. You can slip in a slice of lemon or a sprig of mint into the glass if you want something extra. Quick Lemon Tea Cookies ¾ cup butter 1 cup sugar 2 pkgs instant lemon pudding (3 ¼ ounce each) 3 eggs, beaten 2 cups flour ¼ tsp. baking soda ¼ tsp. salt Sift together flour, soda and salt and set aside. Cream butter and sugar. Add pudding mix and beat until fluffy. Add eggs and beat until creamy. Add flour mixture and blend well. Refrigerate dough for an hour to keep cookies from spreading too much when cooked. Form dough into balls and roll in sugar. Place on greased cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake about 810 minutes at 375 degrees. –Patsy Terrell likes cookies of all kinds but finds lemon especially refreshing in the summer. They are perfect with air conditioning! Find more at cookslibrarywithpatsy.com.
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The Country Register of New Jersey and Delaware
DEL AWARE DELA Welcome to
Serendipity Quilt Shop
• Over 3500 Bolts of premium cotton fabrics • Flannel • Wool • Yarn • Stitchery • Rug Hooking • Quilting, Sewing and Knitting Classes • Books, Patterns and Notions www.serendipityquiltshop.com Like us on FACEBOOK
Hours: Mon-Sat 9-5 Closed Sun
31821 Cannon St., Dagsboro, DE 19939 (302) 732-6304
Quilting with Barbara
by Barbara Conquest
Row by Row Wrap-Up? Retrospective? By the time this is in print another summer adventure, Row by Row 2016, Home Sweet Home, will be history. In this part of the world more shops participated than last year, and shoppers took full advantage. As a travelling shopper in just two provinces in July, I made the following observations. Was this your experience too? All stores had their completed row and kits prominently on display, and most of them also had the winning quilt for their store – the one that someone had burned the midnight oil to complete first to win the 25-fat quarter prize for that store. These were welcome sights which helped later shoppers decide immediately if they wished to include that store’s row in their project. The patterns-only packages were generally behind the counter and available on request and with a signature, a wise precaution on the part of the store. What was interesting was the reaction of store personnel when a pattern-only request was made. Usually the pattern was provided promptly and cheerfully, but in a few cases, after trying vigorously but unsuccessfully to sell the complete kit, the handover was more subdued. However, at one store we visited the patterns were piled on a cutting table with no clerks in sight. After a lonely wait of 10 minutes or so I picked up a pattern, signed the visitor list and departed without speaking to a soul. No hard sell there! The completed quilts, as mentioned, were proudly hung with the maker’s name (and often the participating stores’ names). They were inspiring eye-candy which made shoppers want to rush home to begin theirs (Oh wait, we’re on holiday!) For the rows requiring embellishment, acquisition of these add-ons was treated differently by different shops. Some included embellishments in their kits; some made them available for a small additional charge. One provided them in their kits but wouldn’t sell them to people not buying the kit, possibly losing a bit of profit as well as a little good will,
in my opinion As expected, patterns differed widely from store to store. The vast majority were colourfully illustrated and well designed, some by professional designers. Obviously a lot of thought went into these. But a few were merely single photo-copied sheets with scant black and white directions and illustrations. To me that indicated a lack of pride and interest in their product, and some customers likely won’t return. At my speed I’ll never be an eight-row winner, but having completed a few rows here are a few considerations for those who still have to finish their projects, whether rows or quilts: 1. If buying a kit, check before you leave the store that it is complete (one of mine was missing one fabric); 2. Buy lots of fusible. It is rarely included in a kit; 3.Check on availability of embellishments. I bought one kit on the strength of its attractive embellishments only to find they weren’t included and not available at the shop either; 4. Remember that a silicon sheet will be your iron’s best friend; 5. Use a small (25-30 mm) rotary cutter if you have one. It can get into small areas and cut neat straight lines on appliques; 6. When cutting curves with scissors remember to move the fabric, not the scissors; 7. Label the fused applique pieces before cutting. After cutting, they are so easy to mix up (guess how I know this); 8. Thank the shop owners, most of whom have voluntarily spent time, resources and money preparing these projects for our enjoyment. Remember the good ones when you next need to purchase supplies; 9. Most importantly: have fun, and try to finish the 2016 rows before the 2017 theme is announced (my goal)! –Barbara Conquest writes her column from Blue Sky Quilting in Tofield, AB. © 2016
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September & October 2016
CAPE MA Y MAY
Stitch By Stitch <Cross Stitch & all the “goodies” <Needlepoint & Patanayan Wool <Custom Framing <Nancy Spruance Trunk Show
UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS • September 3-4: Hands-On-History • September 10-11: Revolutionary War Encampment • September 17-18: Civil War Weekend • September 24-25: Village Sampler Weekend • October 8: Channeling Dinner with Famed Medium Craig McManus • October 15: Pumpkin Fest • November 5: Candlelight Walk
An Early American Living History Museum 720 Route 9, Cape May, NJ
We will be having classes, so please call for information. OPEN EVERY DAY 10AM - 5PM (Please Call First: 1-800-868-3215)
Washington Commons 315 Ocean St., Unit 9 Cape May, NJ 08204 If we don’t have it, we will order it. We ship anywhere.
3 Miles North of Cape May City Admission Charge (unless noted) - Free Parking
Call for more information 609-898-2300 or visit our website: www.hcsv.org
October Dates to Celebrate October is a very busy month. It is the month to Adopt a Shelter Dog. It is also the month for Breast Cancer Awareness, National Diabetes Month, and National Vegetarian Month. My favorites: Cookie Month, Eat Country Ham Month, National Pizza Month, and National Popcorn Popping Month. Yum! The 12th is Take Your Teddy Bear to Work Day. The 17th is Wear Something Gaudy Day.
by Jo Branham
The end of the month covers all the scary holidays you could think of: 29th National Frankenstein Day; 30th Mischief Night; and the 31st Halloween. Two others that go along with Halloween are National Candy Corn Day on the 30th and we can not forget Carve a Pumpkin Day on the 31st. My favorite holiday this month is National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day on the 21st. You can’t go wrong with cheesecake!
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Decorating Ideas
by Tammy Page
Family Recipe Wall
My oldest daughter, Angie came up with a nostalgic way of displaying old family recipes while also preserving tradition with our family. She asked members of our family to write down the recipe they were most famous for preparing. She also asked for her favorite recipes they had cooked for her as a child. There were some family members who have passed on but their recipes live on because they were handed down to the next generation. Angie photo copied their recipes also. One example is “Grandma at the barns” Banana Walnut Cake with Caramel Icing.
Some of her other favorites are my homemade chocolate icing for brownies (see recipe below) and my mom’s apple cake recipe. Also included in the collection is my mother-in-law’s sugar cookie recipe. Angie then found old frames at antique shops and painted them a glossy black. She mounted each recipe on parchment paper and framed them in different sized frames. She then hung them in an arrangement on an entrance wall into her dining room. What a beautiful way to honor our family cooks, don’t you think? Chocolate Icing 1 cup of sugar 2 tablespoons of butter ¾ cup of milk Heat and stir until boiling. Take off stove and immediately stir in one package of semi sweet chocolate chips. Keep stirring until melted. Pour on brownies. The icing will set up in a few min. as it cools. Enjoy! -Tammy Page lives on an Indiana farm with her family, farm animals and many pets.
The Knitting Savant
By Andrea Springer
Charting Our Success Our beginnings as knitters are humble. We learn to make the knit and purl stitches, cast stitches on the needle and bind them off. It’s the variations of these basic skills that build every knitted object we aspire to create. These skills – and a good pattern. Patterns are the roadmap between inspiration and finished object. Our ability to interpret the writer’s design can mean the difference between a handmade item that ser ves its intended purpose or an unfinished project in a bag at the back of the closet. Every pattern is different and each knitter brings a preferred learning style to a pattern. Part of the process of becoming a better knitter is understanding how you connect with written directions. Are you someone who prefers reading the instructions in each row or working with a visual schematic like a chart? Do you need a lot of detail in the pattern, or do your eyes glaze over and you pass up a pattern that has page after page of writing? Do you need measurements and photos or not? Knowing your preferred learning style and then finding tools to help manage the information presented in a pattern will go a long way towards making the knitting experience enjoyable and successful. Here are a few things to consider: Take the time to look the pattern up online. Search by the pattern name and add the word “errata” to the search. The
results may reveal corrections to the pattern that were made since it was published. A little time invested in the beginning may save you hours of frustration down the road. Learn how to read charts. Many knitters avoid them because they look foreign and complicated but again, with a little investment of time, understanding how these pattern “pictures” work can save time and frustration. Develop tools to help you navigate a pattern. Pencil in notes as you go about changes and adjustments. Sticky notes and highlighters work to mark specific rows and sizes. Charts can be enlarged on a photocopier (for personal use only) and their individual stitch motifs identified with colored pencils so they’re easier to read and follow. Experiment and learn what makes the process easier for you. And – as always – swatch. Making sure you’re getting the same gauge as the pattern is the first building block in the success of your finished garment. Our handmade projects are built on a foundation of basic skills and a good roadmap. Chart your success with a little preparation and the right tools. –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 or ideas 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
OUT OF ST ATE AND WEB STA WEB--BASED
Life on the Farm
by Donna Jo Copeland
September’s Song is Pure Country Bliss After summer's heat, September's song is pure country bliss: cornflower blue skies, bright Black eyed Susans and Joe Pye weed, Katydids singing evening song and those huge sticky spider webs. September also heralds the last hay baling, last of tomato and green bean canning, cooler nights and shorter days. As a child growing up on a 160 acre farm in south central Indiana I both loved and hated September. I was born in that month so my birthday gifts were school clothes, which I needed of course but gee couldn't somebody get me a doll or a kitten? School started right after Labor Day and that meant the absolute end of summer days filled with mud hole digging, walks in the woods, lightning bug jars, being locked outside while Mom cleaned house and sipping Kool Aid on the porch. Sitting on that same porch we watched summer thunderstorms come rolling in and at night were amazed at the Northern Lights. With the cooler temperatures it also meant more baking and becauae we had a dairy, usually there was sour milk for a chocolate cake on Sunday evenings. Oftentimes a piece of that cake and a glass of milk was Sunday supper. This chocolate cake has been made in my family for over a hundred years and still is a favorite today. October always seemed caught up in its own rhythm of school and chores. Walking to the neighboring farm to catch the school bus on dark mornings at 6:30,
then an hour long ride began our school days. A neighborhood Halloween party for us farm kids was a real treat and meant we raided the "north room" for outdated clothes for our costumes. No one bought costumes then as we were all pretty poor in coin. Simple times, simple pleasures, great neighbors and Golden autumns make for wonderful memories. –Donna Jo Copeland, is a 15th generation farmeress/fiber artist who owns Brezzy Manor Farm in Mooresville, IN Never Fail Chocolate Cake
3 cups sifted flour 2 cups sugar 1/2 cup Hersheys Cocoa 1 t. salt 1/2 t. baking powder
Mix these together by hand 1 t. baking soda 2 cups sour milk Mix the baking soda and milk until it froths, then mix into the dry ingredients. 1/2 cup melted lard 1 egg 1 t. vanilla Mix the rest of the ingredients together with the milk mixture. Pour into a greased and floured 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 for 35 to 45 minutes. It’s a dense cake, better the next day. You can substitute vegetable oil for the lard. Mom always made hard carmel icing.....no real recipe... a stick of butter, powdered sugar, cream, vanilla.....poured over the cake and it hardened when it cooled.
Book Review
Disappearing Nine Patch Is New Adventure in Harriet Truman Loose Threads Mystery Series by Arlene Sachitano Molly Baker has come to Foggy Point to organize a recognition ceremony for donors to the local missing children organization and to escape her abusive ex-boyfriend. Harriet Truman and the Loose Threads agree to make quilts for the top two donors, but soon discover that Molly has an agenda. She herself was a kidnap victim as a child along with her friend Amber and the perpetrator was never caught. Molly hopes Harriet can help her figure out what happened. Harriet and the Loose Threads have barely started asking questions when accidents start happening to them— and Molly herself is killed. Is it related to the girls' kidnapping? Or did Molly’s current work tracking down missing and exploited children put her in harm’s way? After Harriet’s Aunt Beth is injured in a car accident that may have been planned
for her, the group wonders—will someone go to any lengths to keep the secret of Amber’s disappearance? Or has Molly’s work pursuing human traffickers made them a target? Disappearing Nine Patch (book nine in the series) is available as a paperback print book through amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com or as an e-book through Kindle, Nook and other popular formats. All of the Harriet Truman Loose Threads adventures are also available on the Espresso Book Machine at a location near you. –Arlene resides in OR and is handy at being both a knitter and a quilter—and she puts her quilting knowledge to work in the Harriet Truman/Loose Threads mystery series, which features a long arm quilter as the amateur sleuth. Arlene also babysits her delightful grand-girls several days a week. Arlene divides her time between homes in Portland and Tillamook, with her husband and their canine companion.
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September & October 2016
HADDON HEIGHTS - PHIL ADELPHIA, P A PHILADELPHIA, PA Haddon Heights Fall Festival October 1st, 2016- 10 am to 4pm Rain date October 2nd
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
Stashbusting Tip for Quilters –Quilt with Compassion If you are like me, you likely have more fabric than projects. For the last two years, the president of our local quilters’ guild has challenged us to take another look at fabrics that pile up without a home and put them to work. When Venita Aldrich, an inspired Spokane quilter, started “Because We Care” to make comfort quilts for patients taking chemotherapy, I was thrilled to jump right in. The wheelchair size of these quilts (roughly 44” x 55”) is just big enough to allow quilters to play around with design and use up fabric. These projects also can be finished within a reasonable amount of time. In 2015, our small group of about nine quilters, contributing either time, money or quilt tops, made 47 comfort quilts. So far this year, we’ve made 20. All of our quilts are backed with warm flannel and donated to patients taking chemotherapy at Cancer Care Northwest here in Spokane. Perhaps a project like ours can inspire you to take another look at your stash of unused fabrics. How do you get started? Our library at Washington State Quilters - Spokane just added a lovely book by Lindsay Conner, www.lindsaysews.com, that can be used to create fresh quilts from your fabric stash—with an added plus. Her advice encourages groups to work on charity quilts. Conner says, “If you can’t find a quilting bee to join, start your own!” Modern Bee: 13 Quilts to Make with Friends (StashBooks, C & T Publishing, 2013, 128 pp), takes the reader through the process of setting up a quilting bee, with blocks for beginning and intermediate quilters. Organized so that each month introduces a new project (and pattern), her traditional and modern designs are bright and airy.
by Beth Camp
You can expect clear instructions on how to set up a quilting bee (face-to-face, online, or via snail mail). Her practical advice delves into issues faced by new groups, such as. ‘What if the blocks are not the same size?’ Guidelines on how to finish that quilt from borders, to binding and backing, along with inspiring stories about quilters who enjoy working with groups, are also included. Lindsay’s book and her blog show off her enthusiasm for new designs. I am quite intrigued by her string circles, another stashbuster to play with. A second and inspirational book, Making a World of Difference One Quilt at a Time (New World Library, 2015, 262 pp) by Ruth McHaney Danner, http://ruthdanner.com, offers moving profiles of some 54 quilters and/or quilting groups who have made a commitment to quilt for others in need. Danner tells heart-warming stories about how and why these quilters make quilts to give away. Some quilts are created for children in hospitals, for veterans, those at hospice or shelters, to raise money for scholarships or for international organizations dedicated to easing poverty, among many other causes. Each chapter ends with a Binding Stitch note that highlights additional resources and ways for you to start a project of your own. One quilter explains why she gives her quilts away, “It just feels like the right thing to do – put warmth and comfort out in the world” Why not consider making a comfort quilt? No matter whether your finished quilt goes to a cancer patient, a senior center or children’s hospital, it will be appreciated. And your fabric stash just might be a little smaller. –Beth Camp is a member of Because We Care and Washington State Quilters. She quilts and writes historical fiction in Spokane, WA. Contact Beth at www.bethandwriting.blogspot.com
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A Brief History of Trick or Treat
by Jo Branham
Trick or treating is thought to have come from the European practice of “mumming” or the English practice of “souling.” Or possibly a combination of the two. Fancy dressed people wearing masks would go from house to house and dance or play dice when mumming. Souling was a Christian custom that took place on Halloween (and Christmas) in many English towns. Poor people would beg
for food and families would give them “soul cakes” in return for a promise from the poor people to pray for the families’ dead relatives. In the late 19th century, many immigrants came to America, bringing with them their holiday customs and beliefs. Halloween customs are largely attributed to the Irish who fled to America because of the great potato famine of 1846.
Decorating Ideas Old Ironing Boards
Have you ever thought about the toil and time your grandma or great grandmother put into standing over a hot iron preparing your parent’s shirts or pinafore dress for Sunday services? Moms and grandmas would iron for hours just to make a good impression and for their children to look their best for a special occasion. I learned to iron (with an electric iron of course) and actually liked it. My mom is still today an avid “ironer”, is that a word? She taught me to first iron dad’s handkerchiefs and then I was able to move up to simple shirts and skirts. I don’t do much ironing myself these days thanks to the wonders of permanent press, the fluff cycle on the dryer and the must have…wrinkle reducer. I do, however, have an old wooden ironing board that is displayed in my entryway and I decorate it every changing season and holiday. I purchased the board at Mansfield where every year Parke County, Indiana celebrates its Covered
by Tammy Page Bridge Festival. It’s a fantastic place to find primitives and antiques. I first start with a small covering, either an old tablecloth or a runner. Or, sometimes I leave it uncovered so the burn marks can be displayed. I then add several of my Boyds Bears that are dressed for the occasion or holiday. I add lights, some colored ones especially at Christmas and then a candle and some coordinating knick knacks. I’m proud of that old ironing board and what it represents. I admire my ancestors who stood for hours over the ironing board making sure her family looked proper for a special occasion, be it school, church or a social. The marks on my ironing board have been put there with lots of love and hard work. I often wonder about the family that owned it years ago. I imagine I can smell the hot iron as it presses into the fabric and sometimes even a scorch or too. –Tammy Page lives on an Indiana farm with her family, farm animals and many pets.
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The Country Register of New Jersey and Delaware
PEDRICK TOWN PEDRICKTOWN
27th PEDRICKTOWN DAY “All American Harvest Festival” Sat. , Oct. 8, 2016 – 9 to 5 (Raindate: Sunday, Oct. 9th: Noon to 5 PM)
FREE SHUTTLE SERVICE Live Music All Day! Helicopter Rides More Children’s Activities Back in the Day Car Show, Wine Tasting Petting Zoo • Pony Rides, Face Painting • Games • Crafts Food Vendors • Raffle Baskets And More!
www.facebook.com/ PedricktownDayCommittee Visit Us Online: www.pedricktownday.org
27th Annual Pedricktown Day
Saturday, October 8th from 9:00 to 5:00
The 27th Annual Pedricktown Day will take place on Saturday, October. 8, 2016 from 9:00am to 5:00pm (Raindate: Sun., Oct. 9th: Noon to 5pm.) Billed as “An All American Harvest Festival” this years event will certainly have something for every member of the family to enjoy. Just some of the activities at the 2016 event will include, Helicopter Rides, “Back in the Day” Car Show, Business & Non-Profit Organizations, Dixie Swing, Mechanical Bull, Big Top Toddler Unit, Bungee Run, Candy Fun Center and 3 Lane Sports Obstacle Course. The Pedricktown Day Committee is proud to say that all children’s activities are underwritten so that most are free, and amusement rides are only a dollar! Some activities that the family might enjoy are: Stilt Walkers, Balloon Artist, Strolling Magician, Pony Rides, Air Brush Tattoos, Petting Zoo and Mechanical Rides. Pedericktown Day will also include live entertainment with bands all day. Some other activities include: “Back in the Day” Classic Car S h o w , Commemorative Wine Totes, Wine
Tastings, and a free Trackless Train running all day. Be sure to visit Heart Felt Designs Country Shop’s 32 anniversary & juried craft Show and ETC Shop General Store’s (37 years in business) 32 sidewalk sale featuring antiques and collectibles, raffles and more. Food vendors will be set up offering all traditional festival fare such as: Pedricktown’s own Bondi’s and Stew’s Concessions, Logan Volunteer Fire Co. Ladies Auxiliary Luncheon, Logan Fire Co. Take out Chicken BBQ, The County Store’s BBQ Chicken & Ribs, South Jersey Mobile Café, King Kernel’s Kettle Corn and Salem Oak Vineyards. Shuttle ser vice will be available to remote parking areas all day, and parking will be controlled by Carney’s Point Police Explorers Troop, Security by the NJ State Police. Applications for Craft Show, NonProfits, Vendors: Call: 856-299-2133 Or Please visit website pedricktownday.org and on Facebook www.facebook.com/ Pedricktownday for up to date details and more information
OPEN H OUSE - Saturday, September 17, 10 to 5 HO
featuring the 2016 Ginger Cottages, hand-made in the USA also NEW Candles • Naked Bee Products Come see what is NEW for Fall!
PEDRICKT OWN DA Y- Saturday, October 8, 9 to 5 PEDRICKTO DAY Come Celebrate 32nd Annual Sidewalk Sale Many Vendors • Store Specials • Door Prize Drawings
1 East Mill Street, P. O. Box 406, Pedricktown, NJ 08067 (at the blinker light) Like us Rae & Charles W alzer Walzer alzer,, prop. www.etcshop.net on:
(856) 299-2210 • Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10-5; Sunday by chance