®
Page 2
The Country Register of New Jersey and Delaware
Editors’ Corner
New Year's Day is every man's birthday. –Charles Lamb
®
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 • Jan & Feb 2018 • Vol. 18 No. 5 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.
Happy New Year!!! Thank you for picking up our annual quilting, sewing and needle arts theme issue! What a perfect time of year to explore the needle arts whether you are new to the craft or want to expand your skills. The shops advertising within our publication can certainly help you find the supplies you need to fit your skill level. Join a class to expand your knowledge (or even to gain the basic skills of a new craft)! We’ve included lots of shops that offer quilting, needlework, sewing, fabric, cross stitch, rug hooking, etc. You’ll find projects in this issue and as many articles on the theme as we could squeeze in. The needle arts are rewarding, enjoyable and relaxing too! Get a project started today! Are you ready for a redecorating project this winter? Then head out to our advertising shops and events to get redecorating ideas and new home décor.
Within these pages, you’ll find furniture, curtains, linens, wallpaper, collectibles, and everything else you need for any redecorating project. Or buy that item you wanted for Christmas but that Santa forgot to bring you. If the weather outside is frightful, what a perfect day to grab your copy of our publication, a hot cup of tea and shop online from our website with direct links to our advertiser’s websites and also plan your shopping trip for the next sunny day. With the after-the-holiday sales, now is a great time to visit the shops! Be sure to check their ads for winter hours or call ahead to verify. Don’t forget to visit our facebook page for updates on our advertisers too. .
Let’s Go ShoppingAND THE GRANDKIDS!
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
Subscribe to the Country Register!
Send your name and complete mailing address, along with a check or money order to:
THE COUNTRY REGISTER OF NJ/DE P. O. Box 128, Owens Cross Roads, AL 35763 Subscriptions: 1 Year (6 issues): $24 ~ Single copies: $4 for postage & handling
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 Alabama: Beverly Bainbridge, 304-723-8934 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 Kentucky: Brandie Ledford, 712-660-2569 Maine: Gail Hagerman, 207-437-2663 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: 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: Dave Carter, 866-825-9217, South Carolina: Barb Stillman, 602-942-8950 South Dakota: Dee Sleep, 605-722-7028 Tennessee: Brandie Ledford, 712-660-2569 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
Short Stories by a Mystery Book Author Patchwork Pillow Hugs For my grandgem’s tenth birthday, I bought her a sparkly, mermaid pillow at Home Goods. It was covered on both sides with pink, sequined fabric that turned to silver when brushed the other way. Perfect for drawing hearts or writing a message. Or forever doodling in something like silver and pink glitter. She seemed charmed by it and I gave myself an inner stamp-ofapproval. Job well done. Until my daughter dropped a recent remark on the subject, ”Blahblah…loves it…but she’s disappointed. She can’t cuddle up with the pillow or lay on it because of the sequins on both sides.” Oh-oh. The comment stuck with me. Why hadn’t I thought of that myself ? So caught up in its twinkle, I never considered what her pillow was tasked to do. To be a comfort. What tween girl – or anyone – would want to flop in a chair and lean against a prickly pillow? Then I remembered a handmade, patchwork pillow, loved from the first day I laid eyes upon it, gifted by my sister-inlaw many years ago. Sent for no reason except sisterly-affection, it was (and still is) the perfect pillow. A generous 26”X26” square, filled with soft down, and covered with quality Ralph Lauren
by Cathy Elliott
fabrics: the striped material cut from a set of curtains, the backing from a skirt she no longer wore, the rest of the fabrics from a design store’s old sample book. In fact, that pillow is just what it should be - beautiful in design, skillfully crafted, and as comforting to lean against as a hug at the end of a hard day. All wrapped into a patchwork masterpiece, always welcoming me home. Though my grand-gem might not appreciate designer fabrics yet, I bet she’d treasure a patchwork pillow out of fun fabrics that make her smile or stir a happy memory. Something huggable – front and back. That’s the goal. Out with the prickle and in with the cozy cuddle! I better get busy.
–Cathy Elliott is a full-time writer living in northern California whose mysteries reflect her personal interests of crafting and collecting. She also leads music at church and cherishes time with her grandchildren. In addition to various articles and anthology contributions, Cathy’s written ten children’s books for classroom use. Her plot-twisting works include A Vase of Mistaken Identity, Medals in the Attic, and A Stitch in Crime. Website www.cathyelliottbooks.com
Page 3
January & February, 2018
Events Listing
Advertiser Index
Shops are listed alphabetically by location. Cities & Shops
P age # Page
New Jersey Cape May............................. 14 Fiber Arts Yarn Shop Historic Cold Spring Village Stitch by Stitch Elmer ................................... 15 Peggy’s Country Gifts/Antiques Vintage Farmhouse Glassboro ............................. 12 Gingerbread Primitives Marmora .............................. 16 Dollard Baker Sew & Vac Mount Holly .......................... 7 The Village Quilter Morristown .......................... 11 Acorn Hall Mullica Hill ......................... 13 Needles & Pins The Parsonage Antiques & More Newton ................................ 10 Wilbur’s Country Store Pedricktown .......................... 6 Heart Felt Designs Pitman ................................. 12 Olde Pear Primitives
Cities & Shops
See shop & show ads for complete details. P age # Page
The Scarecrow Factory Red Bank ............................. 11 Antique Center of Red Bank Salem ..................................... 6 Cawman’s Antique Mall Suse-E-Q’s Cottage Vineland .............................. 15 The Pin Cushion West Creek ......................... 8, 9 KC Creations Woodstown ............................ 7 Country Swan Gift Shoppe Delaware Dagsboro ............................... 5 Serendipity Bethany Beach ...................... 5 Sea Needles Newark .................................. 5 The Blue Hen Bed & Breakfast The Blue Hen Quilt Shop
Classified ............................... 4 Out of State ........................... 4
January
Day
Event
13
Snowman & Me Party - Olde Pear & Scarecrow Factory, Pitman ............. 12
Day
Event
February
Page #
Page #
3 Pick a discount - Olde Pear & Scarecrow Factory, Pitman ......................... 12 3, 4 Open House - Heart Felt Designs, Pedricktown ............................................ 6 16-19 Anniversary Specials - Fiber Arts, Cape May ................................................. 14
March
Day
Event
Page #
2-11
Quilts Around the Bay Shop Hop, Various Towns ........................................ 5
Wanted: Budding Writer Interested in Seeing Your Articles Published 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 would enjoy seeing your articles in print and you like to shop, then we should get together! Send us a sample or an article about shopping with any of our advertisers and we’ll take a look and respond. Email samples in MS Word doc to email@countryregisteronline.com.
Page 4
The Country Register of New Jersey and Delaware
CLASSIFIED ADS - OUT OF STATE & WEB-BASED
Batteries Not Included
THE COCOA EXCHANGE™ brings you exclusive and innovative ways to explore your passions through our cocoa experiences!
Board Games Can Cure Cabin Fever
Earn SWEET Cash for your organization! A delicious fundraiser everyone will love with free shipping! Exclusive products including giftables, culinary line and sweet treats - with a percentage of sales donated to your school or group.
Online Shopping! Enjoy shopping at your convenience from our extensive variety of products: www.myTCEsite.com/amycarter
Gifting Made Easy! Whether it’s personal gifts or business gifts for customers or employees, we have the perfect giftable sets to meet your needs!
Start your own The Cocoa Exchange Business! Share rewarding experiences with 3 brands of products featuring chocolate and cocoa.
Amy Carter, Independent Curator #6579
www.mytcesite.com/amycarter ‡ FKRFRODWHIURPDP\#JPDLO FRP The Cocoa ExchangeTM is a registered trademark and is used under license.
Back Yard Break
by Susan Baldani
by Nancy Parker Brummett
It always surprises people when they walk into my living room and see a halffinished jigsaw puzzle. They ask, “Wow, people still do those?� Yes, yes they do. They also play Monopoly, Clue, Connect4 and other non-tech games. As a matter of fact, board games are making a comeback. Go into the toy department of any store, and you will still see a large array of not only board games, but card games and jigsaw puzzles as well. According to ArticleBiz.com, “Games like Risk, Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit and The Game of Life are some of the classic games that are still very much in demand and well loved. And traditional games like chess, checkers, and backgammon will always be favorites.� Who doesn’t remember sitting around with family and friends while laughing and arguing about who was going to win the game? Or hearing the cheers and boos of your fellow players as you push that round checker across the board or try to extricate that wooden piece during Jenga? That cannot be duplicated on a computer, phone or television screen. And no slick 3D video game can replace this live social interaction. For most of us, it started out with Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders, and now the choices are many. Board games like Scattergories and Pictionary to card games such as Uno or Phase 10; there is
something for everyone, at any age. Also, as stated on howandwhys.com, when it comes to kids, “Board games play a huge role in children’s health and brain development: different types of board games help to develop logic and reasoning skills, improve critical thinking, increase verbal and communication skills, develop attention skills and the ability to concentrate for longer periods of time.�Furthermore, if the power goes out or there are no batteries in the house, not to worry. You can still carry on with your game or puzzle. And besides, playing Twister in the dark may be a lot more fun and challenging. So go into your closets, dust off those game boxes (or pick up some new ones), and make plans for a get-together with your favorite people. Whether you make dinner first, or just serve coffee and cake, it doesn’t much matter. Sit around and enjoy one another’s company while the televisions, phones and computers sit silent and lonely in the background. And remember, no cheating. Enjoy! –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.
Happy Fresh Year!
New snow. The first rays of dawn. A crisp apple. We appreciate all these things and more because they are fresh— unspoiled and full of promise. Should we appreciate this fresh, new year any less? The problem many of us have is not how to appreciate the freshness of the new year, but how to keep it fresh. A diet that includes plenty of healthy fruits and vegetables is always a good idea, but that alone won’t sustain freshness in our hearts and minds. No amount of TupperwareŽ or Saran WrapŽ will do the job either. We have to make a conscious effort to keep things fresh all year long— beginning with our own attitudes. What comes to mind when you think of celebrating and sustaining freshness in your life? I’ll list just a few thoughts in hopes of motivating you to think of more: Fresh marriage. My husband and I have been married almost 30 years, but I never want to take God’s gift of a second, redemptive marriage for granted. I’m going to look for ways to keep our love fresh as we move toward a time of life neither of us has experienced before— to be open to new places, energizing experiences, and different living arrangements.
Fresh work. I need to return to an old project with renewed energy. Writing a new book is a creative exercise with all the joys and angst of birthing a baby. I want to keep my work fresh—to use more primary resources and less of my tried-andtrue secondary ones. To think thoughts I’ve never had and use vivid, descriptive words so that I deliver a fresh manuscript to the publisher. Fresh friendship. This year I want to be totally present with friends old and new. To truly listen when they speak and find a fresh level of intimacy with each one. Friendship is a treasure to cherish— and keep fresh. Fresh faith. A new year means beginning a new daily devotional, but what else will be fresh about my faith? According to Isaiah 43:18-19, we can always count on the Lord to bring freshness and renewal. The Lord said through Isaiah, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?� I don’t want to miss any fresh, new thing the Lord wants to do in me this year. In fact, I want to recapture the freshness of the hour I first believed.
Tired of the Cold & Snow? Sew & Vac Business For Sale Retail sewing machine and vacuums store. Located on the warm southeast coast in a major growth area. Well established with great customer base. Owners would like to retire after years in the industry. Will train new owner.
For info send name & number to:
sewingstoreforsale@gmail.com How about you? How will you keep 2018 fresh until the last day of December? May you have a happy, healthy new year—and may it stay fresh! –Nancy Parker Brummett is an author and freelance writer in Colorado Springs, CO. “Like� her author page on Facebook, or to learn more about her life and work, visit www.nancyparkerbrummett.com.
Page 5
January & February, 2018
DELAWARE Welcome to
Serendipity Quilt Shop
31821 Cannon St., Dagsboro, DE 19939 (302) 732-6304 • Over 3500 Bolts of premium cotton fabrics • Flannel • Wool • Stitchery • Quilting and Sewing Classes • Books, Patterns and Notions Hours: Mon-Sat 10-4; Closed Sun
Like us on FACEBOOK
www.serendipityquiltshop.com
Salvage Style
by Marla Wilson
Photo Display
At first glance, this photo holder may look like it is made from a shutter, but it is not. It is actually the front from an old, school locker door. It works much better than a shutter, because the louvers are a very thin metal, so any clip, clothes pin, or even magnets, work on it. It is also somewhat bendable, light weight and easy to cut. I first cleaned up the metal. I liked the patina with the different colors it had been painted through the years showing. For the base piece I used a panel I had salvaged from an old wood door. I painted “family” at the top of the panel with a coordinating color, and after it dried, I sprayed it with a clear coat. I then cut the metal piece to fit the area I wanted to cover. As I said, the metal is quite thin and easy to work with. Attach
the metal to the base piece with small screws. If painting isn’t your thing, you can purchase initials made from wood or metal. A simple initial at the top would work well.I thought about putting a “W” since our last name is Wilson. I am very pleased with how this turned out.The photos are very simple to change out, so when the grandkids get new pictures, I do not have to mess with frames. –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
Page 6
The Country Register of New Jersey and Delaware
PEDRICKTOWN - SALEM
Cawman’s Antique Mall Antiques & Things on Consignment
Ov er 40 Vendors in 12,000 sq ft Over
Cabin Fever? Browsers Welcome
Thank you for Your Support – 33 Years in Business!
Super Bowl & Valentine’s Day Weekend Open House: Sat., Feb 3rd – 10 to 5 & Sun., Feb 4th – 12:30 to 5 Refreshments & Door Prizes Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas • Potpourri • McCalls, 1803 and Keepers of the Light Candles • Beautiful Florals Country Style Curtains • Tabletop Heart Shaped Gift Certificates • Framed Art and More! (856) 299-2133 WEB: www.heartfeltdesigns.com
24 So. Railroad Ave., Pedricktown, NJ
Hrs: Mon 10-5 (Call first) Tues-Sat 10-5 & Sun 12:30-5 (Call first) Less than 10 min. from Del. Memorial & Commodore Barry Bridges
Click “Like”
Suse-E-Q ’s Cottage Primitiv e • Country • Cottag e Primitive Cottage Furnishing s and Decor Furnishings 107 A West Broadway, (Rt 49) (across from Historic Salem Oak) 856-935-0669
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Wed to Sat 10 - 5; Sun Noon - 4, Closed Mon & Tues Major Credit Cards Welcome
S ee us on FFacebook acebook
529 SSalem alem Q uinton R oad Quinton Road Salem, NJ 08079 856-935-0423 Hours: Wed-S un 10am-5pm ed-Sun
www.CawmansMall.com
Ann’s Lovin’ Ewe
by Ann Stewart
From ER to “Star” to Police Car On the morning I was supposed to fly to Nashville, I awakened at 2:40 am with a piercing double ear infection. Stars in the Grass was a finalist for Best Debut Novel at the Christy Gala; but after googling air travel and ear infections, my trip was up in the air. At the local ER, the doctor stood back and grimaced, “You know you have pink eye going on, too.” She then left and returned with five medications, explaining,”You have to go. I googled you and watched your book trailer and it’s really good.” Though the 8:00 am flight was painful, by 8:00 pm it was a distant memory at the Grand Gala. My friend and I felt like imposter Nobodies in a candy store scooping up all the freebies and meeting the famous. After a sit-down dinner, the awards began. Presenters announced the award-winning novels by reading their opening lines. Suddenly I realized that the presenter for my category was Author Beth Moore herself. As she began reading, I did not recognize the words. I had lost. But then the words felt somehow familiar. “That’s my book,” I mouthed to “Michelle” in a daze. But M didn’t look happy, staring at me uncomfortably, with a look that said,”This is awkward. How do I tell her that’s not her book?” Then I turned to my publisher, “That’s my book,” and received the same sympathetic look. We all knew it wasn’t the Prologue, we just didn’t prepare to hear Chapter 1. “And the winning novel is Stars in the Grassby by Ann Marie Stewart!” The music swelled and there was lots of applause and the book title was up on the screen and I was stepping forward on too high heels in shoes too big for me to fill in so many ways, hoping I wouldn’t fall on the steps up to the stage. “Oh honey, you look so cute,” Beth said giving me a hug. (Should I have warned her about the pinkeye?) and then I said something at the mike feeling very comfortable in my 20 seconds playing Cinderella. I texted my daughter Christine asking if she had caught the live stream “Yes of course I saw it. I was screaming in the car for last five minutes. I’m so proud of you! I am so happy for you..” Plus Christine even sent Victory Lap Music. “Oh, What a Night!” indeed! I’d say I floated, but I was grounded trying to keep the
shoe on my left foot. The next day was not quite so glamorous but almost as much fun. At the Grand Ol’ Opry, we parked our car in LOT E for RV’s. But when we returned, LOT E was nowhere to be found; and after miles of walking Michelle pointed out a lone police car in the middle of an empty lot. I took the hint and marched myself over as she hung back. “Help!” I said to the policeman. “We can’t find our car. Do you know where LOT E is?” Even the policeman didn’t. I waited. Finally, he said apologetically, “I could drive you...” I didn’t let him finish. “Great!” I interrupted as he continued, “But you don’t know where your car is…” Well that wasn’t stopping me from a free ride (Tax payer dollars). “Michelle, I’ll get in if you take my picture,” I directed, not one to miss a good publicity shot. This was not what my shy, quiet companion had signed up for, but as a loyal friend along, she was along for the ride and squished into the back seat of the patrol car. “This is KFHS349503293-04 and I am at mileage 43954KH prepared to transport two adult females to their vehicle; but they don’t know where it is.” PAUSE. At last the dispatcher responded, “If they don’t know where it is, how do you think you’re going to find it?” At this point, Michele became a little unglued and yelled through the glass separator, “Hey we know where our car is, we just can’t find the lot!” The dispatcher muttered, “I could say so many things….” To which Michelle continued defensively, “Hey I heard that!” she rapped on the window, “That was offensive!” Then the radio went crazy due to a robbery in progress. How exciting! An Uber driver looted a Fed Ex vehicle and we were privy to the whole story. “Ma’am I’m not sure I’ll be able to complete this assignment,” our officer apologized. “That’s all right,” I assured. “You have more pressing matters.” At this point Michelle was working so hard to stifle her laughter, she gave herself a headache that would last through the night. –©2017 Ann Marie Stewart, who lives on Skye Moor Farm, in Virginia. Recently released is her first novel, Stars in the Grass which can be found on Amazon and bookstores. Her new book makes a great gift. No reprint.
Page 7
January & February, 2018
MOUNT HOLLY - WOODSTOWN
The Village Quilter Quilting Cottons Cottons,, Supplies and Classes 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 Mon-T 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 Give this ad to your Valentine and send him in to shop for your Valentine Gift. We will make sure you get what you want!
Shop Online At www .thevillagequilter .com www.thevillagequilter .thevillagequilter.com
25 East Avenue, Woodstown, NJ 08098 856-521-0401
Mount Holly and the Mill Race Village www .millr aceshops .com www.millr .millraceshops aceshops.com
Featuring gifts for the elegant hostess and the warm & inviting country home. Beautiful Flowers, Country Kitchen Swan Creek & Cheerful Giver Candles, Slates, Flags & Garden Decor, Seasonal Country Decor, and so much more! Major Credit Cards Accepted · Gift Certificates Available Hrs: Tuesday - Saturday 10-5 Layaway Available Wed: Senior Citizens receive 15% off
“FOR WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE .” MARK 10:27
Wit & Wisdom
Not Punxsutawney Phil
by Juleann Lattimer
Keep Pedaling
There are many milestones in life…my granddaughter, Alison is facing one now. Learning to ride a bike. She isn’t keen on it, but her dad says everyone needs to know how to ride a bike. So on her 9th birthday they bought her a fancy “rainbow” colored bike equipped with a handy little basket to carry all her stuff. Of course she had to have a fashionable helmet to match. And there it sits. Her dad lowered the seat as far as it would go to enable her feet(toes) to touch the ground thinking that would give her some security and boost her courage. But to no avail. She‘d prefer to go back to her little two wheeler with training wheels- which had been passed on to her younger sister. Let’s just say it wasn’t her favorite birthday gift ever! I remember learning how to ride a bike. It was a scary endeavor. I reluctantly hopped up on the seat while my dad held the shiny blue bike. Then he told me to petal as he ran behind holding onto the seat to steady me. “Promise you won’t let go” I pleaded. “I’ve got you.” he assured me. I pedaled faster and he ran
faster...but then I realized something. His hand wasn’t on the seat. He had let go and I was on my own. Scary! I looked back and he was standing in the middle of the road smiling. “You’ve got it!” he called out to me. Just then I lost my balance from looking backward and fell off! But he was right there to pick me up. “You did it,” he said. “See, you don’t need me anymore.” But I did in so many ways. Right now I am also facing a milestone. I’m embarking on a new way of living- alone. And it’s scary and I no longer have my dad here to steady me and pick me up when I fall. However I am blessed to have the assurance that my heavenly Father is still with me and will always be here to steady me and pick me up when I fall. “I will never leave you, nor forsake you…the Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid…” (Heb. 13:6,7). Little Alison, keep pedaling. You will eventually get the hang of it. –Juleann Lattimer writes and declutters from her little corner northern NY
What would be running through your mind if you observed four grown women doing jumping jacks and screaming on the thirteenth tee box of a certain golf course in western Pennsylvania? I was one of those “crazy” women. If you are not familiar with the game of golf, by way of clarification, permit me some explanation. The goal of a golfer, contrary to most other games involving balls, is to hit the tiny ball the fewest number of times possible down eighteen fairways, onto eighteen greens, and into eighteen holes. Par is the designated perfect number of strokes it would take to achieve that goal...usually about 72, with various individual hole pars of three, four, or five depending upon the difficulty to achieve that goal. Under par by one stroke is a birdie; two strokes under par is an eagle; and everyone who has ever held a golf club desires a hole-in-one, the holy grail of golf, which is hitting the ball into the hole from the tee in one stroke. I am eightytwo years old, with one eagle in my golf “career,” and am still hoping to get a holein-one. Hope springs eternal. Many golf hackers in the world belong to leagues which usually meet on a regular basis. While continuing to work on one’s personal game, usually there is a league “game-of-the-day,” a pre-determined planned particular game, the winner of which usually claims a prize at the end of the season. The game can be an individual or team event. A scramble is a joint effort to achieve the best team score, for example. Having the fewest possible total putts or hitting
by Gayle Cranford
the greatest number of fairways with one’s drives could be another game. Some such games are more enjoyable than others. Any kind of team golf game naturally puts more pressure on each person because of each person’s responsibility to the other team members. One such game is the dreaded “red ball” game. The participants are divided into fourperson teams and given one red ball per team. Each golfer must take her successive turn using the red ball with only the red ball score as the legitimate final score for each team. Of course, the pressure is “on” for the red ball hitter. An additional rule of the game is that, if the red ball is lost, the team is disqualified. Back to the jumping jacks and screaming. My team was playing the thirteenth hole that day several years ago when the red ball was hit far to the right but not out of bounds. To our shock and dismay, we watched helplessly as a fat brown groundhog shuffled towards the red ball, probably interested to investigate a possible meal. Or, perhaps, he was just curious. He certainly was not looking for his shadow. At any rate, disqualification reared its ugly head when, as we surmised, the groundhog ran off with our red ball. The rest is history.
–Gayle Cranford writes from her home in central Pennsylvania. Her age often surprises new friends because her family often compares her to the Energizer Bunny. Besides golf, she also enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, writing letters to the editor, and working with her church groups.
Page 8
The Country Register of New Jersey and Delaware
WEST CREEK
Page 9
January & February, 2018
WEST CREEK
Page 10
The Country Register of New Jersey and Delaware
NEWTON
Living My Grandma’s Dream by Teresa Isensee Braaten
Wilbur’s Country Store Christmas British Foods & Candy Yankee Candles Cookie Cutters Gourmet Items Wind Chimes Linen Calendars Aprons Preserves & Pepper Jellies Braided Rugs, Chair Pads & Placemats
735 Rt. 94 – between Newton & Blairstown, NJ
908-362-8833
The Knitting Savant
By Andrea Springer
Accepting The Challenge Someone recently asked me how many years I’d been knitting. I learned as a child, so the question required some mental math. I was shocked to realize I’ve been making things out of sticks and string for 50 years – half a century! If I didn’t feel old before I was asked the question, I do now! There’s a comfort in working at a craft you know well. Our hands and bodies can relax into familiar motions until we reach a point in the project that demands our attention. However, I’ve learned that to keep any craft fresh, we need to challenge ourselves now and then with something that requires a new skill, technique, or just plain scares us. As an instructor, I’ve watched students do just that – successfully take on big projects that were well beyond their level. It wasn’t always easy, or pretty, but by asking questions, experimenting and persevering, they achieved their goals and they grew as knitters. It’s inspiring to watch! Last year, I decided to challenge myself and develop new fiber skills by learning to spin. I’d been watching friends at their spinning wheels and admiring the finished objects they were able to knit with yarn they’d spun themselves. I started watching spinning videos online, and the process looked so completely foreign to me I paused, completely intimidated. Could I really do this? Maybe. Maybe not. I looked at wheels for months before finding a used one in good condition.I started by practicing making my feet work the treadle and making the flier go in one
direction, then the other, for 15 minutes a day. I started adding fiber to the process and continued practicing. It’s now a year later and thanks to friends who’ve mentored and encouraged me, I’m spinning yarn! It hasn’t been easy – or pretty – but I’m producing singles and plying them together into skeins. I know more about the fiber I’ve been knitting all these decades, and I’m enjoying the process more than I ever imagined. So much so, I’m already wondering what to explore next! What will you challenge yourself to learn in the coming months? Are you ready to knit socks or steek a sweater? Maybe there’s a part of you that’s ready to try your hand at a fair isle pattern or lace. Better yet, perhaps a project has captured your imagination and, after reading the pattern, scared you a little – or a lot– so you’ve passed it over for something you know you’re comfortable with. Maybe the scary projects are the ones that teach us the most. So, here’s your pep talk: Decide what inspires you and go for it. Find someone who can help you break it down into manageable tasks. Practice. Ask questions, experiment, persevere! You never know what new doors will open and what beautiful objects you’ll create!
–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.
This afternoon as I was watering my farmyard landscape and the nine new Ponderosa Pines we bought for a quarter a piece from the Soil Conservation District this spring, I half-listened to the podcast playing from my phone. I was “half-listening” for a couple of reasons: 1) It was an incredibly gorgeous day in the mid-70s with a light breeze and big puffs of clouds in the bright blue sky; and 2) I could only half hear it, because even with the volume on max, it was playing out of a pocket of the sweatshirt I had tied around my waist. When a young woman started talking about how she was living the dream of her ancestors, I listened more intently. Just last week my parents, who are in their eighties, took my sister and me to tour a cemetery where we have a lot of relatives buried. The hope being that once they are unable, we will put flowers on the graves. As we walked through the cemetery, my mom told stories about nearly everyone in the graveyard (it’s fairly small and located in the town in which she and my dad grew up). My dad laughingly commented after listening to my mom ramble on, that they knew way more people in the graveyard than they do those living in their hometown now. I’m sure that comment struck me as funny, because in fact, it is true. Following the cemetery tour and a stop at a birthday party, we took a meandering trip through town on our way home. We drove past the hardware store that my mom lived above as a young child as well as by the home she lived in once her uncle, who had owned the hardware store, passed away. Once again, memories of her life flooded our conversation. Fueled by this nostalgia, my dad drove us to a vacant lot where he and my mom owned their first house and still own the farmland next to it. In the many years we’ve spent visiting relatives in that small town, I never once remember hearing about that first home or being shown where their land is that they’ve rented out for more than 60 years. We drove another several miles and ended up at the now abandoned farmstead owned by my grandparents in the 1940-60s, before they moved into town and the only home I remember. This was when my dad took over the conversation. He showed us the window he put in as a young boy in the now dilapidated and barely standing barn to make his job of feeding the animals easier, as well as the never-ending feeder he made for the chickens by connecting the coop directly to a grain bin. We looked at the well, a good 150’ from the house, which supplied all water for cooking, drinking, laundry and bathing. My dad told us about how they’d hang a basket full of food items down the well to keep them cold, since they didn’t have an electric refrigerator. He talked about cutting ice in the winter and storing it under hay in attempt to have it for as long as possible in the warmer months. As I lay in bed that night reliving the afternoon’s stories, I envisioned my grandma and the six children, one sister,
and two grandchildren she raised. I imagined how physically challenging her life would have been out on that farm. She was churning her own butter, collecting the eggs, milking the cows, and reading to her children by candellight. There were no trips to Costco, no KitchenAid mixer, no washing machine or even running water or lights to make life easier. As the woman in the podcast said, “I’m living the dream of my ancestors,” though the ancestors to whom she referred were slaves, the dream for a better life prevails. I am living the dream of my ancestors too, or at least of my grandmother. We probably all are for the most part. I feel loved and content as I sit here now at my computer, imagining my grandmother who was always in the kitchen wearing her perfectly pressed dress and apron with her sensible shoes and the pantyhose that made a swishing sound as she moved around the kitchen. Her chubby fingers laying homemade cookies or half pieces of doughnuts around a plate for our afternoon snack. (Yes, half a doughnut. We could have two halves, but never, ever a whole!) The same woman who would hug me goodbye and stand in the driveway waving to me until my little face pressed up against the back of the window of the car, could no longer see her. Today, I feel confident that I am living her dream. I live on a farm that has both running water and electricity. I have a refrigerator (and in fact until a recent power surge, two of them), as well as a deep freezer. I also have plenty of ice. Even in late fall, I can have ice in my lemonade. Although I don’t have shelves of home-canned goods, I have shelves of fruits and vegetables that I picked up at Costco. And the time I didn’t spend canning, I spent with my family at the lake. Like my grandma, I enjoy sewing, gardening and other crafts. Unlike my grandma, however, I’ve made artisan soap to sell and because it was fun and I’ve sewn quilts and Halloween costumes just because I wanted to. I had a vegetable garden for years, but now just raise flowers because there’s a great strawberry patch and garden produce for sale near our lake in the summer. I am living her dream. My life is good. I need to keep that in perspective. My complaints about never-ending laundry or the distance to the grocery store are irrelevant and self-centered. I’m crossing my fingers that this feeling of gratitude continues to pervade my life – at least through the lake potluck that we are hosting for our beach tonight. In my grandma’s eyes, I live a charmed life, I’m sure. I am living her dream. –Teresa is a mother of three and real-life farm wife from Southern ND. She can be reached at tabraaten@rrt.net.
Page 11
January & February, 2018
MORRISTOWN - RED BANK
Morris County Historical Society at Acorn Hall
Est. 1964
The Antique Center of Red Bank Sundays 12-5pm
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.
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: "The Cutting Edge: Medicine in Morris County, 1876-1976" On view from Sept. 10, 2017-May 13, 2018, The Cutting Edge honors the 125th Anniversary of Morristown Medical Center, includes photos and stories of Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital never before exhibited, and commemorates the 100th Anniversary of the burning of the original All Souls' Hospital.
See website for more details - www.MorrisCountyHistory.org Find us on FaceBook, Twitter and Instagram 68 Morris Avenue, Morristown, NJ 07960 (973)267-3465
Life In Skunk Hollow
by Julie A. Druck
An Evening of Valentines It’s become a long-time tradition in this season of the year for the women of my family to gather together for an evening of Valentine making at my sister’s home. We try to plan our get-together at least a week or two before February 14 so that we’ll have time to send our Valentines through the mail. Part of the fun is collecting Valentinemaking materials throughout the year. Thrift stores and yard sales are perfect places to pick up garnishes. We also save greeting cards, bits of ribbon and any other little seasonal thing that comes our way through the year that would be appropriate. Before the rest of us arrive, my sister sets up a few tables and lays out the community “stash,” which we add to when we come. There’s a table of pink and red ribbons, lace, rick-rack and paper doilies of various hues. There’s also a table of greeting cards, cardstock and construction paper as well as a box of tissue paper and fabric samples. In the center of my sister’s large dining room table she puts various types of adhesives (tape, Elmer’s glue, rubber cement, and glue gun supplies), along with several pairs of regular and patterned scissors, stickers, and cut-outs. Besides supplies, we each bring a little something for a light supper since food, of course, makes every event more festive! One year, part of my edible
offering was a plate of festively pink Cherry Drop Cookies (see recipe below). As we “get down to work,” it’s fun to see what ideas take shape. There is, of course, no right or wrong way to make a Valentine! As I have a rick-rack obsession, mine usually contain some of that, and my mom loves adding glitter glue to hers. My sister’s Valentines look like miniature collages, and my aunts are very Victorian with lots of garnishes. The gathering is always a good time of visiting. And I love that inspiration flows freely around the table - whether it’s in regard to our Valentines or other projects we’re working on at home. My aunt brought along three gorgeous Valentine decorations she had crafted at home. They were paper Victorian ladies that she had printed from the internet and attached to a heart background – the skirts of each lady were vintage handkerchiefs that she had pressed in folds and attached. Just lovely! The evening always ends with clean-up and packing up our stash until next February. We divide what’s left of the supper treats and happily cart our Valentines home to ready for the mailbox. Perhaps you’d enjoy an Evening of Valentines - creating cards and memories on a cold winter’s night, too . . . –Julie Druck is from PA, and writes from her farm in Skunk Hollow. She’d welcome your comments at thedrucks@netzero.com.
Kissed Quilts
by Marlene Oddie
Alpine Winters and Fireside Chats If you live in alpine regions or go to alpine elevations during the winter, it is cold and white and sometimes just grey! I can remember going skiing in the Sierra Nevada mountains as a child. We’d ski until the very last possible bit of light, but the sun goes down so early during the winter. It was often dark by the time we arrived back to our lodging each night. From the light beams of the car it was a sea of black and white, sometimes mostly white. This was all long before I began designing quilts, but this lap size treasure would make a fireside chat cozy. Island Batik has come out with two new Alpine lines of fabric— Alpine Ice (white/grey/blue) and Alpine Jingle (red/gold/green). I’ve chosen the white and grey colorways of Alpine Ice to create this row quilt, “Alpine Nights,” that would make a great five session Block of the Month learning opportunity. It includes using a couple of unique prints from the fabric collection to give special effects between each row of blocks and in the border. Various techniques are used, including diagonal stitching, paper piecing, applique and fussy cutting. Start looking for these fabrics in the new year!
The snow-ball block is a great simple start with sewing diagonally across a square of fabric. I’ve chosen to use several values of this fabric for depth. The half square triangles also use several values and are placed to give more of an illusion of a mountain. You might consider other placement options in your own creation. The diamonds and six pointed stars are paper pieced and the top row of trees is appliquéd. These block shapes were chosen to mimic the motifs printed in the batik fabrics. Want the pattern? Would you like to take a class on-line? Please write to me if you’d like to be notified when it is available. I’ll take you through the making of each block and fussy cutting details. Warm wishes during this typically cold time of the year. –Marlene Oddie enjoys long-arm quilting on her Gammill Optimum Plus, but especially enjoys designing quilts and assisting in the creation of a meaningful treasure for the recipient. Follow Marlene’s adventures via http://www.facebook.com/kissedquilts and her blog at http://kissedquilts.blogspot.com.
Recipes from Skunk Hollow
Cherry Drop Cookies
The pink color makes them great for Valentine’s Day and the cherries go right along with a Presidents’ Day theme. Also perfect anytime with a cup of tea!
¼ C. chopped and drained maraschino cherries ½ tsp. vanilla extract 1 C. butter, softened 2 C. flour
½ C. 10X sugar Extra 10X sugar ½ tsp. almond extract Red food coloring, optional
Preheat oven to 325. Drain cherries on paper towels then coarsely chop and set aside. In mixer bowl, beat butter for 30 seconds on medium speed. Add ½ C. 10X sugar and the extracts. Beat until combined, then add as much of the flour as you can with mixer. Using wooden spoon, stir in remaining flour and cherries, plus a few drops of red food coloring (if desired, for pink dough). Shape into 1” balls and place 2” apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 18-20 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned. Cool on sheet for 5 minutes and roll warm cookies in 10X sugar to coat. Transfer to wire rack and cool completely. If desired, roll again in 10X before serving or packaging.
Page 12
The Country Register of New Jersey and Delaware
GLASSBORO - PITMAN
he t e t bra Year e l e C ew N ith: w
Olde Pear Primitives and
The Scarecrow Factory Country Store • Saturday, January 13th join us for our “Snowman and Me” Party!
10% OFF Snowmen that will melt your heart!
• Saturday, February 3rd come in and Pick a for a discount! Be the first to find one of 3 Golden Hearts to win Gift Certificates. We our customers! 11 S Broadway, Pitman, NJ 08071 (856) 269-4730 Check our Facebook page for New Arrivals NOW Offering 2 Night and Specials – Remember we ship! Retreats
booking now for fallUs Find
on Facebook
Winter Hours: Tues - Sat 10-5 *Open Some Sundays
Gift Certificates Available
Over The Tea Cup
By Janet Young
Outside the window the snow is falling on a starlit night to the sound of silence. In the meantime indoors you hear the crackling of the fireplace as you sit by the fire sipping your mug of tea. This quietude brings a smile to your face as you lean back to enjoy the moment. For that one fleeting moment you can bask in the warmth of the room, while swallowing thatlast drop of cinnamon tea. This is life at its best. This is the time of year when Mother Nature makes us slow down, when she causes the wind to blow, and the snow to fall silently to the ground. In the midst of this whirlwind, we have choices to make. Are we going to fret and worry? Or, is this the time you are going to honor the promises you have made to yourself over the last few
weeks or even months? Promises such as spending more time with the children, or reading that novel you have been putting off, yet yearning to read. This is a time to remind ourselves that we were made to take time to slow down and relax. It is a time to experience our everyday routine in a different way, in a slower way. This is an opportunity to do something for you. Whatever you choose to do with that time, I would encourage you to use it wisely because in the morning you may find yourself outside shoveling the driveway as you prepare for another ordinary day. –Janet Young, Certified Tea and Etiquette Consultant, is a founding member of MidAtlantic Tea Business Association and freelance writer/national tea presenter. Visit her website at www.overtheteacup.com.
The Benefits of Snow
Olde Barn Primitives Recipe
Chocolate Crunch Brownies
Brian & Shirley Huber serve these delicious brownies at the Open House events at their shop in St Paul, IN Ingredients: 1 c butter, softened 2 c sugar 4 eggs 6 T. baking cocoa 1 c flour
2 tsp vanilla ½ tsp. salt Min. marshmallows 1 c. creamy peanut butter 2 c semi-sweet chocolate chips 3 c rice krispies
In a mixing bowl, cream together butter, sugar, add eggs and vanilla. Stir in cocoa, flour and salt. Spread into a greased 9X13 baking pan. Bake 30 min. at 350 Spread a layer of marshmallows over the top and put back in the oven for a couple of minutes or until gooey looking. Take out and cool completely. In a saucepan, melt chocolate chips and peanut butter. Add cereal.
Page 13
January & February, 2018
MULLICA HILL
T H E PA R S O N A G E
Antiq ue ique uess &M Moore
Fe a tu rin hin ma ll kkii tc h e n iitt e ms ttoo piec ar rn ringg eve everr yt ythin hingg ffrro m ssma mall piecee s of llar argg e r fu furn rnii tu re.
New Expanded Shop Area!
533 Mullica Hill Road Mullica Hill, NJ 08062 • (856) 218-7467 NeedlesNPinsNJ@gmail.com
• Large selection of all Quilting Fabrics • Variety of Classes Offered Daily • QOV Shop • Books and Supplies NOW
Offering 2 Night Retreats booking now for 2018
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!
31 S. Main Street, Mullica Hill, NJ 08062
856-534-1963 O pe n 11-5pm pen Wednesd nd sdaay – Su Sund ndaay
@ParsonageAntiques Hour s: Mon - Fri 10-5; Sat & Sun 10-4 Hours:
www.needles-pins-nj.com
Life on Breezy Manor Farm
by Donna Jo Copeland
Deep In Winter On My Farm A cup of hot cocoa, miniature marshmallows melting on top. It’s what the world needs now in deep winter. Wrapping cold fingers around the toasty warm mug. Inhaling the chocolatey fragrance. Savoring the flavor and the warmth in each sip. Perhaps munching on an oatmeal cookie. Hot cocoa isn’t a time for fancy cookies, requires something simple. And in the midst of winter, a reminder of good simple things is what we need. Too often the outside world invades our inner peace. A mug of hot cocoa can center our minds. It needs constant sipping. Its not a drink to be put down, walked away from. Rather this simple drink and a cookie anchors us to one spot, one place in time. Gives us time to think, calling to mind other mugs. I can remember us kids watching mom stir the Guardian Service pot on her Tappan range in the cold kitchen of our old farmhouse. Waiting for her to say its done. Back then it was made with fresh goat milk—milked and cooled that morning—and Hershey’s Cocoa Powder and a bit of sugar. Big marshmallows (miniature marshmallows weren’t invented yet), two in each mug, melted slowly. I remember the mugs being so warm. Sometimes we had oatmeal cookies, often just saltine crackers. For one instant we forgot about being poor. The way the wind whistled thru that old farmhouse. The ever freezing pipes.The trek to the outhouse. We didn’t center on the don’t haves. Just the blessing of hot cocoa and marshmallows and cookies.
In todays greed-driven world it’s too easy to focus on what we want and forget the blessings we have. The latest, the new and improved fill empty lives. Time honored treasures wind up in thrift stores and garage sales. Barely played with toys sit curbside waiting for the garbage truck. On my wee farm, in my realm I call home, treasures abound. Both family and reclaimed. I haunt thrift stores and barn sales, nearly always finding something perfect for me. For you see I am of the old ways. Use it up, mend it, keep going. I darn socks, mend jeans, regrind shovel points, reglaze windows, staple plastic, hang blue tarps. Perhaps it’s the generations of farmeresses in my blood, Perhaps I am out of sync with today’s world. Perhaps it’s just me. I like mending. Figuring out how to make do.Making stone soup and simple biscuits. Sipping hot cocoa and reading old books. One of my reclaimed treasures sits at my spinning wheel. I found her at a local humane society barn sale this summer. A Windsor chair with a $2.00 price tag. Okay so its back was broken in two and spokes were loose. But $2.00?? Of course she came home in my pickup along with other treasures. I showed her to my wood working friend Steve who laughed and said he could turn my $2.00 chair into a $3.00 stool. But he had this amazing glue and patience. Fixed the back and reset the spokes. She is wonderful in my home! The old finish is dark and bubbled. I haven’t
Recipes From Breezy Manor Farm Mom’s Oatmeal Cookies
“These freeze well... easy to thaw on a cold evening.” • Cream together 1 cup of shortening and 1 cup of packed brown sugar • Add 1 egg, ¼ cup water, 1 t. vanilla. Mix well. • Add 1 cup flour, 1 t. salt, ½ t. baking soda and 3 cups Quaker Oats • Mix well. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto a greased baking sheet. • Bake at 350 for about 15 minutees. Makes about 5 dozen cookies. from: Donna Jo Copeland, a farmeress/fiber artist and owner of Breezy Manor Farm
Visit www.harrisonhistorical.com
refinished her, only used lemon oil. The paper label is still on the bottom, Hale Company, Arlington, Vermont. I would love to know how she wandered to Indiana. For now she keeps me company in my loom room, a great place to sit and spin yarns from my sheep wool.
For all that I lack, I am content with my hot cocoa, my treasures and my animals…..and Mom’s Oatmeal Cookies. –Donna Jo Copeland, farmeress of Breezy Manor Farm, Mooresville, IN. Where she farms with sheep and goats and bunnies.
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
Page 14
The Country Register of New Jersey and Delaware
CAPE MAY
we’ll We’ll get you excited about yarn NEW WINTER OFFERINGS: YARNS from Hand Dyed Cashmere • Silk • Kid Mohair and Merino to Wool Blends Knit or Crochet - Shawls, Socks Cowls, Kids, Afghans and Accessories Knitting Class Suns - 1pm and Thurs - 6pm Beginner to Advanced - Drop in with your project or choose one of ours E V E N T S
Stitch By Stitch • Exceptional Yarns • Patterns • Buttons • Knitting Machines
• Settle in for a “Long Winter’s Nap” with Knitting or Crochet We have lots of ideas, FREE instruction and Yarns to choose from. • Mondays: Knit with our Cape May Group at 1pm • Guilds: Schedule a “Holiday at the Shop” - with a Workshop, Lunch in Cape May and store-wide discounts! • February 16 - 19 – Our 31st Anniversary Specials Sales • Door Prizes • Deep Discounts Early SPRING PREVIEW of Yarns & Designs
Washington Commons • 315 Ocean St., Unit 9 Cape May, NJ 08204 If we don’t have it, we will order it. We ship anywhere.
< Cross Stitch & all the “goodies” < Needlepoint & Patanayan Wool < Custom Framing < Nancy Spruance Trunk Show OPEN EVERY DAY 10AM - 5PM (Please Call First: 1-800-868-3215)
We will be having classes. Please call for information.
www.FiberArtsYarnShop.com 315 Ocean St., Cape May, NJ 609-898-8080 • FREE Parking
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!
Farm Recipes from Tammy Page Page Family “Hopping John”
Our family New Years Meal always begins with this favorite
1/4 teaspoon dry crushed red pepper 1 cup sliced celery 3 bay leaves 1 medium onion 3 cups cooked long-grain rice 2 cloves garlic, minced 4 cups water 1 tablespoon oil, bacon drippings or 1 tablespoon butter 2 can chicken broth (or 2 1/2 cups) 16 oz black-eyed peas (fresh or frozen, thawed) 1/2 lb cooked ham, cubed Saute the first three ingredients in a large Dutch oven in hot oil, bacon drippings, or butter until tender. Add water and other five ingredients. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 40 minutes or until peas are tender. Remove and discard bay leaf. Serve over cooked rice. *Submitted by Tammy Page, whose “Stories of a Farm Wife” appears in this edition of The Country Register
Stories of a Farm Wife
by Tammy Page
The Ole JC Penney Sewing Machine Sewing, I love to sew! Or, should I say, I loved to sew. My poor, dusty and dry sewing machine is sitting on my old enamel top table in my office where it has sat for many years. I used to sew cute little sundresses, shorts, and even those country jumpers complete with ceramic buttons for my girls. They had matching blue and white gingham jumpers with homemade red bows for their hair for one of their C h r i s t m a s programs. I also made sweet lavender jumpers with petite flowers on them for Easter one year. They looked so cute! One of my favorite things to make, and sometimes the hardest were the Barbie and Cabbage Patch clothes. Those little seams were so hard to maneuver sometimes. One year I made the girls flannel gowns and a matching one for their baby dolls. And, of course, their baby dolls always had warm flannel blankets for their cradles. I would sit for hours after the children had gone to bed and many hours after I should have, to complete several outfits for each baby doll. When my husband and I were young and money was tight, for Christmas gifts I made aprons for all the women in the family. I still have mine and use it occasionally. These days the only time I use my sewing machine is to mend a seam or sew a hem. I’ve not made anything from a pattern for many years. Oh how I loved to go back to the material section, climb up on
a stool and look through those huge pattern books. Is McCalls still in business? I learned to sew from my mom who made many beautiful outfits for my sisters and me. She made matching shorts outfits for us for vacations along with a coordinating headbands. One particular outfit that I remember is a cream and brown dotted swiss outfit we wore on our trip to St. Augustine, Florida. In case one of us got lost, all you’d have to do is look for the matching outfit and be able to tell we were from the same family for sure. My mom also made all four of my prom dresses. They were so pretty and it was a given that I would not run into anyone on prom night with the same dress. When I was engaged to be married, my mom, my bridesmaids and I picked out patterns and my mom made the bridesmaids sundresses, like she didn’t have anything else to do? I still would like to uncover the “old gal”, dust her off and get her to running smooth again. I have some ideas of what I’d like to make but then again, I’d probably also have to replace my spools of dry-rotten thread! Maybe this would be a project for the new year, when the snow keeps me inside. Speaking of the new year, please consider adding our Hopping John to your New Year celebration. Our family favorite recipe can be found in this paper. –Tammy lives on a working farm with her family .
Page 15
January & February, 2018
ELMER - VINELAND
VINTAGE FARMHOUSE Featuring a variety of new farmhouse goods and gifts, as well as repurposed furniture and antiques.
Rt. 55 Exit 32
17 S Main St., Elmer, NJ 08318 • 856-521-0454
MACHINE EMBROIDERY, QUILTING & SEWING KNITTING & CROCHETING CLASSES AVAILABLE Fabrics: Quilts & Dress Notions • Yarns Upholstery Fabrics • Vinyls Foams • Patterns
Like us on:
Open: Wed 12-7, Thurs, Fri, Sat 10-5 & Sun 12-4
P e g g y ’’ss Country Gifts & Antiques
657 N Delsea Drive, Vineland, NJ 08360 (856) 692-5460
Planning a Wedding? We also feature Bridal Fabric, Appliques, Ribbons & Silk Flowers!
CALL IF COMING FR OM A DIST ANCE FROM DISTANCE
203 Elmer St & Park Ave Elmer, N J 08318 856-358-2310
s Quilt2 price/ 1 e -som iques & Ant h M o r e ! Muc
Call first in January & FFebruary ebruary – When it snows w wee head south!
Madeline’s Musings . . . The Promise
It was a cold blustery day. Inside, I sat facing the door where patrons of the buffet were coming and going; most were in a considerable hurry to be out of the elements. I focused on my food. That is, until a nasty draft sent shivers up my legs. Close that door, I instinctively thought. For the next few minutes, there’d be no closing that door. An elderly lady, wrapped in her furcollared coat, was struggling with a door much big ger and heavier than she. No attempt was made to come in; just to keep it open. Her ar m extended beyond where I could see. Slowly a stooped figure came into sight beyond the doorway. With uncertain steps, large gaiting feet shuffled over the threshold. And she allowed the door to gently close behind them. With one hand on the back of a booth and the other held tightly in hers, he cautiously made his way toward where I sat. Her eyes never left him; she whispered softly to encourage him; patrons nodded, and smiled their support as they crept along. Using all her strength, she guided him into the booth behind me. He sank exhausted onto the seat, and closed his eyes. He’d made it. Having removed her coat, and certain he was comfortable, she set out for the food bars. In short order, she was back, carefully balancing a bowl of steaming soup. Setting it in front of him, she tucked his napkin at his neck, placed a spoon in his hand, and waited. Gnarled fingers did their best to respond, and a hand that once, without a thought, knew exactly where the hungry mouth was, just couldn’t find it any more. Sweetly she bent over him and wiped the dribbles from his chin. Soup time would be a bit longer tonight. Turning around on my bench, I caught her eye and smiled. She smiled, then
by Madeline Lister
resumed her task. The bowl now empty, she set it aside. With a grace that comes with age and patience, she walked to the bountifully laden buffet. And the game plan I’d observed with the soup was repeated with the dinner. Not a morsel did she eat until he was satisfied. Only then did she find something for herself. I was in awe. Not that I stared at them, mind you, but my own meal grew cold as out of the corner of my eye I watched this beautiful story unfold. He never said a word; his gaze was only forward, and blank; he could do little to help himself. But he was the darling of her date; she, his princessin-waiting. I had to know their secret. Turning around and tapping her shoulder, I let my hand rest on the back of the booth. “Excuse me, but I’ve been watching you, waiting on your husband. You are an inspiration to me,” I stammered, the lump in my throat larger than a dinner plate. Again, she smiled; a soft, kindly smile, wrinkles playing at the corners of her glistening eyes. “Honey, it’s what we promised each other.” She spoke in a regal faraway voice. “God bless you,” I said. “Thank you. And you also.” She patted my hand, then briefly held it. It was a chance encounter, but one seared in my memory and on my heart these many years hence. More vivid than boxes of chocolates, red hearts, or longstemmed roses. A simple act of love for the one she cherished more than life itself. –Madeline Lister writes from the tranquil Ontario, Canada. Since retiring at the end of 2015 from the quilt shop she founded, Madeline's filled her days with writing and quilting, and traveling with her husband Carl. madelinesmusings@gmail.com.
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 Feb. 28, 2018 - TCR
Become Inspired - The Secret of Winter
Decorating, Entertaining and Living in the Early American Style
By Annice Bradley Rockwell
After the bustling holiday season is behind us we often find a sense of inner peace in the still, yet rejuvenating months of winter. Nature’s spectacular beauty often parallels our desire to live more deliberately. In the depth of winter as I gaze upon the landscape, my herb garden is asleep under the protection of a white blanket of snow. Little chickadees alight on bushes that appear vastly different on a cold winter’s morn than they do on a midsummer day. There is a secret that only belongs to winter and that secret is a slower pace that contains the promise of spring. Soulful Comforts As we endeavor to enjoy the blessings of winter, we often find comfort in the warmth of our homes. Meals lovingly prepared can be enjoyed fireside after a brisk hike on snowshoes on a sunlit New England afternoon. A blustery, snowfilled night can turn into an evening of bliss when one can be accompanied by a cherished classic novel and a crackling wood fire to keep toasty. Winter adventures with children are made even more memorable as we race by each other on our favorite sleds or build a classic snowman that we each had a part in creating. Winter carries with it a chance to live simply, to live in the moment and to enjoy every minute of it. Winter also brings with it a chance to start anew with the decorating of the interior of our homes. After the holiday
decorations have been put away, we have a blank slate full of potential with which to work. We can refresh our spaces with a change of furniture arrangement or the addition of a different display of our favorite antiques. Our home’s interior can provide us with soulful comfort in the long months of winter. There is nothing like coming home to the timehonored pieces that we love made even more beautiful through the glow of candlelight, as our winter oasis beckons us to find pleasure in “staying in.” Sacred Solitude On the days that we feel a need to venture out and ward off cabin fever, we can find joy in planning a day trip where we visit country shops brimming with fresh finds. We can stop at quaint restaurants we have not yet tried and we can come home with our newfound treasures and add that special touch to our home’s displays. Whether we bask in the special solitude that winter can often provide, or we seek adventure in the form of outdoor activities or unique shopping jaunts, wintertime affords us time for these soulful luxuries. As we seek to get through the so-called “doldrums of winter,” we may find the sacred value in time spent at nature’s slower, more deliberate pace. – Annice Bradley Rockwell is owner of Pomfret Antiques in Connecticut. She is working on her book, New England Girl.
Page 16
The Country Register of New Jersey and Delaware
MARMORA