Innholdsfortegnelse for August - September 2016 i Country Woman

I’m a bit envious of the sweet little hobby hideaway featured on page 19. It started out as a shed to stash garden tools, but Jo Ann Sinclair of Fenton, Michigan, decided to transform it into her own “she shed.” It’s where she eavesdrops on birds as they hop onto teacup bird feeders she’s made. When the birds aren’t distracting her, she focuses on weaving baskets or creating fun cards for friends. Full disclosure: Jo Ann and I went to school together in Flint, Michigan. We reconnected a few years ago on Facebook, where I watched the progress of her backyard shed. I had to share her story with you! Speaking of school days, take a look at “Old School” on page 32, featuring an old desk, pencil sharpeners, flash…

Sisters Josie and Meredith have always had their differences, but their relationship grows even more strained after a tragedy. Josie, a single teacher, is sick of dating and longs for a child. Meredith, a lawyer with a kid, struggles with marriage. Now, 15 years after the day that tore them apart, they try to understand one another. As writer and young mother Lucy Barton is slowly recovering from an infection in a New York City hospital, she receives a surprise visit from her estranged mother. Though their easy, surface-level conversation tiptoes around the troubled childhood that caused Lucy to leave her family behind years ago, it repairs a precious bond between the mother and daughter. This novel is Lucy’s account of that unpredictable hospital visit and all the words that…

Perched in her backyard shed, Jo Ann Sinclair pokes the lens of her camera out the window and snaps a small black-capped chickadee snacking at a teacup feeder in the garden. Inside, she’s surrounded by a tidy stash of tools, including basket shears and card stock. This shed in Fenton, Michigan, is not a typical storage space—it’s a craft studio. “The door is open and the sun is shining in,” Jo Ann says. “It’s just a lot more fun than being closed up in the house. I’m closer to the flowers and the birds.” When Jo Ann and Peter, her husband, hired a builder friend to create the shed in 2014, they were planning to stash her gardening pruners and trowels in it. “My husband wanted my things out of…

BBQ 101 Brush up with expert tips from Renee, a culinary specialist for Taste of Home Cooking School. Choose a high-quality whole brisket that includes both the top (point cut) and bottom part (flat cut). The fat in the top keeps the brisket moist. A whole brisket may need to be special ordered. Soak the wood chips in water for at least 2 hours before beginning to grill. Always cook the brisket fat side up, and maintain a constant cooking temperature throughout the process. To cut a brisket, separate the top of the brisket from the bottom with a knife, sliding it along the line where the halves join. The top part yields more moist meat, while the bottom more lean meat. Trimmings can be used to flavor slow-cooked beans.…

“The dense chocolate aroma filled our little project row house.”—DONNA SCOFIELD YAKIMA, WASHINGTON I recently opened a book of Mom’s that brought her as close to me as if she stood at my shoulder, although she’s been gone for years. It’s called Searchlight Recipe Book, published by Household magazine around 1943. I don’t remember Mom baking when I was small, and I think the reason was, having married in the depths of the Depression, she never had supplies to bake with. When supper consists of water gravy on water biscuits, you don’t waste time imagining chocolate cake. The first cake I remember her baking was when I was 7. We lived in Washington, where Dad was working in the shipyard. We had money enough to buy the Searchlight cookbook, but…

Fresh Flower Display I just love my new flower stand, which was an old wooden ladder. I painted it green, then added some wire and rebar to support flowerpots. Now it’s a pretty focal point outside in my garden. KALLEE KRONGMCCREERY ESCONDIDO, CA Sentimental Heart My friend Mary shared her copy of the February/March 2016 issue of Country Woman with me, and I was inspired to create the spool heart art on page 28. The vintage thread spools and crocheted doily were my mom’s. Thank you for making a great magazine. SHIRLEY CABRERA SACRAMENTO, CA Calling All Campers I loved your articles on the campers and beautiful, bright flower gardens in the June/July 2016 issue. I hope you feature more of these stories, especially about campers. Maybe you could feature…

Snip herbs, pull leafy greens and pluck edible flowers to arrange in pretty pitchers and vases. Bright nasturtiums and crisp pepper plants pair together nicely, while pineapple mint, allium, cherry branches and dill make a stunning centerpiece. Raid your vegetable patch, too, for seasonal beauties like kale and rainbow chard. Free subscription to CW ! Send an idea, project or garden tip! If published, you’ll get a year’s subscription to Country Woman for yourself or a friend. Email ideas to submissions@  countrywoman magazine.com.…

Take a Class “If you can walk, you can square dance,” say Jerry and Donna, who have been dancing together ever since Jerry’s retirement in 2005. To get started, find a club or class in your area at wheresthedance.com. Local square dance callers typically lead lessons, teach the basics and get new couples on their feet in just a couple of hours. “Don’t worry about what to wear. Casual street clothes are acceptable when learning and have become more common at regular dances.” Laugh it Off Master the basic calls to set a good foundation, but keep a sense of humor. If you forget what it means to “box the gnat” or “weave the ring,” the other dancers will be happy to show you. “Know that we all had to…

To look at her laundry room, you’d think Christina Dennis is a superwoman. The working mom runs her blog (thediymommy.com), raises three young girls and does almost everything DIY-style at the home she and her husband built on the Canadian prairies. She doesn’t do it alone, though. “I have a lot of help from family,” she says, “but I often let things slide that aren’t as important to me—namely, laundry!” That hasn’t stopped her from giving her laundry room a dose of signature style and functionality, like the rest of her Alberta home. Her pretty and practical update was inspired by necessity. “I didn’t have enough storage in my cabinets for a lot of my cleaning tools, plus I wanted a system where things were really easy to take out…

Summer Carbonara Basil and bacon make best buds in this smoky-sweet pasta. I serve it with a simple spring mix salad drizzled in balsamic dressing. Just add a tall glass of cold iced tea. —CATHY DUDDERAR LEXINGTON, KY PREP: 20 MIN. COOK: 15 MIN. MAKES: 6 SERVINGS 1 pkg. (16 oz.) spaghetti 2 Tbsp. olive oil 1 large sweet onion, finely chopped 1 medium yellow summer squash, diced 1 medium zucchini, diced 2 garlic cloves, minced 4 plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped 2 large eggs, lightly beaten 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese 12 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced 1 tsp. minced fresh oregano 1/2 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. pepper 1. Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Drain; transfer to a large bowl. 2.…

The Picasso eludes Christie Hatman. She knows that it’s somewhere in tiny Thayer, Missouri, but she hasn’t found it yet. Until she does, she’ll have to settle for junk. But that suits her, because junk is her job. Christie goes by Col. Christie Hatman—colonel is an honorary title among auctioneers—and since 1994, her life’s work has been to sell junk, although she’s convinced she’ll someday poke into a barn and find that Picasso. She owns Hatman Auctions in Thayer, where she hosts oldtimey sales and promotes vintage shows in nearby cities. In 2013 she was the star of HGTV’s five-episode Auction Agent; this year her award-winning auctioneer’s chant commanded center stage in a Walgreens commercial. “It looks like I’ve gone big-time,” she says, in the twang of the rural South.…

1. Email your submissions to us at submissions@countrywomanmagazine.com, or mail to COUNTRY WOMAN, 1610 N 2ND ST STE 102, MILWAUKEE WI 53212-3906. 2. Include your name, daytime phone number, email address and mailing address with each submission, including emailed submissions. 3. Note which department you’re submitting for, and whether the material has been published before. However, your item may be selected to run in any section of our magazine, or elsewhere. 4. Save your stamps! We do not return submitted materials. Send good-quality copies of photos (keep the original!), or email high-resolution JPEG files. Although we are unable to acknowledge receipt of any submissions, we’ll let you know if they’re published. 5. We accept high-resolution digital images or color prints on photo paper. Digital images should be about 4x6 inches…

If you want to lose weight and keep it off -- hate dieting and are tired of taking pills, buying costly diet foods or gimmick “fast loss” plans that don’t work-- you’ll love the easy Vinegar way to lose all the pounds you want to lose. And keep them off! Today, the natural Vinegar weight loss plan is a reality. Written by noted vinegar authority Emily Thacker. Her just published book “Vinegar Anniversary” will help you attain your ideal weight the healthiest and most enjoyable way ever. You’ll never again have to count calories. Or go hungry. Or go to expensive diet salons. Or buy pills, drugs. You’ll eat foods you like and get a trimmer, slimmer figure-- free of fat and flab-- as the pounds fade away. To prove…

Simple Vinegar used to reduce cervical cancer deaths by 31% The latest study about vinegar, shows it will prevent an estimated 72,600 deaths from cervical cancer each year. This according to a study released at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting in Chicago, IL. The results were based over a 12 year period tracking 150,000 women in Mumbai, India, between the ages of 35-64 years. The conclusion, a simple vinegar test significantly reduces cervical cancer deaths. Immediate plans are to implement this simple and successful screening test in developing countries. The study had been planned for 16 years, but after the results were analyzed and found to be conclusive it was stopped at 12 years. Vinegar has always been used for its versatility in home remedies, cooking and…

Q: How do you pull off a last-minute summer gathering? “I rely on my grill. You can’t beat brats and hamburgers! For quick grilling, I precook the brats in beer with chopped onion, then toss them on the grill till nice and brown. Add sides of coleslaw and red potato salad, and you’ve got a summer meal, quick and easy!” GINA DOLIESLAGER CONWAY SPRINGS, KS “Grab a container that holds water and send idle people out to gather pretty plants. Weeds can look pretty good.” MARY ANNE THYGESEN PORTLAND, OR “We do a hot dog bar complete with sauerkraut, cheese, chili, onions, pickle relish and any other condiments people may like. Cheap and easy to put together in a flash.” CHRISTINA ADDISON BLANCHESTER, OH “Freeze a pretty bunch of grapes,…

Among cherry trees and plentiful plots of squash, guests in Alice’s Garden practice yoga, try African drumming and take part in reading circles. The two-acre urban farm located in Milwaukee encourages inner-city residents to embrace their cultural roots while growing their own food. “People come into the garden and say that the inside of this fence represents what the outside of Milwaukee should feel and look like as far as all of the cultures that intersect,” says Venice Williams, the garden’s director. “People share their knowledge, their food and their life journey.” The daughter of a chef and a grocery store manager, Venice grew up around fresh food and learned to tend a garden from her grandmothers. It’s a life skill she passes on in cooking classes and an herbal…

Outdoor crafting is a summer hobby worth cultivating. Decorative accents turn a house into a cozy home, and they’ll do the same for any backyard space. Check out these creative ideas from readers who used their yards as backdrops for quirky works of art. And let inspiration be your guide. Button-Eyed Susan This funky flower, left, is crafted from soda pop cans, buttons and rebar, but whatever you have around the house can work. Leslie Randall of Vulcan, Michigan, used tin snips (be sure to wear safety gloves) to cut petal-like strips down the sides of the cans. A large plastic cottage cheese container works, too. With some spray paint and weatherproof glue, you’ll have blooms all year round. Portrait in Propane Terry Moore of Quincy, Illinois, had a propane…

I grew up in south Alabama, where we raised our own vegetables, pigs and cows; hung out the laundry to dry because Daddy said the electricity was too expensive; and then rescued that laundry from the goats trying to chew it off the lines. I learned to can jams and jellies, gather and crack the pecans that fell in the fall, and shell ladyfinger peas with my great-grandma until my fingers hurt. So when I found myself transplanted to the Hill Country of Texas—due to the love of a sixth generation Texan—I felt I could hold my own. My husband, John, and I have now settled on a good 10 acres of farmland just outside of Austin, where we grow most of our own vegetables and enjoy fresh eggs from…

Peanut Butter Sheet Cake A minister’s wife gave me this recipe, and now my family can’t get enough of it. My daughter loves this glazed treat so much that she shared it with members of her Bible study group. —BRENDA JACKSON GARDEN CITY, KS PREP: 15 MIN. BAKE: 20 MIN. + COOLING MAKES: 24 SERVINGS 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 cups sugar 1 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. salt 1 cup water 3/4 cup butter, cubed 1/2 cup chunky peanut butter 1/4 cup canola oil 2 large eggs 1/2 cup buttermilk 1 tsp. vanilla extract GLAZE 2/3 cup sugar 1/3 cup evaporated milk 1 Tbsp. butter 1/3 cup chunky peanut butter 1/3 cup miniature marshmallows 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract 1. Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a 15x10x1-in. baking pan. 2.…

1 “Nathan, our little guy, was 4 months old in this family-favorite shot,” says Jennifer Ball of Norwood, Ontario. 2 “Our calf cuddles my great-niece, Ally,” says Suzanne Byrd of Sweeny, Texas. “Ally wanted to sleep in the barn with him!” 3 “McKenna’s the boss when it comes to showing swine at the county fair,” says her mother, Susan Murphy of Calhan, Colorado. 4 “My son Aidyn loves his great-grandparents’ farm—the barn, horses and the cats, which he calls ‘minmins,’ ” says Amaranta Sokol Como of Martensville, Saskatchewan. 5 Daughter Saige shows the makings of a master gardener when she’s “helping in our farm’s garden,” says Vallorie Francis of Edgerton, Missouri. Your Family Could Be Scrapbook Stars! Email a family snapshot and description to submissions@countrywomanmagazine.com . If…

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Dentist Recommends Vinegar I have some useful advice that others may be interested in. When I got my Dentures several years ago, the Dentist told me use vinegar to get the plaque off them. So - about once a week I soak them in the wonder liquid and Presto - they sparkle. I have since gotten implants - Since I am not fond of the hygienist scraping the posts for cleaning - I clean them with Vinegar before going for my check-up. On my last visit to her, she couldn’t believe how clean they were and praised me for it! I then asked the Dentist that put the implants in if the vinegar would harm the metal posts and he informed me it is OK to use it. - D.…

WHAT YOU’LL NEED Acrylic paint Foam brushes Multipurpose sealer Mason jar s or old food jars Drill and bit Assortment of knobs with metal scr ew bases DIRECTIONS 1. Paint jar lids, applying 2- 3 light coats. When dry, apply sealer with a foam brush. 2. Drill through the middle of each jar lid with a drill bit. Screw knobs into place. BRIGHT IDEA! Use jars to easily store cotton balls in a bathroom or stash craft supplies in a studio.…