Innholdsfortegnelse for April/May 2019 i Country Woman

One of the nicest parts of my job is reading the stories, tips and ideas you send in. Your wit, wisdom and ingenuity inspire me every day. Susan Dixon’s photos of her grandmother’s framed handmade doilies are one example. Susan, of Bear Creek, North Carolina, sent them in with a note telling us these doilies reminded her of her grandmother every time she looked at them. That got us thinking: How else could you repurpose these cherished family heirlooms? This issue’s Make It feature, beginning on page 26, offers four more ideas for keeping Grandma’s handiwork close. Thanks for the inspiration, Susan! I hope the rest of you enjoy the projects her letter sparked. We love learning new ways to display family treasures, so there are some more clever tips…

Time Flies As we approach our 50th anniversary, we’re taking a look back. If you’ve been reading Country Woman since we were Farm Wife News, we want to hear from you. How were you introduced to the magazine? Similarly, if your story, recipe or craft was featured in these pages, tell us what you’ve been up to since then. Where the Heart Is Friendly folks and room to roam are a few of the reasons rural living will never go out of style. Tell us why you love living off the beaten path, or why you value having grown up in the country. Is there a specific story or memory that brings it all home? Howdy, Neighbor! Casseroles, cookies or a simple hello: What’s your favorite way to welcome newcomers…

Q: How do you plan to spend your seed money this spring? One of my many hobbies is spinning fibers. This spring I will be planting, harvesting, preparing and then spinning flax for linen. CHERYL STUNKEL TUSCARORA, MD I have a few big pots outside. I find that sage grows well from seed and lives well in this area. I also have some lavender seeds that I hope will flourish. FAYE HENDERSON GAFFNEY, SC I’m researching companion planting, and I plan to add chives and marigolds to my veggie garden, as they’re good pest repellents. I also want to reserve one bed as a cutting garden. JENNIFER MILAKOVIC-NELSON CAMPTON HILLS, IL…

Hanging baskets can green up a pergola or patio quickly, but for a lush look in front of a wall or fence, planters work better. Lengths of PVC gutter can serve as lightweight hanging planters and can be cut down to any size to fit available space. Choose shallow-rooted species that don’t need deep soil, or those such as ferns, that can be planted close together. Trailing plants—like strawberries—are ideal, as they cascade over the side as they grow, obscuring the gutter. Use chain links to hang the planters in pairs for a pretty effect along a plain wall. 1 CUT THE GUTTER Measure and cut lengths of white plastic gutter into desired lengths using a hacksaw. Rough the edges with 180-grit sandpaper. 2 DRILL THE HOLES Mark and drill…

The way Debbie Brown tells it, all it took was one visit to Arizona Cowboy College and there was no going back. The 57-year-old wife and mother of two first visited ACC in 2005. She and her family had taken dude ranch vacations in the past, but Debbie, a substitute teacher from Waukee, Iowa, was looking for something more adventurous. “My life was mundane and a little boring,” she says. “I wanted and needed to do something for myself that would make it more interesting. Cowboy College was all that and more. I learned how to do everything to get a horse ready to saddle, bridle and ride. I liked learning about horse safety, cowboy etiquette—don’t ride ahead of the boss!—roping and especially how to gather, move, sort, brand and…

This project is a great way to turn a favorite recipe card into a decorative piece. Start by arranging reclaimed wood planks together to create a rectangular base. Line the back of the planks with a few wood strips, perpendicular to the seams between the planks. Nail the strips to the planks, securing them in place. Enlarge the recipe card on a color copier, so the print picks up time-earned stains and illustrations. Choose a size slightly smaller than the base. Apply decoupage glue on the back of the print and press it into place on the wood. Brush another layer of glue over entire front side to seal it. Dry thoroughly. Drill holes in the upper corners of wood base and thread twine through the holes, knotting the ends to…

Content Kudos I just wanted to let you know how pleased I am with the October/November 2018 issue of Country Woman. Your Thanksgiving leftover recipes are great, and I’m going to try them all this year. Also, the instructions for putting new seat covers on my dining room chairs are perfect—just the project I wanted to do at this time. Thank you very much and keep up the good work. JUDY GASCO ELMIRA, MICHIGAN Helping Hands I just saw the letter from Pamela Huber (“Let’s Chat,” December/January 2019) showing her take on the “Wiggles and Giggles” quilt. I live near Sacramento, California, where there have been terrible fires recently. When I showed the picture to my crafting group, we decided we would like to make several of those quilts to…

Our Circle of Friends volunteers help provide the creative ideas and stories you see in every issue of Country Woman. Visit countrywomanmagazine.com/circleoffriends for more information or to apply. AMY ADAMS TORRINGTON, CONNECTICUT TERESA AMBORD ANDERSON, CALIFORNIA HOLLY AMBRO SEQUIM, WASHINGTON SHARON BLUMBERG MUNSTER, INDIANA TABITHA COOPER COLUMBIA, TENNESSEE BRENDA DAVEY GREENBRIER, ARKANSAS SANDY DUDZIK STREAMWOOD, ILLINOIS SANDY ERDMAN WINONA, MINNESOTA HELEN FLETCHER SHAD BAY, NOVA SCOTIA DANIELLE GLASGOW UNION MILLS, INDIANA MARIE HILLIARD NEWBORN, GEORGIA MARGIE LYTLE WASILLA, ALASKA MELLANIE MCCREARY PALMER, ALASKA JENNIFER MILAKOVIC-NELSON CAMPTON HILLS, ILLINOIS STEPHANIE MORGAN EWING, KENTUCKY HAYLEY MOSS HULL, IOWA SHELBY OPPERMANN MECHANICSVILLE, MARYLAND WENDY QUATTLEBAUM MCDONOUGH, GEORGIA MELODY RICHARDSON MIDDLESEX, VERMONT CATHIE SCHOER SHEPHERD, MONTANA CHERYL STUNKEL TUSCARORA, MARYLAND JAMIE TAYLOR MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN JESSICA WAGNER VERSAILLES, OHIO WENDY WALKER EUSTIS, FLORIDA…

Buttermilk Angel Biscuits These versatile biscuits are slightly sweet and so simple to make. —CAROL HOLLADAY DANVILLE, AL PREP: 30 MIN. + STANDING BAKE: 10 MIN.• MAKES: 2 DOZEN 2 pkg. (1/4 oz. each ) active dry yeast 1/4 cup warm water ( 110° to 115° ) 5 1/4to5 1/2 cups self-rising flour 1/3 cup sugar 1 tsp. baking soda 1 cup shortening 1 3/4 cups buttermilk 1. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. In a large bowl, whisk 51/4 cups flour, sugar and baking soda. Cut in the shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in buttermilk and yeast mixture to form a soft dough (dough will be sticky). 2. Turn onto a floured surface; knead gently 8-10 times, adding flour if needed. Roll dough to 3/4-in.…

DOWN THE MIDDLE MAKE A LIGHT AND AIRY TABLE RUNNER PERFECT FOR A SPRING PARTY. WHAT YOU’LL NEED Vintage doilies Fabric dye, optional Scraps of white cotton fabric (for dyeing process) E6000 Fabri-Fuse Glue Iron DIRECTIONS 1 Arrange doilies on a table in the order they will be in finished runner, placing larger ones toward center and smaller ones near each end. 2 Decide which doilies to dye, if desired. Mix dye according to package directions, and test color on a scrap of white cotton fabric. Note that dye time for doilies can be seconds compared to other materials. Dry the doilies completely. 3 Iron doilies if needed and finalize their arrangement. Fasten together with the E6000 Fabri-Fuse at overlapping points. Place books on top of runner to help glue…

I’m an antiques appraiser, so I’ve noticed many homeowners are going back to the retro and farmhouse decor, including Pyrex. I’m not talking about the clear glass baking dishes you may be thinking of from modern times, but vintage Pyrex: a wonderful array of colorful, embellished cookware produced by Corning Glass Works from the late 1940s through the mid-1980s. To start collecting your own set, look for Pyrex pieces without cracks, chips or fading color. Run your fingers over the top of the pieces and around the glass covers, checking for chips. Pieces with the original box, lid or warming cradle are worth a much higher price. Keep in mind that a lot of unique pieces are available for purchase online, but some good buys can still be found at…

Ham & Collards Quiche I love quiche and wanted to make something that celebrates my southern roots, so I came up with this recipe. With eggs, cheese, ham and collard greens in a flaky crust, it’s a complete meal. —BILLIE WILLIAMS-HENDERSON BOWIE, MD PREP: 20 MIN. BAKE: 35 MIN. + STANDING MAKES: 6 SERVINGS 1 sheet refrigerated pie crust 2 Tbsp. olive oil 1 cup frozen chopped collard greens, thawed and drained 1 small onion, chopped 1 garlic clove, minced 1/4 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. pepper 2 cups shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese 3/4 cup cubed fully cooked ham 6 large eggs 1 cup 2% milk 1. Preheat oven to 375°. Unroll crust into a 9-in. pie plate; flute edge. Chill crust while preparing the filling. 2. In a large skillet,…

1 Story Time One of the new hens we added to our flock was getting picked on, so our daughter Miriam decided to calm her by reading to her. SARAH CLINE LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA 2 Oh, Hello There! It was our granddaughter’s first Easter egg hunt, and she even offered Mitch the calf an egg! BRENDA KELLY CHILLICOTHE, ILLINOIS 3 Best of Buds My 6-year-old nephew, Johann, and Australian shepherd, Faye, get along so well. HANNAH KROLL LONG PRAIRIE, MINNESOTA Your family could be Scrapbook stars. Visit countrywomanmagazine.com/submit to share a family snapshot and description. If we publish it, you’ll get bragging rights and a free year of Country Woman.…

1 A Baker’s Dozen For that person whose happiest moments are spent blending butter and flour, pack baking tools, gadgets and a cookbook or two into a pretty mixing bowl, canister or cookie jar. Think about those tools you’re always reaching for: hot pads, dish towels and spatulas. Then add a favorite ingredient, a go-to cake mix or a fancy bottle of vanilla extract. Arrange it all in the container and tuck in a final, personal touch: a handwritten recipe card. 2 Gifts for Green Thumbs This time of year, you may have to go searching for the gardener on your list—she’s probably out digging in the dirt. Opt for a few classics for her—think bulbs and seeds—along with a few unexpected gardening gadgets, like a good pair of pruners,…

The humble beginnings of one of today’s hottest collectibles—Pyrex kitchenware—can be traced to a moment in American railroading history. A new kind of glass was needed so that hot lantern globes and battery jars wouldn’t crack in cold weather. Corning Glass Works was brought onboard to solve the problem, and its work was so successful Corning scientists eventually explored new ways to use the glass. When Corning researcher Jesse Littleton gave his wife, Bessie, a sawed-off battery jar to bake in, Pyrex’s future in the kitchen began. While most Pyrex remains affordable to collect, rare colors or pieces, such as the elusive Lucky in Love casserole dish, can fetch hundreds to thousands of dollars. Here’s a sampling: 1 Butterprint Round Casserole Set Butterprint was one of the first patterns offered…

In today’s modern home, one of the biggest selling points seems to be a large kitchen. It’s popular now to have cupboards galore, abundant countertops, an island and sufficient space for family and friends to mill around. Not so in my mother’s bustling kitchen. No one milled around there—they just passed through with the same conversation openers: “What’s for dinner?” or “When’s dinner?” We lived in an old farmhouse and the kitchen was the size of a postage stamp. My mother could easily pick up a pot of boiling pasta from the stove, turn around, take two steps and drain the water in the sink. All her tools were right at hand. Of all of them, my mom’s mixing bowls have the most meaning to me. She had a set…

Hummingbird Cake This impressive cake is my dad’s favorite, so I always make it for his birthday. It’s also great for Easter. —NANCY ZIMMERMAN CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE, NJ PREP: 40 MIN. BAKE: 25 MIN. + COOLING MAKES: 14 SERVINGS 2 cups mashed ripe bananas 1 1/2 cups canola oil 3 large eggs, room temperature 1 can (8 oz.) unsweetened crushed pineapple, undrained 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract 3 cups all-purpose flour 2 cups sugar 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. ground cinnamon 1 cup chopped walnuts PINEAPPLE FROSTING 1/4 cup shortening 2 Tbsp. butter, softened 1 tsp. grated lemon zest 1/4 tsp. salt 6 cups confectioners’ sugar 1/2 cup unsweetened pineapple juice 2 tsp. half-and-half cream Chopped walnuts, optional 1. In a large bowl, beat the…

Blosom started out as an ordinary heifer, destined to join the dairy herd. My dad, Gene Meads, and I raised replacement heifers, breeding them at 15 months and selling them to a farmer before they calved, around the age of 2. But from the day Blosom arrived at our farm, affectionate as could be, we knew she was different. Whenever Blosom saw us or when visitors arrived, she came to the fence for a chin rub or ear scratch. She followed my kids around like a puppy. I vividly recall them asking if we could keep her; I’d tell them it was her destiny to be a milking cow. But as Blosom approached breeding age, we learned she had an incomplete reproductive tract. We were thrilled because it meant she…

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