Innholdsfortegnelse for December/January 2020 i Country Woman

When I was a kid, my friends would occasionally plan a caroling party. We were members of youth choirs, and the holiday season brought an opportunity to share the joy of song with neighbors and those in need of a little cheer. We’d usually gather for a bite to eat before or after, but we were never quite as organized as you will be if you use the ideas starting on page 16. With crafty favors and the perfect sip and snack for your guests, you’ll be ready for a magical night of spreading melodic goodwill. If you’re not a songbird, we’ve got other festive ideas for you in this issue. Circle of Friends member Holly Ambro shares her decorating tips on page 12. (You can get to know Holly…

1 I remember looking at my grandparents’ Christmas tree, admiring the ornaments. A little angel always stood out to me. She was so beautiful. I was lucky to get that little angel after my grandparents passed away. My most prized ornament, she has seen so many Christmases—every one in my life, and I am 63. CONNIE GARRISON LA PORTE, INDIANA 2 Since my first little boy was born seven years ago, we have collected holiday ornaments from wherever we went. Now we have two boys who never let us forget at every gift store we come to—which turns out to be a lot because who doesn’t love a good vacation souvenir? I quickly realized we were going to need a separate tree, so we started our travel tree tradition. It’s…

1 Real Gardening Tools for Children Let them lend a hand with these kid-sized garden tools made with sturdy handles and steel implements. $15 each or $45 for a set of four lehmans.com 2 Craft-tastic Farm Yarn Babies Kit Fill the barn—and an afternoon—with this colorful craft kit that makes a pig, a horse and a lamb. $21 michaels.com 3 Hackin’ Packin’ Alpaca The kiddos will get a giggle from Mac the alpaca as he spits water on players who don’t complete the challenge in this timed stacking game. $20 target.com 4 Ten Horse Farm An equine farm rises from the pages in pop-up master Robert Sabuda’s tribute to rural living. $30 powells.com…

Letter-Stamped Butter Cookies An alphabet cookie stamp set makes creating these edible place cards a snap. Surprise your guests with dessert before dinner! —TASTE OF HOME TEST KITCHEN PREP: 30 MIN. + CHILLING BAKE: 10 MIN./BATCH + COOLING MAKES: ABOUT 21/2 DOZEN 1 cup butter, softened 1 cup confectioners’ sugar 1 large egg, room temperature 3 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 tsp. salt Decorating icing and sprinkles, optional 1. In a large bowl, cream butter and confectioners’ sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg. Combine flour and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Divide dough into thirds. Shape each into a ball, then flatten into a disk. Wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes. 2. Preheat oven to 350°. On a lightly floured surface, roll 1 portion of…

TREE SKIRT WHAT YOU’LL NEED 2 yd. plaid fleece fabric 2 yd. coordinating fleece String Chalk Coordinating ball fringe Coordinating thread Pins Sewing machine Sewing needle Velcro DIRECTIONS 1 Fold plaid fabric in half with shorter sides together, and fold in half again, to get a rough square. Fold coordinating fleece in the same way. 2 Cut a piece of string the same length as folded fabrics; tie it to chalk. Holding end of the string at corner with 2 closed folds, swing chalk from 1 corner to the opposite, to draw a curved line along the 2 open sides on each folded fabric. Cut a second string 3 ½ in. long and mark a smaller arc from same corner. 3 Cut along chalk lines, creating a doughnut shape with…

Everything for this recipe is probably already in the kitchen. Popular at Drexell & Honeybee’s Donations Only Restaurant any time, it is especially so at the holidays. Not too sweet, it’s a crowd favorite. PREP: 15 MIN. + STANDING BAKE: 35 MIN. MAKES: 24 SERVINGS 2 large eggs, room temperature 4 cups 2% milk 2 cups sugar 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted 1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract 1 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg 2 loaves (1 lb. each) day-old Italian bread, cut into 1-in. pieces STREUSEL 1 cup packed brown sugar 3 Tbsp. all-purpose flour 3 Tbsp. unsalted butter, softened Sweetened whipped cream, optional 1. Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, whisk the first 7 ingredients until blended. Gently stir in bread; let stand until bread…

While gathering items for an upcoming family wedding, an interesting object on her parents’ central Utah farm caught Pam Hathaway’s eye. “It was an old cap from the top of one of my parents’ grain silos,” she says. “It must have blown off during a storm and was laying in the weeds near the farm’s machine shop. Who knows how long it had been there.” Pam studied the cap, thinking how it reminded her of a large pocket watch. “The edges were fluted and its flat surface made me think of a clockface,” she says. She also loved that it was part of the family farm’s history. “My parents still live on their 100-acre property, and it’s still being farmed. I remember those two silos from my childhood days. First…

1. Share photos and stories with us using the online form at countrywomanmagazine .com/submit . 2. Note to which department you’re submitting, and whether the material has been published before. However, your item may be selected to run in any section of our magazine, or elsewhere. 3. We do not return submitted materials. Although we are unable to acknowledge receipt of any submissions, we’ll let you know if they’re published. 4. We accept high-resolution digital images. Digital images should be about 4x6 inches at a minimum resolution of 300 dots per inch, or about 1200x1800 pixels. Photos must be in focus and of good quality. Please send submissions only through our online form. 5. If we print your submission in the magazine, we will send you a complimentary copy of the…

Tell us about yourself. I am about small-town living and decorating our family’s home with pieces that tell our story. We think of our self-built farmhouse as a canvas, so when people walk in, they know we live here! What are your hobbies? My YouTube channel is a creative outlet that allows me to share DIY and decorating projects. What’s the best lesson you’ve learned from a DIY project? In building our home, I learned that the imperfections end up being the source of the greatest stories. The day we moved in we also brought our second baby home from the hospital—and it was my husband’s birthday. My toddler took a Sharpie to the wall. Instead of getting mad, I thanked her for the beautiful art. I will never, ever…

1 Homemade Dollhouse This two-story wooden house was made by the owner’s grandfather in 1908. It features a simple exterior, measuring 19 inches wide by 24 inches high. Its two rooms are furnished with a mix of handmade and manufactured items, including a souvenir rocker from the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, vintage paper and textiles on the floor, and prayer card “pictures.” Worth: $150-$200 2 T. Cohn Dollhouse T. Cohn Inc. introduced its first dollhouse in 1948, with the version pictured following in 1951. An elaborate two-story house, it includes a garage, living room, kitchen and two bedrooms, as well as working windows and doors—all in colorful detailed tin litho. The house came complete with plastic furniture and a car. Worth: $25-$145, depending on condition. 3 Today’s…

Lemons are among the easiest citrus to grow indoors, and they make thoughtful gifts. You provide the light, water and fertilizer, and they offer gorgeous, aromatic flowers and homegrown fruit. According to Steven Biggs, the author of Grow Figs Where You Think You Can’t, the scent is one of the best reasons to grow an indoor lemon tree. “You can’t beat the smell of lemon blossoms—they’re a joy indoors when it’s gray outdoors.” CHOOSE THE BEST VARIETY Many types of lemons do well when grown indoors, but Meyer is the most popular. Not only does it take well to container culture, but the fruits have a sweeter flavor, are less acidic and have thinner skin than many other varieties. PLANTS VERSUS SEEDS Steven points out that while it’s possible to…

Cinnamon Apple Cider Monkey Bread I use such cold-weather staples as spices and apple cider to turn plain cinnamon rolls into monkey bread. It’s a hit with my boys, who love the sticky sweetness. —KELLY WALSH AVISTON, IL PREP: 20 MIN. BAKE: 45 MIN. + STANDING MAKES: 16 SERVINGS 5 envelopes (.74 oz. each) instant spiced cider mix 3 tubes (12.4 oz. each) refrigerated cinnamon rolls with icing 2 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled and chopped 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts 6 Tbsp. butter, melted 2 tsp. ground cinnamon 1. Preheat oven to 350°. Combine cider mixes. Separate cinnamon rolls, setting aside icings; cut each roll into quarters. Add to the cider mixture; toss to coat. 2. Arrange a third of the dough pieces in a well-greased 10-in. fluted…

Collect cake stands, cookie jars, plates, candlesticks, small knobs and glass hurricanes from thrift shops. While shopping, look for such vintage Christmas decor as papier-mache houses, deer, bottle-brush trees, wreaths and toys. Build the globes by stacking and hot-gluing candlesticks to plates and knobs to globes, and adhering other items to create snow globes of varying sizes and heights. To get the look on the cover, fill the bottoms of the globes with cotton batting or bagged snow and arrange scenes using the vintage decorations. To create the cookie scenes shown on the previous pages, fill globes with sanding sugar and arrange cookies in globes as desired. Hot-glue bottle-brush trees or glittery snow trim and other accents inside or outside of globes as desired.…

One Christmas, years ago, our two young granddaughters came to visit for the holidays. We headed out to the local tree farm to find the perfect pine. We made sure we had our discount coupon with us, and little Natalie read the advertisement printed on the clipping. She was excited to get its promised horse-drawn wagon ride. We found a beautiful tree that year, and as it was being tied to our vehicle, I motioned for the girls to get into the car. But Natalie said she couldn’t go yet—she hadn’t gotten the “free shake” the advertisement had also promised. Giggling, we explained that the coupon was not offering a cool treat for her, but a jiggle for the tree to shake out the dead debris. Not wanting to disappoint…

Drill two holes at the top of a 24-muffin tin. With a circle punch, cut 24 circles of scrapbook paper large enough to cover the muffin cups in the tin. Cut 24 smaller circles in a complementary paper. Secure each small circle on top of a larger circle with double-sided tape. Add glitter glue around the edges of the smaller circles; dry thoroughly. Embellish with Christmas stickers as desired. Center adhesive numbers 1-24 on the smaller circles and secure with craft glue, if needed. Use glue to adhere a small magnet to the backs of 24 buttons; dry thoroughly. Thread a decorative ribbon through the drilled holes and tie in place. Place candy or a small toy in each muffin cup. Use a button magnet to hold each circle over…

Buzz for Bees I was thrilled to receive the August/ September “Bee Issue.” My husband is a beekeeper and a pollinator advocate so we love all things bee. I enjoyed the articles, recipes and the idea for beeswax wraps. I was also inspired by the honeycomb wreath and modified it by using one of our empty honey frames. It’s a perfect addition to our honeybee decor, especially now as we’re “busy as bees” selling our honey harvest. Thanks for such a delightful magazine. I eagerly anticipate each issue. JILL VAUGHT LEWISBURG, KENTUCKY New Life for Old Jeans I saw the ideas for upcycling old denim in the August/September magazine, and it gave me an idea. I had saved several pieces of old jeans, and I thought someday I would do…

WHAT YOU’LL NEED Assorted greens (lemon, olive and bay leaves, rosemary, and seeded eucalyptus work well) Covered binding wire 24-in. round wire wreath frame Toothpick 10-14 assorted oranges, lemons, clementines and kumquats Whole cloves 20-gauge wire Wire cutters Using a toothpick, poke a pattern of holes into one side of several pieces of fruit and insert whole cloves. DIRECTIONS 1 Trim and snip greens into 8- to 12-in. lengths. Using covered binding wire, bind together 12-15 small bundles of assorted greenery, leaving wire tails to secure each bundle to frame. 2 Position each bundle on frame, overlapping slightly. Use wire tails to secure to frame. Trim ends. 3 Using a toothpick, poke a pattern of holes into 1 side of several pieces of fruit and insert whole cloves. Thread a…

My mom, Doris Short, lives on our family farm near Franklin, West Virginia. She enjoys crafting and uses her skills to spread kindness. Felt is Mom’s material of choice. A few winters ago, she began making these colorful felt angels to give to others. She will tuck them into a basketful of goodies bound for a hospital patient, or a card sent to a friend. She also carries a few in her purse and looks for opportunities to pass them out when she is running errands, as a way of cheering up folks she thinks could use a lift. I have seen store clerks’ faces brighten and heard comments like, “I needed this today.” Mom’s felt angels bring joy to others, but I believe she is the true angel.…

Easy to organize—since the activities are already planned for a caroling party—these celebrations spread cheer to both your guests and your neighbors. To keep the party humming along, consider these tips: LAYER UP! Remind guests to dress for the weather, especially if you live in a cold area. Consider having a basket of extra hats and mittens for those who might need them. MAKE A PLAN. Have a route picked out in advance, but in the event of bad weather, consider caroling in a nearby nursing home or hospital—residents will love that you remembered them. LIGHT THE WAY. Have a light source to keep everyone safe. The adorable snowman pins on page 19 will light up the night in style. SING OUT LOUD. How many of us know all the…

Last December I saw an invitation on Facebook to come have Christmas dinner at Drexell & Honeybee’s Donations Only Restaurant in Brewton, Alabama. “What a selfless act!” I thought as I considered the generosity of the owners, Eleze “Lisa” Thomas-McMillan and her husband, Freddie McMillan. Since my husband and I were celebrating on Christmas Eve and were free on Christmas Day, we wanted to lend a hand. The restaurant, located in a run-down old building Freddie brought back to life in 2018, is a bright and sunny spot that on Christmas Day offered turkey, roast beef, dressing, dumplings, vegetables and desserts. The comforting food, which Lisa and Freddie prepare, brings guests together from all different life experiences. A discreetly placed donation box allows those who can donate to do so;…

Honey-Orange Glazed Pork Loin After finding this idea in a magazine, I changed it up to make it my own. I like to keep a pork loin in the freezer so we can have this special dish anytime. —MARLYS PETERSON CENTERVILLE, SD PREP: 10 MIN. BAKE: 1 1/4 HOURS + STANDING MAKES: 12 SERVINGS 1 cup orange juice 1/2 cup cider vinegar 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1/4 cup honey 2 Tbsp. chili powder 1 Tbsp. ground coriander 1 Tbsp. ground cumin 1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon 1 boneless whole pork loin roast (4 lbs.) 1 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. pepper Orange slices, optional 1. In a small saucepan, combine the first 8 ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 45 minutes or until glaze is reduced…

Known as Christmas Card Lane, this festive tradition began in 1965. One year earlier, a handful of Lauderdale Drive residents had traveled to the nearby town of Zeeland, where they saw a string of lawns decorated with oversized Christmas cards. Charmed, they decided to bring the idea home. By early December, neighbors along Lauderdale Drive in Kalamazoo, Michigan, have pulled out all the stops to make the season merry and bright. That first year, 30 households made and displayed cards—using 4-by-6 sheets of plywood, opaque projectors and enamel paint. And while most of the neighbors from those early days have moved on and new families have moved in, the tradition continues. Last year, the usual streams of visitors were greeted by more than 40 holiday cards and an assortment of…

As my co-teacher was excusing our kindergarten class at the end of the day, one student came up to her in tears. She just couldn’t find her boots anywhere and said the pair by her locker was not hers. We looked everywhere. Finally I asked her, “Are you sure they aren’t yours?” She nodded. “Yes, mine had snow on them.” LIZ MOW CHESTER, NEW YORK Years ago at my grandson’s sixth grade graduation, the principal, in praising the kids’ parents, asked the students if they knew who was responsible for getting them where they were that day. One girl raised her hand and said, “I know! The bus!” JUDY YOCOM AURORA, COLORADO After a morning of planting seeds in our garden, we sat down to a meal of hamburgers on…