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What’s Inside? • • • • • • • • • • •
A Cup of Tea with Lydia - Page 4 Changing Seasons & Silver Linings - Page 5 Cowgirl Poet - Page 13 Cleaning Up Christmas - Page 6 Editors Pick - Page 7/9 Eat, Stay & Play in Belle Fourche, SD - Page 8 Robin’s Nest DIY - Page 10 Molasses: Who Knew? - Page 11 Papa’s Carvings - Page 13 Spot the Difference - Page 15 Christmas Word Scramble - Page 16
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Editor’s Notes
Simple Holiday Traditions
Holiday traditions make the holidays bright. It is where sparkling memories are created and treasured for years to come. Growing up, we had many traditions centered around the holidays. But, my favorite one is found in a simple tradition at a transition time. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I love the food, the family and friends, the leaves, the football, the warm sunlight that casts a grateful glow on the end of fall harvest. It is a bright and hopeful time centered around gratitude, which I happen to be very fond of focusing on.
Kelsey Ruzicka
But, my favorite holiday tradition comes at the eve Publisher of of this favorite holiday. As a youth, when the evening The Country Register sets in on Thanksgiving, my sister and I would watch A of ND, SD, WY, Muppets Christmas Carol. It is a light hearted look at A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. That next day or MT & N. ID weekend we would bring out the Christmas tree and set up the holiday village on the piano. Usually while playing A Muppets Christmas Carol again in the background. That day was always a fun time of singing, reminiscing over treasured ornaments and seeing how different and pretty we could arrange the village.
It sounds like a simple tradition. Maybe nothing extraordinary to some. But, for me it is one I’ve carried on with my daughter. It signals the beginning of the holidays, it sparks the Christmas spirt and makes me feel at home no matter where I’ve been at during that transition. Holiday traditions are important. They can be old ones that are passed down, but they can be new ones too! I’ve started new ones with my daughter and that has a whole new joy to it. What sort of traditions are your favorite? Will you make new ones this year? Here’s to many years of traditions with our loved ones. Wishing you warm holiday blessings this season. Happy Holidays!
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The Country Register of the Northern Rockies & Great Plains including North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, & Northern Idaho Kelsey (Snyder) Ruzicka, Publisher Produced by Moxie Marketing of the Midwest, LLC PO BOX 2015 • Belle Fourche, SD 57717 605-568-0181 Office www.countryregister.com/nrgp www.moxiemarketingmw.com Publisher’s contact numbers across the USA & Canada for The Country Register Send $3 to any publisher below to obtain a paper from another area: * Indicates these editions are available on–line at www.countryregister.com.
November - December 2021 | Page 3
The Holiday Issue!
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The Country Register of the Northern Rockies & Great Plains
November - December 2021 • Volume 11 Issue 6
The Country Register of the Northern Rockies & Great Plains is published every two months. Copyright 2021. Reproduction or use, without permission, of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited by law. The Country Register is a registered business trade name. Moxie Marketing of the Midwest, LLC produces The Country Register of the Northern Rockies & Great Plains. Subscription price: 1 year, 6 issues, $18.00. Single copies: $3.00. This paper is furnished free at each advertiser, highway welcome centers, tourism centers, shows, events, and other selected locations throughout North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, and Northern Idaho. Articles published in this newspaper, which are contributed from outside sources, express the opinions of their authors only and may not express the viewpoints of the management and 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 the purchase or use of products advertised herein.
Index: See page 14 for advertiser’s index by name and by community as well as upcoming events. Next Deadline: Ads and articles for the January/February 2022 issue are due December 7, 2021.
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A Cup of Tea with Lydia: Tidings of Comfort and Joy ’Tis the season for good “tidings of comfort and joy” found in Christmas carols, greeting cards, and food! The holidays evoke many comforting memories for me, and some include food. During my childhood, one of the food traditions our family enjoyed was my mother’s fruitcake. I know—fruitcake often gets a bad rap. But in our large family with eight children, we all loved it. That might have been the problem. Mother baked several fruitcakes around Thanksgiving and let them age until Christmas. But one Christmas, when she went to the pantry to get the fruitcake, she found a knife and a partially eaten cake. Unknown to any of us, my brother had cut a slice for his lunch each morning on his way to work. We didn’t hold it against him. Instead, we laughed that he got away with his caper. After all, he was a “merry gentleman,” and it was the season of “good will toward men.” For the holidays, how about bringing comfort and joy by hosting a Christmas tea using familiar foods made with a festive twist. This selection of comfort foods are sure to bring glad tidings. Sandwich Makeover: (“O Christmas Tree”) With a tree-shaped cookie cutter and a few extra ingredients, a plain sandwich becomes festive. How lovely (and tasty) are your branches! Christmas Tree Sandwiches Ingredients: Slices of wheat bread (or your favorite kind) Slices of cheddar cheese Cream cheese spread (plain or flavored, such as herb, onion, or garden vegetable) English cucumber Red pepper (or pomegranate seeds) 3-inch Christmas tree cookie cutter ½-inch star-shaped cutter Salt and pepper, optional Directions: 1. Cut bread slices into trees with cookie cutter (2 per slice). Prepare 2 or 3 trees per person. 2. Cut cheddar cheese slices into trees with cookie cutter. From the cheese scraps, cut small stars for the tops of the trees. 3. Spread the trees (bread) with cream cheese. Top each with a cheddar cheese tree. 4. Spread another thin layer of cream cheese on the cheddar cheese so the cucumber branches will stick. 5. Use a fork to score the peeling of the cucumber. Cut the cucumber into thin slices. 6. Cut the cucumber slices in half and place pieces on top of the cheese layer in a shingled fashion with scored peeling edges facing down. Start at the bottom of the tree and work your way up. Trim pieces to fit as needed. 7. Cut red pepper into tiny pieces and add a few on top of the cucumber branches for ornaments. Place a cheese star on top. 8. Serve immediately. Pass salt and pepper shakers with the sandwiches. Sweets and JOY! (“Joy to the World!”) I met Joy on a flight 41 years ago, and we’ve been keeping in touch as pen pals ever since. Recently, she sent me her cheesecake recipe, which she made in her 6th grade home economics class. Sweets add a grand finale to any teatime or meal. I made a few changes to the recipe and now call it:
By Lydia Harris
Merry Cherry Cheesecake Ingredients: Crust 20 graham crackers ½ cup butter, melted Filling 1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese ½ cup granulated sugar 1 egg, beaten 2 tsps. lemon juice 1 tsp. lemon zest 1 tsp. vanilla extract Topping 1 cup sour cream 2T. sugar ½ tsp. vanilla 1 (21-oz.) can cherry pie filling Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. 2. Place the graham crackers into a large zippered plastic bag and crush them with a rolling pin. 3. Mix crushed crackers and melted butter; press into a 9-inch pie pan (on bottom and sides) to make a crust. 4. Combine all filling ingredients in a medium-sized bowl. Beat thoroughly. 5. Pour filling into pie shell. Bake for 30 minutes. Cool. 6. For topping, combine sour cream, sugar, and vanilla. Spread on top of cheesecake. Chill overnight. 7. Top with cherry pie filling. Or cut and serve individual pieces of cheesecake and top each piece with a spoonful of cherry pie filling. Serves 6 to 8. Variations: Serve with strawberries or raspberries for a Merry Berry Cheesecake. Also, you could make individual cheesecakes by preparing them in muffin pans. Brew a holiday blend of tea and enjoy past Christmas traditions or create new ones. With these recipes or your favorites, you can remember that “Silent Night” of long ago and turn your holidays into a season of “comfort and joy.” Lydia E. Harris, M.A. in Home Economics, is a tea enthusiast and grandmother of five. She authored In the Kitchen with Grandma: Stirring Up Tasty Memories Together and Preparing My Heart for Grandparenting. Her books are available on amazon.com.
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Cowgirl Poet, Quilter, Entertainer Yvonne Hollenbeck Pieces Of The Past As time goes marching forward, and it marches oh so fast, it seems that only memories are all we have that last. They may be of a loved one, or a special time or place, or remnants of a wedding dress, some ribbons and some lace. The chair where mother used to sit and rock her babes at night, or piece a quilt to keep them warm, and all by oil light. The photographs of people that we didn’t even know, that have preserved a precious glimpse of life from long ago. So standing on the edge of life, we oft look back and see reminders of the days gone past and how things used to be. We cherish all these tokens made from want and made from will, and miss the hands that held them once, voices forever still. We’ll treasure that old patchwork quilt that once was on our bed, and keep around a few good books that some loved one has read. And it could never matter just how fine new dishes are, …they never could compare to grandma’s good old cookie jar. We know we can’t retrace our steps and live our lives again, but we can cling to treasures ‘cause that’s all that will remain. For all we have are memories, as long as they will last, in things we cherish most of all ... these pieces of the past. © Yvonne Hollenbeck; 2021 Yvonne Hollenbeck, from Clearfield, SD, performs her original poetry throughout the United States, captivating audiences in her wake. She is one of the most published cowgirl poets in the West and is not only a popular banquet and civic entertainer, but also co-writes songs with many western entertainers. Yvonne also pens a weekly column in the “Farmer-Rancher Exchange” and writes articles about life in rural America in various publications throughout the West. For more information, visit https://www.yvonnehollenbeck.com
November - December 2021 | Page 5
Changing Seasons and Silver Linings
A Lovely Re-gift
by Kerri Habben Bosman
At the end of the year there is something about the dwindling light and drifting leaves. Gratitude is everCathy fordeeply. The Country present but, by in autumn, I treasureElliott time even more My husband Wayne andRegister I wistfully remove the feeder after the hummingbirds leave on their southern journey. It surprises me that slipped into Though I know it’s often done, I feel strange about re-giftingJanuary any present. I April. April eased into August. Once school starts, the months fly by. grew up with a mother who appreciated anything she was given. No matter the
value. If someone chose it, made it, or purchased it with her in mind, then it was a
2020 was an exception to my customary autumn sensations. With the pandemic starting, that year precious thing to Mother. Which made her precious to everyone else. possessed its own surreal reality. However, for Wayne and me, there was a precious silver lining to this Shetime. had many lovely pieces of jewelry, but if I shamelessly begged a trinket unique
from Mother’s green and gold jewel box, her price was high. Usually, if my interest wasthree apparent, she’d “You can havetothat whenoneI die.” The grandchildren whosay, live closest to us came our house day a week when remote school began Of course, I didn’t want it anymore. “No,” I said. “That’s okay. the I’d rest rather in August 2020. Isaac was in 8th grade, Laurel in 6th and Naomi in 4th. Throughout of thehave schoolyou.” smile and pat mythis cheek. Soon continued. I’d be back to digging through her year She’d and throughout the summer, time together treasures, listening to the stories behind them: her graduation watch, the pearl Itnecklace helped all of us to havefrom a change. I would pick them up in the betweenwatch their classes so that theyher brought Japan by her nephew, andmorning a diamond Daddy gave could get settled in before the next ones. Isaac claimed our bedroom as his spot, Laurel spread out in the TV at Christmas. roomOne and Naomi sat on the sofa the livingbracelet room or with meaatpink the kitchen table. day, either Mother held up ain lovely with stone. I remembered it as my grandmother’s—once upon a time. I’d always admired it and knew I’d receive Every day thatresponse. they came over, with healthy snacks and some not soI dared the usual Yes,their it favorite was forfruits me,waited afteralong Mother had departed this life. healthy ones. Omelets and grilled cheese sandwiches appeared upon request. They quickly discovered their not say a word lest I hear that sad proclamation again. But this day, Mother held grandfather’s stash of candy, gradually eating most of it but kindly leaving one or two pieces for Wayne to out the bracelet. “Try it on, honey. See if it fits.” find when he came home from work. Of course, we didn’t spoil them too much, just the right amount. A perfect, miracle fit, twinkling on my wrist as if it belonged there. I caught my breath and admired it as before. But this time, Mother told me the story of the We set up the table in the TV room as an art table and kept paint, markers and canvases at the ready. Isaac, bracelet, a littlenational differently than I’dhisheard be amore trueimpressionistic antique, in who loves America’s parks, depicted favoritebefore.“This places. The girlsmight were often honey. It didWebelong your grandmother I believe shefrom received it as a gift their creations. bought ato second-hand dollhouse. Theand girls used everything toothpicks to leftovers from a special beau.” Mother watched my face as I tried to picture Grandma as a in my sewing basket to make things for it. Isaac and Naomi played our piano, much to our delight. Laurel young woman. I’d always wasn’t quite as appreciative of theirheard talents. she had more than her share of boyfriends. But why? She wasn’t pretty. Not to me. Maybe she knew a lot of jokes or could sing. cook! something, but I didn’t She very IOr learned thatShe I couldhad effectively have a conversation withknow each ofwhat. the kids, workmust on anhave article been and cook—all atadmired the same time. I had not had own children wasThough a bit of revelation me.take Beingitaoff, ‘bonus in her youth tomy warrant suchsoathis gift. I hatedtoto I began grandparent’ our seven is one of the first blessings I count every morning and every night. to wrestletowith the clasp. “Keep it. I think you are old enough to take care of it,” Mother said. “This Inbracelet between classes, we’d also bake something together. has been waiting to surround yourLaurel loves to bake and is exceptionally good at it.wrist At Christmas and Valentine’s Day we made sugar cookies and decorated them all together. Most every for years. Enjoy it.” Tuesday, their grandmother came over for an hour or two and I was excited and had lots of questions. I often we’d all have tea. It became one of our small rituals we shared together. learned the stone was tourmaline, the bracelet’s intricate band made of sterling I carefully planned dinners and desserts we all enjoyed together when Wayne came home. We sat at the silver,table dipped in conversation gold. Firstwas gifted to mymusic grandkitchen and the a delicious of the children’s voices—usually all of them at the mother from an unnamed admirer, then given same time in a timeless symphony of sharing. Then we’d have about two hours before it was time to drive to my mother, and finally, to me. them home. In this case, I’m all about re-gifting. 2021 C. in Elliott - Cathy is awith full-time in California whose cozy mysteries herthem personal The kids© are back school, fullyElliott present their writer teachers and their friends. We still spend reflect time with from quilting and antique collecting to playing her fiddle with friends. She also leads music at church butinterests we and misscherishes when ourtime hearts felt the pulse of their daily lives. We treasure that we were given this gift. with her “grand-gems” Cathy’s cozy plot-twisters include A Stitch in Crime released in tandem with the RE-release (previously published) of a companion book, A Vase of Mistaken Identity. She is
a contributing to Guideposts’ devotional books, Every Dayflights Jesus,and All God’s Creations Ouralso grandchildren areauthor not unlike the hummingbirds—beautiful in their intuitive on theirand Chicken Soup for the Soul books. For more information about Cathy, visit: www.cathyelliottbooks.com journeys. Every season of their lives is a time for us to love them even more as they grow and change in amazing ways.
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Kerri Habben Bosman is a writer in Chapel Hill, NC. She can be reached at 913jeeves@gmail.com.
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Cleaning Up Christmas Every Christmas it’s the same. We rush around doing our shopping; we spend weekends putting up trees and lights. There is the children’s Christmas show at the school and, ultimately, someone dresses up like Santa. These are all fun things that get us into the spirit and all geared towards making memories. We do make memories to be sure but how many Christmases do we actually remember? Personally, I think Christmas is more about cleaning up the mess. Before you start calling me a Grinch, let me explain. For my wife Cathy, Christmas is about a million things and all of them climax to a great Christmas dinner. I get this. It is one of the few times the entire family can get together, to connect and, hopefully, no one gets hurt. More than anyone else, Cathy’s heart goes into making Christmas special and God love her, she works for it. We pull out the Christmas decorations, decorate the house and make a mess. We wrap presents, listen to Christmas music, string popcorn and make a mess. We feed some of the popcorn to the dog and he makes a mess. Although these things are all fun, ultimately, we are left constantly cleaning up messes. It is a constant parade of cookie crumbs, loose tinsel, candy cane wrappers, floor stains, bits of paper and a dog covered in scotch tape and bows. It’s not Christmas if you aren’t cleaning up glitter everywhere. This goes on for two weeks before Christmas and one week after. Then comes the big day. The kids are tearing up the place on a Christmas high. Shredded wrapping paper is flying everywhere. (A lot of it stuck to the dog.) Ornaments and tinsel are falling off the tree. The house becomes full of packaging, manuals, batteries and small cables of every description. In the midst of all this chaos, we have to clean up the joint and prepare for the messiest deal of all—the Christmas dinner. Even with all this preparation, Christmas afternoon is the time we take this house we have worked so hard to keep clean—and drop a bomb on it. This is one of the places Cathy shines the most. She starts maybe a month earlier by picking out a turkey and all the fixings. The turkey weighs almost as much as she does but she manages to clean and jerk that sucker into a cart, a car and, finally, the freezer. A few days before Christmas, the turkey is in the fridge thawing and she begins to prepare fixings. All the while she is still shopping and wrapping presents. Preparing for Christmas dinner is an organized, military style, clean as you go event. If you don’t clean as you go, it will take a month to eat your way out of the mess. The kitchen becomes a symphony of gravy, potatoes, turkey drippings and salad dressing. Even the dog (who is still covered in scotch tape, paper, tinsel and bows because no one had the time to clean him) is doing his bit to ensure the floor is clean of any food that drops down there. Man, that dog is a trooper. Anyway, the place turns into a disaster. There are dishes and utensils I don’t even have names for dirtied and scattered everywhere. Despite this, it all looks good in the dining room. That’s when the moment arrives. We all sit down together for a delicious meal and we share. I can tell how Cathy loves this. It’s really her moment and I would never take that away from her. We all talk frankly about our feelings on things and what we are doing. There is warmth there in Cathy’s special time. It’s a good place to be.
by Jeff Cappis Then it’s time to clean up this environmental disaster. After all that, when the offspring go back to their homes and the grandchildren have gone back to their toys, Cathy and I spend an hour or two trying to put our house back in some kind of order. It’s a lot of work. My God, the dishes alone fill the sink and dishwasher. Now, you might think I’m complaining but I’m really not. You see, these are the times Cathy and I spend working together. We talk about the day and the family. We share our thoughts and feelings about the season and even life. All of this brought together by a single common goal—to clean up the mess and keep our home comfortable. Afterwards, we relax and exhale. It’s then we can enjoy the Christmas that’s left around us. Like we’ve arrived. I doubt we will remember these individual moments much but they do bring us closer together and that lasts a lifetime. So, Cathy and I and every one else at Harmony Acres wish every one of you the Merriest of Christmases! Be well and have a Happy New Year! (And take the time to clean up your messes.) © 2021 Jeff Cappis
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September - October 2021 | Page 7
EDITOR’S PICK: These Are A Few of My Favorite Things Maybe it is just me, but this year Christmas feels a little bit more… well, Christmas-y! After last year’s pandemic Christmas, I’m ready to deck the halls and hang the holly. Another thing we learned in 2021, is how to make the best of things. Finding inspiration in life’s simple moments, finding joy in the world around us, and treasuring moments spent with loved ones. These are lessons the holiday season teaches us, but boy we got a crash course review in 2020 through 2021. When that dog bites and that bee stings, I lean into my favorite things to find joy and recenter. Last Christmas, our household was even in quarantine. It may not have been what I would consider “Christmas,” but there was love and giving in that time too. Which is really what the season inspires. And, I still managed to feel the Christmas spirit because I focused on my favorite Christmas things that I could do from my home. This year, I’m excited to experience the season to its fullest! So, bring on the holly and the jolly! We’ve compiled a list of inspiration, motivation and just pure Christmas fun to help you prepare this holiday season.
10- EDITORS PICK CHRISTMAS SPECIAL: HERE’S A FEW OF ARE FAVORITE THINGS! • Holiday Giveaway Goodies • Songs • Movies • Holiday Drinks • Actives with the Family • Decorations • Ways to Give • Stocking Stuffers • Tree Trimmings Themes • Creative Wrapping Ideas
SONGS 1. The Christmas Song 2. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas MOVIES 1. Original Rudolph the 3. White Christmas Red Noesd Reindeer 4. Rocking Around the Christmas Tree 2. Home Alone 5. Do You Hear What I Hear 3. Muppets Christmas Carol 6. The Little Drummer Boy 4. It’s a Wonderful Life 7. Silent Night 5. The Holiday 8. All I Want for Christmas is You TREE TRIMMING THEMES 6. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 9. Santa Baby 1. Vintage Tree 7. The Last Holiday 10. Baby Its Cold Outside 2. Log Cabin Tree 8. Elf 3. Old Fashion Red Truck 9. Miracle on 34th Street CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS 4. Lego Tree 10. Love Actually 5. Flocked/Feathered 1. Christmas Village Angel Tree 2. Candles 6. The Grinch Tree 3. Wreaths 7. Floral Free 4. Ribbons 8. Nutcracker tree 5. Popcorn Garlands 9. Hunting Antler Tree 6. Nativity scene 10. Candy Land Tree 7. Mantel decore 8. Paper Snowflakes 9. Candy canes 10. Gingerbread house
CONTINUED ON PAGE 9
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EDITOR’S PICK: These Are A Few of My Favorite Things
WAYS TO GIVE 1. Donate clothes 2. Donate old toys 3. Angel Tree 4. Donate treats and food to a food bank 5. Tip generously to a waiter or waitress 6. Help at a local food drive 7. Donate to a Salvation Army 8. Fundraising for local schools 9. Volunteer at a senior center 10. Animal food and supplies at local human society STOCKING STUFFERS 1. Candy/sweets 2. Small treats/foods 3. Jewelry 4. Socks 5. Hygiene products 6. Small toys 7. Stationery 8. Funny gifts (gag gifts) 9. Nail polish 10. Lottery tickets
ACTIVATES WITH THE FAMILY 1. Holiday photos 2. Decorate a gingerbread house 3. Write letters to Santa 4. Create snow globes from mason jars 5. Drive around and look at Christmas lights 6. Family ice skating 7. Ugly sweater party/ family get together 8. Make cookies 9. Go sledding 10.Decorate the inside and outside of the house CREATIVE WRAPPING IDEAS 1. Baskets 2. Tin cans or Jars 3. Old maps 4. Twist wrapping paper into candy look 5. Add dried flower/ Flower to the top of the gift 6. Photo Storage Boxes 7. Add bows 8. Bags with tissue paper 9. Craft Paper with drawings 10. Small or big boxes with drawings for deigns
HOLIDAY GIVE AWAY GOODIES 1. Butterscotch pudding sugar cookies 2. Fudge puddles 3. Cranberry white chocolate cornflake treats 4. Chocolate peanut butter bars 5. Peanut butter crackers dipped in chocolate 6. Italian Wedding cookies 7. Holiday Chex mix 8. Fudge 9. Thumb Print cookies 10. Chocolate peppermint bark
HOLIDAY DRINKS 1. Cider 2. Hot cocoa 3. Hot tea 4. Wine 5. Mulled wine 6. Grinch punch 7. White Christmas margaritas 8. Cranberry orange punch 9. Cranberry spritzer 10. Holiday beers
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The holidays are upon us!! I love everything about the holidays. One of my favorite décor items are candles. I am always looking for new candles and candle holders. This project is all about recycling, so I am taking things that I have at home and making a new candle holder!
You will Need:
You will need a glass vase or container of some kind (Mine is a plain glass vase). Mod Podge or some other type of glue, like Tacky Glue. A foam brush, Epsom salts, glitter in your choice of color, ribbon, a tea light candle, mine is flameless and a decorative item, I used a couple of silver bells and greenery from an old wreath. You will also need a glue gun which is not pictured (so sorry).
Step Two
Apply the Mod Podge to the glass. You can “paint” as much of the glass as you want to, all of it or just some of it. I gave mine and uneven look.
Step THREE
Step One
Mix a half of a cup of the Epsom salt and a tablespoon of the glitter. Mix until well blended and there are no lumps of salt.
While the glue if still wet, sprinkle on the salt and glitter mixture. Cover all the glue with the salt. This will need to dry completely for the salt to set.
Step FOUR
I glued on ribbon around the top of the vase with my glue gun. You can use Tacky Glue, but it takes longer to dry. Then glue on your decorative item. I used some silver bells and greenery.
Light your tea light candle and there you have a fancy candle holder!!
FINISHED!
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November - December 2021 | Page 11
Molasses: Who Knew?
by Kirby Gust of Kirby’s Korner
I recently wrote my latest installment of Borderline Good, and in it I mention molasses. Don’t worry if you haven’t read it yet I won’t spoil anything. When writing the story, I realized how little I knew about molasses, other than that it is in most of my favourite cookies. The first thing I learned is that in the UK molasses is known as treacle.
or topping for porridge. Not a lot of the younger generation make homemade baked beans like their mothers and grandmothers used to.
The origin of molasses is mostly unknown other than it was used in what is now India as early as 500 BC. The term molasses originally comes from the Portuguese word melaço that was taken from the Latin word mel, for honey.
Unfortunately, molasses was a driving factor in early North American slavery, often referred to as the “triangle trade in rum”. Molasses was produced in the Caribbean or on southern plantations and then shipped to New England where it was made into rum. This rum was then shipped overseas to the coast of Africa where the rum was traded for black slaves. The slaves were then taken back to either the Caribbean or the US south and traded for money and/or more molasses. These poor African people were then forced to work in the sugar cane fields and on plantations to make more molasses. This molasses was shipped to New England and the whole vicious and inhumane cycle started all over again.
Before World War one molasses was the most used sweetener in the world. After the war though refined sugar was readily available and was a cheaper alternative to molasses. With this came an increased demand for refined sugar and little to no demand for molasses. But molasses had started to lose its value as a world commodity some years before the war. No longer the other Black Gold In a publication by The Louisiana Bulletin #394, Bray, Charles Iseard, “Feeding blackstrap molasses to fattening steers” (1945), Bray included this quote that originally had been printed in the Country Gentlemen and then reprinted in the Louisiana Planter in 1895 on how molasses had lost much of its value “Throughout the sugar districts of Louisiana molasses is emptied into the streams and skimming ditches to get rid of it, being of such little value it does not pay to barrel it for transportation. Molasses is worth in New Orleans l½¢ to 2¢ per gallon. Thousands upon thousands of barrels of molasses are now wasted.” This lack of value for molasses was the reason sugar cane growers started a campaign to have Texas cattlemen start feeding molasses to their livestock to fatten them up. It was proven at the time to add weight to cattle at a much faster rate than corn feeding and at a substantially lower price. Molasses had been fed to livestock for hundreds of years before this and it is still practiced to this day. I didn’t have the slightest Ink-ling I am embarrassed to admit that although I was a printer in both newspaper and commercial print shops for close to 30 years, I had no idea that the first ink rollers that were used on printing presses were made from molasses. Before these rollers, pressmen would need to apply ink to the lead type with ink balls, which were leather bags filled with wool. These ink balls were used to pick up ink out of a large ink well and then pound the ink onto the lead type. The new Composition Roller made from a mix of molasses and glue drastically sped up the printing process, even in the days when the rollers were still used by hand. The term composition roller was likely a mix of the fact that rollers were made up of a composition of ingredients and they were first used in newspaper composing rooms. Presses in England first started to use composition rollers in 1818, right during the heart of the industrial revolution. Once these new ink rollers were automated to pick up and apply ink to the lead type, the presses really took off, likely printing as many as 600 pages an hour. Today web presses can print 70,000 copies an hour or more. Newer sheetfed presses can print up to 18,000 sheets an hour. Molasses’s slow return It took a few years, but molasses is once again in high demand. Besides it use for making rum, it can also be used to make industrial alcohol such as denatured alcohol that is used in shellac wood finishes. In the commercial food industry molasses has many uses. Blackstrap molasses is used in organic foods as a natural colourant in place of caramel colour. Most barbeque sauces contain molasses, along with Beef jerky, soy sauce, dark rye bread and gingerbread, just to name a few of its uses. Molasses is also commonly used in processed foods where the flavour of the molasses can add to the overall taste of the product. Corn syrup is still the most used sweetener in processed food, but unlike molasses, corn syrup is almost flavourless. Household use of molasses had slightly declined over the years until the “true barbeque” fad and more recently the Covid 19 pandemic, and more households were cooking at home and trying recipes they hadn’t before. Molasses used to be a household staple for making cookies and bread
Molasses’s dark history
The market collapse of molasses stocks was not the only collapse in its history. On January 15, 1919, The Great Molasses Flood disaster occurred in Boston’s North End. Around noon of that day, a giant metal tank holding millions of gallons of molasses burst open and started a molasses tsunami that killed 21 people and injured 150 more. On this, unusually warm day in January the flowing molasses reached speeds of up to 35 miles (56Km) an hour as it flowed out and away from the tank. The thick molasses trapped people as they tried to escape and toppled buildings in nearby neighbourhoods, trapping people not only inside the collapsed building but also in a foot of molasses. The molasses spread out for over two and a half city blocks before the weather took a dramatic turn to below freezing temperatures later that night causing the molasses to thicken, making rescue efforts even harder than they had already been. It was said that the smell of spilled molasses lingered in the area for two decades. The Iconic Crosby’s Molasses (Canada’s Molasses) In the late 1870s, Lorenzo George Crosby founded Crosby’s in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. In 1897 Crosby moved his growing company to Saint John, New Brunswick. By 1911 the business had grown substantially and was moved to a bigger manufacturing plant where the company remains to this Day. Crosby’s is still owned by the same family and is now in its fifth generation of ownership. Crosby’s makes both fancy and blackstrap molasses along with cooking molasses which is a blend of the two. According to Crosby’s website, Fancy molasses is made from pure singlesource sugarcane juice and is not a by-product of the sugar refining process. Whereas blackstrap molasses is a highly concentrated, final by-product of the sugar refining process, leaving it very dark and robust, with a somewhat bitter flavour. All of Crosby’s online recipes use fancy molasses. We always have a carton or two of molasses in our pantry. Mostly because I love the stuff. My favourite cookies are molasses cookies even though I’m not a huge fan of gingerbread, most likely because gingerbread usually doesn’t have enough molasses in it for my liking. I also love homemade baked beans, heavy on the molasses. A few years ago, I was watching a television program called Justified. In one episode they were having Shoo-Fly Pie. I found the recipe online and Colleen made it for me. It is basically just a custard pie made with molasses instead of sugar. It sure was good (hint, hint, if you are reading this Colleen) The shoo-fly part of its name is from a brand of molasses that was popular in the American south in the 19th century. If we were not working fast enough on the farm as kids, Dad would always say we were “slower than molasses in January” a saying that likely makes little sense to a younger generation that has never lived in a house without central heat. Mind you they have likely never seen molasses flow out of the carton, even when it was warm. Kirby Gust is a self-taught crocheter, gardener and woodworker. He has been designing both furniture and afghan crochet patterns for over 20 years. Kirby and Colleen Gust are publishers of the Manitoba & Saskatchewan Country Register. Kirby is the author of Borderline Good and Kirby’s Korner that appear in their publications of the Country Register. Kirby’s woodworking can be seen on both Facebook and Instagram under the name, The White City Woodworker.
Page 12 | November - December 2021
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$25 Gift Certificate Winner Delores Warfield
Won a $25 gift certificate to her favorite shop –
Lickety Stitch Quilts in Torrington, WY To enter the next drawing, fill out the form on page 14 or email
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November - December 2021 | Page 13
Countryberries Designs My Christmas Ornaments
Designed by Kathy Graham
Papa’s Carvings: Sculpting Life Lessons by Kelsey Ruzicka, Editor My childhood is full of really special and meaningful memories. I’m lucky in that way. Some of my most treasured moments are those spent around my grandpa’s hobby bench. He did lots of things, but was mainly into structural art. He would do car and plane models. There were always so many hanging from the ceiling or lined up neatly on the bookshelf behind him. It was fascinating to me how he could put them together and have such perfect detail. There was a lot of patience and dedication to those projects. But the truly amazing medium that truly captivated me, was his wood carvings. He would take a chunk of wood and slowing carve out these characters just by looking at a catalog. He would make all kinds of characters but loved cowboys, soldiers and pioneers. He had many tools and it would take many hours to reach the ultimate goal. Then, when that process was finished he would carefully paint them and give them color. This skill required vision, talent, patience and grace.
This pattern is free for you to use. Please give the artist credit. Not for commercial use. Enlarge this pattern to your desired size. Paint on canvas, wood, paper or fabric. You can also applique the design with wool or cotton fabric to make a pillow or wallhanging. You can do embroidery, punchneedle or rug hooking techniques too. Whatever craft you choose, have fun! Please note: our shop is temporarily closed due to a fire. Follow Countryberries on our website or on Facebook.
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I often would sit by his side and watch in amazement and intrigue as he would work away at that block of wood. We would sit there, and he would tell stories or chat about the day, school, my latest ideas, or the latest book we were reading. I spent hours next to him at that work bench. I was so captivated by this talent because I too did lots of hobby and art projects. But, one I’ve never truly mastered is sculptural art. I’ve dabbled, but never really reached the level that Papa seemed to master. In his later years, Papa developed dementia. It wasn’t until the final days that he lost the wood carving ability. So, his hobby bench was an old and familiar place to be. He carved characters and found peace even when his mind was causing turmoil. In fact, as we cleaned out his hobby bench there were still wood shavings, tools and a partially carved block of wood ready to be molded. Before he was too sick, my mom requested a nativity scene. He carved these beautiful figures. I would consider his crowning jewel of carvings. Each one is quite beautiful and detailed. He has passed on to be with the Lord now, but every year this carved scene helps me feel like he is there with us. The lesson in these carved figures is that the crafts, hobbies and art that we create can leave a legacy. They create memories and lessons to last a lifetime. And, mementos that keep us in the hearts of our loved ones years after we are gone. Keep creating. Invite your littles to observe and learn. Pass on not just the craft, but the vision, patience and dedication it can take to create something from nothing.
See the carvings referenced on page 15 in “Spot the Difference.”
Page 14 | November - December 2021
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Just fill out this form and send it to:
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Advertiser Directory by Name Always Your Design • Dell Rapids, SD.......................................... 6 Belle Fourche Chamber of Commerce • Belle Fourche, SD.......... 8 Betty’s Quiltery • Rapid City, SD................................................. 16 Black Hills Visitor Center • Rapid City, SD.................................. 12 Creative Closet • Townsend, MT................................................... 5 Designs By Daphne Gallery • Belle Fourche, SD.......................... 8 Fiber House, The • Sheridan, WY.................................................. 6
City_____________________________ State ____________ Zip__________
Knothole, The • Spearfish, SD.................................................... 16
Favorite Shop Advertised___________________________________________
Moxie Marketing of the Midwest • Black Hills, SD...................... 2
This is My Favorite Shop Because______________________________________ My Favorite Feature(s) of The Country Register_____________________________
NeedleTravel.com ...................................................................... 13
Found This Issue At_______________________________________________
North Country Fiber Fair • Sioux Falls, SD.................................... 6
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Nuts & Bolts Fabric Shop • Edgemont, SD................................. 16
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Entries received by December 7, 2021, with all questions answered will qualify for the drawing. One gift certificate is given away each issue.
Spot the Difference Answers:
1. Angel and lantern switched. 2. Rearranged Figures (Mary & Joseph) in stable. 3. 3 Figures to Right (Shepherds) rearranged. 4. One less sheep. 5. Light glowing from behind the star.
Office Emporium/Gone to Pieces Quilts • Belle Fourche, SD....... 8 Olive Branch, The • Belle Fourche, SD.......................................... 8 Quilt Connection • Laramie, WY................................................. 16 Quilt Connection 2 • Buffalo, SD................................................ 16 Quilters Corner • Faulkton, SD..................................................... 5 Quilt Yard, The • Pierre, SD........................................................... 6 Tri-State Museum & Visitor Center • Belle Fourche SD................. 8 Wall Drug • Wall, SD.................................................................. 12
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November - December 2021 | Page 15
Spot the Difference Can you spot the difference? There are 5 changes to this nativity scene. Find the answers on page 14. Learn more about this special hand-carved nativity in the article on page 13 (Papa’s Carvings: Sculpting Life Lessons).
Page 16 | November - December 2021
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Happy Holidays!