What’s Inside?
• OREGON SECTION BEGINS - Page 4
• Appreciating the Art of Quilting - Page 5
• A Sea of Quilts in COOS Bay - Page 6
• Girlfriend Wisdom - Page 6
• American Stitches - Page 9
• The Little Things- Page 11
• Professional Services - Page 13
Simple Adventures in Your Backyard
www.MoxieMarketingMW.com
• 605-568-0181 • Kelsey Ruzicka • Publisher of this Country Register!
• WASHINGTON SECTION BEGINS - Page 13
• Summer PotLuck Ideas - Page13
• Quilts of Many Colors - Page 14
• Fiber Arts Show Returns - Page 15
• Become Inspired - Page 16
• A Cup of Tea with Lydia - Page 18
• Ad Index for Travel - Page 20
• Highland Stitchers in Molson - Page 21
• IDAHO SECTION BEGINS - Page 23
• Leap Into Quilting - Page 23
• Where the Wildflowers Are - Back Cover
• Plant Diaries - Back Cover
Scan these codes and get a Google map of all our Country Register Shops in each state!
Use the Country Register as a Travel Guide on your next adventure!
Index on page 20 by Name & Community Help you find & explore a new shop!
“I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright.”
- Henry David Thoreau
Summer is a great time for new things, traveling to new places, experiencing new sights and places. Often our adventures involve the outdoors. Whether that is a beautiful park to stroll through, a state or national park to sight see in, a great peaceful night around the campfire or sipping tea on the patio with friends. The common thread is nature. That rejuvenation that comes from nature is something you just can’t bottle.
Sunshine and a cool breeze through the window as you cruise through a beautiful state park. Breathtaking vistas you only see if you dare to hike into the woods. Calming sound of the stream or lake as you soak or float. The birds chirping, warm sunshine and floral aromas that make that happy place on the patio just right. The mesmerizing crackle of the campfire that seems to remove all the day’s worries. These are the the simple joys and lessons nature teaches us in these summer months. That time spent outside in whatever form is still what the soul needs.
We are lucky to live in states that offer both natural landmark adventure, but also cultural ones too. Festivals and events are abound in the summer months, offering adventures in our own “backyards.”
Though it is fun to go on long road trips, big adventures and bucket list trips. Simple adventures can be found right where you are or nearby. I recently took a trip only 5 hours away and saw things I hadn’t before or had forgotten where right under my nose. In awe of the beauty surrounding me. Life is busy and fast-paced. Lets’ not forget while mother nature is in her prime, to take in the natural beauty and gifts of the season. Enjoy the time spent around the campfire, on the patio, and outdoors.
“One must maintain a little bit of summer, even in the middle of winter.” - Henry David Thoreau
Warm Summer Wishes & Simple Adventures to You,
-Kelsey countryregisterwaor@gmail.com kelsey@moxiemarketingmw.com Office: 605-568-0181
Kelsey Ruzicka Publisher of The Country Register of Oregon, Washington & Idaho
The Country Register of Oregon, Washington & Idaho
Kelsey (Snyder) Ruzicka, Publisher
Produced by Moxie Marketing of the Midwest, LLC PO BOX 2015 • Belle Fourche, SD 57717
605-568-0181 Office
SALES: Patty Duncan | countryregisterorwasales@gmail.com | 605-591-2428 www.countryregister.com/oregon www.countryregister.com/washington 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.
Owners: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 602-942-8950
* Arizona: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 602-942-8950
* Arkansas: Lenda Brown, P.O. Box 32581, Oklahoma City, OK, 73123, 405-470-2597, lenda@countryregister.com
* California: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, P 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 602-942-8950
* Colorado: Jan & John Keller, 16755 Oak Brush Loop, Peyton, CO, 80831, 719-749-9797
* Connecticut: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD 21771, 866-825-2917, Fax 866-261-9641
* Delaware: Merle and Gail Taylor, P.O. Box 594, New Market, MD, 21774, info@countryregisteronline.com
* Florida: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, florida@countryregisteronline.com
* Georgia: Linda Parish, P.O. Box 389, Lexington, GA, 30648, tcrga@windstream.net
* Idaho: Kelsey Ruzicka, P.O. Box 2015, Belle Fourche, SD 57717, 605-568-0181, kelsey@moxiemarketingmw.com
* Illinois: Lenda Brown, P.O. Box 32581, Oklahoma City, OK, 73123, lenda@countryregister.com
* Indiana: Gail & Merle Taylor, P.O. Box 594, New Market, MD, 21774, info@countryregisteronline.com
* Iowa: Linda Glendy, P.O. Box 6, Tama, IA, 52339, IowaCountryRegister@mchsi.com
* Kansas: Kelsey Ruzicka, P.O. Box 2015, Belle Fourche, SD 57717, 605-568-0181, kelsey@moxiemarketingmw.com
* Kentucky: Chris & Kelly Kennedy, 5804 Whiterose Way, New Market, MD 21774 443-243, cowprintdesigns@gmail.com
* Maine: Deborah Daney, 660 Country Club Road, Sanford, ME 04073, 207-324-7482
* Maryland: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, ads@countryregisteronline.com
* Massachusetts: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, ads@countryregisteronline.com
* Michigan: Bill and Marlene Howell, 3790 Manistee, Saginaw, MI, 48603-3143, 989-793-4211
* Minnesota: Kim & Mickey Keller, 12835 Kiska St. NE, Blaine, MN, 55449, minnesota@countryregister.com
* Missouri: Lenda Brown, P.O. Box 32581, Oklahoma City, OK, 73123, lenda@countryregister.com
* Montana: Kelsey Ruzicka, P.O. Box 2015, Belle Fourche, SD 57717, 605-568-0181, kelsey@moxiemarketingmw.com
* Nebraska: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 602-942-8950
* Nevada (N): Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, P 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 602-942-8950*
* Nevada (S): Glena Dunn, 4568 Carol Circle, Las Vegas, NV, 89120, 702-523-1803
* New Hampshire: Michelle Hatch, 20 Chester Street, Chester, NH 03036, 603-571-1822
* New Jersey: Merle and Gail Taylor, P.O. Box 594, New Market, MD, 21774, info@countryregisteronline.com
* New Mexico: Jan & John Keller, 16755 Oak Brush Loop, Peyton, CO, 80831, 719-749-9797
* New York: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, ads@countryregisteronline.com
* North Carolina: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 888-942-8950
* North Dakota: Kelsey Ruzicka, P.O. Box 2015, Belle Fourche, SD 57717, 605-568-0181, kelsey@moxiemarketingmw.com
* Ohio: Barb Moore, P. O. Box 37, Cable, OH, 43009, ohiocountryregister@yahoo.com
* Oklahoma: Lenda Brown, P.O. Box 32581, Oklahoma City, OK, 73123, lenda@countryregister.com
* Oregon: Kelsey Ruzicka, P.O. Box 2015, Belle Fourche, SD 57717, 605-568-0181, kelsey@moxiemarketingmw.com
* Pennsylvania: Gail & Merle Taylor, P.O. Box 128, Owens Cross Roads, AL 35763, 888-616-8319, Fax 800-609-0278
* Rhode Island: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, ads@countryregisteronline.com
* South Carolina: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 888-942-8950
* South Dakota: Kelsey Ruzicka, P.O. Box 2015, Belle Fourche, SD 57717, 605-568-0181, kelsey@moxiemarketingmw.com
* Tennessee: Chris & Kelly Kennedy, 5804 Whiterose Way, New Market, MD 21774 443-243, cowprintdesigns@gmail.com
* Texas: Lenda Brown, P.O. Box 32581, Oklahoma City, OK, 73123, lenda@countryregister.com
* Utah: Available
* Vermont: Michelle Hatch, 20 Chester Street, Chester, NH 03036, 603-571-1822
* Virginia: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, ads@countryregisteronline.com
* Washington: Kelsey Ruzicka, P.O. Box 2015, Belle Fourche, SD 57717, 605-568-0181, kelsey@moxiemarketingmw.com
* West Virginia: Dave & Amy Carter, PO Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, ads@countryregisteronline.com
* Wisconsin: Scott & Jennifer Hughes, P. O. Box 276, Altoona, WI, 54720, jennifer@countryregisterofwisconsin.com
* Wyoming: Kelsey Ruzicka, P.O. Box 2015, Belle Fourche, SD 57717, 605-568-0181, kelsey@moxiemarketingmw.com
CANADA
* Alberta: Ruth Burke, P.O. Box 97, Heisler, AB, T0B2A0,780-889-3776, countryregab@yahoo.com
* British Columbia: Bryan Stonehill, Box 1338, Summerland, BC, V0H 1Z0, 800-784-6711
* Manitoba & Saskatchewan: Scott & Marj Kearns, Box 850, Kipling, SK, S0G 2S0, countryregister@sasket.net
* Ontario: Harriet Ramos, Box 60, 4338 Innes Rd., Orleans, ON K4A 3W3, 343-882-5812
Summer's Simple Adventures
The Country Register of Washington, Oregon & Idaho July/August 2024 • Issue 4
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 spread to many other areas, all of which are listed below. Look for the paper in your travels.
The Country Register is a United States and Canadian network of independently owned and published specialty newspapers for the consumer who enjoys outstanding shopping, events, day & overnight excursions and specialty classes.
The Country Register of Washington, Oregon & Idaho is published every two months. Copyright 2024.
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 Washington, Oregon & Idaho. Please make checks payable to Moxie Marketing.
Subscription price: 1 year, 6 issues, $20.00. Single copies: $3.00. This paper is furnished free at each advertiser, highway welcome centers, tourism centers, shows, events, and other selected locations throughout Washington, Oregon & Idaho.
Articles published in this newspaper, which are contributed from an outside source, 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 the 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 efforts. Copyright © 2024.
Ads and articles for the July/August 2024 issue are due June 1, 2024.
WELCOME TO OREGON STATE
Join us as we explore the state of Oregon and their shops and events. The great state has much to see and offer. And is close to many connecting Washington shops and events as well!
Appreciating the Art of Quilting for the First Time
By Susan Hodges
A few months ago, I invited my husband, brother and sister-in-law to attend a quilt show with me. They agreed, but probably more to humor me, than any real interest in the outing.
To say it was a transformative experience for them would be an understatement. Though they knew that quilting was my ‘hobby,” they never fully realized the unleashing of creativity this so-called hobby entailed. They saw, through many examples, that piecing and quilting involved more than just a fabric puzzle waiting to be solved. They witnessed quilts as works of art in many forms.
In each of the quilts displayed, the quilter was leaving a legacy that was uniquely theirs. It was a piecing together of their stories, dreams and hopes into something tangible and beautiful as they answered the Voice within them urging them to create.
Some of the creations were simple with their presentation of clear shapes and color, others chose landscapes or replications of nature. Some illustrated family stories and some incorporated pieces of clothing from childhood memories or memories of those who have passed on. And others were artist’s creations playing with colors and unusual shapes.
In each entry, we witnessed the struggle the quilter faces between their logic brain and the artist brain. Our logical brain thinks in near, linear fashion working with known principles and a desire to make things neat and ordinary. Whereas our artist brain likes to put odd colors and shapes together, by presenting tried and true things in new ways. This struggle continues as the artist creates and logic guides as the quilter blends the technical skills they have honed with patience, practice and commitment with new and untried designs.
Through the elements of design, the quilter offers us visual depth on a flat surface as they incorporate an assortment of lines, shapes, and colors to tell their story.
Through this display of over a hundred quilts, my husband, brother and sister-in-law saw graphically that the art of quilting is not just an “add on” to life. It is instead, a means to help the quilter articulate who they are and/or who they hoped to be as they combine little pieces of fabric into a grand design of shapes and colors.
You can experience this same opportunity of awe and appreciation of quilting art at the Busy Bees Honey of a Quilt show 2024 being offered Friday October 4 through Sunday Oct 6 at the Activity center at 610 Fairview Street in Fountain Inn. SC.
Susan Hodges is a member of the Busy Bees Quilters Guild in Fountain Inn, SC. She has been quilting for 10 years and especially likes paper-piecing. Susan and her husband relocated from Western NY to Simpsonville, SC to enjoy their retirement.
Shelterwood Book Giveaway Winner
Congratulations to Jean Zahr from Yakima who won our drawing in the May-June issue. She will receive a free copy of Lisa Wingate’s latest novel, Shelterwood.
We always like to hear from our readers how much they enjoy reading The Country Register and use it as a travel guide to discover new small businesses and community event throughout the State.
Find out more at www.lisawingate.com. Or follow her on Facebook at LisaWingateAuthorPage, or on Instagram @ author_lisa_wingate. Shelterwood is available at most online bookseller sites, your local books store, and through Penguin Random House at this link. Shelterwood by Lisa Wingate: 9780593726501 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books.
Bang Bang Corn
Ingredients
• 1/2 c. sweet chili sauce
• 3 Tbsp. melted butter
• 1 Tbsp. sriracha
• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
• Juice of 2 limes
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 6 ears corn, husks removed
• Freshly chopped cilantro, for garnish
Directions
Step 1 - Make bang bang butter: In a medium bowl, mix together chili sauce, butter, sriracha, garlic, and lime juice. Season generously with salt and pepper.
Step 2 - Heat grill to medium-high. Slather butter all over corn and grill, turning occasionally and basting with remaining butter, until tender and charred, 10 to 15 minutes.
Step 3 - Garnish with cilantro before serving.
Mountain Meadow Quilters 2024 Sunriver
Outdoor Quilt Show
August 3, 2024, Saturday 9 AM- 4 PM
The Village at Sunriver 57100 Beaver Drive, Sunriver, OR 97707 Mercantile, Thrifty Quilter, Quilts for Sale, Potholders and More Free Admission, Free Parking For more information visit: mountainmeadowquilters.org
49th Annual Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show
“Dreamscapes”
July 13, 2024, Sat 9 am-4 pm, Sisters OR For up-to-date information, visit: https://www.soqs.org/ https://www.facebook.com/soqs.org/ Instagram: @sistersoutdoorquiltshow email: admin@soqs.org
Like The Country Register of Washington & Oregon on Facebook!
Everything for the Quilter Fabric, Kits & Original Patterns Longarm Quilting – You or Me
120 Central Ave, Coos Bay, OR • (541) 267-0749
A Sea of Quilts in COOS BAY
The 2024 A Sea of Quilts XXVII Quilt Show, organized and presented by the Coos Sand ‘n Sea Quilters, will be open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, September 21, and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, September 22, at The Boys & Girls Club of Southwestern Oregon on the lower level. The club is located at 3333 Walnut Ave. in Coos Bay.
Admission will be $5, and free to those under 12. The quilt show will feature a large display and variety of quilts and quilted items, free hourly demonstrations, a vendor mall and a member’s boutique. There will be prize drawings and a hospitality bar with coffee, tea and cookies.
Attendees can vote for their favorite quilt on Saturday and the winner will be announced on Sunday. The 2024 “A Garden Cabin” raffle quilt, is currently on display at Thread That Bind in Coos Bay. The drawing for the raffle quilt will be held at 3:45 p.m. Sunday, September 22nd. The winner need not be present. Money raised by the show helps to fund the club’s Community Service projects.
Summer Hours: (May to end of Sept) Open Mon-Sat 10:00-4:30 www.ThreadsThatBindCoosBay.com email: threadsthatbind@frontier.com of Oregon, Washington & Idaho
www.janesfabricpatch.com email: fabricpatch81@gmail.com
Hours: Monday-Saturday 10-4
Coos Sand ‘n Sea Quilters meets at 6:30 p.m. the first Thursday of the month (September to June) at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 1290 Thompson Road in Coos Bay. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Various monthly programs are offered and new members are always welcome. For more information, email csns@gmail.com, visit www.coosbayquiltguild. com and/or Facebook @coossand’nsea.
American Stitches –The Threads That Bind Us
by Barbara Kalkis
America’s 248-year-old whodunit: An urgent request. A good deed.
A needle, thread, and fabric. A missing piece of paper. The nation’s enduring symbol.
America’s national holidays are all quite straightforward in their purpose. Memorial Day is a day of remembrance. Labor Day celebrates work. Veteran’s Day is for those who have served in our military forces. July 4th – Independence Day – celebrates the formal creation of our country. It’s probably the most fun since it’s become synonymous with summer, parades, picnics and the all-important summer BBQ.
It also holds the mysterious question that took 200 years to solve.
We remember slices of history made on that July 4th in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After months of negotiations and debates, representatives of 13 colonies signed the Declaration of Independence. It was a moment of massive courage. With their signatures, colonists pledged allegiance to their new country of united states and became traitors to the King of Great Britain. Not only did they have to return home and “sell” its concepts to their colony, but they also began a war of independence in earnest. They signed anyway.
Diving into details, they adopted a ‘great seal.’ Francis Hopkinson, one of the signers, designed the elements. We know this because he wisely presented the delegation with a paper invoice. A simple act, it became fuel for the mystery.
The delegates also determined to have a flag to represent the united nation. (We will leave the question of how men prioritize tasks to another day.) George Washington, commander of the Continental Army, accompanied
signers Robert Morris and George Ross to visit Betsy Ross, widowed wife of Ross’s nephew and a highly successful seamstress.
Betsy Ross had learned sewing as a child and was apprenticed to an upholsterer when she married John Ross. They had a thriving upholstery business and, after John was killed in the early skirmishes of 1776, Betsy continued working mending tents and making flags for military units.
The men handed her a design featuring 13 6-pointed stars. Betsy famously took her scissors and, with one snip, made the stars with 5 points, as these were easier and faster to sew.
She sewed the flag with a canton of thirteen stars representing each colony. They were positioned in a circle on a field of blue. Red stripes symbolize valor; white for purity; blue for loyalty. Sadly, Betsy did not think to give the Father of Our Country a paper bill.
In the 1800s, nearly a century after she created our national symbol, people questioned whether she really made the flag or simply took credit for it. After all, there was no paper invoice. Only one paper fee to Betsy Ross survives. She made a flag for the Pennsylvania navy, and they recorded their payment on paper. However, Betsy repeatedly made the claim, and was quoted on it. In 1873, her grandson published her story, and it became history.
In 1952, on the 200th anniversary of her birth, the US Post Office created a 3-cent stamp showing Betsy sewing the flag under the watchful eyes of Washington, Morris, and Ross. With the literal and figurative “stamp” of approval from the United States Post Office, we have the government’s official view of the mystery. (This is good news for all the kids who write to Santa Claus.)
For crafters everywhere who joyously sew, create and share their love of handiwork, Betsy Ross elevated crafting with highest praise: “My needle is my pen; my thread, the ink. With each stitch, I write the history of this nation. . .. The stitches may seem insignificant, but they hold together the fabric of our nation.”
©Barbara Kalkis, 2024. Barbara writes, teaches, and consults for high-technology organizations. She is the author of Little Ditties for Every Day: A Collection of Thoughts in Rhyme and Rhythm. She loves history and crafting.
Helene Knott, Dana Michelle, June Jaeger, McKenna Ryan, Laura Heine, and many more
The Little Things
by Wayne M.Bosman
Life sometimes seems to go from one big thing to another. From car problems to Covid to rising prices, there is always another thing to grab your attention. Bad news sells, as any newsperson knows. Sometimes we enjoy scaring ourselves with the latest horror movie or disaster film. This story is not about that.
This is about something that happens in life that gives another effect. This is about the little things. You probably know what the little things are. Things done that take very small effort and get noticed just a little.
My wife, Kerri, is an artist of the little things. The 3” vase with a variety of flowers that sits in the middle of the kitchen table? It didn’t just appear there. She takes the time to choose each bud and surround them with some herbs from the garden. She chooses each herb for reasons that only she knows. Sometimes because of the scent, never overpowering, but just there. Maybe a sprig gets chosen because of its healing power according to traditional medicine. Because, after all, the kids are coming over and one or another has a little cold. At other times just because it caught her eye. The total effect goes almost unnoticed. It is just a little thing.
Mom notices. Once or twice a year we drive up from our home in North Carolina to stay with her in Wisconsin. Mom lives in the house that she has lived in since WWII, but at 103 she needs a little more backup. My sister, Linda and her husband, Mike, have been providing that backup for years, so a couple times a year we come up to give them a break. We move in with Mom for a week or two and do our best to spoil her.
The first morning there, Kerri goes outside for flowers and brings in a 3” centerpiece. It sits on the kitchen table that has been in the same place since I was a child. Mom always notices. Her mother, she tells us, always did the same sort of thing. Probably for the same reasons.
We have little rituals done much the same way each day. Since we are both awake before Mom gets out of bed, we have time to get her newspaper and set it next to her plate at her seat at the table. On her plate goes her women’s multi-vitamin and a baby aspirin. A recent concession to her age is a Tylenol. A glass of water waits with her pills. Also on the plate is a small piece of coffee cake or kringle. Next to the plate is one banana. For over ten years, Mike has been making sure that she has a supply of bananas. A little thing. The list goes on.
After watching her struggle to break open a banana, I started cutting a little slit on the stem of next morning’s banana to make it easier for her. I never knew that she noticed until this evening. She mentioned it while we talked on the phone. She noticed that little thing.
Kerri is a firm believer. Mom thinks that Kerri is single-handedly keeping the post office in business because of her weekly letters. Birthdays don’t get forgotten. Children receive postcards when we travel. The brief excitement of real mail for the cost of a stamp. Adding another crop to the garden because someone is fond of it. Paying special attention to a plant that a family member chose and then sending pictures of the flower in bloom. Little things.
The little things soften the hard edges of the world. They can be the difference between existing and living. They are small acts of love and faith and appreciation for the gift of life.
Wayne M. Bosman is a retired auto mechanic living in Cape Carteret, NC.
www.taterpatchquilts.com taterpatchquilts.merrill@gmail.com Store Hours: Monday-Saturday 10-4 Huge Selection of Sale Fabric-50% OFF for the month of July! Extended July Hours: July 11th (9-5), July 12th (9-5) and Sunday July 14th (9-5).
Experience Deepwood Museum & Gardens
Visit the historic 1894 Queen Anne Victorian home for a guided tour Wed-Sat at 9am, 10am, 11am, and Noon year-round! Our goal is for visitors to experience Deepwood as it was intended a warm, beautiful home. Deepwood is fully furnished with era-appropriate pieces that transport you back in time!
We highly recommend calling ahead of time at 503.363.1825 to reserve a space on your preferred tour time slot and to ensure we aren’t closed for a special event.
Strawberry Poppyseed Salad
Ingredients
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 lb. total)
1 tsp. sodium-free lemon pepper
Kosher salt
2 Tbsp. distilled white vinegar
1/2 tsp. finely grated orange zest
1 Tbsp. fresh orange juice
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 tsp. poppy seeds
3/4 tsp. granulated sugar
Directions
1/2 tsp. dried minced onions
1/3 c. vegetable oil
1 (10-oz.) head romaine, chopped (about 6 c.)
1 (10.5 oz.-can) Mandarin oranges in light syrup, drained
3/4 c. pineapple chunks
3/4 c. strawberries, quartered
1/2 c. blueberries
1/3 c. toasted pecans, roughly chopped
Step 1 - Prepare a grill for medium-high heat; heat 5 minutes (or preheat a grill pan over medium-high heat). Place chicken between 2 pieces of plastic wrap and pound with a meat mallet into 1/2"-thick pieces. Season chicken all over with lemon pepper and 3/4 teaspoon salt.
Step 2 - Grill chicken, turning halfway through, until golden brown and just cooked through, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer to a cutting board and let cool slightly.
Step 3 - In a medium bowl, whisk vinegar, orange zest, orange juice, mustard, poppy seeds, granulated sugar, dried onions, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Slowly stream in oil, whisking constantly, until dressing is smooth and emulsified.
Step 4 - In a large bowl, toss romaine with one-third of dressing; season with salt. Thinly slice chicken against the grain and arrange over lettuce. Top with oranges, pineapple, strawberries, blueberries, and pecans. Serve with remaining dressing alongside.
Professional Services
WELCOME TO WASHINGTON!
Join us as we explore the state of Washington and their shops and events. The great state has much to see and offer. And is close to many connecting Oregon shops and events as well!
• Fruit Salad
• Pasta Salad
• Deviled Eggs
• Onion Dip
• Potato Salad
Summer
Potluck Ideas
• Strawberry Poppyseed Salad
• Meatballs
• Corn Bread
• Macaroni Salad
• Baked Mac & Cheese
• Bang Bang Corn
• Coleslaw
• Baked Beans
• Cucumber Salad
• Stuffed Peppers
• Chicken Wings
• Parmesan Potato Wedges
Quilts of Many Colors by Ladies of the Lake
Come and enjoy the largest Quilt Show in Cowlitz County when Ladies of the Lake Quilt Guild of Longview, WA presents its annual event “Quilts of Many Colors” on October 4th and 5th.
150 beautiful and delightful quilts will be displayed in twenty different categories, including Youth, Traditional Pieced, Mixed Media, Applique, Art, Wearable, and more. They will be arranged so that visitors can be inspired and enjoy the quilts’ beauty at a leisurely pace. Guild block of the Month and Challenge quilts, including those from other years, will also be on display.
A special display titled “Giving Back to the Community” will feature a collection of quilts made by guildmembers to be donated to various organizations in the community. There are an additional 100 quilts expected in this display alone, usually in lap or baby sizes. A variety of free short demonstrations/workshops will be held throughout both days and include bed turning of Vintage Quilts and utility sewing. Bed turning has been a crowd favorite over the years. Antique quilts are gently laid out on a bed, one covering the other, and a regional researcher tells the story of each quilt as she turns it back.
Local 4-H and Scout groups will join on Saturday for a short workshop on Utility Sewing. Youngsters are encouraged to learn the essential skill of sewing and to kindle an interest in the art of quilting. As many quilt shops and guilds have disappeared in the northwest it is imperative to work with youth organizations to foster a new generation of quilt artists. Both days will include a special presentation of quilts to the local high schools’ foreign exchange students. Quilts made by members of the guild will be presented to each student to welcome them to the USA.
A variety of vendors will be present, including Tastefully Simple, Castle Rock Wood Works (quilt racks, wooden quilting notions, etc.), and a scissor/knife/blade sharpener on site. He will sharpen scissors, kitchen and hunting knives, and even lawn mower blades. A Quilter’s Boutique will sell items handmade by Guild members, gently used books, patterns and quilting accessories to help offset the quilt show costs.
A raffle will feature small quilts made by Guild members and a gift basket. The drawings will be held on Saturday at 3 pm after the show. You do not need to be present to win. Raffle tickets are $1 each. Proceeds of the quilt show will be donated to the Community House on Broadway for Teens, a new home for homeless teens.
Located in southwest Washington an hour north of Portland, Longview is just a few short minutes from I-5. Its historic downtown has lots of shops including boutiques, antique and resale shops plus a variety of great eating establishments. A 10% discount is offered at Quality Inn for Quilt Show visitors.
Ladies of the Lake Quilt Guild’s mission is to provide members of the community with a vibrant, supportive, and creative group to encourage others to learn and appreciate the art of quilting. Meetings are held at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Fellowship Hall, 2218 E. Kessler Blvd, Longview on the third Monday of the month except for August, December, and July. For more information, find us on Facebook at Ladies of the Lake Quilt Guild of Longview WA, or email lolquiltguild@yahoo.com.
Fiber Arts Show Returns to the Key Peninsula
The Fiber Arts Show will be held at the Longbranch Improvement Club (4312 Key Pen Hwy. SW, Longbranch, WA.) on September 28th, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For many years, this FREE family-friendly event has been a focal event for the Key Peninsula Farm Tour. The show features artists who demonstrate, exhibit, and sell their work. Only items made by the artists themselves are available for sale. Inside the historic clubhouse, exhibitors/vendor will display both traditional and modern techniques that showcase the utilitarian and artistic uses of fiber in the creation of quilts, hand-woven baskets, jewelry, wall hangings, dolls, embroidery, and wearable art made from silk, wool, and alpaca fibers. Outside on the LIC grounds, there will be a food truck, a variety of arts and crafts booths and antique cars.
This year the featured artist will be Dr. Sheryl Low. Sheryl is a retired Professor Emeritus in Physical Therapy from California State University Northridge (CSNU). Her lifelong passion has been quilting. Her quilting interest started in 1977 during her first pregnancy, with the purchase of a Woman’s Day Log Cabin Quilt kit. Quilts have continued to mark significant and emotional events in her life. She has made many baby quilts, marriage quilts and a series of quilts dealing with her own survival of child abuse and trauma, titled “The Grief Quilt.” “The Anger Quilt,” “Safety in the Tree,” and “Ode to Joy.” Quilting has served as an outlet for her emotional journey, her creative needs, but also as a link to women of the past and their stories.
Sheryl would find pictures in magazines and books and reproduce the quilts that drew her eye. Soon, she discovered she had unknowingly reproduced two quilts by the same woman, Florence Peto. Petos’ quilts have made a significant impact on Sheryl’s quilting, she has reproduced many of Petos’ historical quilts. Many of these quilts will be on display, as well as Sheryl’s more modern quilts. Sheryl also serves on the acquisitions board of the Quilt Museum in La Conner, WA.
Sheryl is also a quilt appraiser, she will be available to do quilt appraisals the two days proceeding the show, by appointment. Contact sheryllowquilts@gmail.com. She is also on Instagram at www.instagram/com/lowdownonquilts and Facebook as www.facebook. com/SherylLowQuilts.
The Fiber Arts Show is held in conjunction with the Key Peninsula Farm Tour, the oldest farm tour in Pierce County. Join us in for a wonderful day on the Key Peninsula, mingle with some fabulous artisans as well as visiting the various farms. For further information, please go to: licweb.org and www.kpfarmtour.com; and on Facebook.
Longbranch is a community on Key Peninsula, which is a finger of land in Puget Sound. It is approximately 16 miles long and is approximately 30 minutes from Gig Harbor.
Longbranch
301 Main Street, Grand Coulee, WA
marlene@kissedquilts.com
ph: 509-386-5715
Quilting Supplies, Services and Support
www.kissedquilts.com
fabric, batting, wide backs, notions and long-arm machine services
Sunday-Friday – by appointment
Engineer by Education, Project Manager by Profession, Quilter by Passion
Become Inspired
By Annice Bradley Rockwell
Long-Awaited Days of Freedom
The long-awaited days of summer arrive in often brilliant fashion. We are drawn into the captivating essence of this season of freedom that seems to always have something in store if we are open to it. Radiant mornings filled with sun and almost cloudless skies start our days off on a relaxing note as we listen to the beauty of the call of the ospreys or the rhythmic washing of the waves onto the sandy shore. Days off might find us in shaded solitude reading a recommended book from cover to cover in one sitting. Planned day trips with friends offer us a muchneeded chance to reconnect and recharge with happy conversation over a delicious light lunch followed by a cool woodland hike.
Spectacular Season of Summer
Our weekend getaways to a quaint coastal town spark our curiosity and the anticipation of the trip reaches its peak as we journey forward with all new things in store. Family-owned lobster shacks, offering clam chowder and hot, buttered lobster rolls on perfectly weathered picnic tables are an afternoon treat not to be missed. Fully packed antiques shops dot the main streets and overflow onto the sidewalks on these happy, sunny days. Patriotic flags adorn the streets along with vibrant, deep red geranium blooms filling each storefront window box. The spectacular season of summer is in full swing and for that, we are grateful.
Midsummer Nights
After a fun-filled day of antiquing, ducking into local boutiques and maybe even dipping into the ocean for a refreshing swim, we can sense the midsummer night still has gifts to give. Reserving a table for two at a dockside restaurant to soak in the views of the fishing boats coming in is a promise worth keeping. As you enjoy a seaside meal, the daylight finally gives way to night, but not before giving you its explosive farewell. The summer sunsets seem to light the sky on fire as a grand finale to an ideal summer day.
Perhaps it is their fleeting nature that makes these days of summer so precious to us. When we embrace the fact that we have a hand in creating them, we can envision and design memorable moments that hold the power to fulfill us and keep us connected to all that we love.
--Annice Bradley Rockwell is an educator and owner of Pomfret Antiques. She is currently working on her book, New England Girl. NewEnglandGirl2012@hotmail.com
Upcoming Events
Covington Quilters Quilt Show
2024 Festival of Color
July 26-27, Fri & Sat, 9:30 am-5:30 pm Jenkins Creek Elementary School 26915 186th Ave SE, Covington, WA
For More Information, contact Joan Calvery - CJoanSew@comcast.net
“Vintage Memories” Quilt & Fiber Art Show
July 19, 20, & 21, 2024, Fri & Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm Cascade Middle School, 905 McGarigle Road, Sedro-Woolley, WA For more information visit: www.woolleyfiberquilters.blogspot.com
Sunshine Herb & Lavender Farm
Family Farm/Gift Shop Open All Year 900 Lavender Products/Plants in the Summer Summer Hours: 10am-5pm Everyday 274154 Hwy 101, Sequim, WA 98382 360-683-5453, www.sunshinelavender.com
28th Sequim Lavender Festival
July 19, 20 & 21, 2024
Free U-Tour Farms * Free Street Fair For festival maps, schedules and More details visit: www.lavenderfestival.com www.sequimlavenderweekend.com For more information on Farms visit: www.sequimlavendergrowers.com
www.thecountryregister.com/oregon www.thecountryregister.com/washington
20th Annual NW Art Beat & Studio Tour
July 20 & 21, 2024, 10 am - 6 pm Free, self-guided Skagit Valley Art Studio Tour 22 Artists - 16 Studios presented by Skagit Artists For more information, visit NWArtBeat.com
A Cup of Tea with Lydia: The Fragrance of Sharing Tea
By Lydia E. Harris
Who doesn’t love a little bit of this and that? And that is exactly what a tea party can be! Let’s do a taste-test on a varie-TEA of teatimes.
1. A spot of tea and charcuterie!
My friend Kathleen had just returned from a 10-day mission trip to the Philippines with a team of eight people. As part of her home-based prayer team, I was eager to hear about her outreach and invited her for tea.
Since charcuterie boards with assorted foods are popular, I arranged most of the food on a pretty tray for us to share. It included crackers, two kinds of sliced cheese, thin salami slices rolled into roses and placed in small cups, cherry tomatoes, and fresh strawberries. If desired, you could garnish the arrangement with edible fresh flowers. On the side, I served teacups with homemade cheesecake topped with whipped cream and blueberries.
While we sipped Blackberry Sage tea, I learned that Kathleen and the team had shared God’s love with 2,700 prisoners in sixteen jails and prisons. They also distributed food, hygiene supplies, and 1,000 Bibles.
Kathleen spoke to groups of prisoners each day and blessed the lives of truly desperate men and women. She shared her heart with prisoners and spread the sweet-smelling fragrance of God. I sent her home with a small heart-shaped German chocolate cake and fragrant lilies from the table arrangement—further spreading a wonderful fragrance.
2. A simple “thank-you” tea shares love.
My niece’s daughter surprised me by ordering containers of Lyle’s golden syrup online to be delivered to my doorstep. She knew I had run out of this important cookie ingredient. To thank her, I invited my great-niece and her mother for tea and cookies made with golden syrup. (See recipe for Everyone’s Favorite Cookies.) After our visit, I sent them home with the remaining cookies and the flowers that decorated the table. Flowers make the perfect reminder of the fragrance of friendship.
Later my niece wrote: “Thanks for the tea and cookies this afternoon! It was just the pickme-up I needed.”
3. A tea can put the happy in birthday, and it doesn’t even have to be in person! My niece delivered a tea party in a box from me to my older sister, Ruth, for her 87th birthday. I kept it quick and easy with store-bought items including a colossal-sized piece of carrot cake, candles, several other treats, and her favorite candy bar—Baby Ruth.
I tucked in napkins, a small bottle of sparkling cider, and Harney & Son’s “Birthday Party” tea, which she enjoys. This herbal tea brews a rosy pink color and has a fruity flavor. To brighten her apartment, I sent along a flowering purple and rust chrysanthemum plant with a perky floral bow.
I also mailed her a card, in which I wrote:
You’re a Blessing!
Baking, cooking, sharing homemade English muffins
Loyal and loving—to family, friends, and God
Evangelical—leading Bible studies and offering spiritual help to others
Souper, caring cook—making me a gallon of Mom’s chicken noodle soup when sick
Singing—adding joy and praise to the lives of others
Industrious—helping in our yard and home
Never giving up—even on hard projects like recovering my chairs
Godly—testing my grandparenting Bible study with other grandmas before publication
You can adapt this idea to create your own card to bless someone. Whether teatimes are simple, fancy, in-person, or delivered, they can leave a lingering sweet fragrance for us and our guests. Who needs the fragrance of your love over tea?
Lydia E. Harris is a tea enthusiast and the author of three books for grandparents: GRAND Moments: Devotions Inspired by Grandkids, In the Kitchen with Grandma: Stirring Up Tasty Memories Together, and Preparing My Heart for Grandparenting, all available at amazon.com.
From Lydia’s Recipe File: Everyone’s Favorite Cookies (Brun Kaker)
I’ve yet to find anyone who doesn’t like them. The key ingredient is golden syrup. (From In the Kitchen with Grandma: Stirring Up Tasty Memories Together, Harvest House Publishers.)
Gather
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
2 T. powdered sugar
2 T. golden syrup (e.g. Lyle’s)
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
Make
1. Preheat the oven to 350°.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, sugars, golden syrup, and vanilla.
3. In a medium-sized bowl, mix together the flour and baking soda.
4. Add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, 1 cup at a time. Mix until blended. You may want to mix it by hand.
5. Divide the dough in half. Form each part into 2 long rolls, about 1½ inches around.
6. Place 2 rolls of dough on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake the cookies for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the rolls have flattened and are lightly browned.
7. Remove the cookies from the oven and place the cookie sheet on a cooling rack. Using a pizza cutter or knife, cut each rope into diagonal strips that are 1-inch wide. Allow the cookies to cool slightly before moving them from the pan to cooling racks. When cool, store the cookies in a covered container.
Makes 3 to 4 dozen cookies.
Tip: You can find golden syrup in some grocery stores shelved near light and dark corn syrup, and also online.Serves about 6 to 8: Two or more tea sandwiches per person.
Get Lydia’s New Book!
Highland Stitchers’ Quilts Go to the Molson Community
In Molson, the Highland Stitchers will be hosting their 13th annual Quilt Show on Saturday, August 31st from 9-3. They hang about 250 quilts in the Molson Grange Hall including 120 which will be donated within the community. There are over 20 vendors and they serve a great homemade lunch and snacks! This event grows every year and is attended by quilters from surrounding states and Canada.
The Highland Stitchers began, one stitch at a time, in 2009 when four ladies decided it would be fun to sew together and visit so they started meeting at Grange Hall in Molson every Wednesday. Soon they began to make a few quilts to give to families at Christmas time in the Highland area who were in need.
The group consists of about 12 people who make all the quilts. They have one man who makes Quilts of Valor for friends and veterans associated with the Washington State Grange.
The first Stitchers Quilt Show and charitable event was held in 2011 at the Grange Hall. Several of the older members thought the Hall would be the perfect venue to display the quilts. That first year, there were over 40 quilts on display along with some local vendors.
Each year the number of quilts to be given away grows. This year’s quilts will be dispersed around the county to: local police and ambulance services, baby quilts for Care Net, Extended Care facilities, housing authority in the north county, house and wild fire victims, Okanogan County Community Action, veterans, Tribal members, fund raising events for a variety of events, and to elementary school families who need additional warmth in the winter. To date, the Highland Stitchers have given away more than 1300 quilts!
Many individuals and businesses have been generous in assisting the quilters’ mission with donations of quilting fabric, batting and funding. Group members get feedback from the community of the impact the donated quilts have on the recipients. Many who have lost everything and love being able to have something new that is just theirs.
It is hoped that many will come on Saturday, August 31st at the Molson Grange Hall. In addition to many quilts on display and for sale, there will be vendors (including quilt shops), great food, door prizes, a silent auction, raffle quilts and terrific food!
If you have any questions, contact Vicky Didenhover at 509-485-3020 or follow Highland Stitchers on Facebook.
WELCOME TO IDAHO!
Join us as we explore the state of Idaho and their shops and events. The great state has much to see and offer. And is close to so many connecting Oregon, Washington, Montana & Wyoming shops and events as well!
“Leap
2024
Boise Basin Quilters Guild Leap Into Quilting
Quilt Show
Friday, September 27th
Saturday, September 28th
Contact Patty Today for Our Bundle Rate Available in 2024: countryregisterORWAsales@gmail.com
Into Quilting” in Boise
Boise Basin Quilters Guild’s Quilt Show is an annual event held on the last Friday and Saturday of September. This year it will be September 27 and 28 at the Expo Idaho. . The theme this year is “Leap Into Quilting”, spotlighting all the leaps quilters have made in their journeys.
The group’s raffle quilt this year represents their theme of “Leap into Quilting” with varying levels of difficulty, moving from the outside to the center, which features a Mariner’s Compass block. The contributors were Carol Bearce, Brice McLaughlin, Darlene Wallis, Joann Hopkins, Karen Falvey, Sharon Culley, Stacy Spaulding, Nancy England, and Jennifer Price, quilted by Donna Swanson of Rock Creek Quilting.
Over 300 quilts will be on display and many will be for sale as well in the Gift Garden. The Gift Garden offers many types of handmade items including quilts, wooden items, and sewn, knitted, and crocheted items. There are 23 judged categories for quilts and one of those categories is for Youth.
The Boise Basin Quilters Guild brings in two National Association of Certified Quilt Judges from out of the area. This year our judges are from Washington and Colorado. The quilts in each category are eligible for First Place ($100), Second Place ($50), and Third Place ($25). Over all awards are given for Best Hand Quilting, Best Stationary Quilting, Best Freemotion Track Quilting, Best Computer Guided Track Quilting, Best Applique, and Best Theme Representation ($100 each). Viewers Choice awards for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places are also given after the show visitors vote on the first day of the show.
Tickets + Information BoiseBasinQuilters.org Hundreds of Quilts, Live Demonstrations, Shopping, and More!
10:00am to 5:00pm Expo Idaho 5610 Glenwood Boise, Idaho
Every show there is a Small Group area where the Boise Basin Quilters small groups display their challenges. These are also voted on by show visitors to receive 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place Viewers’ Choice Awards. This year they will be spotlighting small groups who will be displaying other group challenges and projects.
More than 30 vendors in the Merchant Mall will offer great shopping for quilting supplies, fabrics, notions and more. Free demonstrations will be given throughout both days of the show. There will also be a Quilts of Valor presentation on Friday, which is always very touching, with an honor guard and the veterans receiving quilts present.
Also, this year is a Featured Quilter area and this year will be honoring three of our guilds prolific and talented quilt makers. This year’s Featured Quilters are Karen Falvey, Joann Hopkins, and Esther Kleinkauf.
Boise Basin Quilters make Quilts for children and adults in need and in hospitals, pillowcases for pediatric inpatients in local hospitals, Christmas stockings for active duty military personnel and their families, and other items for patients battling cancer. The proceeds from the Boise Basin Quilters Quilt Show buys needed materials for these projects. We are a 501C3 (nonprofit) organization.
Boise is the capital of Idaho with a beautiful capital building, a bustling downtown area, lots of restaurants, hiking trails, plenty of golf courses, a zoo, children’s museum, many parks, theaters, and an active downtown nightlife. Boise is located in the Treasure Valley in Southwest Idaho. The Quilt Show will be held at the Expo Idaho campus. The Expo also hosts the Western Idaho Fair and many other events throughout the year.
More information about the Quilt Show and programs supported by the Guild can be found at www. boisebasinquilters.org or follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BoiseBasinQuilters or Instagram at boisebasinquilters.
Whether you love the wild field variety or you love to cultivate flowers on your own patio. Flowers are a large part of our happiness barometer in the spring, summer and fall. We decorate with them and use them for food. We can also use them for other purposes such as pest control, medicine and more. The love for flowers and yearning for understanding of them started long ago in Greek and Roman times and can be traced to Theophrastus (300 BC) who is today considered the "Father of Botany". A pupil of Aristotle, he was put in charge of the Athenian botanical gardens which resulted in his work, De historia plantarum, a compilation of observations regarding trunks, inner plant structures, roots, leaves and seeds. He described about 500 separate plants using these criteria.
Medieval herbalists were typically Christian monks who led more to a scientific understanding of herbs and plants.The 17th through 19th centuries saw the rapid expansion of botany which was consistent with a period of exploration and scientific development. Leading to famous botanists like Lewis & Clark and Charles Darwin.
Wildflowers are not only fascinating but play an important role in in the ecosystem. Wildflowers and wildflower-rich habitats, such as meadows, provide valuable support for insects and other wildlife. Pollinators like bees, butterflies, moths, flies, wasps and more – rely on wildflowers as a vital source of food. In turn, 60 to 80 per cent of the world’s flowering plant species rely on animals to pollinate them, including many of our important food crops. Insects that feed on wildflowers also provide a food source for other animals and help to reduce the numbers of pests like aphids that attack crops. Wildflowers also support the soils they grow in, keeping them stable in the face of rainfall.
WIldflowers often make a great option for garden beds when grown effectively and cared for. Native species can thrive and require little maintenance. Find out more about your local wildflowers, visit a wildflower field or just enjoy while out exploring. Keeping great habitats for pollinators via wildflowers or planted annuals is always a good plan for everyone.
Where the Wildflowers Are Wildflowers by State
Oregon
Hairy Manzanita
Tall Oregon Grape
False Solomon’s seal
Oceanspray
Blue Blossom
Washington
Common Yarrow
Common Camas
Red Columbine
Pacific Bleeding Heart
Mock Orange
Idaho
Aase’s Onion
Christ’s Indian Paintbrush
Camas Lilies
Syringa
Elkhorn Clarkia
National Parks/State Parks
Washington
Olympic National Park
Mount Rainier National Park
North Cascades National Park
San Juan Island National Historical Park
Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve
Idaho
Craters of the moon National Preserve
Yellowstone National Park
Oregon
Crater Lake National Park
Oregon Caves National Monument
John Day Fossil Beds National Monument
Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
Deschutes National Forest
City of Rocks National Reserve
Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument\
Bear Lake State Park
Plant Diaries
By Kathy J. Sotak
I’ve got a bit of a problem here and it’s called thistles. As a gardener who refuses to use poisonous weed killer, I’m on my hands and knees every spring, negotiating with the thistles.
I stab my knife down vertically until I can hear the satisfying “pop” of the weed coming up from its long single root. Over the past two weeks I’ve heard over a thousand pops. But unbeknownst to me, the thistles are thriving.
Underground, thistles send long horizontal runners. Thistles can pop up anywhere along its vast root network. In other words, there’s no cutting thistles down. There’s no killing them. Every time that I try to kill the thistles, the plant says no thank you. Their roots make new life points in the runners below.
In other words, I’m helping them thrive.
Have you ever been cut down, but you ended up thriving instead? Has a negative experience ever created a new life point within you?
Me too.
Sometimes in our daily routines we can forget to notice the new life points, i.e., opportunities, that are created. All we need to do is send energy there and it can pop up into the sun and flourish. Yes, circumstances may try to cut you down, but we are a thriving species.
What do you have running through your network that is begging to be born?
When we experience something that goes against our ability to thrive, it clarifies a new path. If we see something opposite of our value system, it redirects us to walk the path towards our value system.
We can easily be fooled with the illusion that life is static, programmed and predictable. I’m taking a lesson from the abundant thistle plant, realizing that there are many nodes in which I can send my energy – it may be left, right and zig zag all at once.
What is my ultimate lesson from the thistle plant? That the unpredictable, zig zag line is the best path to thriving… and likely the most fun.