What’s Inside?
• Slices of Life - Page 4
• Appreciating the Art of Quilting - Page 5
• Reflections on the Front Porch - Page 6
• Girlfriend Wisdome - Page 6
• Become Inspired - Page 7
• Taste of My Own Medicine - Page 8-9
• Robin’s Nest DIY - Page 12
• America in Stiches - Page 13
• Lisa Wingate Book Release & Giveaway
- Page 14
• Its The Little Things - Page 15
• Kansas Map- Page 18
Simple Adventures in Your Backyard
www.MoxieMarketingMW.com • 605-568-0181 • Kelsey Ruzicka • Publisher of this Country Register!
• Ad Directory by Name & Community - Page 19
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“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 Kansas
The Country Register of Kansas
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/kansas www.moxiemarketingmw.com
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* 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
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* Idaho (S): Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, P 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 602-942-8950
* 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: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 602-942-8950
* 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: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 602-942-8950
* 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 Kansas July/August • Volume 26 • 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 of Kansas 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 Kansas. 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 Kansas.
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.
SEE OUR AD INDEX ON PAGE 19
Next Deadline: Ads and articles for the September/October 2024 issue is August 7, 2024.
Birds of a Feather Quilt Shop and Retreat Center
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Slices of Life:
By Sherry Osland
Trip South to Bunbury and Albany, West Australia
Join us for Open Retreats the 3rd weekend of the month. Call for details and to reserve your space. Watch our Facebook Page and Webpage for information on BOMs, Classes & Retreats www.birdsofafeatherquilts.com
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Corner Quilt Shop
While teaching at Balga High School in North Perth, West Australia, I got acquainted with another teacher from our daily morning “tea time” in the Staff Room. As a first year teacher and in my mid-twenties, this older (almost retired) man singled me out for sharing his opinions about “Yanks”. The time frame is the mid-70’s and he delighted in finding stories from the States about violence in the schools, gang related violence in the streets, etc. I bore it quietly until, one day, I calmly told him, “Mr. Stevens. . . I come from a small town in the middle of the US and I’ve never experienced anything like that.” After that, our conversations changed and he actually became a friend (. . . the gentle answer turning away wrath?) Whew!!
He even helped arrange one of our more interesting vacation trips between school terms. My roommate, Janet, and I tried to do educational and fun trips while there. Mr. Stevens had a friend in Bunbury – a small town a hundred miles South of Perth – who owned his own lumber company. He thought we might enjoy hooking up with him and touring/learning about the lumber industry – starting with a tree and ending with a board. By that time, Janet and I had gone together to buy a reliable car so the trip was feasible.
We received a telegram from Mr. B telling us to meet him at 9:00 a.m. at his office in Bunbury where he introduced himself and handed us hard hats! (Our day wearing them started at 9:00 am. and ended at 9 p.m.) We got into his truck and went out to the forests. He taught us the names of the trees and showed the ones already labeled with blue “X’s” for “felling”. We drove to each area where the different “operations” were done. Next, we watched several trees felled and made ready to be loaded onto the semi-trailers to go to the Mill. A tree with a fork wasn’t loaded. Time and money were lost on them as they were extra hard to process plus they resulted in a shorter and lesser quality board. From there, we went to the Mill where the logs were unloaded, put on the conveyor then put through the giant saw blades. The end product was a beautiful straight board. There are certain natural smells that are just heavenly to me. One is fresh-milled lumber!!! (Added to that list: leather and horses.)
We had a very nice early evening meal with him before he had one more place to show us. He took us to a 100 year old saw mill he had recently bought – very antiquated and not in use for decades. His vision was to create wood shavings for “mulch” – a new thing at the time! After a very full day, we turned in our hard hats, thanked him profusely and bid him farewell. What a good day!
In the morning, we drove another 200 miles to Albany which was an active whaling station at that time. We didn’t know anything about the whaling industry, the beginning controversy about it or the fact that within a couple more years, Albany would be closed – never to be re-opened. So, this is just what it was at the time we were there – no controversial or political sides taken. We just happened to be there at a very unique place and time. My background as a country girl hadn’t prepared me for anything I witnessed the rest of that day. However, dear reader, I will go lightly, for your sake.
We had booked a B&B for the night. We were told that whale reports were given throughout the night over the radio, as to whether any had been found. These were Sperm Whales and the requirement length for taking one was 35’ so whales weren’t taken every night of the season. Upon killing one, the whalers put buoys on it, left it and went on for more. Towards morning, the ship went back, picked up the buoyed whales and towed them to the station.
Upon waking, the radio report said they had three. One was already “flensed” (butchered) by the time we got to the viewing dock. The flensing dock was a sloping cement ramp that went down into the water so the whale could be pulled up by a giant hook attached by a brute-sized chain to a pulley system. There was a feeding frenzy at the water’s edge by gulls and sharks since the first whale had already been processed.
Telling the story without “telling” the (gruesome) story is a bit tricky. Being a very hot and dirty job (where is Mike Rowe??) the flensers (men who did the butchering) wore tank tops, shorts and knee-high rubber boots with wicked cleats on the soles. Flensing required the men to be all over the whale with their cutting sticks that looked a lot like hockey sticks. Suffice it to say, the entire whale was processed and 100% of it was used. Lots and lots of bone meal! Sperm Whales have a secretion of their gastrointestinal system called ambergris that was in demand for making perfumes back then. It’s rare enough that chemical substitutions have been invented. Sometimes, just the value of the ambergris matched or surpassed the value of the entire whale.
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The souvenir shop had a huge antique vat outside the door that was a photo op. I no longer remember what was sold in the shop, EXCEPT I ended up buying an “odd” thing that has been my souvenir for all these years since. Through our various moves, I had lost sight of it, but it surfaced a couple months ago while I started to downsize. I came across a glass strawberry jam jar in the shape of a bear. It’s heavy with quite a few Australian souvenir coins, plus a kid’s toy. A 3” plastic kangaroo sits on a rubber suction cup attached to a strong spring. The suction cup only lasts a couple seconds until the silly thing springs up about 6’ creating a squeal of surprise.
The “main” souvenir left in the jar for fifty years? One hollow 4” curved sperm whale’s tooth that cost $1.20!!! “Who else will I ever know that has a whale’s tooth?” A unique souvenir for such a unique experience! Downsizing brings a lot of questions as in “What to do with all this STUFF?” Curb-side box? Goodwill? Dumpster? I’m NOT going to toss it. It has value to me. A sense of wanting to honor the whale has come over me, an appreciation for what it is that I hold in my hand. In my mind, I’m thinking about making it into a story for my littlest grandsons (6 years, 4 years and 9 months old.) It would be a way to show them, on a world globe, where the whale might’ve traveled in his lifetime. The things he might’ve seen, experienced, etc. Hum! It would be fun to ponder, write and illustrate it as a children’s book . . . possibly . . . someday . . .
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.
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Reflections of the Front Porch
By Janet Young
Prior to WWII, porches were a prominent architectural feature added to homes everywhere; especially for the homes in the south. The years before air conditioning was available people would sit outside to catch a few cool breezes on a warm summer night. Or, to start their day perhaps, by drinking their morning coffee on the front porch. A front porch was a welcoming and functional space where friends and family could gather to connect, converse, and if including neighbors a sense of community was created.
The porch was a gathering place where family photos were taken, where children played games - such as Jacks, where first kisses were exchanged on a star-studded night. The porch is where you get to meet and know your neighbors. For example, if someone walking their dog offers a quick hello, or perhaps a bright smile or friendly wave of the hand from a neighbor across the street who sees you relaxing on the porch, these are ways to connect one to the other.
Another example would be the porch as a gathering place for little ones to come and eat their ice cream cone, or drink a refreshing drink of cold lemonade.
The porch is a perfect spot to sit outside and read a book. What better place to prop up your feet and read that novel you have been wanting to read. Or, how about journalling? This would be ideal for letting your creative juices flow as you feel the summer breeze and smell the roses surrounding your porch.
While we are at it, let’s not forget the porch swing and the rocking chair, all attributes that helped to make the porches of yesteryear. The list could go on and on as we reflect on the influence the porch has had on thousands of families over the decades.
Yes, the porch is the bridge to the outside world. It is a welcoming place that offers community as we stated above, affords conversation, and enables a connection to family, friends and neighbors. As summer unfolds, if you are fortunate enough to have access to a porch, take advantage of the power of the lowly porch, and see what a difference it makes in your life.
Happy Summer
- © Janet Young is a Certified Tea and Etiquette Consultant, Co-Founder of Mid-Atlantic Tea Business Association, and prior owner of Over The Teacup
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 much-needed 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
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A Taste of My Own Medicine
by Julie Pirtle
Greetings! After a brief respite to get moved into our new home in Oregon, I am back at the keyboard to share my musings with you.
This move from Arizona was exhausting. I suppose all the moves in my life have been, but as I get older, I find that my energy level is not what I’d like it to be. Not only that, but I also had to treat myself as if I was a client. Having to drink my own medicine was challenging and sometimes didn’t taste very good!
We downsized into a smaller home, and it became obvious early on that we had moved too much with us. Some areas of the house were easier than others. I spent days unpacking. While doing so, I constantly challenged myself to determine if what came out of the boxes was still a necessary part of our lives.
One of the most difficult challenges was my extensive wooden box collection. These aren’t just ANY wooden boxes. These are the decades-old “treasure chests” women used to have on their dressing tables. I love them so much. It makes my imagination run wild thinking about what coveted items have been hidden in these boxes over the years.
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When I was six, my great-grandmother gave me her box. I was enthralled! There was no looking back…I was hooked! I was even more excited in later years to discover that some boxes were adorned with decoupaged pictures on their tops, etched glass mirrors inside the lids or ornate carvings along the outsides. It became quite the treasure hunt to find pieces that boasted all three features.
One recent afternoon, I found myself sitting on the floor, surrounded by my box collection. The number of boxes I had exceeded the space on my new shelving unit, and I knew it was time to do something about it. (Yep. Drink that medicine!)
I counted them. Twenty-eight boxes. I knew I had to cut it down. First, I chose the boxes that had been gifts or heirlooms. Next, I chose my four favorites that had all the bells and whistles mentioned above.
When I finished, I got the pile down to a much more manageable number of 10. I put the other 18 boxes online and sold them within a week. I made someone else very happy and frankly I have not even missed them.
Another challenge about moving into this house was the master closet as it is about half the size that we were used to. Is there room in the guest bedroom closet for overflow? Sure, there is. Do I encourage my customers to live within their space? Yes, I do. (Yep. Pour another drink of that medicine!)
After explaining my dilemma to my husband, we decided that it was time to purge. We were both skeptical that we could find much more to let go of as we had already gone through our clothing before we moved.
Using some of my clothes purging tips, we were able to fill up FIVE contractor bags of clothing! The best part? We don’t miss any of it. The second-best part? We are living within the space of our closet and didn’t take over other closets in the house.
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Here are my tips so you can do the same!
1) BE REALISTIC.
It’s true. If you haven’t worn it in a year, it is unlikely you won’t wear it again. Let it go.
2) INSPECT.
Check for rips and tears. Is it holding its shape or is it stretched? Is it faded? Is it dated? Let it go.
3) REPRESENT.
Life changes and so do we. Did you used to work an office job and now you are a Professional Organizer (smiling here!)? Those slacks, skirts and dresses that were appropriate for the office may not be for your current life situation. Let it go.
4) COMFORT COUNTS.
Many times, clothing comes off the hanger and goes right back on it again without ever getting worn. (You know what I’m talking about!) Clothing that makes you pull, pick, or adjust does not deserve real estate in your closet. Let it go.
5) DUPLICATION.
Do you really need 8 red t-shirts and 20 white blouses? Nope. You don’t. Let it go.
6) WEIGHING IN.
We all have “those” clothes that we feel compelled to save because we will wear them again once we lose weight. I am a firm believer that everything in a closet (and drawers) should be something that can be worn NOW. Clothing for “someday” can be damaging as every time they are looked at, it is a reminder it doesn’t fit. Instead, keep 3-4 each of tops, pants, shorts, etc. that are a size too small. Pack them up and store in an under the bed bin. When you once again get to that size, you will have some items to wear while you reward yourself with a new wardrobe. You deserve it. Let it go.
Collections of any kind can take over and become a nuisance in day-to-day life. The subliminal and negative self-talk that rattles around in our heads can be quieted when there is less in our physical spaces. I encourage you to take a moment and discover what collections you have that could use some attention. Be brave! Be daring! Be ruthless! C’mon. You’ve got this. I know you do!
Julie Pirtle is a Professional Organizer and owner/operator of Clutter Happens. She also works with clients nationally through Video Consultations. The Clutter Challenged can reach her at clutterhappens@gmail.com, on Facebook:/clutterhappens or her website www.clutterhappens.com.
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Picnic in the Park at Little Balkans Qult Show
The Little Balkans Quilt Guild is proud to announce the 36th Annual Little Balkans Quilt Show, “Picnic in the Park”. Our show will be held Friday, August 30th from 9:00am to 5:00pm and Saturday, August 31st from 9:00am to 4:00pm. Our quilt show will take place in the lower level of the Pittsburg Memorial Auditorium, 503 N Pine St, Pittsburg KS. Admission is a Little Balkans Festival passport, for the cost of $5.00.
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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
Planning Your All Kansas & Nebraska Shop Hop Trip? We Are Excited to Welcome You to Winfield! Open on Tuesdays and specific Sundays for our region during April and May!
Quilt entry day will be Saturday, August 24th from 9:00am to 3:00pm. There are 27 judged categories that quilts may be entered including pieced, appliqued, mixed and special techniques, home decor, wearable and Quilts of Honor. Young quilters, age 14 and under, are encouraged to enter quilts to be displayed in our show. Please bring your entries to the lower level of Pittsburg Memorial Auditorium. Quilts must have been made in the last 3 years, limited to 3 entries per non-guild member. Quilts entered in a previous guild show are not eligible. All entries must have an attached label and free of pet hair and odors. The quilt entry fee is $5.00 per quilt.
Darlene Landrum, NACQJ, from Mountain Home, AR will be this year’s quilt judge. In addition, we will have twelve local celebrity judges who will choose their favorite quilts of the show. The Viewer’s Choice ribbon is awarded to the favorite quilt selected by our attendees on Friday.
Patrons will have the chance to view many beautiful quilts, wall hangings, and Quilts of Honor. They will have the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets to win the 2024 Donation Quilt “Forrest Foliage”. They can also shop in the guild’s quilt boutique and buy chances to win one of the many baskets at the basket walk. We have several vendors offering fabric, patterns, notions and more. One of the vendors will be sharpening scissors and knives.
Patrons can also enjoy the Little Balkans Festival with activities through the week of August 26th - September 1 throughout the city. There will be an arts and craft show, car show, train rides, food and vendors, musical entertainment, evening dance, and much more. For more information check out littlebalkansfestival.com or on Facebook.
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.
Rag Bow
Summer is in full swing, which makes me very happy! This project is very simple (It may require a little time but not much) so you should have plenty of time for all those summer activities. A rag bow can be made from any fabric, muslin may be a good choice, but any cotton fabric will work.
You will Need:
You will need several designs of cotton fabric, about a half yard of each, some other ribbon (I used a cotton lace and ricrac ribbon), scissors, ruler and pen, hot glue and hot glue gun, buttons and optional things are burlap ribbon and embroidery floss ( I decided not to use these but you can).
Step One
Mark off each piece of fabric at 1.5 inches and cut a 2-inch slit. Do this on the shorter edge of the fabric.
Step Two
Rip the strips of each fabric (rip down the longer length), I used about 8 to 10 strips of each fabric. The frayed edges are what you want and so are the threads.
Step THREE
I used one longer strip of fabric to be the tie. Lay it out and find the middle. Take the other strips of fabric and lay them in a zigzag over the middle of your tie piece. Keep laying pieces over the middle until you have the thickness of bow you want; I used about ten strips. I also used some of the ricrac ribbon and lace. Using the tie piece, tie a double knot around the zig-zag pieces in the middle.
Step Four
Next take 8 to 10 strips (you may have some left over) and fold them in half. Lay the middle over the back of the bow part. Using the tie piece, tie another double knot to secure them to the bow.
Step FIVE
I hot glued a couple of buttons together and glued them on the front of the bow. You can use any blingy thing you want.
Step six
You have a beautiful rag bow. As I said, you can use any fabric and make this any size. They are great as door hangings or on a wreath. These are cool in red, white and blue.
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 allimportant 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.
Win a Copy of Shelterwood
Enter the drawing to win a free copy of Shelterwood by sending an email to kelsey@moxiemarketingmw.com and put “Shelterwood” in the subject line. Be sure to include your name, address and phone number, and tell us where you pick your copy of The Country Register. You can also send a note or postcard to: The Country Register, PO Box 2015, Belle Fourche, SD 57717
The drawing will be held on August 1st and the winner will be sent a copy of the book after that and will be announced in the September-October issue.
Lucky Charm Quilts
Just off I-70 between Junction City & Abilene
Hours: M-F: 10-5 Sat: 9-1
Hop into Lucky Charm Quilts This Summer!
405 N Marshall Chapman, KS 785-922-6190
• Batiks
• Notions • 108” Wide Backing
Chapman - the Barn Quilt City of Kansas
Happy 4th of July
Lisa Wingate Releases Latest Novel
From Lisa Wingate, the No. 1 “New York Times” bestselling author of the blockbuster hit “Before We Were Yours,” comes “Shelterwood,” a sweeping novel inspired by the untold history of women pioneers who fought to protect children from land barons hungry for power and oil wealth.
Early readers of “Shelterwood” call it “a spellbinding and important tale” and “as heartwarming as it is mysterious and utterly absorbing.” Adriana Trigiani, author of “Big Stone Gap” and “The Good Left Undone” dubbed it “an Instant American classic.”
Bestselling author Lisa Scottoline, who wrote such novels as “Eternal” and “Loyalty,” calls “Shelterwood” “a seamlessly crafted tale of tragedy, resilience and triumph . . . Lisa Wingate once again gives poignant voice to the ‘lost’ children of American history.”
William Kent Krueger, bestselling author of such books as “This Tender Land,” “The River We Remember” and “Lightning Strike,” says “Shelterwood” is “a complex and fascinating tapestry woven with threads of history, mystery and menace that proves yet again that there is no finer storyteller at work today than Lisa Wingate.”
In this emotional and uplifting saga available June 4, 2024, from Ballantine Books/Penguin/Random House, Wingate traces the story of children abandoned by the law and highlights the battle to see justice done. “Shelterwood” continues Wingate’s stunning use of little-known history to bring important stories to life with characters from years past and modern times.
For Wingate, who grew up near where the story is set, “Shelterwood” is an intersection of history, mystery and serendipity. “Writing ‘Shelterwood’ was a study in secrets hidden in plain sight,” she said. “As a child, I had a sense of things unspoken and unseen, of shadows lurking in tumbledown homesteads, on vine-covered railroad beds, in the skeletons of timber mills quietly decaying along secluded streams. Long before the days of cell phones and video games, we kids explored those oddities in detail, appropriated them as backdrops for our ‘let’s-pretend’ games. We gave them names and stories.”
She continues: “But the true history of the land was even more fascinating, more beautiful and more sinister than anything we could have imagined.” That history shows up in the breathtaking tale of “Shelterwood.”
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Oklahoma, 1909. Eleven-year-old Olive Augusta Radley knows that her stepfather doesn’t have good intentions toward the two Choctaw girls boarded in their home as wards. When the older girl disappears, Ollie flees to the woods, taking 6-year-old Nessa with her. Together they begin a perilous journey to the remote Winding Stair Mountains, the notorious territory of outlaws, treasure hunters and desperate men. Along the way, Ollie and Nessa form an unlikely band with others like themselves, struggling to stay one step ahead of those who seek to exploit them . . . or worse.
Oklahoma, 1990. Law enforcement ranger Valerie Boren-Odell arrives at newly minted Horsethief Trail National Park seeking a quiet place to balance a career and single parenthood. But no sooner has Valerie reported for duty than she’s faced with local controversy over the park’s opening, a teenage hiker gone missing from one of the trails and the long-hidden burial site of three children unearthed in a cave. Val’s quest for the truth wins an ally among the neighboring Choctaw Tribal Police but soon collides with old secrets and the tragic and deadly history of the land itself.
Amid times of deep conflict over who owns the land and its riches, Ollie and Val both traverse the rugged and beautiful terrain, each leaving behind one life in search of another.
Lisa Wingate is the #1 “New York Times” bestselling author of “Before We Were Yours,” which remained on the NYT list for more than two years and has sold more than three million copies. She has written more than 30 novels and co-authored the nonfiction “Before and After: The Incredible Real-Life Stories of Orphans Who Survived the Tennessee Children's Home Society” with journalist Judy Christie. Wingate’s books have been translated into more than 40 languages worldwide and have appeared on bestseller lists throughout the globe. Her new novel, “Shelterwood,” was released June 4, 2024, by Ballantine Books, part of Penguin Random House.
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One of her favorite things about being a writer is connecting with people‚— both real and imaginary. 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
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.
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Local Quilt Artist Celebrates Retirement and One Year in Business
White Crane Designs celebrates its first anniversary as owner, Dottie Evans, becomes a full-time entrepreneur.
In July 2023, at 72 years old, Evans announced the launch of her full-service quilting company but continued to work part-time for A-1 Singer Sewing Center in Southeast Wichita. She credits the support of A-1, her family, and the communities of Wichita, and Andover for a successful first year. So successful that in February of 2024, Dottie “retired” as an employee to focus fulltime on White Crane Designs.
“It went from a one-person business to a family affair naturally and everyone from the community has been so supportive,” shares Evans.
Evans’ husband, Paul, has become an integral part of her business, helping with the finances and planning. Her son created her CRM, and her daughter-in-law helps with social media. White Crane Designs will be featured at the Kansas Longarm Quilters booth at the Common Threads Quilt Show, June 21-22, at Century Two. The show has something for everyone: quilters and non-quilters alike. Over 400 quilts, true artwork, will be displayed, and vendors of every kind will be available.
Evans is not alone in her turn towards entrepreneurship in later years. Studies show 37% of small business owners are Boomers and for 9% the motivation to go into business was because they are not ready to retire. (https://www.guidantfinancial.com/small-business-trends/) Years of experience and equity give older small business owners an advantage over their younger peers, and resources for older small business owners, from AARP to the local SBDC and SCORE, maybe another reason for their success.
Starting a business may not be for every retiree, admits Evans. A recent project Evans worked on was made of boy scout shirts collected over a 25 year volunteer career. When Evans asked the couple what they planned to do in retirement, the answer might seem more commonplace, they would be RVing. Another t-shirt quilt, mostly concert tees, introduced Evans to the music of Blink 182, Green Day, and Fall Out Boy as she planned her social media posts. To sum up her experience, Evans shares “I am so glad retirement is not boring!”
Check out available services, view past projects, or book a free consultation at: www.whitecranedesigns.com or follow @whitecranedesigns on Facebook and Instagram.
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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.
Countryberries Designs
Designed By Kathy Graham
a wool or cotton appliqued wall hanging or mini quilt. Create a punchneedle or hooked rug piece. If you’re a painter, create this little cabin on paper, wood or canvas. Enlarge this pattern to your desired size. Whatever craft you choose, have fun! Not for commercial use. Please give the artist credit.
Whimsies and necessaries for your country home and garden 330 North Road Deerfield, NH 03037 603-463-7615 www.countryberries.com Like us on Facebook Please check our website or FB page for current hours
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Where the Wildflowers Are
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.
