Indholdsfortegnelse for December/January 2020 i Country

THE OTHER DAY I OVERHEARD my children setting a trap. “When we leave cookies out for Santa, we’ll stay up to see if he eats them. Then we’ll know if he’s real,” my son suggested to his little sister and alltoo-willing partner in crime. A lot of their schemes are hatched this way—the two of them in their own little world, conspiring to snag a sweet treat from the pantry or to build a fort in the living room with the couch cushions. They’ve either forgotten or not noticed that I’m standing right there. Their plots usually make me smile (team building has to start somewhere), but this talk of testing Santa broke my heart a little. What tales had they heard from the older kids on the school bus?…

Dec. 14 LUMINARIA BEACHWALK Follow a path lined with thousands of luminarias to festive bonfires. Join in the caroling or savor sweet treats during the Holiday Luminaria Beachwalk at Elephant Butte Lake State Park in New Mexico. sierracountynewmexico.info 34 MILLION POINSETTIAS are sold in the U.S. each year, making this Christmas favorite one of the most popular potted flowering plants. poinsettiaday.com THE BIRTH OF CHRISTMAS Have you ever tried, on Christmas To stay awake and wait? To see if you can catch it Stealing cookies from the plate. But always you’re distracted Or drifting off to sleep And only stars and twinkling lights See it come without a peep. Do something this Christmas You may have never done. Before you open presents (Which I know is lots of fun) Look…

Twenty years ago I became involved in pet therapy work. After our first golden retriever, J.J., passed away, we got another golden retriever puppy, whom we named J.J.’s Angel. As she matured and went through obedience training, we realized that she, too, would be a good therapy dog. Angel is 10 now and works every week. She visits two hospitals, a day care for the elderly, and our library for the PAWS for Reading program. At the library, six to 10 dogs lie on the floor and the kids pick a book to read to a dog. After they finish, they get a trading card with the dog’s picture and history. Angel has also helped out at a children’s special-needs church camp. She is so popular that everywhere we go…

Sitting atop the highest point overlooking the village and wooded valley beyond, St. John United Church of Christ is the only church in Maeystown, Illinois. German immigrants handchiseled limestone blocks taken from nearby hillsides to construct the building, completing it in 1867. Each church family helped with the construction. Farmers were summoned from their field chores to work when it was their turn. A limestone bell tower and entryway were built in 1888, and an altar, office and stained-glass windows were added in 1905. Next to the rock church stands the original log structure built in 1859. The church choir still uses it today for practice and robe storage. When members joined the choir in the 1800s, they had to buy their chairs. Those beautiful press-back oak chairs are still…

Christmas is my favorite time of year. I decorate our little country home with lights, wreaths and red bows. The snow added an extra touch. SHARON CAMPBELL Ruckersville, Virginia This display at the old grange reminds me of a time when playing in the snow required grand sleds that held lots of wobbly kids! JUDY WRODA Ashville, New York John Deere green twinkled beneath a string of colorful Christmas lights. KATHERINE PLESSNER Verona, North Dakota “We are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmastime.”LAURA INGALLS WILDER…

Fall Camping When the temperatures drop and insects disappear, do you pitch a tent in the great outdoors? Share your stories and photos of camping in forests ablaze in fall color. Label your submission “Fall Camping.” Humor Life sure has its fair share of sidesplitting and quirky moments. Send us the stories that leave friends and family in stitches. Label your submission “Humor.” Country Almanac Got any fun facts, local events, historic anniversaries, gardening tips or time- and money-saving shortcuts to share with your fellow readers? Send them our way! Please label your submission “Country Almanac.” Photo Tips • Cameras and smartphones can capture large images. Send us unmodified originals (minimum file size is 1 MB). • The more we know about the photo, the better! Tell us the time…

EVERY HOLIDAY SEASON since the birth of her first grandchild, my mother-in-law has used a photo of her grandchildren on her Christmas card. And, every year, we try to come up with a unique idea for the photo. As our family grew, this became challenging. This particular year, the newest member of our family was just a few months old and time was running out, so our options were limited. On a cold, windy day we dressed up our kids and pleaded with them to take at least one good photo. After what felt like hours and about 1,000 photos, we finally managed to get one or two shots that my mother-in-law felt met the Christmas card standard. But as I scrolled through my camera, I saw this image (right).…

So proud of my 87-year-old husband, Percy Price, a Korean War veteran. He has been growing cucumbers for years, and he picked this 19-inch cucumber back in July. It was his biggest one yet! JEANETTE PRICE Wendell, North Carolina WHEN I BEGAN teaching U.S. history, I created a bulletin board with the title “America the Beautiful.” My mom and dad were subscribers to Farm & Ranch Living magazine since its first issue, Country Woman and Country. I got their hand-me-down copies. I chose the most amazing scenic pictures and used them on a seasonal basis. School begins mid-August here in Utah, so that’s when I displayed the summer pictures. In October my favorite fall photographs graced the room. As Christmas approached the scenes changed to holiday fare with glistening snow…

Crunch, crunch is the only sound I hear as I put each foot down on top of the fresh snow that covers the ground. The air is biting cold and still, and the snow seems to absorb all the usual noises. It snowed during the night, and we awakened to a beautiful, picturesque white wonderland with crystal ice flecks sparkling on the snow’s surface. I love to take walks soon after the first snow, when it lies fresh and pristine over open fields, trees and roads. I remember the excitement I felt as a child waking up to see thick snow covering the ground and flocking the branches of the evergreens. I planned the day at that very moment—I’d join my friends for several glorious hours of sliding down the…

Six Christmas Carols Heard on the Farm: 1. “Silo Night”2. “We Wish You a Berry Christmas”3. “Do You Hear a John Deere?”4. “Deck the Stalls”5. “Jolly Goat Named Nicholas”6. “Rockin’ Around the Chicken Feed” JACQUELINE SCHIFF Moline, Illinois Chiming In I taught my high school hand chime choir to play “Amazing Grace.” I noticed that one of the melody notes was missing and mentioned to the student (whose name is Grace) to watch for her note. One of the other students commented, “Oh, so you’re not so amazing anymore!” JOLEA JENSEN Saratoga Springs, New York Now That’s Funny! Nice to Meet Ya! A lone egret visited the farm one day, and this curious cow ambled over to say hello. BECKY SINOSKY Willington, CT Anyone Want Pie? My mother was an…

One holiday season in the 1970s, my husband, Chuck, handled all the outside lights and I took care of all of the interior decorations. In addition, I had to bake the cutout cookies, make chocolate truffles, shampoo the carpeting, address holiday cards, organize church activities, wrap presents, polish the silver, plan an open house, shop for the turkey, write a story for the Christmas Eve service…the list went on. On top of all that, I was fighting a scratchy throat and a dull headache. I finished dusting, vacuuming and decorating the living room. It looked splendid with a tree full of ornaments in designer colors, vanilla-scented candles, and our Italian Nativity scene on the coffee table, accented with pine boughs and a small china dish containing frankincense. I was proud…

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In each issue we hide a needle (black or white). If you find it, enter online at country-magazine.com by clicking the Contests link at the top of the page. We’ll draw winners from all the correct entries. Winners receive a one-year subscription to Country. In the October/November issue, we hid the needle on page 26. No purchase necessary to enter to win. Purchase will not improve your chances of winning. Sweepstakes is open to legal residents age 18 years or older of the U.S., its territories and possessions. Sweepstakes begins on Nov. 20, 2019, and ends on Jan. 15, 2020. For official rules, visit country-magazine.com. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Sweepstakes sponsored by RDA Enthusiast Brands, LLC.…