Indholdsfortegnelse for March 2018 i Country Extra

I’ve always loved rain. I guess when you grow up on a farm, you just know how closely life is connected to it. I love the smell of rain. The scent of a fresh spring storm isn’t quite like that of a humid summer storm, a crisp fall shower or a raw winter rain. And I love the sound even more. The other day, I sat on our back porch and listened to the rain softly pelt our wind chimes. The sound of raindrops landing on plants varies from one to the next—the melody of rain falling on tiny pine needles differs from rain falling on the huge leaves of a sycamore tree or the delicate blossoms of a butterfly bush. The next time it rains, whether it’s a soft…

The North Woods sings a harmonious melody of new life as winter releases its icy grip. Waters gather, dripping from the tops of pines and running over ancient rocks. Veeries trill up and down the scales, and warblers chime their notes. The water runs down to Lake Superior, swirling, plunging over waterfalls just freed from curtains of ice. Curious deer come to drink from the pool below, lifting their heads and standing motionless to sense the air. Is it a bear? Wolf? Lynx? Sun dapples through still-bare forest trees. Geese weave in the wind, then skid along black marsh water among tangles of cattail. Further downstream, waves curl onto a rocky shore. Small stones roll along, clinking and chunking. They assume their flat round shapes over years of grinding. Whitecaps…

Ventilation Give your chickens fresh air year-round. The birds’ breath and droppings generate humidity, which ramps up ammonia production. Besides the smell, damp litter can increase your flock’s risk of infections and frostbite and worsen their footpad condition and respiratory health. Your coop must have an adequate inlet and outlet for proper airflow. Extra openings may come in handy to let in summer breezes. TIP Position vents up high to prevent drafts, under overhangs to keep out snow and rain, and covered in wire to keep out predators. Safety Building your coop like a fort may seem like overkill, but it’s better than inviting the neighborhood fox over for dinner. Reinforce all sides of the pen with wire stronger than so-called chicken wire, which is easy for predators to tear…

1867. THE WEST WAS YOUNG and the Union Pacific Railroad was swiftly advancing across the Dakota and Wyoming territories. Along the way, supply depots and base camps sprang to life out of the dusty plains seemingly overnight. Cheyenne, Wyoming, which was declared the territory’s capital two years later, was one such place. Initially a rough-and-tumble railroad camp with a reputation for being as wild as they come, Cheyenne attracted all manner of bandits, gunslingers, outlaws and lawmen (including the legendary Wild Bill Hickok). In short order, it became the most well-respected and largest town in Wyoming. The transformation was so stunning, people took to calling it the Magic City of the Plains. I can attest that Cheyenne’s magic remains. In fact, Wyoming as a whole seems like one of the…

The barn on Mark and Shaun Pelton’s farm was built in 1898 to house cattle. For over a century, swallows returned each spring to nest, and barn cats hid inside. Today, this structure is the Peltons’ home. Like the six generations before him, Mark was born and raised on the land his family settled in 1850. “All of my memories are here, living on this land and working on the farm—especially in this old barn,” says Mark. George and Montrose Pelton built the barn, using time-tested post and beam construction. With overall dimensions of 76x40 feet and a haymow that soars 36 feet above the floors, the huge timbered barn was built to last. Mark and Shaun were high school sweethearts. They married, moved to the farm and raised their…

I stood on the back porch, staring at Orion’s Belt. The crisp spring air was just what I needed. Maybe it was my mother-in-law’s supper or the tomato juice disagreeing with me that had me up late, but standing outside seemed a good idea at the time. Then again, maybe not. The noises on a farm can be entertaining in the daylight, but now they echoed in the darkness. With each sound to my left came a shadow to my right. I looked to the heavens. If only Orion could give me a little more light or lend me the sword in his belt. The sounds getting closer, I stared at the ground. I wasn’t about to make any sudden movements. With one hand, I slowly reached into my pocket…

UNTIL DEMENTIA TOOK my mother’s life, she and I crocheted hats for the homeless and passed them out after working second shift. After losing my mother, I didn’t want to let the homeless folks down, as they depended on these hats, so my dear friend DeeDee Griffis and I founded a local crochet group called Catawba Crafters. At our first meeting, there were three of us. Today we have nearly 200 Facebook members. In the past four years, we have crocheted over 5,000 items and donated them to those in need. We also put boggins (knitted hats) and snacks in zip bags for homeless people and hang them in trees around the local area. Recently one man asked about the yarn around the bottom of a hat we had given…

MY HUSBAND, MARVIN, AND I took a two-week vacation in 2016 with our friends David and Pam. We traveled from Texas, and then through New Mexico, Arizona and Utah. Our main destinations were the Grand Canyon in Arizona and the Mighty 5 national parks in Utah. While planning our trip, Marvin came across some information about Horseshoe Bend, near Page, Arizona. It’s part of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and about a 21/2-hour drive northeast of Grand Canyon Village. We made Horseshoe Bend one of our stops. After walking through sand for about three-quarters of a mile from the parking lot, we came to a breathtaking view of the Colorado River curving in an elegant horseshoe shape around a towering rock formation. Marvin, camera buff and daredevil that he…

The stomping grounds of my childhood lay among a patchwork of pastures and woods at a safe distance from the road. Unlike many kids, my limits for exploration reached far beyond our house. Twenty acres of land held expeditions in the barnyard and surrounding woods, where I built tree houses, played in the creek and made memories. From the time I could walk, I lived and breathed the outdoors: running through the yard, playing with the dog and wandering to the barn with my older siblings. A white fence lined two ends of our yard, separating our house and barn from the pasture to the left and the woods and creek bed to the right. It was understood that you stayed between these fences, at least until you could navigate…

SAUSAGE, EGG & CHEDDAR FARMER’S BREAKFAST BONNIE ROBERTS NEWAYGO, MICHIGAN TAKES: 30 min. MAKES: 4 servings 6 large eggs 1/3 cup 2% milk ½ tsp. dried parsley flakes ¼ tsp. salt 6 ounces bulk pork sausage 1 Tbsp. butter 1½ cups frozen cubed hash brown potatoes, thawed ¼ cup chopped onion 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese DIRECTIONS 1. Whisk eggs, milk, parsley and salt; set aside. In a 9-in. cast-iron or other ovenproof skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink; remove and drain. In same skillet, heat butter over medium heat. Add potatoes and onion; cook and stir for 5-7 minutes or until tender. Return sausage to the pan. 2. Add egg mixture; cook and stir until almost set. Sprinkle with cheese. Cover and cook for 1-2…

1. VEDAUWOO RECREATION AREA Rock climbers and hikers flock to this section of the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest to explore the weathered outcrops of Sherman granite. fs.usda.gov/mbr 2. AMES MONUMENT West of Cheyenne stands a 60-foot pyramid of pink granite. It was erected in 1882 as a tribute to brothers Oakes and Oliver Ames for their contributions to building the Transcontinental Railroad. At 8,247 feet elevation, marks the railroad's highest point (although the tracks have been relocated twice in the years since). wyohistory.org 3. CURT GOWDY STATE PARK In the foothills of the Laramie Mountains, this park, named for Wyoming native and beloved sportscaster Curt Gowdy, has over 35 miles of hiking, biking and horseback riding trails. Fishing and canoeing are popular on the…

Leigh, my husband, put his foot down. “No, you cannot have a cow on this farm,” he said. Two weeks later, we were hauling a trailer to Surry, Virginia, to pick up my cow. The farmer met us at his barn and led us to the calves. I was scanning each calf in its stall when I saw him, a sickly little baby curled up in the corner. His eyes met mine, and I knew he was the one I had to take home. The farmer told us the birth dates of all the calves, but my eyes never left the one in the corner. I interrupted the farmer and pointed. “That one’s coming home with us.” The men looked at me in disbelief. Leigh encouraged me to choose another…

MYSTERY PHOTO Recognize this place? Take a guess, then turn to page 64 to see if you’re correct.…

Some may think I’m backward in my rural way of thinking. I don’t know much about Wall Street or Facebook. But, Lord, I do understand that there sure are a number of hurting people out there. This world would be better if they could see what I see every day. If I could, I’d bring home hurting children and give them a puppy to lick their faces until the hurt was gone. If every hurting teenager came out to the ranch, I’d give them a horse to ride. We’d round up the herd together and bring them home. I’d invite every hurting woman to my patio early in the morning. I’d give them a cup of coffee and a Bible to read. We’d watch the sun rise over the horizon,…

Card catalogs are now sprouting a new role at public libraries across the country. Instead of organizing by author, title and subject, think lettuce, tomatoes and kale. And forget the late fees. Seeds are free with one simple request—that you pay them forward. “Our patrons check out seed packets on their library cards, just as they do books or CDs,” says Gail Owens, coordinator of the seed lending program at the regional library in Basalt, Colorado. If they have a successful harvest, patrons are asked to return seeds from the best of their yield to replenish the library’s collection for the next growing season. Seed lending libraries grew out of the eat-local movement, says Stephanie Syson, a permaculture teacher and herbalist who helped launch the program in Basalt. And it…

What do dogs do after they finish obedience school? They get their masters. BRAD WESNER Simpsonville, South Carolina Following Directions A young man was planting some flower seeds on a sweltering day, sweating from the hot sun. His neighbor said, “You need to wait until the sun goes down, or plant in the morning when it is coolest.” The man said, “I can’t do that. It says on the package, ‘Plant in full sun!’” LEROY SCHROEDER Albion, Nebraska Gone Fishing My 3-year-old granddaughter, Sydney, told my husband, Ted, and me that she was going fishing with her dad. Ted asked if she was going to use worms. “No,” she said. “I’m going to use a fishing pole.” JOANNE HAVERLAND Billings, Montana Practice Makes Perfect A…

We’re new at farming, but our boy Greyson already found a pal to share secrets with. McKELL GROOTERS FREMONT, MICHIGAN My granddaughter Klara and her goat Humphrey sure are cute kids! SUE ESPINOZA ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA Our sweet great-granddaughter Lorelai Lynn is enthralled by the new puppy. RONNIE AND VERA WORD CAMDEN, ARKANSAS “Each blade of grass has its spot on earth whence it draws its life, its strength; and so is man rooted to the land from which he draws his faith together with his life.” JOSEPH CONRAD Ewes and lamb RACHEL WRIGHT Bennington, Indiana GOD BLESS AMERICA…