Indholdsfortegnelse for June/July 2019 i Country

Coming Clean Today is one of those days when early summer has cast its drowsy spell, and I am suddenly missing the sunshine scent of the line-dried sheets of my childhood. It’s the kind of aroma that stays with a person forever, like that of bread baking or newly mown grass. I remember watching and waiting on washday as my mother walked the wire square, wiping a week’s worth of dirt and bird droppings from the clotheslines in the backyard. When this task was completed, my sister, Marlys, and I lugged baskets of clean laundry onto the soft grass under the lines where the tattered clothespin bag, an old baby dress sewn across the bottom, hung waiting. I can still see Mother’s small hand dipping rhythmically into the bag and…

Tully Lake and Tully River are a world apart from the hustle and bustle of Massachusetts’ most famous big city. Out here folks are fond of saying about their beloved state: “We’re not all Boston. Escape to the west!” As the crow flies, my husband, Paul, and I live less than 3 miles from the Tully Lake Recreation Area, one of Paul’s favorite local photography spots. There the seasons offer ever-changing opportunities to capture the exquisite beauty of this natural gem. In addition to the river and lake, the recreation area includes dense forest, three waterfalls and a small mountain. Some are accessible by car, others on foot or by boat. It’s part of a large swath of protected rivers, lakes, and forests in rural north-central Massachusetts that were created…

UNITED WE STAND Fred W. Coyle Freedom Park, in Naples, Florida, shows its love for the red, white and blue. The park, named for a retired county commissioner and U.S. Army colonel, includes a memorial for veterans and Sept. 11 victims. PHOTO BY LAGUNATICPHOTO / SHUTTERSTOCK HONOR AND GLORY An American flag decorates the Cilleyville Bog covered bridge in Andover, New Hampshire. The lattice wooden structure was constructed in 1887 and is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. PHOTO BY PAUL REZENDES MYSTERY PHOTO Recognize this place? The historic lighthouse, commissioned in 1827 by John Quincy Adams, offers panoramic ocean views. A fishermen’s museum occupies the first floor, and an upper apartment is available to rent. Take a guess and turn to page 84 to see if you’re…

It was a good thing for me that my late father, Bozworth Humphrey, had no sons. Although I was only 10 years old when we moved to the dairy farm in 1953, I was the oldest child still living at home, and Dad needed my help. When it was haying time, I drove the tractor with the fork on the front. On early winter mornings, I was out on the tractor pulling the hay wagon while dad pitchforked hay to the hungry herd of cows. And each day after school, it was my responsibility to hike out to the pasture beyond a swamp and bring in all of the cows for the evening milking. Dad bought a horse to help me with the cows. We named her Ginger. I had…

Every time we visit Conway Community Church in the small town of Panhandle, Texas, my daughter says, “I want to be married here!” Though the church no longer holds worship services, couples can still wed there. As part of the Square House Museum Complex, it bears testimony to its founders’ strength and the importance of faith in this rural community. Until it was abandoned in 1968, the church was where farmers and ranchers in this area went for ministry to their spiritual needs. Former members and volunteers worked tirelessly to restore the building and move it to its present location in 1991. Once inside the front doors and past the working bell tower rope (which I am always tempted to pull), I find myself drawn to the historical pictures on…

ALASKA IS PERHAPS the most truly wild, largely undeveloped open area left in the United States. My wife and I have visited there many times, enjoying its landscapes, abundant wildlife and friendly people. I took this photograph capturing the grand sweep of sky, water and mountains outside of Homer, a town on the north shore of Kachemak Bay on the Kenai Peninsula. Balancing the paddle across my lap, I quickly snapped the picture as the light waves shook my kayak and gently inched me toward the rocks of the shoreline.…

ON A BEAUTIFUL SUMMER DAY, my friend Joe and I set off from Mackinaw City, Michigan, in a charter boat headed to St. Helena Island light station, where the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association was hosting a luncheon. At the dock, the lighthouse tower rose above the trees along the shore. A quaint, charming boathouse stood to the right, its doors open and colorful Adirondack chairs lined up for relaxing and viewing the magnificent Straits of Mackinac. As we walked along a scenic pathway, the lighthouse gradually came into view in its full splendor: a weathered red brick building with green shutters and a white tower, the American flag flying proudly from its cupola. Completed in 1873, the light was fueled by oil until it was automated in 1922. We…

With its crystal blue water, miles of sandy beach, towering bluffs, immense sand dunes, wildflowers, and 100 miles of hiking trails, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is one of the most enchanting areas we’ve ever visited. Located in northwestern Michigan on the shoreline of Lake Michigan, its 71,000 acres invite exploration. When glaciers moved into this area from the north, they pushed rock and sand, gouging the earth. As the temperatures warmed and the glaciers began to retreat, they left behind landforms that filled with meltwater, creating the five Great Lakes and smaller inland lakes. Millennia later, wind, ice and water still reshape this marvelous landscape. We arrived in late May, hoping to photograph a bounty of spring wildflowers, and we weren’t disappointed when we set off with maps we…

by David Waxman Seattle Washington: A clinical study on a leading acid reflux pill shows that its key ingredient relieves digestive symptoms while suppressing the inflammation that contributes to premature aging in men and women. And, if consumer sales are any indication of a product’s effectiveness, this ‘acid reflux pill turned anti-aging phenomenon’ is nothing short of a miracle. Sold under the brand name AloeCure, it was already backed by clinical data documenting its ability to provide all day and night relief from heartburn, acid reflux, constipation, irritable bowel, gas, bloating, and more. But soon doctors started reporting some incredible results… “With AloeCure, my patients started reporting less joint pain, more energy, better sleep, stronger immune systems… even less stress and better skin, hair, and nails” explains Dr. Liza Leal;…

Nature has a way of delivering the most delightful show if you watch through the window while doing dishes in the kitchen, and this day was no exception. Like soldiers the ducks marched to the creek for a morning swim. Squirrels played keep-away with their treasures, and birds caught up on the latest backyard gossip. As I swirled the dishcloth in circles, I couldn’t quite decide where to turn my attention. Then I saw her out of the corner of my eye. A tabby kitten had wandered into our yard and was trying to catch a magpie perched on an old swing. The loud magpie seemed to laugh with a caw, caw each time the kitten jumped, only to tumble back to the grass below. I watched for a while…

When I was a child growing up in Baltimore, Maryland, there were only two trees on my city block. The trees were an oasis for the neighborhood kids to gather under their shade and escape the summer heat. Later I relocated to the Pacific Northwest, where I was overwhelmed by beautiful Douglas fir trees that can grow from 70 to 300 feet tall. My family settled into a log house that sits in the middle of a clearing on 6 acres. It delights me to view trees from every window of our home. Given my lifelong love of trees, my husband, Eldon, daughter, Stephanie, and I took a trip down the coast of California to visit Redwood National Park. What a place! As much as I’ve been wowed by the…

Dear Country… Alli Jane, our granddaughter, spent her first Fourth of July visiting her great-grandfather, Wayne King, at the veterans home in Oxford, Mississippi. The way they are looking at each other is so sweet. This photo captures a brave World War II veteran seeing hope for the future in the eyes of his great-granddaughter. WINI KING Water Valley, Mississippi FROST AND SNOW on trees make a wonderful scenic picture (Feb/March, “Country Life Photo Contest,” page 32), especially when you experience it in person. Fences, buildings and animals certainly add to the wonder. However, this ol’ country grampa considers your choice of snow-covered machinery (above) as abuse. George Schouweiler Holmes City, Minnesota THANK YOU for the heartwarming article “Weathering the Storm” by Dana Foreman in the Feb/March issue (page 70).…

DURING SUMMER VACATION on Miller Beach in Indiana, the hot weather often tempted me to play outside and wander. There, amber sand dunes kiss the pale blue shores of Lake Michigan. I often visited a small, secluded pond by myself or with a willing friend. While there, I marveled at nature’s inviting gems, among them mysterious green frog heads that peeked out of the water; twisted old, waving trees; and swaying spatterdocks! In this tranquil spot, those water lilies beckoned, their long-stemmed yellow flowers with vaselike centers rising above the water. I had to get a better look at them since they were so unusual. But how could I get closer? The water was shallow, though mucky and tadpolefilled, presenting an easy solution to this dilemma. So I broke in…

It had only been a few minutes since we left the dock, and we were already surrounded by stands of towering bald cypress trees rising up through the dark water. A maze of narrow channels, shrouded by delicate curtains of Spanish moss, fanned out in every direction. How anyone can find their way through this bewildering and beguiling landscape is a mystery. Our guide’s Cajun accent drifted over the bayou as he reassured us that he could find his way back, and talked about his life on the Atchafalaya Basin, the largest river swamp in the United States. In 2006, a swath of Louisiana was designated the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area in recognition of the extraordinary natural environment and diverse culture. The heritage area follows the entire 140-mile length of…

A bald eagle, perched in a gray pine tree, watches the river below for an afternoon meal. Just upstream, whitewater rafters scream with joy over the thundering rapid called Dynamite. Below, a lone steelhead bides its time, hoping for a chance to scale that rapid. This wild and scenic river, the Trinity, is the lifeblood of Shasta-Trinity National Forest. At 2.2 million acres, it’s the largest national forest in California. The Trinity Scenic Byway, state Route 299, the major west-east corridor in northern California, follows the Trinity River on part of its journey, cutting through the forest’s magnificent landscapes on its way to and from the coast and inland valleys. Mount Shasta, 100 miles north, dominates the skyline. Along the route you’ll find campgrounds, cabins to rent, rafts to hire,…

Have you ever traveled like a pioneer, crossing the open prairie in wagons with only the jingle of horses’ harnesses and the joyful sounds of laughter to entertain you? Well, I have. Seven years ago, my sister, Grace, our cousin Morgan and I saddled up and joined the Fort Seward Wagon Train. This annual camping journey starts in mid- to late June and re-creates the pioneers’ journey west across North Dakota in the 1800s. It all starts at the Fort Seward historic site in Jamestown, North Dakota, and the wagons travel up to 85 miles over six days. The first year we went, we were surprised to find 16 states and three countries represented. Some folks came all the way from England to participate. We rode in canvastopped, flare boxed…

Dad loved golf. I didn’t. Yet for many years my Father’s Day gift to him was a father-daughter golf outing. Golf to him was the sacred cow that I could never quite tie a bell around. On one of those long, hot June afternoons punctuated by some thrashing in poison ivy, the woods and ponds for lost balls, I decided it was time to focus. I stared down at the pebbly, white object sneering at me as Dad preached his usual golf sermon and prayed silently that I wouldn’t lose another ball. As my fingers tightened around the hand-me-down golf club, I felt Dad draw in a deep breath. Whack! I connected. Up, up and away. I mean way, way over the trees toward a row of little houses adjoining…

1. LUSH AND LOVELY Our shade garden is a restful place where my granddaughters go to read. We like to relax there and watch the fireflies. ELLEN MASTOttawa, Kansas 2. HAY AND HERITAGE Baling small squares of hay is a big part of summer and a rite of passage on our farm. This picture shows three generations working together to harvest the crop. KATHY MILLERCuba City, Wisconsin 3. WHAT BIG EARS YOU HAVE A friend and I were out taking photos, and this friendly fella came right up to the fence and posed for us. DANNY REDDGalax, Virginia 4. HIKING THE PARKS In 2014 our family took a three-week camping trip to Arizona and Utah. I took this photo of my son Isaac at Bryce Canyon on the Navajo Loop…

My grandma, Deloris Zastrow, led my kids, Bailey, Case and Corban, down the street in their own patriotic parade! STEPHANIE ARNDTMayville, Wisconsin Every year, our family volunteers to place flags on veterans’ graves. I took this photo as ROTC cadets passed our youngest daughter, Madison. GERRY EISERTPapillion, Nebraska My three cowboy grandsons, (clockwise from top) Eli, Emmett and Jasper, were ready to go to the Fourth of July rodeo. LAURA LYNNE KITCHENChimacum, Washington…