july/august country register

| July - August 2014 Find us on Facebook | facebook.com/CountryRegisterNorthRockies

Index: See page 14 for advertiser’s index by name and by community as well as upcoming events.

Next Deadline: Ads and articles for the September/October 2014 issue are due August 7, 2014.

Bozeman, Great Falls & Townsend, Montana

Welcome to

Baby Lock Dealerfor Central Montana

Or Shop online 24/7 at www.montanasquiltaway.com

The Quilt AWay

222 13th St. SouthGreat Falls, MT(406) 453-2788

Store Hours:Monday - Friday 10 - 6

Saturday 10 - 5Sunday 11 - 4

[email protected]

Cover Artist: Heather MyersGrowing up in Chicago Illinois, I was

continually exposed to art and the creative influences of the greater Chicago Area. Upon graduation from High School I was awarded an Art Scholarship from Illinois State Univer-sity where I studied many different facets of art from painting to jewelry creation. It was at Illinois State that I met my future husband, Bill and as fate would have it, we decided to start our family and begin rearing our four children in the plains of Central Illinois.

I have always been a creative soul and found true fulfillment in my art. My spirit and sense of adventure has allowed my career in art and in business to take many different paths. Early on, I participated in many juried

art shows around the Midwest which proved fortuitous by enabling me to meet many influential artists and business people. From there I began my own company Carrot Creek Creations and began doing freelance work for many different businesses. For several years I worked with Country Kinfolk as their production designer. Two of my designs from Country Kinfolk were exclusively showcased on the QVC network. Additionally, I worked with Wendy’s International, Simplicity Incorporated developing and designing patterns and the City of Morton designing the logo for the city festival.

A change in my husband’s field of work necessitated a move to southeast Michigan. Michigan has broadened my horizons further and reacquainted me with the great outdoors and all it has to offer from an aesthetic per-spective. While in Michigan I have continued my freelance work designing custom painted interiors for many people in southeast Michigan. My client list includes lawyers, doctors and professional athletes. I have also assisted in designing a private children’s clothing line while in Michigan.

Although I have experienced many different aspects of art and design, my heart always brings me back to my true love, drawing and painting. All of my work is done freehand, Old School if you will, no computer generated graphics. Art the way art was meant to be; from the heart.

I took the opportunity to visit the Surtex Show in the spring of 2009 and it was there I became acquainted with Linda McDonald’s organization. I submitted some of my work to Linda and was fortunate enough to be able to have Linda and her teams represent my work.

Mission Mountain Quilters GuildPresents

21st Annual Quilt Show“A Quilter’s Heart”

July 31, August 1 & 2, 2014Thursday & Friday: 10:00 a.m.- 7:00 p.m.

SSaturday: 10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. Ronan Elementary School Gym, Ronan, MT

Free Admission • Quilt Raffle • Vendor Booths • Country Store

Featured Quilter:

“In Memory of our quilting friend”

Patsy “Pat” Anderson

Sapphire Quilt Show 2014

Friday July 11th 9am - 6pmSaturday July 12th 9am - 4pm

300 Park St.Stevensville, MTStevensville High School

Contact Tina Mcpherson: 406-777-5727 • [email protected]

Carol Logan: 406-777-6999 • [email protected]

Featured QuiltersCarol Logan &

Helen Rude

Admission$4.00

Vendors • Raffle Quilt • Quilt Sales • Silent Auctions Raffles • Door Prizes • Refreshments

$25 Gift Certificate WinnerVictoria Baldwin, Rapid City, SD won

a $25 gift certificate to her favorite shop – Quilt Connection, Rapid City, South Dakota. To enter the next drawing, fill out the form on page 14 or visit www.chickencreek.net.

PRIZEWINNER!

PRIZEWINNER!

July - August 2014 | View the paper online at www.CountryRegister.com/NRGP

The Country Register of the Northern Rockies & Great Plains including North Dakota,

South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, & Northern IdahoDee Sleep, PublisherErika Young, Editor

Produced by Chicken Creek Communications132 W. Hudson St. • Spearfish, SD 57783605-722-7028 Office • 605-385-0035 Fax

www.countryregister.com/nrgpwww.chickencreek.net

Publisher’s contact numbers across theUSA & 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.

Country Register Founder: Barbara Floyd, 602-237-6008, [email protected], located: Phoenix, AX

USA Alabama: Dana Wilburn, 6349 Knollwood Ct. Frederick, MD 21701, [email protected]* Arizona: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 602-942-8950* Arkansas: Lenda Williams, P.O. Box 32581, Oklahoma City, OK, 73123, [email protected]* California: Betty Fassett, 26941 Cabot Rd., Suite 132, Laguna Hills, CA, 92653, 800-349-1858 Colorado: Jan & John Keller, 16755 Oak Brush Loop, Peyton, CO, 80831, 719-749-9797* Connecticut: Michael Dempsey, 10213 Fanny Brown Road, Raleigh, NC, [email protected]* Delaware: Merle and Gail Taylor, P.O. Box 594, New Market, MD, 21774, [email protected]* Florida: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, [email protected]* Georgia: Linda Parish, P.O. Box 389, Lexington, GA, 30648, [email protected]* Idaho (N): Dee Sleep, 132 W. Hudson Street, Spearfish, SD 57783, 605-722-7028, [email protected]* Idaho (S): Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, P 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 602-942-8950* Illinois: Lenda Williams, P.O. Box 32581, Oklahoma City, OK, 73123, [email protected]* Indiana: Gail & Merle Taylor, P.O. Box 594, New Market, MD, 21774, [email protected] Iowa: Linda Glendy, P.O. Box 6, Tama, IA, 52339, [email protected]* Kansas: Cindy Baldwin, 988 9th Ave., McPherson, KS 67460, [email protected]* Kentucky: Chris & Kelly Kennedy, 5804 Whiterose Way, New Market, MD 21774 443-243, [email protected] Maine: Gail Hageman, 221 Winslow Rd, Albion, ME 04910, 207-437-2663* Maryland: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, [email protected]* Massachusetts: Michael Dempsey, 10213 Fanny Brown Road, Raleigh, NC , 27603, [email protected] 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, [email protected]* Missouri: Lenda Williams, P.O. Box 32581, Oklahoma City, OK, 73123, [email protected]* Montana: Dee Sleep, 132 W. Hudson Street, Spearfish, SD 57783, 605-722-7028, [email protected]* Nebraska: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 602-942-8950* Nevada (N): Betty Fassett, 26941 Cabot Rd., Suite 132, Laguna Hills, CA, 92653, 800-349-1858* Nevada (S): Glena Dunn, 4568 Carol Circle, Las Vegas, NV, 89120, 702-523-1803 New Hampshire: Kathleen Graham, 330 North Road, Deerfield, NH, 03037, [email protected]* New Jersey: Merle and Gail Taylor, P.O. Box 594, New Market, MD, 21774, [email protected] 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, [email protected]* North Carolina: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 888-942-8950* North Dakota: Dee Sleep, 132 W. Hudson Street, Spearfish, SD 57783, 605-722-7028, [email protected]* Ohio: Barb Moore, P. O. Box 37, Cable, OH, 43009, [email protected]* Oklahoma: Lenda Williams, P.O. Box 32581, Oklahoma City, OK, 73123, [email protected]* Oregon: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 602-942-8950* Pennsylvania: Dave & Amy Carter, PO Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, [email protected]* Rhode Island: Michael Dempsey, 10213 Fanny Brown Road, Raleigh, NC , 27603, [email protected]* South Carolina: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 888-942-8950* South Dakota: Dee Sleep, 132 W. Hudson Street, Spearfish, SD 57783, 605-722-7028, [email protected]* Tennessee: Chris & Kelly Kennedy, 5804 Whiterose Way, New Market, MD 21774 443-243, [email protected]* Texas: Lenda Williams, P.O. Box 32581, Oklahoma City, OK, 73123, [email protected]* Utah: Daniel & Stacy Tueller, 153 S 2050 W, Provo UT 84601, [email protected]* Vermont: Chris & Kelly Kennedy, 5804 Whiterose Way, New Market, MD 21774, [email protected]* Virginia: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, [email protected]* 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, [email protected]* Wisconsin: Scott & Jennifer Hughes, P. O. Box 276, Altoona, WI, 54720, [email protected]* Wyoming: Dee Sleep, 132 W. Hudson Street, Spearfish, SD 57783, 605-722-7028, [email protected]

CANADA* Alberta: Ruth Burke, P.O. Box 97, Heisler, AB, T0B2A0,780-889-3776, [email protected] British Columbia: Bryan Stonehill, Box 1338, Summerland, BC, V0H 1Z0, 800-784-6711* Manitoba & Saskatchewan: Scott & Marj Kearns, Box 850, Kipling, SK, S0G 2S0, [email protected]

The Country Register of the Northern Rockies & Great Plains July - August 2014 • Volume 4 Issue 4

The Country Register of the Northern Rockies & Great Plains is published every two months. Copyright 2014.

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. Chicken Creek Communications produced The Country Register of the Northern Rockies & Great Plains.

Subscription price: 1 year, 6 issues, $18.00. Single copies: $3.00. This paper is furnished free at each advertiser, highway welcome centers tourism centers, shows, events, and other selected locations throughout North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyo-ming, Montana, and Northern Idaho.

Articles published in this newspaper, which are contributed from outside sourc-es, 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 advertis-ers 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.

Publisher’s Notes Readers Invited to Submit Recipes, Patterns, Articles

Our advertisers certainly make this newspaper possible with their financial contributions. But without readers, there would be no reason for folks to advertise. So content and advertising go hand-in-hand.

While we are always encouraging our readers to tell our advertisers they saw their ad in The Country Register of the Northern Rockies & Great Plains, it occurred to me recently that we probably haven’t asked you – our readers – for your input on our editorial content.

I know many of you are faithful readers; some of you even anxiously wait for our next issue and might even make a special trip to your local shop to pick it up as soon as it becomes available. So I am sure you should also have suggestions for ways to improve our coverage.

Do you know of local shops that offer an incredible selection of inventory or classes? What about a local crafter with a unique skill or product? Have you encountered a new decorating trend or household tip? Or do you have a delicious recipe to share? Any of these things would be great ideas to submit.

We are a specialty shopping and events publication targeting women, so our editorial content can be quite broad. From quilting to antiques and vin-tage, from cooking to cleaning, from jewelry to fiber arts, we can cover it all.

Send your ideas to us at The Country Register of the Northern Rockies & Great Plains. We can certainly write the articles from your ideas, or we are also open to freelance contributors. Contact us through our website at www.chickencreek.net, through the national site for The Country Register at www.countryregister.com/nrgp, or via our email or phone listed to the left.

We continue to work on ways to include more unique local content, which can be difficult since we cover such a large geographic area. You – our readers – hold the key to our success to ensure we are covering what interests you.

Dee Sleep Editor of

The Country Register of ND, SD, WY,

MT & N. ID


Ennis & Sidney, Montana

Pieces From My HeartA Lasting Testament“Train up a child in the way they should go…”Proverbs 22:6a

Mom took that verse from Proverbs 22 very seriously. Her training method was not to preach, but rather to teach by example. Mom has consistently modeled her faith by living her life with integrity and honesty—and I learned to follow Jesus because of the way she walks with Him in her daily life. When I was a child, our home, as was typical, had one bathroom. One of the times of greatest congestion was Sunday mornings as we all tried to get into the bathroom at the same time so the whole family could get to Sunday school and church on time. To ease the situation, Mom fixed herself a space in the kitchen cupboard next to the sink. By propping

up a mirror against the back wall, there she could comb her hair and dab on a bit of lipstick. Though our home was filled with an abundance of love, financially things were tight. Still, Mom always presented herself to the world in the best manner possible. That meant whenever somebody drove into the yard, Mom could simply open the kitchen cupboard and quickly freshen up her hair and makeup. This same standard was also carried over to us, her kids. Recently my brother, sister and I, along with our extended families, hosted Mom’s 90th birthday party, and in preparation we had a grand time going through old photos. One thing I noticed in all of the childhood pictures of Bob, Lois and me was that we never appeared as ragamuffins. Our clothes were never tattered or torn. In many pictures, not only did our pants have patches, but for my sister and me, they were often sewn on with contrasting thread or with complimentary fabric to actually make them cute

and fashionable. When we were little, we enjoyed lots of family fun and Mom was always ready to help at school or to let us invite friends over. We will always remember the Halloween when we hosted a party and Mom and Dad transformed the basement into a very scary haunted house. Concerned that no child should feel left out, Mom insisted every child attending our little country school must be invited.Then came November, 1966 and Dad’s open heart surgery. “I love you” were the last words we heard him say as he was wheeled down the hall toward the operating room. In spite of the doctors’ best efforts, that day we lost our father and Mom became a widow—and together we grieved. But then, with the passage of time and thanks to God’s great goodness, we delighted as we watched a new love for Robert come into Mom’s life—and likewise, Bob, Lois and I embraced him into our lives and he became grandfather and great-grandfather to our children and their children. A few weeks before Mom’s birthday party, she and Robert attended a meeting for seniors regarding “last wills and testaments” and how a person’s testament was a statement of sorts about what a person’s life stands for. In response, she mused about not knowing what her “testament” or

expression of her conviction might be. Then, suddenly her face brightened and she announced, “Maybe my birthday party could be my testament.” I believe Mom’s party, where she was surrounded by loving family and friends, was a perfect tangible expression and proof that her life of consistency stands as a lasting testament of her adherence to personal values and a life well-lived.

© 2014 Jan Keller. No reprint without permission. Jan shares other pieces of her life in her books, Pieces From My Crazy Quilt, and The Tie That Binds. These books can be ordered by calling 719-749-9797, or writing: Black Sheep Books, 16755 Oak Brush Loop, Peyton, CO 80831

MOM’S 90TH BIRTHDAY PARTYMom and Robert surrounded by their children:

(l-r) Lois, Jim, John, Jan, Connie and Bob.

Mom with her children:(l-r) Jan, Lois and Bob

This pattern is free for you to use. Not for commercial use. Enlarge orreduce to your desired size. May be used for embroidery, pillows,paintings, the uses are numerous! Please give credit to the artist.

NEEDLES-N-PINS STITCHERIES

NEEDLES-N-PINS STITCHERIESFind more patterns at:

www.etsy.com/shop/needlesnpinssticheryColleen Bass

[email protected]


Missoula, Montana & Wyoming

Is Shabby Really Chic?Kit ‘n Kaboodle Road rage, air rage ... where has civility gone? Could it

be that the way we dress does reflect how we conduct ourselves?

OK. I admit it. My high school principal was right. Sloppy clothes lead to sloppy actions. Even in a school without a formal dress code, there were, nevertheless, standards of dress. During Homecoming Week the

student council designated certain days on which non-traditional clothing could be worn – somehow assuming that this would boost enthusiasm for the upcoming athletic contest.

Game Day was Blue and White Day. Nearly every student and faculty member participated by wearing the school colors. This signified support for the sports teams and was meant to be an encouragement to them.

However, the other specified days – although fun for the students – were not related to enhancing school spirit. These included: Pajama

Day, Backwards Day (insofar as was possible, clothing was to be worn backwards), Inside-Out Day, Hat Day, and the basis for this treatise, Casual Day. It meant a student could wear anything that wasn’t considered obscene. (Of course those standards are out the window these days, but that is another matter.) Out of all of the special clothing days, Casual Day was the most anticipated by the students, and the most dreaded by the teachers.

“Why don’t you like Casual Day?” I asked one of the more popular – and younger – teachers.

The reply was, “When the dress is casual, the attitudes are casual. There is such a difference in the way students apply themselves on Casual Day.” Naturally being a conscientious student as well as someone who enjoyed dressing casually, I thought the teacher was imagining things.

Now I believe it. Just walk through a mall on a weekend. The baggy pants, the excessively oversized T-shirts, or the sloppy sweatshirts are worn by a huge percentage of mall patrons. Oversized clothing is what manufacturers call it. Teens call it “The Grunge Look” or just grunge. Some call it bedraggled, unkempt, even shabby. Many consider it simply comfortable. Sloppy clothing seems to go along with sloppy actions. Of course sweat pants are much more comfortable than tailored slacks, but sweats are meant for active endeavors or lounging at home – not for parading around in at the mall.

Remember when flying somewhere was an occasion for which one wore her best? Now the vast majority of the flying public wears what could only be deemed as extreme casual mostly because it is also extremely comfortable. Flying is no longer an occasion. And, not so long ago gentlemen removed their hats when they were inside a building or when speaking to a lady. These days, you’re lucky if they turn their caps backwards so you can see with whom you are conversing. The fault may not lie only with the men. Conceivably women are not treated like ladies because many no longer act like ladies.

The contention is that sloppiness has insidiously entered the schools. And, it is under the guise of freedom of expression. Perhaps, though, it is truly just laziness. That laziness carries over to impede the work ethic in the workplace and in school. It is a downhill spiral. The old adage, ‘Pretty is a pretty does’ could now be written, ‘Slovenly is as slovenly does.’

Peggy Sanders is a farm wife, nationally-awarded columnist and author. Please send her comments and questions about transitioning to the country at [email protected]. Sanders’ internet latchstring is out at peggysanders.com.


Quilter’s Book Review: No Time On My Hands If you’re like me, you love to read

about your quilting hobby. Any time you aren’t holding a needle and thread, you reach for a book or magazine. I recently came across a wonderful quilting and homesteading story called No Time On My Hands. If you grew up with Laura Ingalls Wilder’s

Little House books, you will consider Grace’s book the grown up version you always wished would appear. Published in 1963, the historical, non-fiction book features the life of Grace Snyder. Grace was the matriarch of a pioneer Nebraska family; she recorded her stories during her 80th year. The clever title comes from Grace’s belief that she was blessed “by having no time on my hands” during her long, productive life. The book begins with these enchanting lines, “As a child of seven and up, I wished three wishes and dreamed three dreams. I wished that I might grow up to make the most beautiful quilts in the world, to marry a cowboy, and to look down on the top of a cloud. At the time I dreamed those dreams and wished those wishes, it seemed impossible that any of them could ever come true.” Yet, Grace lived to see all of her dreams become reality. Grace and her family arrived on the high plains of Nebraska in 1885. They left behind family, friends, and comfortable farms with beautiful orchards in Missouri. The high plains had few people and even fewer trees. The Snyders faired better then most homesteaders, in part because their

family in Missouri sent food and supplies before each winter. Grace writes of these times, “One barrel would be full of apples from Grandpa’s orchard, and Ma would take the smooth red fruit in her thin hands and look at it with a faraway shine in her eyes.” As a young girl, Grace was responsible for watching over the few family cows while they grazed each day. To pass the long days, she began hand piecing quilt blocks while she sat out on the open prairie. From the age of seven, Grace began developing tremendous patience with her quilting. One of Grace’s finest quilts is featured on the cover of the book. This famous quilt features 87,789 pieces. The design was called Basket Petit Point; today it hangs in the Nebraska State Historical Society Museum in Lincoln, Nebraska. Grace’s story of her three wishes inspired many quilters across the United States. Her story was featured in Better Homes & Gardens Magazine and even became part of a play, Quilters. In 1980, at 98 years old, the National Congress of Quilters of Arlington, Virginia

inducted Grace into the Quilters’ Hall of Fame. If you are looking for some great reading, set down your piecing and pick up this book. The history of homesteading and beautiful quilts in Grace’s humble voice will keep you entertained page after page.

Sierra Shea calls herself a “Modern Day Laura Ingalls Wilder” because of her new life-style in South Dakota as a farmer’s wife, quilter and writer. Read more on Sierra’s blog at www.sierrashea.com.

Piecing Life Together

It’s Not an Alien Have you noticed that every industry has its own special language? Quilting is no different. For example, a “fat quarter” is not a body part but a particular cut of fabric. Acronyms abound as well. UFO does not mean “unidentified flying object” but “unfinished project.” Some refer to those as PHDs. No, not doctorate degrees but “projects half done.” The term UFO has always done it for me.

When quilters gather, talk often turns to how many UFOs they have stashed in closets and under beds. A recent conversation had numbers ranging from 17 to 36 to “I’m too embarrassed to say.” It’s not hard to accumulate them. Quilt classes often result in a project begun that must be finished some time after class has concluded.

There are varying stages of UFO-ness, at least for me. Some UFOs are designs with fabrics pulled. Others are partially sewn. One UFO has been waiting for the finishing binding for over a year. No matter what the reason, the project awaits the right time or the right mood to “get ‘er done!”

I’m part of a group that takes an annual quilt retreat. For three days we do nothing but sew and eat and talk and laugh. Believe it or not, lots of progress is made on projects with that many hours to devote to them. Having been at the retreat a number of years, I’ve gotten fairly good at knowing how much I can get done and what to bring. This year, I decided to revisit some of my UFOs, bringing three projects along. My goal was to come home with two tops finished and good progress made on one.

For the fun of it, we worked to determine how old my UFOs were. We decided that two of them were probably languishing for seven to eight years. I still loved the fabrics I had selected for them. One enabled me to try a reverse appliqué

technique that I had wanted to experiment with. As each top was completed, my fellow retreaters complimented me on how fresh and modern they looked. We had a good laugh about that, knowing how long the fabrics had been waiting to see needle and thread!

I met my goal of completing the two tops and making good progress on the third. All three are still UFOs. The finished tops wait to be layered, quilted and bound. The third project has a bit more work to be moved into the “waiting to be quilted” pile. For now, I’m content with my UFO progress and have stopped looking for the little green men!

Barbara Polston is an author, designer and award-winning quiltmaker. You can see Barbara’s quilts, join her on Facebook or book her class and lecture offerings at www.barbarapolston.com. She was inducted into Arizona Quilters Hall of Fame in September 2013. Barbara, who has lived in Phoenix for over 28 years, is calmly quilting in Studio Narnia. ©Barbara Polston, Phoenix, AZ, June 2014


Countryberries LLC

330 North Road Deerfield, NH 03037603-463-7615 www.countryberries.com

Designed by Kathy Graham

Countryberries Designs

Peaceful Shore

This pattern is free for you to use. Please give the artist credit. Not for com-mercial use. Enlarge this pattern to your desired size. This pattern was de-signed for a watercolor painting but could also be used with other paints, pastels or even embroidered. Have fun!

Rituals... A Stabilizing Force The following is an excerpt from the book, Stitches: A Handbook on Meaning, Hope, and Repair, by Ann LaMotte. “Here is the true secret of life. We mostly do everything over and over in the morning. We let out the dogs, and we make coffee (tea), read the paper, help whoever is around get ready for the day. We do our work. If we have left, we come home, put down our keys and satchels, let the dogs out, take off constrictive clothing, make a drink or a pot of tea, toast the leftover bit of scone. I love ritual and repetition. Without them, I would be a balloon with a slow leak.”

According to Webster’s Dictionary, a ritual is any formal and customarily repeated act, or series of acts. So, perhaps what Ms. LaMotte wrote, describes your daily routine precisely, or with a few modifications. This got me to thinking. Is there anything wrong with doing the same thing day after day? As I pondered, the thought came to

me that perhaps, it is those very rituals that keep us grounded. For it is the repetitiveness that provides a stabilizing force in our lives. However, there is nothing wrong with changing it from time to time. Now that summer is here, perhaps through vacations, children being home from school, and the opportunity for a more leisurely time, we can change our rituals a little.

Change of routine refreshes us, renews us, it even invigorates us. A ritual helps to bring control back into our lives. Through rituals we can strive to enrich our lives by creating a healthier lifestyle.

For example, if you have trouble falling asleep, turn off the TV or computer at least an hour before bedtime and instead try reading before going to bed. Through reading, you will be able to separate this moment of much needed rest from the activities of the day. To relieve stress, take time for a morning stretch, or maybe an after dinner walk would work best for your schedule. These are small rituals that can be incorporated into your life, if you seek a healthier you.

Each of us has our own set of rituals we do every day. However, there may be those times, when we

get tired of doing the same thing over and over again. When those thoughts begin to surface, for example the morning rush as you and your family head out the door Monday through Friday: It is then, that you should step back and be glad first of all that you have children, and secondly, that you have the physical strength to care for them.

We are all caught up in this rat race called life. How we respond to it, is up to us to control. Remember what I said in the beginning of this article…rituals ground us, they are the stabilizing force in our lives.

If you truly believe this, the next time life spins out of control, go back to a ritual of comfort, such as a tea break, or cuddling your child or pet…whatever it is that comforts you, it is then that you might reclaim your life and discover that you are indeed, in control. Life is good! Go out and enjoy it!

–Janet Young, Certified Tea and EtiquetteConsultant, is a founding member of Mid-Atlantic Tea Business Association and freelance writer/national tea presenter. Visit her website at www.overtheteacup.com


Cheyenne & Sheridan, Wyoming

The Value in Design Most quilters will agree that value is the most important lightness or darkness of a color or hue. Value can change by the color value that is placed next to it. To understand this, look at the value scale here. The gray vertical line is the same color or value but looks different next to the different values from the top to the bottom of the scale. Don’t believe me? Cover up both sides of the line with your hands. Yes, it’s value that you use to make your quilt pop. When choosing your fabric for your design remember to keep in mind that the contrast of value separates objects and creates space, while gradation

of value suggests a shape of a contiguous area or shape. So it’s value that creates and determines the design you will see in your quilt by the contrast of the different values of fabric and how they are placed together. Some helpful ways to figure out the value of your fabric is to use a red and or blue plastic viewer that you can find at your local quilt shop. The red viewer is good for blues, greens and cool colors. The blue viewer is for reds, oranges and yellows, and warm colors.

Another fast way that I use at home is to place swatches of my fabric on the scanner bed next to each other and copy them off in black and white print. Do you use a design wall? You could use a digital camera and take a picture of your blocks and then convert your photo into black and white on your PC to help you see its value. If you are in a pinch at the quilt shop, lay the bolts of fabric stacked on their sides, get back and look with squinted eyes. Some quilters use the little peephole viewer that is meant for a front door and turn it around so that it creates a view of distance from the fabric when they look through it. For fun take some of your fabrics in your stash and separate them into three different piles of light, medium and dark. Use the fabric to make several blocks of the design below. It will be interesting to see by moving your blocks around the different designs you will make by using value. Using value is also a great method to use for making scrap quilts. Cutting Directions for 6 1/2” X 6 1/2” unfinished Med = 3 1/2”square Light = 3 7/8”square cut in half diagonally to make two pieces Dark = 6 7/8” square cut in half diagonal to make two pieces. You can move the values around to your liking. 1. Sew the light triangles (B) to the med block (A). 2. Sew this section to the larger dark triangle (C).

You can make nine or so of these blocks, turn it into a small quilt.

Sandie Massett, Tweet Quilt Designs, has been quilting for about 30 years and started creating patterns the past few years. She’s been working on several quilts lately for a book, which is her next goal. Her website at www.TweetQuiltDesigns.com has a few things she’s done as patterns (geared toward teaching) and a slide show of some of her work. She’s very active in the Eugene, Springfield, OR, quilting community. Appliqué is Sandie’s favorite part of quilting.

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Devils Lake & Wishek, North Dakota • Story, Wyoming

706 3rd St Langdon, ND

701-256-2526 [email protected]

Langdon’s Quilting Headquarters

Over 2,000 bolts of fabric in stock. Including: Quilting Cottons, Flannels, Batiks,

108in. Wideback, Minky, Laminates and more! HoursM-T-W-F: 10am-5pm

Thursday: 10am-8pm (Call Ahead Please)Saturday: 10am-4pm

We can do phone or email orders and ship!


Huron & Central SD, South Dakota

Warm sunny days make me anxious to work in my flowerbeds and garden. It does not seem like there is any better therapy for me than digging in fresh, moist, slightly cool dirt and pulling unwanted weeds out by the roots. Then at the end of the day, it is such a “good” tired feeling to be able to sit down with a nice, cold glass of tea or lemonade and enjoy observing the beauty my labor.

Because it is the gardening season, I want to share some information on different ways to use essential oils around your home and gardens to help you.

Peppermint essential oil is excellent to keep ants out of your home. It is also a good deterrent for spiders. When there has not been adequate rain fall, ants like to come into the house seeking moisture. It seems the kitchen sink is often their favorite place to gather. To discourage them from gathering at your kitchen sink, just place a few drops of pure peppermint essential oil on a cotton ball and place the cotton balls around the sink and counter top area. If you see them coming in through the window sill, drop a few drops of pure peppermint oil in their pathway and after a few days, they will stop. The pure peppermint essential oil will not stain, discolor or leave a residue on the wood of the window sill. It will make your home smell wonderful and bright. To deter spiders, make a peppermint essential oil spray and spray around the windows and doors of your home every 2-4 weeks. (see below for the recipe)

Neem oil is becoming widely known for pest control in your garden. Neem oil is considered a (vegetable) carrier oil and is often used in skin care and pet products. Neem oil is extracted from the seeds of the India Neem Tree (Azadirachta Seed Oil). Cold pressed neem oil contains natural constituents that have specific benefits for skin care and has been used for centuries in traditional Indian medicine to aid the healing of topical skin disorders, as a natural insecticidal, anti-fruit fly agent and antiseptic. Neem Oil contains multiple different compounds (some sources say over 100) that work to repel some pests, disrupts growth hormones in others, and affects

fecundity (ability to reproduce) in insects like house flies.

Try these solutions and enjoy using natural plant based ingredients to control insects in your environment.

For Pure Essential Oils and other natural products, and empty containers go to www.flinthillsaromatherapy.com

call 620-394-2250 or e-mail [email protected]

Wanda Headrick, owner of Flinthills Aromatherapy, draws on her extensive knowledge of essential oils to share non-chemical remedies to keep readers and their homes healthy.

Use Essential Oils to Control Summer Insect Pests

Neem Oil Spray for Garden Pest ControlNeem Oil: 1 ounceWater: 1 gallonDish Soap: 4-6 drops

Mix neem oil, water, and dish soap together in a spray container, stir or shake well. As a preventative, spray the Neem oil solution on the ground after you have planted the seeds. Once the plants have emerged, you should spray the neem oil solution on and around the plants every month.

IMPORTANT: To prevent leaf burn, do not apply the solution to plants until after sunset or while grow lights are on.

Spray on vegetables, flowers and plants every month for insect repel-lent. The dish soap helps the solution to stick to the plant. It may require a renewed application after a rain.

Peppermint Spray for Repelling Spiders4 oz Aluminum or Glass Spray Bottle (Never use plastic)Pure Peppermint Essential Oil: 50 dropsDistilled Water: 4 oz.Mix all together in the empty aluminum or glass spray bottle, shake

well and spray around the window and door frames every two weeks, or more often if you see evidence of spiders wanting to enter your home. Peppermint Spray is also safe to use on your clothes and linens and does not leave any stain. Always check for stain ing in a small hidden area before spraying the whole item or area to be sure.

Pest Control Solutions


North Country Fiber FairSeptember 19th - 21st, 2014

Codington Co. Expo Building, Watertown, SD40+ Vendors*40+ Classes*Demos*Fiber Sandwhich

Spinning & Fiber Circle*Fashion Show*Goat ShowSpinning Wheel Raffle*Free Admission & Parking

Find us on Facebook or visitwww.northcountryfiberfair.org

Chamberlain & Watertown, South Dakota

Random Actsby Maranda K. Jones

In The PinkMaranda Jones’ new book Random Actsis now available at amazon.comThe book includes her reader-acclaimed articles from the last decade.

“Mom is my favorite color!” my daughter proudly announced to her brother. She first noticed my pink, sunburned legs while the three of us were all crammed in one tiny bathroom stall at the grocery store. Now that she had called attention to them, my son also commented on how bright and pink the tops of my thighs appeared compared to lower part of my

white legs. I was not particularly enjoying all this attention, so I hurriedly finished my business, helped them wash their hands, and tried to change the subject to the importance of sunscreen while we finished our shopping errands.

Summer found us the day before playing in the hot sun, filling up the plastic pool with the garden hose, and arranging our lawn chairs. The kids’ new rash guard swimsuits were soaked, which was such a nice change from being folded in drawers for most of the year. Their sun hats and flip flops happily took the place of stocking caps and snow boots. We lathered up with sunscreen, put on our shades, and headed to the pool.

Splashing and squealing, my three young children were enjoying our first summer afternoon in the pool in the yard. Soon Teague remembered we had new water guns we needed to test. Four water guns for three kids meant his sister each got one and he got one for each hand. I convinced him that Mom might need one too, so after some contemplation on his part, I received one as well.

The teacher in me always has to explain the rules ahead of time, so I let them know that I did not want to be squirt in the face. Anywhere else would be fine. Infact, the cool water would be welcome relief from the heat. We were all in our swimsuits. We were all in the pool, more or less, as I was in the deep end of our above ground swimming pool, up to my ankles. We should expect to get wet.

I was the one who should have expected to get wet. I was their favorite target! I was soaked in no time! I tried to divert their attention by setting up pirates and other characters on the edge of their sandbox. “Get the pirates! Squirt the frog!” I encouraged them to water the flowers and trees. I gave them a sand pail. “Let’s see how quickly you can fill this bucket!” I suggested they aim for Dad’s clothes drying on the line. “Shoot the underwear!” I knew saying their favorite funny word, “underwear,” would buy me some time, but I was still in the aim of fire. Or water, really.

Then Teague squirt me right in the cheek. The look on his face let me know he knew he was out of commission. I did not have to say a word. He handed over his water gun and stuck out his bottom lip. He asked me how he could earn it back. I explained he could have it back when I trusted that he would not squirt me in the face again. He asked me how he could not squirt me in the face. I told him to practice his aim. He asked me how he could practice his aim without his water gun.

I did not have a word to say this time. I knew I had lost that argument. He knew he had me over a barrel. He smiled that wily smirk and reached out his open hand. I handed over his water gun and prepared for target practice. Much to my surprise, Teague markedly improved his aim, and I was not forced to confiscate any more weapons during our time outside.

Clouds started rolling over the hill, and it seemed an afternoon thunderstorm was on its way. We filled those empty sand pails, draining the pool, watering the plants, trees and grass. We dumped the rest of the water, picked up the toys, grabbed our towels, and plucked the blades of grass off our flip-flops. We hung the kids’ swimsuits over the edge of the bathtub to dry after each had showered and toweled off. After the kids were settled, I went to do the same.

I thought my swimsuit felt a little scratchy against my skin as I peeled it off. I had sunscreen on, so I did not think much more about it. Then I did that well-known finger poke on my leg, watching my skin change color as I released the pressure to assess the damage. I was burned.

Any attempt to protect my pale skin on our first day of the season outside was thwarted when my sunscreen coating was soon washed away. My kids quickly put a stop to any self-defending SPF I had applied just moments before. I cannot blame them though. I am the one who should know better. One day later, in a crowded restroom stall, my children reminded me of the importance of reapplying sunscreen after playing in the water. If they remember these lessons and teachable moments, then my time as a mom under the sun will have been well spent. May we all be in the pink.


Cooking with the Oldies

Too Busy To Cook! If actually cooking a lot is a qualification for this issue’s Cooking With The Oldies, I have to confess. I have not cooked a full, real, honest to goodness thing in several months. But I do have my reasons, or better put, excuses. Top of the list of excuses is I have been too busy and somehow it just seems wrong to mess up a beautiful all-new kitchen. Ten years ago, I spotted a property about four blocks away from the home I was living in—the home that was more of a busy office than a home, some days. There was something about the cozy gated community in North Phoenix with smaller individual homes that I knew would make sense to live in someday. That someday seemed far off at the time. Renting it out for ten years seemed practical. Then ten years passed in a flash and I knew it was a window of opportunity to move while I was still able and willing to do so. After semi-retiring from active publishing, I enjoyed two years of having two guest bedrooms after years of only having one. Family and friends came and enjoyed time there and then I would lock it up for months during the summer and head to Washington to be with family. So, all my talk about downsizing and picturing myself in smaller quarters, smaller yard, no upkeep of the front yard at all, started to take root. When I would mention actually leaving my larger home of 15 years, I would get one of two reactions. Either it was met with much encouragement or dismay that I would leave my well-loved bigger home. When you go from 2,500 sq. feet to 1,400 sq. feet, you have to start mentally preparing for letting go of a lot of “things.” I felt like I was ready and my children were happy that in doing it myself they would not have to plow through so many “things” someday down the road.

Just let me tell you that moving is not for the faint of heart. It is a lot of decision-making and a lot of physical effort. Coming to my rescue was my 21-year-old grandson, Levi Swenson. He was at the end of recovery from some major shoulder surgery and stood by me for three weeks. When he left, he took my old Toyota Rav 4—filled to the brim with things for three kids and seven grandchildren—back to Walla Walla, WA, where I spend my summers. Doing a property renovation is not for the faint of heart, either, unless you have a very good contractor, which I did. And it is a good thing. I was so sick in February when I had the month-to-month current renter move out, it all looked like a mountain. Then I just sat back and realized I was not going to be doing the work! After ten years, it was due for a major, and after about ten weeks, it began to look like a new home—even better than it had looked when it was new. My favorite change in the house was in the kitchen. We took two cupboards that matched the kitchen cupboards out of the hallway and incorporated them into expanding the kitchen counter space. Another went above the microwave and was higher than the little cupboard originally there. I was not in love with the sturdy hickory cupboards and so they got a good paint job and new brushed stainless steel appliances were added. The refrigerator is counter depth, saves inches of space and gives me less room to store leftovers that will perish in the far back corners. Under counter lights and LED lights in the ceiling along with three decorative lights over the new counter space make for a lot of good lighting in a kitchen that had a single 100 watt light fixture on a rather high ceiling. Unpacking was more work than packing up and, of course, my kitchen was my biggest concern. It is much smaller than the last one, but I must say, I have not been inspired yet to dirty up that new stove unless you count baking one of those cardboard like thin crusted boxed pizzas as a cooking project. The other reason that is valid is I do not want to lay in a lot of groceries because in just about ten days I leave for Georgia to be at a grandchild’s high school graduation and then head to Washington. But, as

I continue to settle in, I am thinking ahead to fall Arizona days when I can start to bake, entertain or continue to haunt my favorite go-to eateries and keep my kitchen clean! My one cooking tip on this “time out from cooking” for a quick meal is the boxed pizzas are actually pretty good and even better if you cut them into bite size pieces and scatter them on top of your favorite salad mix for a complete meal.

Barbara Floyd, Founder of The Country Register, The Antique Register of Arizona, and Love of Junk, Walla Walla’s Vintage Market, resides in Phoenix, AZ, and still loves the kitchen. She can be reached at barbara@countryregister and will soon celebrate two years of semi-retirement.

Dell Rapids, Faulkton & Pierre, South Dakota

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Custer, Hot Springs, Rapid City & Wall, South Dakota

Fall River Fibersby: Peggy Sanders

Recently there has been much talk about “man caves,” and when I asked to see the Creative Cave at Fall River Fibers in Hot Springs, SD, I stepped into a simply decorated, relaxing room that is an inspiration to fiber artists. Terry Slagel, owner and operator of Ace Hardware, along with her husband Gary, has re-worked a basement area of the store into a spacious and welcoming room, which allows for classes as well as open studio times.

Terry says, “We hold classes here and it is also used as a workspace by various fiber artists. Check our calendar at www.fallriverfiber.com for availability and class times.”

A tri-loom is currently the most prominent apparatus set up in the room. Terry’s work in progress is a bison hair shawl. She obtained the hair from Larry Belitz, Hot Springs, and spun it herself. To soften the shawl and to ad some color variation, Terry is adding tiny bits of alpaca and sheep wool into her weaving. She will finish off the shawl by adding caribou bone buttons and attaching jingles.

The bison shawl is one of the pieces Terry will display at the Dahl Fine Arts Center in Rapid City during the entire month of September in

their Emerging Artists program in the Lien Cultural Café. The program was established as a way to teach artists how to set up and successfully feature a show of their works. Terry will have from nine to fifteen objects in her show; everything has to be displayed on walls as the café is utilized for additional activities during the month each show is in place. This lends itself to additional exposure for each artist.

Unique is one of the best adjectives to describe Fall River Fibers located on the main floor of Ace Hardware. Weaver’s yarns have recently been added to the inventory. These include linen, various weights of cotton and cottolin, a blend of cotton and linen that combines the softness of cotton with the firmer qualities of linen. Her fiber store features several book titles on the fiber arts and a vast array of yarns. Terry’s store is the only store within the region that sells looms.

Fiber enthusiasts range from those who work ‘sheep to shawl’ and those who focus on specific tasks. Terry tried the former and realized her love is creating at the loom and she now buys her supplies from other sources. From SageRidge Mill & Critters, Clearmont, WY, Terry buys alpaca products. Linda Atkinson owner/operator, raises alpacas with Peruvian and Chilean bloodlines and processes the wool, including cleaning and carding in their Fiber Mill. Linda can be located at www.sageridge.net .

Another artisan on whom Terry relies is Kate Sorenson, Bozeman, MT who runs Chinook Winds Bison. www.bisonyarnandfiber.com. She uses hair from Wyoming, South Dakota

and Montana bison ranches and has local mills process it. Sorenson’s artistry shines in her hand-dyed wool. She holds classes in fiber arts in her Bozeman studio.

Terry will be an instructor and others are being lined up for the Black Hills Fiber Arts Fair will be held on Thursday through Saturday, April 23-25, 2015. A new format will have classes only on Thursday, and on Friday and Saturday there will be classes, and in addition the market place will be open. The market is restricted to hand-crafted items and commercial or hand-use equipment. Watch www.blackhillsfiberartsfair.org for updates as activities are announced.

Until then, take a drive to Hot Springs for inspiration: take a class, buy a loom or yarn and see the Creative Cave for inspiration.

Fall River Fibers’ Terry Slagel works at a loom in the display area on the ground floor of Ace Hardware. She is surrounded by a partial selection of the yarns, looms and other items offered for sale in her fiber store.


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The Country Register132 W. Hudson StreetSpearfish, SD 57783

Advertiser Directory by CommunityBozeman, Great Falls & Townsend, Montana .................................................. 2Ennis & Sidney, Montana .................................................................................... 4Missoula, Montana & Wyoming ........................................................................ 5Cheyenne & Sheridan, Wyoming .......................................................................8Devil’s Lake & Wishek, North Dakota • Story, Wyoming ............................... 9Huron & Central SD, South Dakota ..............................................................10Chamberlain & Watertown, South Dakota .....................................................11Dell Rapids, Faulkton & Pierre, South Dakota ..............................................12Custer, Hot Springs, Rapid City & Wall, South Dakota ................................13Edgemont, Hot Springs & Rapid City, South Dakota ................................................15Hill City, Spearfish & Belle Fourche, South Dakota.......................................16

Advertiser Directory by Name Always Your Design, Dell Rapids, SD .............................................................. 12Black Hills Visitor Center, Rapid City, SD ...................................................... 15Creative Closet, Townsend, MT ......................................................................... 2Dakota Quilt Company, Spearfish, SD ............................................................ 16Fall River Fibers, Hot Springs, SD .................................................................... 15Flip-Side Fabrics, Sidney, MT ............................................................................. 4Heartsong Quilts, Hot Springs ,SD .................................................................. 13Hill City Mercantile, Hill City, SD .................................................................... 16Hill City Quilt Show, Hill City, SD ................................................................... 16Knothole, Spearfish, SD ..................................................................................... 16Lutheran Outdoors, Sioux Falls, SD ................................................................. 10Mission Mountain Quilt Guild, Ronan, MT .................................................... 2North Country Fiber Fair, Watertown, SD ..................................................... 11Nuts & Bolts Fabric Shop, Edgemont, SD ....................................................... 15Oak by Amish, Chamberlain, SD ..................................................................... 11Pinewood Cottage, Story, WY ............................................................................ 8Quilt Connection, Rapid City, SD .................................................................... 15Quilt Essential, Devils Lake, ND ........................................................................ 9Quilt-Tiques, Rapid City, SD ............................................................................ 15Quilter’s Corner, Faulkton, SD.......................................................................... 12Rumple Quiltskin, Wishek, ND .......................................................................... 9Sapphire Quilt Show, Stevensville, ND .............................................................. 2Sew On Sew North, Langdon, ND ..................................................................... 9South Dakota Quilter’s Guild, SD .................................................................... 10The Fiber House, Sheridan, WY ......................................................................... 8The Quilt Yard, Pierre, SD ................................................................................. 12The Quilt-A-Way, Great Falls, MT ..................................................................... 2The Quilted Corner, Cheyenne, WY .................................................................. 8The Quilter’s Fix, Sheridan, WY ......................................................................... 9The Quilter’s Nook, Custer, SD ......................................................................... 13Things That Rock, Hill City, SD ........................................................................ 16Tri-State Bakery, Belle Fourche, SD ................................................................. 16Vicki’s Quilts Down Under, Missoula, MT ....................................................... 5Wall Drug, Wall, SD ........................................................................................... 13Wyoming State Shop Hop, WY .......................................................................... 5

Upcoming Area EventsWyoming WY State Shop Hop June 1-Aug 31Montana Sapphire Quilt Show July 14-15Hill City, SD Hill City Quilt Show Sept 7-8Watertown, SD North Country Fiber Fair Sept 19-21Huron, SD Fall Quilt Retreat Sept 26-28


Edgemont, Hot Springs & Rapid City, South Dakota


Hill City, Spearfish & Belle Fourche, South Dakota

Hill City Area Quilt Show & SaleIndoor 2-Day Show ~ September 6-7, 2014

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Daily ~ $5/person Vendors ~ Demos ~ Trunk Shows ~ Showcasing 200 Quilts

Saturday Evening Dinner, Trunk Show & Open Mic Show & Tell

Enter your quilts early and you could win a Pfaff Passport 2.0!

605-574-2368 • 1-800-888-1798605-574-2368 • 1-800-888-1798hillcityquiltshow.comhillcitysd.com

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