country register may june 2015

May-June 2015 | View the paper online at www.CountryRegister.com/NRGP

| May-June 2015 May-June 2015 | Page 3Find us on Facebook | facebook.com/CountryRegisterNorthRockies View the paper online at www.CountryRegister.com/NRGP

Cover Artist: Tina LedbetterAfter graduating from the Fashion Institute

of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, Tina Ledbetter started her first job at a small studio as a production artist/logo designer. From there she has gone on to create deco-rative painting books, delved into scrap-booking, cross-stitch kits, home décor, and other ventures until pursuing the licensing

venue and connecting with Linda McDonald, Inc. She now celebrates her successful Cheeky Chic line, inspired by her creative love for fashion.

Editor’s Notes Spring, most welcomed season

Spring. One of the most welcomed seasons in my life. I can’t get enough of the warmth of the sun on my skin, the extended daylight hours in the day and time spent outdoors. Not only does the sunshine help make everyday feel more welcoming, but it also seems as if my productivity increases; not only in my extracurricular activities, but with projects that I can’t seem to make enough time for. One of my most favorite parts of spring is the fact that produce seems to lower in price and buying in bulk only seems like the reasonable thing to do, especially if you have a passion for canning.

I was introduced to the world of canning a few years back when I found an amazing deal on a crate of cucumbers. I knew making pickles out of cucumbers seemed like quite the challenge when I took on this project, but I also knew the perfect person to call on for help – my mother in law. She took the challenge without hesitation and brought over all the supplies and enthusiasm I would need to take on this venture. We spent two whole days in my kitchen creating some of the best pickles I have ever had. This is when my love for canning began. I don’t know if anyone could have predicted the passion that was created in those two days of tackling the large crate of cucumbers, but I do know that many of my friends and family couldn’t be more appreciative of it. I now not only can for my own enjoyment, but the pleasure of gifting my creations to those I care for most.

In this edition of the Country Register I have included one of my most simple, yet most delicious strawberry jam recipes. If you enjoy canning and have recipes that you would like to share, I would love to try them! Feel free to email me at [email protected]. I look forward to trying them out.

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 57783

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www.chickencreek.netPublisher’s contact numbers across the

USA & 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* 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: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, P 515 E Carefree Hwy, #1128, Phoenix, AZ 85085, 602-942-8950 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): 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: 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

May-June 2015 • Volume 5 Issue 3

The Country Register of the Northern Rockies & Great Plains is published every two months. Copyright 2015.

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, Wyoming, Montana, and Northern Idaho.

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.

Erika YoungEditor of

The Country Register of ND, SD, WY,

MT & N. ID

Rapid City & Custer, South Dakota

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 July/August 2015 issue are due June 7, 2015.

Black Hills Quilt Show and saleRAPID CITY – The Black Hills Quilters Guild is presenting the 41st Annual

Black Hills Quilt Show and Sale June 5, 6 and 7 at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Cen-ter in Rapid City, SD. The show is held every June to showcase creations by guild members and other quilters around the region. Quilted work can be entered in both judged and non-judged categories. Art quilts, pillows, garments, wall hang-ing, bed quilts of all sizes and other items stitched with three layers are eligible. The fee for a judged entry is $10 for members and $15 for non-members. The registration deadline is Tuesday, May 5, 2015. Registration forms are available on the guild website at www.bhquilters.org.

Shopping and demonstrations will be a part of the show. New vendors, in addition to told favorites, will offer fabrics, embellishments, patterns, books and more. The Country Store will offer guild members’ hand-made creations for sale. Project Warmth, the charity outreach division of the quilters’ guild, will sell quilts of all sizes as well as smaller items, to raise money for its work. In the past year guild members have made more than 300 quilts for hospitalized children, the battered women’s shelter, families who have lost their homes to fire and more.

A new addition to the hourly daily demonstrations on Friday and Saturday will be two longer programs, each running from 90 minutes to 2 hours. “Binding in the Big League” will be Saturday at 10 am with Sue Hanson from Laurel, MT. Sue will cover several binding techniques as well as how to repair common binding problems, border widths and how to bind with a professional look. “Unique Embellishments”, Sunday at 12:30 pm, will be presented by Kay Sutt and Ann Ferkovich from Santa Fe, NM. Together they will cover multiple areas of embellishments, including Angelina Fiber, Paper Cloth, Fabric Beads, Transfer Art Paper, Free Motion Appliqué, Cording, Mediums and more. Each program will be $5 and you will receive a handout from each class.

“Dashing Through the Hills”, the pieced and hand appliquéd, machine quilted raffle quilt, will be awarded on Sunday. There will also be a raffle basket featuring a wide assortment of fabrics, notions and many extras.

Each year at the show a silent auction raises thousands of dollars for Hospice House of the Black Hills. The bidding sheets for the handmade little quilts and quilted objects as well as some unique hand-crafted items are put out on Friday with the bidding ending Sunday.

Certified AQS appraiser, Jan Sears, will be available for written and verbal appraisals on old and new quilts. There is a fee for the appraisal. Drop-ins are welcome or you can make a reservation by calling Gywnn at (605) 431-2519.

Quilt show hours are 9 am to 5 pm Friday and Saturday, and 10 am to 4 pm on Sunday. Admission is $5 per day. Parking at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center is free. For more information, please go to www.bhquilters.org, Quilt Show page.


Hamilton and Sidney, Montana Hot Springs, South Dakota

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KISSed Quilts The more things change, the more they are the same“There is no new thing under the sun,” said Ecclesiastes, and he knew what

he was talking about. Years ago (1990s) at an archeological exhibit of Roman artifacts found in Germany, all members of our party immediately recognized a 2000-year-old recently excavated bust as a dead ringer for a contemporary prominent politician. The likeness was uncanny. At the same exhibit we observed two identical pairs of sandals, one having been worn by a long-dead Roman, the other being worn by a very much alive young lady who probably thought she was wearing the latest fashion. (Remember gladiator sandals?) What lover of cats hasn’t seen a strong resemblance to ancient Egyptian cat statues and paintings in cats now living?

The French say, “Plus ḉa change, plus c’est la même chose.” (the more things change, the more they are the same), and this was certainly borne out in several Arizona museums displaying pottery made by long ago (we’re talking centuries here!) indigenous Hopi, Zuni and Navaho peoples. We did not originate “modern” quilting designs, people! So-called modern designs feature many straight parallel – or not – lines, as does this pottery. Modern designs feature arbitrary divisions between motifs, as does the pottery. A limited number of colours with sharp contrasts are characteristic of modern quilts, and also of this ancient pottery.

(As an aside, we moderns didn’t invent the free-standing multi-storey building either. One was built and used in the Arizona desert before the arrival of the Spanish in the New World. A Spanish priest called this edifice Casa Grande; today the site is protected by government).

When they travel, many quilters look for fabrics unique to the area. Some actually use this fabric to make souvenirs of their trips when they get home, so I’ve heard. Then there are the seemed-like-a-good-idea-at-the-time folk whose intentions outweigh their time. However, we laggards may have had a solution provided for us, and it may truly be a new concept. Some American National Parks are offering locally-themed printed quilt blocks for sale. What a find! These blocks can be incorporated into a souvenir quilt or wall hanging, or just bordered with an appropriate print or two. Such projects stand a much better chance of being finished before the next trip. I’m surprised some entrepreneurial soul hasn’t seized on and exploited this opportunity already.

Please…if someone is presently producing commercial souvenir blocks, don’t tell me and destroy my illusion of having discovered something new under the (quilting) sun! Or else tell us all, so we can all benefit!

Barbara Conquest writes her column from Blue Sky Quilting in Tofield, AB. © Barbara Conquest. Anticipating the Wait

My journey in the quilting world has taught me patience; a patience that I never had as a child or in my early youth.

Even as my own boss, I have learned there are deadlines to meet. For example, when I want to promote or publish something using social media, I can set my own deadlines. However, traditional forms like newspapers, books or new paper patterns will probably have deadlines beyond my control.

With a newspaper, the wait time is minimal as the deadlines try to keep the ‘news’ timely. If you’ve been reading my column in The Country Register on a regular basis, then you’ve followed a bit of my journey. For this bi-monthly paper, it is a bit longer lead-time than a daily or weekly newspaper—what I’m writing today you might see in a month or so.

With a book, the wait time can be longer. A manuscript finished in May might be released to the public a year later. I quilted “Double Nine Patch” and “Birds in the Air” almost a year before the Red, White and Quilted book (available now) was released. Those quilts are on display at the AQS shows this year. I hope you’ll stop in and see them at a show near you. Watch for my co-authored book with Leila Gardunia entitled You Can Quilt! Building Skills for Beginners. This came into being after winning a ribbon in 2013 with my “Rosie’s BOMb” quilt at AQS Des Moines. We think this book will provide a great set of tools for many different types of techniques to all those who want to learn how to piece a quilt.

When releasing a new pattern with a new line of fabric, it may also take up to a year before the general public can re-create the quilt with the same fabrics. That is a long wait time for the designer to see the reaction of the general public to the new design.

The exciting part is that I have a new design being released at Spring Market this year (May 15) with Island Batik fabrics. Here is an in-progress sneak peek of “Woven Braid.” My local customers watched it come together this winter and I’ve already had several pre-orders for complete kits. This was an exciting result since there was not a lot of time to sit and ponder in the creative zone. When this becomes available, likely in August, I will have it on my website and available in the studio.

Did I say patience is a virtue? I’m still learning!

Marlene Oddie is an engineer by education, project manager by profession and now a quilter by passion in Grand Coulee, WA. She enjoys long-arm quilting on her Gammill Optimum Plus, but especially enjoys designing quilts and assisting in the creation of a meaningful treasure for the recipient. Follow Marlene’s adventures via her blog at http://kissedquilts.blogspot.com, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/kissedquilts, or stop by this summer during the Row by Row Experience.


COLOR

Missoula, Montana Bottineau and Devils Lake, North Dakota

Pass it onMost probably you know how to do something that someone else would

really like to learn to do. You just might not know it yet—and they probably don’t either. Many of us are born teachers and seekers of knowledge. How about taking your knowledge and giving it to others.

As a child, my little sister learned how to make mud pies, bridle a horse, sew an apron and even look pretty for a date from me. She appreciated my knowledge and I was thrilled to show her how to do things.

Now a mom, grandmother and great-grandmother, I see my family doing things I taught them how to do a long time ago. It fills me with pride knowing that what I learned from family and friends or by trial and error makes others lives better as I pass these skills along.

In addition to my lifetime of learning from others, I also love taking classes on just about anything—art, gardening, cooking, computers, sewing, yoga, genealogy, guitar and more. At 71, I am still a sponge for knowledge. I have also become a teacher, resulting in my learning even more. One of my favorite questions is, “How did you do that?”

This past week I taught a “How to Make a Hippy Purse” class to my local quilt group, Fat Quarters. I found the pattern online and made a couple of purses and was very proud of mine. People asked me where I got one that I had and I was happy to say, “I made it.” Those in the class far surpassed my instruction when they added things to their bags that I had not even thought of. The colors, embellishments, buttons, pockets and straps were amazing. Now they will teach others how to make their own bags. I taught a friend and she is now teaching a class on “Hippy Bags” at the local quilt shop.

As a vendor, I make and sell fabric wrapped baskets. I learned to make them from a $10.00 class. Now teaching basket making classes is part of my joy. I run into people who tell me that they have made a basket, what they use it for, or who they gave it to, and how happy it made them. What I have passed on to them is appreciated and that’s about as good as it gets.

I would like to encourage you to pass on your knowledge and teaching skills. It is very rewarding and heartening. Ask someone, “How did you do that?” Then learn it yourself and pass it on. You will be so glad you did.

Nancy Hartley is from Spokane, WA. She describes herself as a jack-of-all-trades whose jour-

ney through life still has a lot to teach her. Everything interests her and she loves taking classes to

meet new people as well as learn new things. She took on sky diving a few years ago. This rela-

tively new quilter and basket maker is now learning to paint. Most importantly, Nancy says life is

good. Contact her at [email protected].

Garden-inspired gifts for Mom(Family Features) If you’re struggling to find the perfect gift for a mom

who has it all, or just the right way to express your love and appreciation, this Mother’s Day you can give a gift that keeps on growing with items inspired by the garden.

There’s no better way to show mom how much you care than by taking the time to create a DIY gift from the heart. Score extra points with a gift that helps her unwind by promoting calm, unplugged and peaceful serenity - a key trend in crafting for 2015.

From pots and planters to floral patterned handbags and trinkets, the options are endless when you’re looking for project ideas that bring the soothing elements of nature indoors. One great option, as functional as it is stylish, is the Mini Indoor Garden created by the crafting experts at Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores. Pretty vases made from wine bottles instantly add an herbal touch to mom’s kitchen, or seal the bottoms and fill the vases with her favorite flowers for a bright and beautiful accent in any room.

Find this and more garden-inspired DIY gift ideas for mom at www.joann.com.

1. Use pencil to trace around bottom of wine bottles on one side of wood crate, spacing evenly.

2. Cut out circles using jig saw. Wear safety glasses while cutting to protect your eyes.

3. Cover surface where you will spray paint.

4. Spray paint entire crate, inside and out.

5. Turn bottles upside down in crate holes and mark 1 1/2 inch up from crate, using a Sharpie.

6. Follow instructions provided with bottle cutter to cut wine bottles at Sharpie marking. Again, wear safety glasses to protect your eyes.

7. Fill bottles with artificial moss and herbs, or seal bottoms of vases and fill with fresh cuttings of mom’s favorite blooms.

Skill level: Some experience necessary

Supplies and Tools:Pencil

2 wine bottles

Wooden CD storage crate

Jig saw

Safety glasses

Surface cover

Spray paint

Ruler

Sharpie or marker

G2 bottle cutter

Floral moss

Artificial herbs

Mini Indoor GardenCrafting time: 3-5 hours

Peanut butter chocolate energy bitesPrep Time: 10 minutes

Yield: 24 energy bites

Serving Size: 1 energy bite

Ingredients1 3/4 cup oats

3/4 cup all-natural peanut butter

1/3 cup honey

1/3 cup semisweet or dark chocolate chips Optional: 1/4 cup wheat bran, hemp seeds, flax seeds, or chia seeds

DirectionsIn a medium mixing bowl, stir together all of the ingredients.

Form into about 24 tablespoon-sized balls and refrigerate for about an hour before enjoying, or place in a ziploc bag or storage container. Refrigerate for up to 3 weeks or freeze for up to 6 months.


Clearmont, Lusk Story and Sheridan, Wyoming Gillette and Sheridan, Wyoming and Bozeman, MT

Natural Fibers Workshop and camp outNestled in the sagebrush against a backdrop of the Big Horn

Mountains of Wyoming sits SageRidge Mill & Critters, a haven for four legged creatures and a destination for fiber lovers. On June 27, 2015 SageRidge will be hosting a Natural Fibers Workshop and camp out featuring a day full of fiber workshops, free demos, and a campfire cookout complete with marshmallows for roasting. Come and learn a new skill such as weaving or natural plant dyeing. Get ideas for the fibers in your stash or the fibers from your friends critters! Join together to meet and make friends in your fiber community, including teachers, local fiber producers, mill owners and enthusiasts. Come and enjoy a day at the ranch ... where your fiber comes from!


Edgemont, Faulkton and Pierre, South Dakota

Countryberries LLC

Whimsies and necessaries for your country home and garden

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

email us at [email protected] to get on our email list

Designed by Kathy Graham

Countryberries Designs

Pansies

This pattern is free for you to use. Please give the artist credit. Not for commercial use. Enlarge this pattern to your desired size. This design would be great apppliqued on a table runner. It could also be embroidered and framed. Try painting this pattern in watercol-ors, oils or acrylics. Have fun!

Quilting-As-You-Go: A Great Method for Busy MomsWhen I was

pregnant with my first daughter last year, I spent my spare time sewing and quilting things for her or the nursery. It was relaxing and fun.

However, people would often say to me, “You better enjoy that now, because you’re

not going to have time when that baby gets here!”

They didn’t mean to make me sad or disappointed, they were just making conversation. However, I really wanted to continue quilting after I had my daughter.

A few months ago, I started following Jera Bradvig on Instagram. She posted pictures of her quilts, her book and her quilting process. After looking at her designs I decided to buy her book, Quilt As-You-Go Made Modern: Fresh Techniques for Busy Quilters.

I knew I’d stumbled on something great when I read the first sentence of the book. She wrote, “After having my son, the only time I had left to quilt was late at night, when the last thing I should be doing is handling a rotary cutter and making precise measurements. When it is that late, I’m just not all there, if you know what I mean. My style of quilting had to adapt to my lifestyle.”

I thought to myself, “AMEN! This is what I’m going to do after my baby arrives!”

Jera continued, “Quilting-as-you-go allows you to be truly creative and expressive with your quilting. Free yourself from following precise patterns and make your quilt your way!”

One of the things that often holds me back from trying a new quilting method or craft is the need to purchase several hundred dollars worth of supplies. This isn’t the case with quilting-as-you-go. The only item I had to buy was a “walking foot” for my machine. I wanted one anyway for attaching quilt bindings, so I made the leap.

The book’s diagrams, pictures and step-by-step directions are all excellent. In my experience, this has been the perfect method of quilting for a sleep-deprived new mom who still values having quilting as a creative outlet.

You may already be familiar with the quilt as you go method, however I still recommend this book because Jera offers a fresh, modern look at improv piecing for the blocks. This method of piecing looked intimidating to me, but it is actually quite simple.

In addition to using a walking foot, these blocks can also be free-motion quilted. I found that quilting on the 12 by 12 inch blocks is great free-motion practice. It is much easier to move the small block on my standard sewing machine than trying to maneuver a large bulky quilt.

If you are interested in seeing some of Jera’s quilts I recommend her blog, www.quiltingintherain.blogspot.com. You can also view the hashtag “#quiltasyougomademodern” on Instagram where quilters have posted over 500 pictures of their creations using Jera’s method and book.

I made three baby quilts using the improv log cabin pattern. I’m also working on a big project that will be a gray and white quilt for our queen-sized bed. For this project, I opted to skip the piecing and I just used large squares. This way I could practice my free motion quilting.

I’m so grateful for this method, it has kept me quilting during the first six months of motherhood. If you find yourself too busy or too tired to focus on precise patterns, then why not give this book a chance?

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

Ennis and Townsend, MontanaRandom Acts

Well Spent!Maranda Jones’ new book Random Acts is now available at amazon.com. The book includes her reader-acclaimed articles from the last decade.

“Are you going to throw your tooth on the roof?” I asked Teague, knowing his first tooth would be coming out in a few days. With eyebrows raised in confusion, he answered, “Why would I throw my tooth on the roof?” I told him I often read a story to my classes about different customs around the world regarding baby teeth, losing them, getting new ones and visits from the tooth fairy. He shook his head, added a verbal no, and said he would probably just put it under his pillow.

“Are you going to use my peanut butter and jelly pillow?” was my follow-up question, wondering if some of my childhood belongings would finally be put to use again. When I was younger, I had a round purple pillow with ruffles around the edge, especially for the tooth fairy. The two stuffed dolls, Peanut Butter and Jelly, came out of the big pocket to play, and a smaller pocket was marked for the teeth. At night I would carefully place my lost tooth in the little pocket and wait for morning to find it replaced with a coin. I found two coins when I lost my two front teeth. Colliding with my sister’s forehead on a bouncy house knocked those loose teeth right out. Teague said he would probably just put it under his pillow, and that now he understands why I do not like bouncy houses.

I told him of yet another custom. Some children put the lost tooth in a jar of water overnight, and in the morning, it will be replaced with coins. Not really interested, he changed the subject. “Can I ask the tooth fairy for what I want?” I told him no, she’s not Santa, and as far as I know, she does not accept wish lists. She does not care if you are naughty or nice. She just wants your baby teeth. I told him she usually works strictly with currency and to just expect money. This brightened his smile and he announced, “This will be a good way to make a couple hundred bucks and lollipops!” More motherly questions came out of my mouth. When does the tooth fairy bring lollipops? How do you know this? He said it just sounded like a good idea to him. One more question. “So, do you want to use my special pillow or put your tooth in a jar of water?” Same answer as before. “No, I’ll just put it under my pillow.”

And that is just what he did, along with a note begging the tooth fairy to let him keep what turned out to be two teeth, both wiggled out by his dentist. He just wanted to keep those teeth even if he did not get a dime. Teague woke up early and was happy to find a small bag of coins on his dresser with a note saying he could keep his teeth for good luck.

Finding coins is often considered good luck, and maybe even more so when a penny is found heads up. Not all coins are merely dropped by chance in a parking lot however. Some coins are left with purpose, and you might find a variety of coins left on gravesites as you walk through a cemetery this Memorial Day. Visitors might leave pennies on headstones as a way of paying respect to the departed. Nickels indicate the visitor attended boot camp with a deceased soldier, dimes show they served together, and quarters confirm the visitor was with the soldier when he or she was killed.

Tradition says this ancient practice began with the Romans or perhaps even earlier.

Greek mythology supports the belief that coins left for the deceased paid for their journey in the afterlife. Those who left coins might have also asked for favors, for a problem to be solved, or for a wish to be granted. Some Americans believe coins are a reminder to offer up to God trust for the deceased and for themselves, appreciating and displaying the phrase In God We Trust on a small memento to remain on the grave forever.

Jews left rocks on gravestones, as a way to participate in building the marker itself. Rocks were permanent additions, and seeing other rocks would comfort those loved ones still living. We tend to find solace knowing that the deceased are not forgotten. Whatever the origin, these customs continue today.

Today we find graves surrounded with a multitude of decorations. Real flowers and fake flowers, stepping stones and solar lights may be seen on a hillside amongst names and dates. The mementos are reminders that we all miss someone who has died before us. We leave fingerprints, shed tears, whisper prayers, and long for one more moment. We drop coins out of tradition, well spent with remembrance and respect.

© 2015 Maranda K. Jones


Watertown & Dell Rapids, South Dakota Rapid City, South Dakota

Grill Up a memorable Father’s Day

(Family Features) Give dad what he deserves this Father’s Day - steaks sizzling on the grill and a flavorful gathering shared with family and friends.

This year, give him something he can really sink his teeth into - savory and robust T-Bone steaks. The T-Bone is a thick cut to give you more bone-in strip and tender Filet Mignon for even the heartiest of appetites.

This recipe for T-Bone Steaks with Dad’s Steak Rub features grain-fed cuts from Omaha Steaks, aged to perfection and flash-frozen to capture freshness and flavor. Can’t be there to grill up his special gift in person? Omaha Steaks make the perfect gift, so you can confidently ship them directly to your favorite fellow.

For more ways to honor your dad this Father’s Day, visit www.omahasteaks.com. T-Bone Steaks with Dad’s Steak Rub Servings: 4 | Prep time: 15 minutes | Cook time: 15 minutes | Total Time: 30 minutes

4 Omaha Steaks T-Bone Steaks2 tablespoons cooking oil

Dad’s Steak Rub (see recipe)Thaw steaks overnight in refrigerator or quick thaw by placing sealed steaks in sink with water for 30 minutes to 1 hour.Prepare rub recipe.Heat grill on medium. Blot dry steaks with clean paper towel then brush each side with cooking oil.Generously season both sides of steaks with rub.Grill steaks to desired doneness. For medium rare steak, grill for about 8 minutes on first side and 6-7 minutes on second side.

Dad’s Steak RubYield: 1/2 cup4 tablespoons coarse sea salt or kosher salt1 tablespoon coarse ground black pepper 1 tablespoon coarse dehydrated onion flakes1/2 tablespoon coarse dehydrated garlic1/2 tablespoon crushed red pepper 1 teaspoon whole dill seed1 teaspoon dried whole thyme 1 teaspoon whole cumin (toasted and crushed coarse)

1 teaspoon whole coriander (toasted and crushed coarse)

Combine all and mix well. Store in air tight container or zip lock bag for up to 6 months.

Note: To prepare cumin and coriander, toast by placing in dry pan over medium heat, shaking pan about 2-3 minutes until seasonings start to brown. Crush using bottom of pan on cutting board or with mortar and pestle.

Canning: a mothers passionSpring could possibly be one of my

favorite times of the year. The weather is becoming warmer, flowers begin to bloom and the best part of all; produce is starting to drop in price! When I see a great sale of fresh fruits or vegetables that my friends and family can’t get enough of, I buy at least 10 pounds and find the most irresistible recipes to can. The art of creating something so spectacular to ones palette that leaves them begging for more is a canners euphoria. Just this March I found an amazing deal on strawberries and knew I had make strawberry jam.

My all time favorite brand to use when canning is Ball brand Home Canning Products. The best part about using Ball brand Jars and supplies is that you are assured quality and when it comes to canning, quality is key. The worst thing you can have happen is when you go to take your jars out of the water bath only to find that the glass has broke and spilled out all of your hard work. Not only do you want quality jars, but you want to make sure your ingredients are high quality, the last thing you want is to try your jam only to find an odd taste that you weren’t expecting by using a non quality brand of Pectin. My ultimate go-to is Ball® RealFruit™ Low or No-Sugar Needed Pectin, I know that my recipes will taste amazing when using it. I hope that you find yourself having a great time making this jam, I know I did.

Supplies• 3-2/3 cups crushed strawberries (about four

1-lb containers)

• 3 Tbsp Ball® RealFruit™ Low or No-Sugar Needed Pectin

• 1/2 tsp butter or margarine

• Up to 1 cup granulated sugar, sugar substitute, or honey

• 4 Ball® (8 oz) half pint jars

Ball® FreshTECH Automatic Jam & Jelly Maker

Directions1. Place as many Ball® Half Pint (8-oz.) Jelly Jars in a large hot water bath canner (or pot) that will fit (repeat until all have bathed). Cover with water and bring to a simmer.

2. Simmer center lids in separate saucepan full of water.

3. WASH strawberries. Remove stems and hulls and smash strawberries using a potato masher.

4. SPRINKLE pectin evenly over bottom of the Ball® FreshTECH Automatic Jam & Jelly Maker. Add crushed strawberries evenly over pectin. Add

butter/margarine to help reduce foaming (this is important, please learn from my errors and don’t skip this).

5. PRESS jam button – the cook time will automatically default to 21 minutes. Press enter.

6. Add sugar gradually once you hear four short beeps, about 4 minutes after starting. Place the Glass Lid on the Pot.

7. The Ball® FreshTECH Automatic Jam & Jelly Maker will continue to automatically stir your ingredients while it cooks. The jam maker will beep again at the end of the process signaling jam cooking is complete. Press cancel, unplug the appliance and immediately remove Glass Lid.

8. REMOVE Stirrer using a pot holder. Skim foam, if necessary, from top of jam.

9. LADLE hot jam into hot jars, one at a time, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Wipe any jam from the rims of the jars. Place lids on the jars and Twist on the bands until fingertip tight.

10. PLACE filled jars in the canning rack inside a large pot of water or canner, ensuring jars are covered by 1-2 inches of water. Bring to steady boil.

11. PROCESS jars in boiling water for 10 minutes.

12. REMOVE jars from water and cool. Listen for a loud ‘popping’ noise (to a canner this is the best sound you can hear, its sound of a sealed can). In 24 hours, if you haven’t heard them all pop, press the center of the lid to see if it has sealed, if not, rebath.

I hope you have as much fun as I do making jams and if you have any great recipes that you want to share, feel free to email me at [email protected].

Erika Young is a mother, wife and designer with a passion for everything canning. She loves learning new recipes and trying out new ideas. She encourages readers to submit their favorite recipes and will make her best attempts at trying them out.

Explorers came here from the Eastand traveled up the Platte,

where they observed a treeless waste,dry, barren, and too flat.

“The Great American Desert,”so named by Stephen Long,

defined high plains for many years,until truth proved him wrong.

Map makers marked it desert land.Geographers agreed.

So wagon trains just rolled on pastand paid it little heed.

The misconceptions lasted years,delaying settlement.

Potential settlers wanted landwhere rain was evident.

They never stopped to realizethese grasslands fed the herds,

The antelope and buffalo,small mammals, prairie birds

John Wesley Iliff, cattleman,observing wagon trains,

saw oxen, which were all played outby time they reached these plains.

He offered trade—his stock for theirs—if he could get theirs cheap.

He didn’t think they’d last till spring,but maybe they would keep.

He threw that stock out on the grass,then looked for them come spring.

They’d gained some weight,their coats were sleek,

a most surprising thing.Once cowmen learned this high plains

landwas favorable to cows,

they brought in all their stocker headand turned them loose to browse.When given even half a chance,

these grasslands proved their worth.According to the cattlemen,they were the best on earth.

In This Land OfLittle Rain

Cowboy Poetryby Jane Ambrose Morton

“IN THIS LAND OF LITTLE RAIN”Tales of a family and a ranch— told through poetry of the West.TO ORDER: contact Jane Morton, 12710 Abert Way, Colorado Springs, CO 80908 • 719-495-9304 • [email protected]


Win a $25 Gift Certificate!The Country Register of the Northern Rockies & Great Plains is giving

away a $25 Gift Certificate to be used at YOUR FAVORITE SHOP!

Just fill out this form and send it to:

May-June 2015 EntryOR visit www.chickencreek.net, click on The Country Register to sign up online

Name ________________________________________________________

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Entries received by June 7, 2015, with all questions answered will qualify for the drawing. One gift certificate is given away each issue.

The Country Register132 W. Hudson StreetSpearfish, SD 57783

Advertiser Directory by Name Always Your Design, Dell Rapids, SD ...............................................12American Bus Tours ......................................................................16Betty’s Quiltery, Rapid City, SD ......................................................15Bitterroot Quilter’s Guild, Hamilton, MT ........................................... 4Black Hills Quilt Show, Rapid City, SD .............................................. 2Black Hills Visitor Center, Rapid City, SD .......................................... 5Black Hills Woolies, Custer, SD ........................................................ 2Creative Closet, Townsend, MT .......................................................11Dakota Quilt Company, Spearfish, SD ..............................................15Fall River Fibers, Custer, SD ............................................................ 2Flip-Side Fabrics, Sidney, MT ........................................................... 4Heartsong Quilts, Hot Springs ......................................................... 5Hill City Mercantile, Hill City, SD ....................................................15Knothole, Spearfish, SD .................................................................15Lickity Stitch Quilts, Lusk, WY ........................................................ 8North County Fiber Fair, Watertown, SD ..........................................12Nuts & Bolts Fabric Shop, Edgemont, SD ..........................................10Pinewood Cottage, Story, WY .......................................................... 8Quilt Connection, Spearfish, SD .....................................................15Quilt Essential, Devils Lake, ND ....................................................... 7Quilters Corner, Faulkton, SD .........................................................10Quilting in the Country, Bozeman, MT ............................................. 9SageRidge Mill & Critters, Clearmont, WY .......................................... 8The Hive, Bottineau, ND ................................................................. 7South Dakota Quilter’s Guild, SD ....................................................10Stitches that Bind, Ennis, MT ........................................................11The Fiber House, Sheridan, WY ........................................................ 8The Quilt Yard, Pierre, SD ..............................................................10The Quilter’s Fix, Sheridan, WY ....................................................... 9The Quilter’s Nook, Custer, SD ......................................................... 5Tri-State Bakery, Belle Fourche, SD .................................................15Vicki’s Quilts Down Under, Missoula, MT ........................................... 6Wall Drug, Wall, SD .......................................................................14Wyoming State Quilt Shop Hop, WY ................................................. 8

$25 Gift Certificate WinnerCarol, Dell Rapids, SD won a $25 gift certificate to her favorite shop – Always Your Design, Dell Rapids. To enter the next drawing, fill out the form on page 14 or visit www.chickencreek.net.

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Black Hills, South DakotaHot Springs, South Dakota

Advertiser Directory by Commu nityCuster and Rapid City, South Dakota ................................................ 2

Sidney and Hamilton, Montana ....................................................... 4

Missoula, Montana ........................................................................ 6

Devil’s Lake and Bottineau, North Dakota ......................................... 7

Lusk, Clearmont and Story, Wyoming ............................................... 8

Gillette and Sheridan, Wyoming ...................................................... 9

Bozeman, Montana ........................................................................ 9

Edgemont, Faulkton & Pierre, South Dakota.....................................10

Ennis & Townsend, Montana ..........................................................11

Dell Rapids & Watertown, South Dakota .........................................12

Black Hills, South Dakota ......................................................................15

Upcoming EventsBlack Hills Quilt Show, Rapid City, SD ............................June 5-7SDQG Quilt Show, Aberdeen, SD .....................................June 6-7Natural Fibers Workshop, Clearmont, WY ......................... June 27Wyoming State Quilt Shop Hop, WY ........................... June 25-28Bitterroot Quilters Quilt Show, Hamilton, WY .............. June 27-28

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