Country Woman June/July 2019

Last fall, Viki Ailport of West Lakeland, Minnesota, shared the story of her sister’s Little Free Library. Viki lives a mile from the birthplace of the Little Free Library movement, across the Mississippi River in Hudson, Wisconsin. The whole family helps keep the library stocked for neighbors to “take a book; share a book,” as the Little Free Library organization suggests. “Our hearts are filled with joy every time we see one of these little boxes of books in other towns,” Viki writes. “We know that someone nearby shares our love of reading.” So many of you share that love. Sandy Erdman, a member of our Circle of Friends, sent us a photo of a library in her neighborhood that is often filled with stories, cookbooks and nonfiction. “I love it…

The mother of two travel-loving boys, Hayley Moss, of Hull, Iowa, came up with this creative idea for keeping track of the states her family has visited. She mounted a large map on particleboard using decoupage glue, and then adds pictures from family vacations to each state. Two metal boards mounted on each side of the map create a space for the family’s impressive collection of travel magnets. (Turn to page 25 for another story about these oh-so-collectible trinkets.) “So sweet to look back on the pictures and remember all the fun we had,” Hayley says of the finished project. “We would like to visit every state, so this also serves as our checklist.” The Moss family is headed to Colorado and North Dakota this summer—two more for the map!…

A Harmonious Find I inherited my great-aunt’s sheet music collection after she passed away three years ago. It sat in boxes until this winter, when I was inspired to make a Valentine’s Day garland after seeing the “Harmony in the House” article in your February/March issue. I’m so pleased with the results and glad that I was able to use Aunt Lucille’s beloved music. BRENDA FAY MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN Timeless Patterns I made this Country Woman “Fall Flowers” afghan for my niece a few years ago. I used lots of pinks and purples, as they are her favorite colors. There were a lot of loose ends to sew in! This photo shows the finished article. It was a while ago now, so I would like to make another one. I think it would look very…

Q: How do you beat the heat during the hottest days of the summer? I grew up in a coal camp in southern West Virginia, so access to just about anything was limited at best. I remember that my mom would buy a hard plastic pool each spring for me and the neighbor kids to “swim.” We might as well have tried to swim in the bathtub—that pool wasn’t as big as a minute! Now that I think about it, I realize my parents’ water bill had to have been through the roof during the summer months. WENDY QUATTLEBAUM MCDONOUGH, GEORGIA We have garden hose wars, frozen grapes for our cool drinks, and lots of ice-cold watermelon. Even the chickens get some! ALANA CAWKER WOODVILLE, ONTARIO When I water my garden, sometimes I take a…

Good Neighbors Some of our favorite stories are the ones that call out unsung heroes and under-the-radar role models. If you know a woman who’s a dynamo fundraiser, health care worker, animal rescuer, food bank manager, choir director, or anyone else who brings the term “good neighbor” to mind, let us know. We want to share her story. Keepsake Stories Tell us about a cherished heirloom or a mystery object you found in the attic that raised interesting questions or gave you some insight into the past. Be sure to send pictures, too! Old World Authentic What are your favorite dishes that have been passed down through generations (and across regions and nations)? Grandma’s pierogi or her posole, your great-aunt’s fry bread, or Grandpa’s red sauce, moussaka or jambalaya—if it comes from the old country…

Our Circle of Friends volunteers help provide the creative ideas and heartwarming stories you see in every issue of Country Woman. countrywomanmagazine.com/circleoffriendsfor AMY ADAMS TORRINGTON, CONNECTICUT TERESA AMBORD ANDERSON, CALIFORNIA HOLLY AMBRO SEQUIM, WASHINGTON SHARON BLUMBERG PFLUGERVILLE, TEXAS TABITHA COOPER COLUMBIA, TENNESSEE BRENDA DAVEY GREENBRIER, ARKANSAS SANDY DUDZIK STREAMWOOD, ILLINOIS SANDY ERDMAN GOODVIEW, MINNESOTA HELEN FLETCHER SHAD BAY, NOVA SCOTIA DANIELLE GLASGOW UNION MILLS, INDIANA MARIE HILLIARD NEWBORN, GEORGIA MARGIE LYTLE WASILLA, ALASKA MELLANIE MCCREARY PALMER, ALASKA JENNIFER MILAKOVIC-NELSON CAMPTON HILLS, ILLINOIS STEPHANIE MORGAN EWING, KENTUCKY HAYLEY MOSS HULL, IOWA SHELBY OPPERMANN MECHANICSVILLE, MARYLAND WENDY QUATTLEBAUM MCDONOUGH, GEORGIA MELODY RICHARDSON MIDDLESEX, VERMONT CATHIE SCHOER SHEPHERD, MONTANA CHERYL STUNKEL TUSCARORA, MARYLAND JAMIE TAYLOR MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN JESSICA WAGNER VERSAILLES, OHIO WENDY WALKER EUSTIS, FLORIDA…