Country Woman October/November 2021

I am no stranger to Country Woman magazine, but let me introduce myself: My name is Jessie, and I’ve been blessed to be the art director of this sweet publication for the past six years. It has been a dream to work on a brand so close to my roots as a farmer’s daughter. And while I often get homesick for the country air, open fields and barn cats, the agricultural community I grew up in is always close to my heart. Your stories remind me of my upbringing, and they’ve brought me to laughter and tears. I’m glad to have this chance to personally thank you! My favorite part of helping to put this magazine together is developing new crafts, many of which inspire my own cozy farmhouse decor and…

Tell us about yourself. I am a wife and a mom of two: my son, Tim, and daughter, Katie. I love to craft, garden, and hang out with my family and friends. What are your hobbies? I have many! Sewing, processing fiber to make yarn, spinning fibers, crocheting, knitting and cooking, to name a few! Plus, I enjoy doing many other DIY crafts. Who inspires you the most? My husband, Glenn. I’m constantly inspired by how hard he works to provide for us. What makes you a country woman? Glenn and I live on 125 acres. Our nephew Tom lives with us, helps us farm our crops, and chips in with our flock of registered polled Dorset sheep and Angus beef cattle. Also, I love processing the fresh veggies from our garden into delicious cooked and baked…

Look What You Made! It’s your turn to brag. Show us your most recent DIY projects. We love before and after shots, so send us your most epic transformations. Mighty Mantels Do you have a gorgeous holiday fireplace mantel to show off? If so, send pictures and descriptions of the materials you used in the design. Vintage Bakeware Those old fluted tube pans and baking molds in the antique shops are tough to resist. If you’ve been pulled in by their charm, we want to know about your collection. Do you use these pans, or just keep them for display? What got you started? Snap a photo and tell us about it! Turn to page 56 for tips on submitting your stories. TOP: ALLISON THOMAS; BOTTOM: KEELEY MCKENDREE…

I Made It! Every issue of Country Woman is full of wonderful ideas! When I saw the quilted wreath in the August/ September issue, I knew I had to make it with my beloved pink and green fabrics. My 97-year-old mother and I agree that it livens up the front door. I’ve even started a second one! MARTA SMITH SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA Perfect Present I loved the tie wreath craft in the June/July issue. My version turned out so well! I used my father-in-law’s ties and gave it to him as a gift for our family’s Christmas-in-July celebration. JODY DADISMAN WEST DES MOINES, IOWA A Shared Love of Quilts I grabbed a cup of coffee and headed outside to read the August/September issue. I loved the cover; it drew me inside to see the quilts. I have loved…

Q: What do you prep in fall to help the holiday season go more smoothly? I fill out all of my holiday cards and have them ready to go by Thanksgiving morning. I mail them out that day—I like to make sure mine are the first cards to arrive at people’s homes. JANALEE BOHN BEDIAS, TEXAS For holiday season preparation, I make sure my pantry is stocked and ready! I check the expiration dates on all my spices and purchase new ones as needed. I also take inventory of the vanilla, salt, soda, flours, butter, sugars—all the baking essentials—to be sure I have enough. I even make sure I have plenty of foil and waxed paper! Plus, I’m always on the lookout for pretty containers for gifting baked goods. ELLEN SILER CONWAY, ARKANSAS To make…

In this season of Thanksgiving, we take a step back from our busy lives to reflect on those who support and bless us. As I make a list of family, friends and neighbors who have enriched my life, one person who rarely gets recognized comes to mind. Barb Neuendorf, age 82, has been a neighbor of mine for as long as I have lived in La Porte City, Iowa. She has lived here for about 40 years, and for more than 30 of those years she ran an in-home child care business, retiring about 10 years ago. However, the Locust Street bus stop for Union Elementary School remains in front of Barb’s house, where it has been for years. I have been doing registered in-home child care now for more than 10…