Country Woman December 2016 - January 2017

It’s not Christmas until pine needles jut wildly from my hair because I’ve crawled beneath the tree to wrestle it into place. It may clog the vacuum with needles, but I must have a live tree. I love the fragrance, the decorating, the nostalgia. Plus, I’m partial to fresh pines because I trimmed and primped more than 50 acres of them every summer during high school in Michigan. To find out which pines are the most aromatic, or pet-friendly, or longlasting, check out reader Amanda Werner’s insider tips and a sweet story from her family’s Vermont tree farm on page 24. Amanda’s family makes a lot of wreaths this time of year, some like the ones used to make the cover model and her little “reindeer” dog. We show you how to…

Bread Buddies The Amish friendship bread story in your October/November 2016 issue made me laugh out loud. Years ago when my dear friend Rena and I “ran out of friends,” we reworked the recipe so we only needed one starter to keep our own mix going. We were able to keep our good friends and continue to enjoy the wonderful bread without having to share any extra starters. JEANNE FRATER SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA Quick Kudos October/November 2016—best-ever magazine. OK, they are all fantastic. Keep it up. JOANNE GIRARDIN STEWART VALLEY, SASKATCHEWAN Hurrah for the Crossword To celebrate our 60th wedding anniversary, my husband, Don, and I took a short trip to New York City. We wouldn’t trade our country lifestyle with the fast-paced city environment, but we thoroughly enjoyed several days in New York. However, on our…

Q: What’s the best Christmas surprise you’ve ever given or received? My best surprise was last Christmas, when my fiance and my kids surprised me with a chocolate Lab puppy. KELLY ACKLEY OTEGO, NEW YORK My favorite was getting a call from our local radio station telling me that a lady I’d nominated in a contest honoring someone who did something extraordinary had won. Our neighbor, who I’d say was 75 years old at the time, knitted a pair of mittens every week for an entire year and then donated them at Christmas. She won a $100 gift card to Shopko and was more than surprised when I told her she’d won. She got new bedding and bathroom rugs. Her win was a blessing for both of us. DEB BRUSHERT WAUSAU, WISCONSIN My favorite Christmas…

All Wrapped Up Do the elves go all out when wrapping gifts at your house? Maybe they stencil their own paper or craft a personalized ornament to go on each gift. What are your favorite ideas for creative ways to wrap it all up and tie it with a bow? Submit ideas, photos and instructions. Top-Notch Table Does each year’s Christmas centerpiece outdo the last? Do you pull out every piece of Grandma’s china? We want to see pictures of your most festive tables, be they adorned in wintry white or bright red plaid. Before everyone sits down to chow down, snap a few photos and submit them with some details about the china, linens and decorations. The Ball Drops at Midnight… …and so do a goat, a pickle, a cheese wedge and a potato.…

Her eyes, how they twinkle; her smile, how merry. But one would expect nothing less from Mrs. Lulabelle Claus. Otherwise known as Lila Osterkamp, this Christmas-loving lady from rural Missouri embraces a year-round spirit of the season. For seven years she created a magical scene for local children, inviting them to her farm to visit her reindeer. And her future plans will swell even the tiniest of Grinch hearts. Why do you love Christmas so much? People smile more, laugh more. They get excited about the gifts they’ve found to give loved ones, and they’re eager to see how the recipients will respond. I would say “Merry Christmas!” from a very early age, anytime gifts were exchanged. I began giving things throughout the year for no extra-special reason, and I’d always say…

Gingerbread Christmas by Jan Brett This one’s meant to be read aloud to a little someone on your lap. It’s a tale about Gingerbread Baby and his gingerbread band, whose music entices villagers to a happy celebration. When the delicious gingerbread aroma fills the air, Gingerbread Baby and his band must escape a hungry crowd. (Yes, there is a happy ending.) The Mistletoe Secret by Richard Paul Evans Reminiscent of You’ve Got Mail, this holiday love story focuses on Alex Bartlett’s attempt to find the woman behind the blog, The Mistletoe Letters. The anonymous blogger, who signs each of her posts LBH, has been abandoned by her husband just before giving birth to their stillborn child. Following clues in the blog, Alex finds the town where LBH lives and meets a woman named…