Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2017 i Country Extra

COUNTRY EXTRA READERS, you’re in for a pleasant surprise when you turn this page. You’ll notice that this issue is different in a good way—we’re running fewer ads so we can bring you more of the photos and stories you love. We’ve added pages to America the Beautiful (page 24) and God’s Country (page 32) and created new content celebrating the traditions of country life. The back cover is now on glossy paper with a collectible photo, an inspirational quote and a patriotic salute to America. Plus, Art Director Scott Schiller has given the magazine a new look that makes your heartfelt stories easier and more enjoyable to read. Here’s a preview of what’s new: ♦ The Country Almanac is a calendar chock-full of useful information, including time-…

HEIRLOOMS Was your great-aunt the best quilter in the state? Do you treasure Dad’s collection of antique farm tools? Give your heirloom the recognition it deserves by sending photos of the object or collection and the person who loved it, and tell other Country readers what makes it so special to you. VIEW FROM OUR PLACE Fresh air, wide-open spaces and friendly folks are what make days in the country rewarding. Here at Country and Country Extra, we celebrate simple pleasures and good values. Tell us why country roots are important to your family, and share pictures of the splendor and beauty in your neck of the woods. WORDS TO LIVE BY People who live in the country have a knack for telling it like it is. Over the years,…

I’ve always been rather pleased to have a birthday in the spring, that time of renewal. But one year, I was not prepared to say goodbye to the snow. As we sat down to dinner, each child took a turn at saying grace. Then came my turn. “God is great, God is good…” At the end I hastily added, “…and please, God, make it snow.” The adults smiled, the children laughed, but I saw large, white fluffy flakes dance past the window. Everyone has some frozen moment in time from childhood that sticks with them. That’s one of mine. I prefer to think God couldn’t help but feel the intensity of the faith that went into that little girl’s prayer and, looking down on her, answered it.…

HALFWAY BETWEEN AMARILLO and Lubbock, Texas, lies a secluded paradise for outdoor adventurers and country enthusiasts: Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway in Quitaque (pronounced kit-ta-quay). I recently explored this place and came away mesmerized by the surreal beauty of its rugged landscape and the abundance of wildlife. As I reached the park entrance, I saw the wild Texas State Bison Herd grazing on the grass. These animals are descendants of the Southern Plains bison that were nearly wiped out in the 19th century. Restoration efforts saved them, and that official state herd is back at home in what was originally part of its native range. The bison roam freely over 10,000 acres in the park. I set up a tent next to Lake Theo under the ample shade of…

PHOTO-BOMBED These quarter horses, Scooter and Pardner, are best buddies. I often spot them clowning around together. In this picture, Scooter had struck a perfect pose, and as I pulled out my camera Pardner stuck his head in, too. He did not want to be left out! KRIS KLINGAMAN Fairbank, Iowa MAKE A SPLASH When we were on our way home on a rainy day, our daughter, Sienna, asked us if she could jump in a mud puddle. Of course we said yes! RAYMOND AND ANDREA PARMALEE Poulsbo, Washington BOOTS IN THE BARNYARD My helpers wear their barn boots while doing chores every day. Simple moments like this one are why I love raising my boys in the country. TIFFANY CARTER Dansville, New York…

Enter the Our Country Home Contest and you could win $500! Submit at least six photos of your home (high-resolution JPEG files, please) along with a 500-word essay explaining why it’s the best place in the country. Here are the four categories: 1. Gardens 2. Interiors 3. The View 4. Farmland The grand prize is $500, but there are more ways to win! The first-, second- and third-prize winners will receive $250, $150 and $100, respectively. Here’s how to enter: 1. Go to country-magazine.com/contests and click on the link. 2. Fill out the submission form and upload your photos and essay. 3. Click Submit. 4. To enter another category, repeat steps 1, 2 and 3. The contest ends July 7. For complete rules go to country-magazine.com /contests.…

There was a mountain right behind our house in Kanab, Utah. I could walk out my front door, down the block, down the hill and then up the mountain. There were trails all over the place, but one in particular was special because only the locals knew about it. That trail held my attention for a little while, but after about 10 minutes I’d take off into the sagebrush. Going off-trail was much more exciting, because you had to pay attention to where you stepped, how to get up to a certain point of the mountain and how to get back down again. It was a bit of a mix between rock climbing and hiking. I called it clodhopping. You know when you pick up a ladybug and let it…

March 2017 Look forward to the big thaw, the first flowers of spring and a fresh start to the season! 4   March “forth” and hug a soldier. Or do something else for your community on the only holiday that’s also a command. MARCH ELEVENTH Johnny Appleseed Day. Did you know that apples, along with pears, peaches, plums and cherries, are part of the rose family? 12 Spring forward, folks! Daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. 20 FIRST DAY OF SPRING “I mark the arrival of spring by planting my garden. We spend the short, dark days of winter planning what we are going to plant, dreaming of the warm days ahead and stocking our freezers with fresh produce.” Amanda West Sibley, Louisiana 21 National Ag Day “There is…

POLISH WEIGHT: 4.5 lbs EGGS: MEDIUM TEMPERAMENT: CALM Surprisingly not from Poland, this flashy breed likely originated in Spain. However, feathered caps worn by Polish soldiers may have inspired the name—the small birds have crests on their heads. Usually calm, these chickens’ obscured vision may make them nervous, so be mindful not to surprise or startle them. COCHIN WEIGHT: 8.5 lbs EGGS: LARGE TEMPERAMENT: HUGGABLE If you’re looking for big, plush chickens that resemble teddy bears, check out Cochins. Their thick feathers come in many colors, including black, buff, blue, white, partridge and barred. These hens are friendly and easily tamed, and they often act broody, protecting their eggs. Cochins are big enough to hatch duck or turkey eggs, as well. SILKIE WEIGHT: 32 oz EGGS: MEDIUM TEMPERAMENT: DOCILE Known…

Wilber stole Staci Greene’s heart years ago. The donkey was an unusual gift that left quite an impression. “He was so much like a big dog,” Staci says. “I was in love with him and will never forget him.” Years later, after moving back to her parents’ ranch in Ramona, Staci started making plans for a donkey rescue project. She began taking in unwanted donkeys and mules, naming her venture Hee Haw Place Donkey Rescue. She learned about the animals mainly through word of mouth, from auctions where donkeys were sold and from the Humane Society. Hee Haw Place has had as many as 13 animals at one time, but thanks to Staci’s success in finding people who are qualified to adopt the donkeys, she now owns just six—two donkeys,…

RICHARD NELSON: “Our Swedish Flower Hen roosters are eye candy with a winter backdrop. No two are ever exactly alike, and the colors are gorgeous.” KAREN MILLER: “Barred Rocks, Buff Orpingtons, Black Australorps, Araucanas. Nice mix of layers so I get eggs all year in Virginia.” TERRI PATTERSON MINNICK: “We had 10 acres with lots of hens and roosters. Husband became very ill so we moved to less than an acre on a small lake in the country. I had to be able to have my hens. So they are with me, helping me garden and entertaining me. I don’t have a lot of free time, but my hens bring me joy.” Follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/countrymagazine.com.…

FORTY YEARS AGO I started walking the three-plus miles of our old country road, and I have been doing it almost every day since. I don’t walk far from the house before the road becomes all dirt. As winter leaves us, the scenery is drab; the fields lay dormant and brown, the hardwood trees stretch tall and bare of leaves. But the softwood trees of pine and fir strain their branches skyward. The green firs are a soothing sight this time of year, when winter has left us with a lack of luster and color. It’s quiet. Hardly a car goes by. As I start to crest the first hill I can hear the wild turkeys gobbling. My neighbor has an abundance of bird feeders out, and the spillage from…

“I listen to a chorus of thousands of not-so-small voices—crickets, frogs, cicadas and locusts—belt out their songs each night. Though not exactly soothing, I love them. These are the sounds of God’s creatures singing His praises.” MARGIE LEEPER Miami, Oklahoma One day, my fianceé, Brittany, and I took our dog to play in the bluebonnets. It’s a tradition here in Texas; it just wouldn’t be spring without seeing a bluebonnet patch. And Minnie (inset) had so much fun!…

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