Country December/January 2019

EVEN BEFORE HIS LIST is written, I know what my son the builder wants for Christmas—Legos. And, having lived through quite a few Yuletides with both of my children, I know that his little sister will want his Legos, too. That timeless tension between siblings is beautifully captured by Maryann Nunnally in her story “Santa Made a Mistake,” which you’ll find on page 46. It’s one of several in this issue that touch upon classic holiday themes: a baby’s first Christmas (page 12), the magic of Santa (page 48), simple gifts (page 50) and problems with lights (page 58). This issue is also full of gorgeous photos worthy of a greeting card—churches aglow, homes decorated for the holidays, families searching for the perfect tree and children who can hardly wait…

“My whole life revolves around being outside! My husband, Phil, and I have a small hobby farm in Middlefield, Ohio. We raise mules and have a flock of 125 chickens, a milk cow and a dog. I absolutely love country life. There is nothing more satisfying than the hard work that comes with owning a farm. We are hardly ever inside, as we are outdoors exploring nature every chance we get.” See Tami’s story on page 26. Become a Country Field Editor! Apply at country-magazine.com/fieldeditors…

Dear Country … We agree with what Gerald Mullen wrote about Das Dutch Haus in the August/September issue (“Down-Home Dining,” page 16). Often, we drive from our home in Pennsylvania to Columbiana, Ohio, just to enjoy their breakfast buffet. In June 2018 we celebrated our 60th wedding anniversary with family and friends over breakfast at the restaurant. We thought we’d share this picture of us kissing while the guests “covered” their eyes. Ramona & Joseph Marks Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania THANK YOU for the beautiful story about the Petit Jean Mountain in Arkansas in the June/July issue (“Petit Jean State Park,” page 44). Our family came from Ada Valley at the foot of that mountain. I’ve always wondered if there was a cave behind the Cedar Falls. Has anyone ever checked? D.…

The Perfect Tree Every year my husband, Brady, our four boys and I head up the mountains in Bridger-Teton National Forest to pick out our Christmas tree. The air is fresh, and the solitude is exhilarating. Typically, we spend about an hour searching for the fullest, straightest tree. We inspect each snow-flocked spruce or pine in passing, searching for the complement to our farmhouse. I like to get one that’s taller than I need, so I can trim the lower branches and use them to make wreaths and garland. little ones sing “Jingle Bells”—and we all sing loudly without fear of bothering an audience. It’s traditions like this that bring us so much joy around Christmastime and help us realize what is really important.…

THE STARS TWINKLE above us like tiny white lights on a Christmas tree. The clear night makes me want to touch the stars. I feel insignificant yet warm, safe and loved. “That’s the Big Dipper,” my grandma says, pointing out what looks like connect-the-dots. Suddenly, I see a bright light sailing toward the lake until it fizzles into nothing, like a match struck and then extinguished. “What’s your wish?” Grandma asks. I wish this night could last forever. Hours pass as quickly as the meteors fall like fireworks, illuminating the deep black sky. It’s as if they know exactly where to fall, on cue. The sky finally calms down. My eyelids begin to droop. I can feel how late it is. On Christmas morning that year, I find the tiniest…

A couple of weeks before Thanksgiving in 1994, my father came down with shingles. Laura, our firstborn, was just a tiny baby. Dad could not be near her for five to six weeks. This was so hard on him, missing the little girl named after his mother, whom he just adored. We would bring Laura to their front porch so he could at least see her through the window. We put up our Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving, and made sure that we had even more lights than usual and that the decorations were brighter than ever. Christmas Day would be the first time in weeks that Dad could hold Laura. Plus, it was her first Christmas! When the day came, Dad had tears in his eyes as he…