Innholdsfortegnelse for February/March 2020 i Country

Seaside Celebration When my husband, Bruce, asked where I wanted to go for my 50th birthday, I chose San Francisco, California. We’d never vacationed on the West Coast. Bruce surprised me by renting an awesome red Corvette convertible. The drive along the Pacific Coast Highway south of Carmel-by-the-Sea toward Big Sur was absolutely beautiful. We spent a day absorbing breathtaking views with the top down, the sun shining upon us and the ocean air all around. With mountains on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other, it was something to behold. This was a birthday treat I will never forget! We truly are blessed to live in such a gorgeous country.…

I MADE RESERVATIONS 13 months ahead for the popular Phantom Ranch, located at the bottom of Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. As this adventure drew near, my hiking partner canceled. Doubts crept in—could I handle a 4,860-foot elevation drop from the rim to the Colorado River, and then hike back out? A sign on the South Kaibab trail warns hikers: Hiking down is optional; hiking back up is mandatory. I was a newly minted senior citizen who had been to the Grand Canyon many times before, but had never hiked to the bottom by myself. If I didn’t do it now, I doubted I’d get another chance. The night before my descent, I slept like a baby at Bright Angel Lodge. I didn’t have any second thoughts. I think…

Adjacent to our land in Floyd County, Georgia, Pat York and I spied an old run-down chapel in a pasture. The sagging wood, overgrown vegetation and uneven, crumbling foundation gave no hint of a once-vibrant congregation. Glendale Chapel Methodist Church and School was built by freed slaves who had worked on the vast plantations of Big Texas Valley, north of Rome, Georgia. After emancipation in 1863, many stayed in the vicinity and farmed their own land. They pinned their hopes for building a strong sense of community, spiritual growth and their young children’s education on one small wooden structure. The community held services in a brush arbor until about 1875 when Simpson Fouche, a local landowner in the valley, deeded a 0.75-acre lot to the congregation for the church. The…

It was commonly accepted that my Aunt Mary still had the first dollar she ever earned. She lived a simple rural life among folks who appreciated hard work and sensible money management. Her motto was “no frills, just basics,” and she really meant it. But she was also generous. She shared anything that she had with friends and family, especially a good meal. Her hospitality made her well known in the area. When a local pastor was leaving for an extended stay overseas, Aunt Mary hosted a large going-away party in his honor. This was new territory for her, as most of her entertaining was limited to a few folks who were like family. These gatherings were simple occasions without much fanfare. But a tricounty party had to be done…

CHESTER TEMPLIN is special. Not only did Chet turn 100 on Dec. 12, 2019, but for several years he was the heart of the group that meets for breakfast every Wednesday at the Cow Creek Mercantile in Ritzville, Washington. Chet’s brother Del started the group a long time ago at another restaurant in town. Some old-timers have passed on and other members have joined by invitation. Chet, who is friendly by nature, welcomed them all. In fact, he’s so beloved that the restaurant named a breakfast item after him. Order Chet’s Special and you’ll get a biscuit, gravy and one egg any style for about $5.25. The small town of Ritzville is surrounded by wheat fields, with lots of grain elevators and grain bins dotting the countryside. I never get…

Some of my fondest childhood memories are from our home on the creek about a mile from the now-defunct town of Swords in Morgan County, Georgia. I lived there from ages 2 to 7. Our home was nothing more than a shack, much like a lot of the other homes in rural Georgia at that time. I never knew we were poor, and I enjoy waxing nostalgic about 1950s country life. We had no running water and no plumbing. The electricity powered only the ceiling lights hanging in each room. Our heat came from the fireplace, and we cooked on a wood stove. Most of my memories are from outside the house. I loved the outdoors: the massive old oak trees in the backyard, the creek down the hill behind…

My neighbor Fred Tinney (with his trusty dog Curly) drives his young mules in rural Wise County in this John Deere-inspired wagon he built. MISTY SHAW Springtown, Texas Instead of watching cartoons or playing video games, my 4-year-old grandson, Koltin, prefers riding his tractor and caring for Little Pete. JEWLY JENSEN Tremonton, Utah Grandpa Lorne and Grandma Vivian have been married 65 years! They still mow the lawn on their matching John Deere mowers. REBECCA LAMAR Holland, Michigan…

ACROSS THE ROAD from my home is a small country cemetery dating to 1884. Taking care of Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery falls on a community organization. When both the secretary, my dear husband of 56 years, and the treasurer of the cemetery board passed away, they left behind a much younger president with too many health issues to handle all three jobs, and no money left in the cemetery bank account. I felt as if I had to do something. One night when I had trouble sleeping, the answer came to me: Bake your little heart cakes. I am a cake decorator, so the next morning I made a batch of those hearts, beautifully adorned with homemade roses. I sold 150 cakes by word of mouth and earned $900! I gave…

Near the banks of Clear Creek in northeast Custer County, Nebraska, a brother and sister planted roots and made a home in 1878. And this place remains my family’s home today. In those days, there were no trees, and the prairie grasses stood 8 feet tall. Elk, deer and wolves roamed the prairie. Homesteaders came from afar to claim their acres on this land known today as the gateway to the Sand Hills. Cooksley Clear Creek Farms is our home, and it is surrounded by rolling hills with large cottonwood trees and native prairie grasses. It is quintessential Nebraska. As I travel the back roads, I see row crops of corn and beans and fields of alfalfa. We have many wild turkeys, whitetail and mule deer, coyotes, foxes and porcupines,…

Each February, my Ohio parents trade cold midwestern winters for southern Florida’s tropical climate and pristine beaches. For many years these snowbirds tried to convince me, a nature-loving photographer, to visit. I hesitated because I didn’t want to miss a ski day back home in Montana, and I was wary of the overcrowded urban sprawl that I imagined prevails in the Sunshine State. Eventually I relented, and have since become a Florida fixture for several weeks each winter—a mini-snowbird, if you will. I found that I can have a break from winter and satisfy my desire for nature because there’s an array of natural wonders that can only be found in South Florida. The variety of wildlife viewing and birding opportunities along with the unique and exotic (to this Montanan)…

The story was on the news: Almost 300 dogs, cats and birds had been rescued from a hoarder. My co-worker suggested that I go see the dogs, which were taken to the Tails Humane Society in DeKalb, Illinois. I resisted at first because I knew I’d want to help them all. But I couldn’t stay away. In one cage, a freckled cocker spaniel inched forward, and I scratched his chin. As he wagged his tail, a volunteer said, “He hasn’t shown any signs of being happy until now! Do you want to walk him?” We already had a cocker spaniel, Maggie, at home, so I declined. But I left my name and number in the “Dog 28” file, saying that I might be interested when adoptions were open. Long story…

Windberry Farm sits on a rocky slope tucked into the Ozark Mountains in Winslow, Arkansas. Downhill, many of the town’s 400 or so residents gather on Saturdays at the Coffee Klatch to enjoy a cup of coffee and conversation after visiting the farmers market. Dan Dean and his wife, Laura Kelly, purchased the land for Windberry Farm in 2009. They built a few structures, including a greenhouse and a canning shed to get them started. Trained as architects, they both wanted to make sure they got their dream home right. They moved into the canning shed for one of the coldest Arkansas winters on record while they built their house. Dan wanted peace and quiet; Laura wanted a small farm with a few animals and fruit trees. After saving for…