Country December/January 2023

Writing these letters to you has always been a task that I have habitually saved for the last minute, hoping that deadline pressure would make the words flow. Not this time, though. The words came easily, because I have so much to say to you. I’m sad to tell you that, after 35 years, Country must say goodbye. It’s no one’s fault, really. The world has changed and so has the way people read. It’s been a sweet ride, and I’m grateful that you let me come along for a part of it. In these pages, you told the best stories about life on the land, from psychotic roosters (always a staff favorite) to memories of childhood on the farm (so many odes to making mud pies, picking berries and…

Adam Kugler, Amanda Hunt, Angela Slay, Anne Duvall, Barbara Steinhorst, Brenda Fulk, Brenda E. Skipper, Candy Thompson, Carolyn Anderson, Christa Sterken, Christina Hoaglin, Cortnie Goodin, Dana Foreman, Dani Bly, Danny Redd, Deborah Moe, Donna Stoll, Georgiana Kurtz, Haley Guion, Heidi Hendrickson, Jamie Cody, Janice Weinholdt, Jarolyn Stout, Jeanne Anderson, Jennifer Hess, Jnel Wright, Judy Wroda, Kallie Kantos, Kathleen Ungerer, Kayla Groen, Kenneth Penner, Kerysa Ford, Krystal Johnson, Laura Miller, Leanne Van Overbeke, Lisa Minnick, Lori Sheldon, Lorry Erickson, Mandi Wood, Marilyn Long, Mark Clodfelter, Melanie McKenzie, Norma Russell, Patricia Hyzer, Rebecca Sophn, Regan Umberger, Rhondalee Spiros, Sandy Warwick, Seth S. Churchfield, Sharon Blumberg, Shelagh Wulff-Wisdom, Sherrie Ball, Stacie Rogers, Susan Neiss, Suzanne L. Crossley, Tami Gingrich, Teresa King, Terri Eden, Trudy Saunders, Valerie Perry, Wendy Schreiner…

HAPPENINGS CHRISTMAS COMES ALIVE! Holiday living window displays delight the town of Reedsburg, Wisconsin WHAT’S THAT IN THE WINDOW? Why, it’s a Christmas scene sprung to life! For one magical night in December, beautifully decorated shop windows in downtown Reedsburg, Wisconsin, will present live actors depicting scenes based on a clever holiday theme. This year’s theme: A Sitcom Christmas. The Living Windows tradition, started in 2009 by Sarah Riedel at her shop, Antiques on Main, has expanded to include nearly 20 downtown businesses, all showcasing creative live holiday displays for one special night. Now sponsored by Distinctly Downtown Reedsburg, the event is completely free and open to the public. It’s a fun night of surprises, memory-making and nostalgia for the whole family. Festive carolers will sing seasonal tunes as visitors…

THERE ARE 53 WATERFALLS IN LETCHWORTH. Most people wouldn’t think to go to Letchworth State Park in winter. But here in western New York, when the snow is plentiful and the days slow down, it’s one of the best times of year to visit. In winter there’s no fee to enter the park, which spans 17 miles through the towns of Castile, Genesee Falls, Leicester, Mount Morris and Portage. This amazing deal comes with unforgettable views of Letchworth’s frosty transformation. Icicles hang from the sheer cliff walls of the gorge created by the Genesee River. In the frigid temperatures, three major waterfalls freeze as though suspended in time. The sun glistening on the ice looks like crystal magic. Experiencing all this beauty makes me forget the chill in the air.…

THE EARLIEST U.S. PATENT FOR A SLEIGH IS DATED 1839. WYOMING Head west for a spectacular sleigh ride through the National Elk Refuge in Jackson Hole. In addition to thousands of elk, there could be eagles, deer, wolves, foxes, bison and more along the way. Buy tickets at the Jackson Hole and Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center. nersleighrides.com WASHINGTON Sleigh bells ring through quiet open meadows and forests as you head to a barn for hot cider when you book a ride with Leavenworth Sleigh Rides. Located in Mountain Springs Lodge just north of Leavenworth, you can enjoy a private sleigh ride for up to six, 12 or 16 people. leavenworthsleighrides.com NEW HAMPSHIRE In Jackson, board a horse-drawn Austrian sleigh at Nestlenook Farm for a tour of the 65-acre Victorian estate.…

VISITING ALASKA is something I had dreamed of ever since I read and fell in love with a story about children living in this faraway place that looked so different from my Kentucky hometown. When I saw the state for the first time, it was as though all the colors of that childhood storybook had come to life. There is a freshness to Alaska’s air, a grandeur in its stillness. Each town has its own vibe and character, and Sitka is my favorite. Its white-capped mountains and deep green forests add drama to a charming downtown with colorful storefronts and the ocean shimmering at its front door. Accessible only by sea or air, Sitka is on the west side of Baranof Island, which is part of the Alexander Archipelago in…