The Salt Magazine

Curl up in a keepsake

2011-11-16T20:02:00.000-05:00

A lap quilt or wall hanging commemorating special events or the life of a loved one can make a wonderful keepsake. Fabric and other mementos from graduations, weddings, the birth of a baby, sports activities, scouting, anniversaries or even clothing items from loved ones that have passed away can all be incorporated into a memory piece. Mary M. Wiseman of Patchwork Keepsakes in Reading, Ohio specializes in creating these one-of-a-kind, custom quilted memories.

According to Mary, memory quilts and wall hangings are based in our past. Many of our ancestors brought patterns and quilt themes from their homelands that are still incorporated into patterns we use today. The pioneers of our nation took their prized possessions west in covered wagons in hopes of finding land for a new home. Among these possessions were quilts made of family clothing, weavings and other precious bits of textiles. When a loved one died on the trail, the family often buried them in one of their precious family quilts.

Mary has lost two very dear loved ones, her mother and her husband. While the grief was very intense, she still had the desire to preserve and remember the good experiences she shared with them. Through her memory quilts, she has followed in the traditions of our ancestors, burying her loved ones with precious memory quilts, as well as adding a new tradition of her own, creating memory quilts for her family to cherish.

Depending on the theme of the memory quilt, many items can be used to create the piece. If the quilt commemorates an event or involvement in an activity, clothing, patches, medals and other mementos can be used. For a memorial quilt, Mary usually uses a loved one’s clothing for the fabric, such as blouses, dresses, coats, jackets, jeans, pajamas, robes, ties and t-shirts. The items selected are then cut into patchwork pieces. A photo can be also scanned and printed onto fabric and also incorporated into the design.

These quilted keepsakes are then machine pieced, with the fabrics and designs chosen for the memories on the top, cotton or polyester batting in the middle and cotton fabric on the back. Other hand-stitched details or phrases can also be added, as well as beads, buttons, cross stitch, embroidery, lace, jewelry, medals and pins.

For more information contact Mary M. Wiseman at Patchwork Keepsakes, 513-473-6424 or mwmmdonohouewiseman@gmail.com

Let's make a memory

2011-11-16T20:01:00.000-05:00

I love family traditions. I think they help us craft a history of good memories and bind us together as we spend time creating them and carrying them out together.

As we enter into this time of holidays, I am already looking forward to them. Here are a few ideas that are sure to be included in our plans this year…

Taking the metro bus from the suburbs of Cincinnati and riding downtown to see the train display at the Cinergy building is always a treat. Taking the bus is essential, and never fails to be an interesting experience in itself.

When the family gathers for Christmas, the opening of gifts is always preceded by the reading of the Christmas story from the Bible. This is a time-honored tradition and has been practiced as long as I can remember. It was my grandfather who did the honors until he passed on. Then my father. Now, my brother has taken on the responsibility. The younger kids get a bit impatient as I did when I was their age. But as we all get older, this has meant so much and gets us all focused on whose birthday we are really celebrating.

Our family gathering also features a talent show. Some of the kids work on their ideas for the talent show for weeks before we gather. The adults get pretty involved too. Actually, I think the adults got it started. One brother does a great imitation of an ape, another brother does his turtle. I do a pretty good peacock. My daughter does a barking dog. We have had Elvis show up on our little stage. Sometimes it’s a poem someone wrote or a song one of the kids did for the school Christmas program. We have more fun with that talent show than we do with the gifts!
This year we plan to start a new tradition. We’ve been collecting our change all year and plan to put it all together when we gather for Christmas. Rather than buying gifts for each other, we hope to have enough money collected to buy a cow or some chickens or a goat or maybe all of those things for a needy family overseas. I can’t wait to see how much we come up with!

My three step-kids and their creative mother have always made everyone a Christmas ornament. The ornament is often a reflection of the year. One year it was a coin from a European trip. Another featured a small flag from Cameroon since it was the year Divine Grace, a young man from Cameroon, came to live with them. Another ornament was fashioned like an advent calendar with a picture of each family member, including the picture of the exchange student that lived with them that year. They have recycled Christmas cards, fashioned nuts into little faces (“We’re nuts about you”), made little yarn dolls with google eyes, and made angel dolls out of macaroni and Spanish Moss for hair. We have years of these ornaments, and they are so precious to us.

Another important tradition in our family is the food we prepare and share together. We have certain recipes that are absolute “musts” as we plan our gatherings. One of those is Curry Rice and it’s one that my family became very fond of when we lived in Japan years ago. It is one of those that the kids request when they come home, and that nearly everyone seems to love. I thought I would share it with you and maybe you would like to try it. Who knows? Maybe it could become a new tradition for you and your family.

Marinate the ground beef in soy sauce for a couple of hours before. Brown the beef in a Dutch oven in a little oil. Add about 3 cups of water and add the onion, carrots and potatoes. Boil gently till they are tender but not overcooked. Add the curry cubes to thicken. Reduce the heat and add the peas. Serve over steamed rice.

Cottage cheese, bread and butter pickles and soy sauce are some of the essentials we like to have alongside.

So, the best to you and yours as you create your own great memories. I hope you will have some to share with us.

In the meantime, please pass the Salt…

By Pamela Stricker
pstricker@ohcommedia.com

Curry Rice
1-lb cubed beef
1 large onion, chopped
1 cup of carrots, chopped
2-3 potatoes, cubed ( I like to leave the skin on, Mom takes it off)
1 small box of frozen peas
2-3 cubes of curry with thickening (You can buy these in many of the grocery stores now but especially in Oriental specialty stores)
1 cup of rice

Wrapping up memories in the fabric of life

2011-11-16T19:59:00.000-05:00

Memories hold special places in our hearts and play a large part in shaping our lives. In the fall of 2005, Carol Earhart had to say goodbye to the father that meant so much to her and her family. Like so many fathers, Carol’s dad touched the lives of those he loved, and made a positive difference for each of them. Preserving his memory was important to Carol. Many times, memories of a loved love one are lost within just a generation or two, but Carol was determined to preserve her father’s legacy.

Quilting has been a long-time passion for Carol, but it took on special meaning after the death of her father in 2005. A year later, Carol’s mom was finally ready to go into her husband’s clothes closest and begin packing up his personal apparel. As an avid quilter, Carol knew of memory quilts which have been around for a long time and felt that combining her passion for quilting and preserving her father’s memory could go hand in hand.

The memory quilt actually became popular in the mid-1800’s as pioneers began moving west. These quilts were often made and given to newly married couples, or to families leaving the area, as an item of remembrance of those being left behind.

When the death of a loved one is involved, a memory quilt can sometimes be too painful to make, as Carol soon found out. “It was a very hard process to begin,” says Earhart. “As I sat down and held my dad’s jeans and handkerchiefs in my hand I became very tearful. But five years later, I can say how much these quilts have meant to all of us in my family, and my dad’s quilt has been a great way to preserve a part of him.”

Quilt making can be a rewarding activity that can be enjoyed by all ages of people with all skill levels. It is an act of expression that can capture emotion and beauty. Memory quilts in particular are a great way to preserve a specific memory, celebrate the life of a loved one who has passed on, or to remember an important event in life. Many memory quilts are made from the clothing of a loved one, and can help “let go” while still honoring their memory.

There are several types of memory quilt styles. Many quilts can be made with a number of different fabrics and selections of clothing. When preserving the memory of a loved one, clothing such as shirts, ties, jeans, dresses, t-shirts, trousers blouses, and handkerchiefs are good items to cut and piece together to form the quilt. By using small personal clothing pieces throughout the quilt, it allows the family to feel that a part of their loved one is still with them.

Not all memory quilts are made based on the loss of a loved one. They can also represent a change or growth in life, such as baby clothing to remember when a child was an infant or toddler, old school uniforms to remember the high school years, work shirts to remember a specific time in adult life or a promotion in life.

A very popular style is a memory quilt for the student who goes off to college. This type of quilt is designed with old t-shirts are collected, cut and pieced together to accompany the student to the dorm.

Another popular memory quilt style is the family tree quilt that traces family history and commemorates special moments within the family. Computer graphic designs of genealogical trees or family biographies can be computer generated to be transformed onto fabric.
Photo memory quilts are fast becoming a popular style that can be made completely with photographs or be used in a combination of clothing and photos. Living in the computer age has made it increasingly easily to make this type of quilt, which involves the process of transferring photos onto fabric thorough the computer and computer printer. Manufacturers have now made it possible to make fabric squares that can be put into a computer printer. With this style it is easiest to use a digital camera or burn photos onto a CD.

Memory quilts are a great way for a family to pass along information from one generation to the next. “The memory quilts I made for the members of my family have been a great way to preserve my father’s memory,” says Earhart. “I can remember him wearing his jeans that I incorporated into the quilts. I made six quilts all together that honor my father with that particular family member. I used photos I had taken of my dad with my mother, my two brothers, my two children and myself as the centerpiece of the quilt, then pieced the quilt together with his clothing and handkerchiefs.”

Memory quilts create a family heirloom that can be passed down through generations. They can be used as wall hangings or sofa throws. Whatever the use, they are a unique way to preserve and display a family’s treasured memories.

By Maribeth Uralrith

Carol Earhart is the owner of the Cotton Junky Quilt Shop – the area’s only quilting and quilting supply store. The Cotton Junky is located at 199 North Spring Street in Wilmington but will be moving to a new location at 110 West Main Street in early November. The Cotton Junkie houses over 750 bolts of fabrics, notions, tools, thread. Along with supplies, the Cotton Junkie also create custom quilts and has quilting classes available to the public. Hours of operation include – Monday through Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 6 and 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 on Friday and Saturday. Closed Sundays. For more information on quilting, memory quilts or the Cotton Junky Quilt Shop, please contact Carol Earhart at 937-366-3602.

Fond family memories

2011-11-16T19:58:00.000-05:00

Holidays are that special time of the year that brings memories both bitter and sweet - bitter because we may miss that loved one who is no longer with us, sweet because it is a time to remember that missing loved one.

My story starts with the fact that I am southern born and bred, which means that the holidays are the perfect time to showcase my culinary prowess. I am an excellent cook, and if I had had exposure to the culinary arts as a career choice when I was much younger, that is what I would be doing right now. I have loved kitchens and cooking since I was a young child watching my great-grandmother making peach and fig preserves, and using the skins from the peaches to make wine. I remember one time, when my mother, brother, sister and I were driving to Virginia to visit my aunt, we passed a sweet potato field. My mother wanted to stop and pick some, and my brother was just not interested at all. I, on the other hand, encouraged her to stop and suggested that we use them to make sweet potato pies. My brother didn’t speak to me the rest of the day; he didn’t like picking anything, and he didn’t like sweet potato pies.

With all that said, I was extremely excited when my family announced in October of one particular year that they would be visiting me for Thanksgiving. I was excited because it was the first time they had visited me since I moved to Ohio, and secondly, it would give me the chance to welcome them to my new home. Everything had to be perfect. Everything had to be just right. I knew that I had to prepare favorites of my parents and siblings, but I also wanted to throw in some dishes they had probably never had.

The menu consisted of turkey marinated in a plastic bag, ham, collard greens swimming in unctuous smoked pork, oyster and sausage dressing, cabbage, candied sweet potatoes, cherry and thyme cranberry sauce, assorted rolls, and macaroni and cheese. For dessert, I was preparing that decadent Southern dessert, banana pudding, as well as a coconut-pineapple layer cake and purchased sweet potato and chess pies.
They all arrived on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, so I also had to prepare dinner, and decided that spaghetti and meatballs was relatively quick and easy, since I knew that the next few days would be quite tiring with all of the cooking that I had to do, which also included a full breakfast on Thursday morning, and each subsequent morning.

On Tuesday, I had started preparing my “mise en place,” the organizing and arranging the ingredients, for Thanksgiving dinner. All of the onions, celery and everything else had been diced and were ready to be sautéed. The turkey had been marinating in the trash bag since early Tuesday morning and was eager to be trussed and stuffed into the oven. Over the next several hours on Thanksgiving, my sister and I toiled in the kitchen, laughing, teaching each other and just having fun. Every now and then my mother would come in just to see what we were doing and to tell some joke.

Everything in the kitchen was going great. The turkey came out magazine perfect with the breast skin fully in place, causing me to pat myself on the back for cooking such a beautiful turkey. The greens were both vinegary and peppery all at the same time and had just enough crispiness to delight the taste buds. The macaroni and cheese was hot and bubbling, as well as the oyster dressing. The cranberry sauce was chilled and ready to provide its sweetness to the savory turkey and dressing. Everything was ready, except the gravy.

I must tell you that I had purchased packages-o-gravy mix and had planned on mixing in the giblets from the turkey. Yes, I am a purist in the kitchen and really don’t like to use store-bought mixes and dried seasonings. I like things fresh and freshly-made. But, I could not make gravy from scratch. My mother saw the packages and asked what they were for and I sheepishly replied that they were for the gravy. She then said, “You don’t know how to make gravy?” I replied, “No, I always just use the packs and doctor them up.”

She then asked for a pan, some grease and some flour, and began to teach me how to make gravy. As she was showing me, I taught her a new word, roux, and she yelled out, “I am making roux!!!” It was something that she had been doing all of her life, but never really knew the culinary term for what she was doing. You had to know my mother to know that this was just the opportunity that she relished. It was a time for her to walk back into the living room as if she was on a runway during New York Fashion Week, place her hands on her hips, and announce, “Dinner is ready!” My father shot back, “What did you go into the kitchen and burn?” My mother quickly shot back, “Don’t worry about it, you just eat and enjoy.” This was just the beginning of a great meal.

For some reason, my mother had wanted everyone to put on “nice” clothes for dinner, which at the time I found odd, but I went along with her request. In looking back, I often wonder if she knew this would be our last Thanksgiving together as a family and that she was just as committed as I was to have a perfect holiday dinner, a storybook dinner.

That was the last time that my mother and I were together for the holidays and it would be the last time that we would cook together. It is the one holiday memory that stays in the mind, year after year. In fact, whenever I make gravy, I still think about that last Thanksgiving with my family, the fun that we shared, and the good food that we ate. It is a memory both bitter and sweet.

By Keebler K. Holley
Cincinnati, Ohio

A Christmas memory

2011-11-16T19:46:00.004-05:00

Christmas comes and goes so fast. The hustle and bustle can be exhausting. It is so difficult to find that perfect gift for those who have everything. Yet, I learned last Christmas in the midst of it all a life lesson I will always cherish.

Last Christmas, I gave my 79-year-old dad a toy - his very own Farmall B tractor. I stumbled upon it by pure luck, at the Tractor Supply store. Quite honestly, it is this farm girl’s’favorite store of all time and the only store my dad ever shopped at when I was his girl on the farm. I get it from him!

I was so excited to finally see exactly what this Farmall B looked like up close. It was my Dad’s most recent childhood story he had shared with me. I loved hearing all the stories he told of days past, and this was the newest.

On several occasions as his story unfolded he would say, “I sure would like to own one of those now. I would if I could find one I could afford.”

Dad always loved farming and farm equipment, and he loved the antique machinery show, a time of reminiscing. So until he could “find one he could afford” I hoped he would enjoy having this shiny red toy tractor as his Christmas present; a reminder of his wonderful childhood memory.

When Dad opened his Christmas gift on Christmas Eve at my house, I will never forget watching him become that boy again in his mind’s eye. He smiled his signature grin ear-to-ear and began telling bits and pieces of the story I had already heard. Others gathered round.

“I will never forget that day,” he said, holding that tractor in his hand and looking it over, “When Dad and I went to buy our first new tractor. I rode right here.” He pointed to the left axle, just wide enough for a young boy to sit on, next to an offset tractor seat.

“We only had a couple miles to go, my legs swinging.” He paused, remembering, his eyes glistening. “We paid cash for it too,” he proudly exclaimed with a slight pucker to his lips that he always did when he was really pleased, touched or choking back tears. In this instance I knew it was all three. From the stories that my dad would tell me through the years, I had an understanding that for a poor Appalachian boy, raised in Black Fork, Ohio, and having experienced growing up during the depression, eventually paying cash when times got better was a great accomplishment.

His father moved the family to Amelia, Ohio, and became a school teacher, which proved to be the right decision indeed. And because of it, they eventually had the wherewithal to save enough cash for this long-awaited tractor, though Dad thoroughly enjoyed driving a team of horses. (One of his horses had been struck by lightning and he never forgot it, but that is another story.)

He eagerly learned to plow, disk, harrow, cultivate and make a truck garden with that new tractor. “And I made good money doing it too,” he boasted. At one time in his boyhood he had worked for ten-cents an hour picking vegetables. But by trucking, he made his own money.

Later, after graduation, marriage, three kids and another on the way, Dad’s big dream came true when he purchased his first 100-acre farm in Buford, Ohio. I was the second of the children he would raise on this and another farm he would own on Route 286 at Five Mile. I loved the great outdoors, my special attachment with farm animals, and learning, and him.

Throughout our journey, Dad taught me how to drive a tractor, how and when to work the ground, the ups and downs of making hay, planting corn and pumpkins, and how to work on farm equipment, as we certainly had our share of breakdowns. I was his sidekick growing up, and later he was mine - and such a wealth of knowledge.

When I would drop by to visit him and mom, now living on the corner of our farm at New Hope, Ohio, we shared past and present “adult talks” about our flower beds, his gorgeous roses, our vegetable gardens, about chickens, cows, hogs, farming mistakes and remedies, our growing up years and, of course, his growing up years, which I will always cherish.

The seeds planted in my heart before, during and after he passed this past spring - when potatoes could be planted and cold crops too - he continues teaching me, “To everything there is a season,” and reminds me that life goes on. My days are both full of joy and sadness as I remember him in so many of my daily chores and memories. I have lots of joyful memories, and only sadness when I realize he is gone.

As Christmas approaches, I am planning on decorating the fireplace mantel with all the greenery and twinkle lights as I usually do. But this year, right in the middle of all that, will be that beautiful red Farmall toy tractor that mom gave back to me. And I’ll remember last year, when he looked deep into my eyes.

“I really like this,” he said, looking back and forth from me to the tractor, his eyes glistening.

As I finish writing his story, I find myself looking up toward the heavens from my upper library window, my eyes glistening. I love you Dad, still.
So, this Christmas, I say to you, joyful memories are for the making each and every day, and those memories will sustain us through our sorrows when our loved ones leave us.

But my life lesson learned is this - life is short, and there is no better gift than the gift of self. Or perhaps a toy tractor.

By Sherry Mitchell

Favorite foods kindle fond memories

2011-11-16T19:41:00.003-05:00

The air is crisp, the days are sunny; the trees are displaying their rainbows of parting color. It’s finally fall! As you already know, I absolutely love this time of year… pumpkins, Indian corn, hay rides, apple cider, snuggly sweaters and family time.

It also marks the imminent return of winter and with it… snowmen, snow boots, holiday lights, Christmas carols, Christmas trees, hot cocoa, gift giving and family time.

The holidays bring many fantastic things to mind, each with their own colors, ideas and memories, all unified by time spent together. It’s most often during this time of year that we consciously make the effort to come together and really take quality time to celebrate each other, our traditions and our families. And that right there - the focus on our families and traditions - is why I adore the holidays, and everything they entail.

With all this wonderful family time approaching, it’s also time to dust off our recipe boxes and cookbooks. As we all know, when families come together, they like to eat… a lot! Thanksgiving turkey with apple cider brine, grandma’s stuffing, your aunt’s pecan pie, my mom’s Christmas cookies and fudge, my sister-in-law’s honey-baked ham glaze, my mother-in-law’s sweet potato soufflé. We all have those kinds of recipes, collected just for these occasions. And with those recipes come some of our fondest memories, many spent in the kitchen preparing traditional meals and treats for the upcoming family celebrations.

On page 54 of this issue, I’ve shared some of my mother’s Christmas cookie recipes. They’ve been a staple at our holiday get-togethers for as long as I can remember. Each year, when we get together to bake these delicious treats, I am taken back to years past. I have also asked some of you to share your favorite holiday memories in the kitchen and the recipes to go along with them. This year, we start off with my friend, Keebler Holley, and his memories of his turn hosting Thanksgiving dinner for his family, followed by many more cherished memories from our readers and staff. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!

Here’s to a blessed, beautiful and delicious holiday season, from my kitchen to yours!

By Lori Holcomb
Food Editor, Salt Magazine

Satisfying an emotional need

2011-11-16T19:31:00.007-05:00

Scrapbooking is more than a hobby or a pastime. This absorbing, creative endeavor preserves the history of a certain time and place. It tells the story - your story - through pictures.

“Every picture has a story,” says Karen Campbell, independent consultant for Creative Memories. Karen holds regular monthly scrapbooking meetings in her Wilmington, Ohio, home where she offers space, tools, materials, a meal and a welcoming atmosphere. She also holds parties at people’s homes or offers her own home for others to give parties.

“I like to have people in,” says Karen, who has scrapbookers from all over the area come to her home. “I started my home-based business in Florida where my husband was stationed in the Navy. I started scrapbooking because I wanted to preserve his Navy career in a scrapbook. I became a consultant to get my stuff at cost, and it soon became because of the people I was meeting.”

Karen says the people she worked with “became dear friends.” Then her husband retired. “He wanted to go home to Ohio where he grew up,” recalls Karen. “I thought, ‘What am I going to do to get the business started again?’” But “moving was the best thing I could’ve done.”

Karen explains why. “My daughter had a group of four ladies that wanted to scrapbook on a regular basis, and it’s grown from there. The Clinton County Corn Festival, where I always have a booth, was such a wonderful event for me. They don’t have anything like that in Florida. Anyone can have their own scrapbooking business, and I’m always glad to help them get started. It’s now my eighth anniversary with Creative Memories.”

There are many venues for scrapbooking. Some scrapbookers get together occasionally with a few friends, while others, like Rita Butcher, just have an occasional gathering. Rita started as a consultant for Creative Memories in 1999.

“I started with a group of eight women,” says Rita. “My husband and I just celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary, and now I’m making a digital album of that. We have ten kids and I made two albums for each of my kids. Some I made more if they were in more sports.”

Rita eventually quit consulting, but the relationships endure. A group of ten or so women still get together for a social weekend once a year and scrapbook.

“Our group is called the ‘Scrapping Sisters,’ and it sounds like we fight, but we don’t,” quipped Rita. “We even got matching shirts and bags with our name on it. We used to stay at two cabins on Cowan Lake, but we grew and needed more room. So we moved to the Wilmington Inn and used their community room. This year, we’re going to a summer house on Cowan Lake. It’s a beautiful setting. Karen Campbell joined us and she is now our consultant. Everybody looks forward to our weekend from one year to the next.”

Interestingly, there is a Creative Memories plant in Yellow Springs, Ohio, filled with friendly, gracious workers and large machines producing brightly colored materials of every size and shape. A tour is available, but the group must be accompanied by a consultant.

A popular event for scrapbookers is the quarterly garage sale in Kettering, Ohio. Scrapbookers can get a table, bring materials and equipment to sell or, if they wish, shop and buy bargains from other tables. Two important events for home scrapbooking groups are the Croptoberfest on October 28th and 29th and the National Scrapbook Day in May. Special gifts, free products and rewards are given by a consultant to those attending and/or joining.

The biggest event of the year is Celebrate Southwest Ohio. The event is held every February at The Roberts Centre, located north of Wilmington at the interchange of Interstate 35 and Highway 68.

“There are 1,100 scrapbookers and 126 consultants who come from everywhere for Celebrate,” says Karen. “People have to sign up under a consultant well before then. They are assigned tables and scrapbook all day from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. They give away hourly prizes and teach classes on new techniques. We have such a good time. The day goes so fast. It’s just amazing.”

Not all groups are under a consultant. Shari Brucken enjoyed scrapbooking, so she recently started a group that meets at the First Church of God in Wilmington.

“There is no fee with the church,” says Shari. “We bring our own tools and a brown bag meal. We have plenty of room with more space available. We get together the second Saturday of every other month. It is open to the public. It meets from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. or whenever we decide to leave.”

“We talk about things, give ideas and (discuss) what to do with pictures,” says Ewanda Stewart, who attends with her sister, Teresa Tharp.

The group suggested that people write on the backs of photos the information of who, what, where and when, in order to remember. A photo safe pencil needs to be used instead of a regular pen so the ink doesn’t bleed through the photo.

“I would like it to be more people,” says Shari. “On Saturday, January 14th, we’re going to try the Wilmington Public Library Community Room. We’re going to call it the Scrapbook Club. Anyone’s welcome to come to that. There will be no fee. We’ll see how many come and decide whether to stay in the library or stay at the church.”

“We’re leaving a legacy for our families,” says Ewanda Stewart. “That’s how I feel about it.” The others agreed.

“It satisfies some kind of emotional thing in me,” says Karen. “I’m not real creative, but I have a little creative outlet. The way I look at it… even if not one other single person looks at what I’ve done, it made me happy. And, it’s a fun group. It’s also a way to meet people.”

“And make friendships,” adds Shari.

By Carol Chroust

Leaving behind a digital legacy

2011-11-16T19:26:00.003-05:00

There is little room for doubt that making a lasting impression on the world inspires many of us.

Whether it's the profession we choose, the person we marry, the manner in which we rear our kids or the volunteer work we do, our decisions are affected in ways great or small by how we want to leave the world.

Preserving our heritage, through photos, videos and journals is as American as apple pie. For me, blogging has taken on that role.
Blogging (short for weblog) is simply a new form of journaling, a public medium of self-expression.

In early 2008, I started training for triathlons. I wanted to share those experiences with my family, friends and anyone else in the world who would care enough to visit my site. What has been most surprising is how many other triathletes, runners or cyclists frequently visit or interact with my blog, and how I've only heard from someone related to me one time.

According to Technorati's 2010 State of the Blogosphere, 65 percent of bloggers are termed hobbyists, 21 percent are self employed, 13 percent are part-timers and corporate bloggers account for one percent.

Seventy-four percent of hobbyist bloggers measure their success by personal satisfaction. Among the other three categories, “unique visitors” was the “leading metric of success.”

As a hobbyist blogger, I can readily agree that personal satisfaction is how I measure success; though I do love to study my metrics. To be more specific, that personal satisfaction comes from knowing that my thoughts, whimsies, challenges and accomplishments have been locked down and recorded.

Perhaps someday after I'm gone, those who once knew me will visit my site as a way to reconnect. Perhaps my nieces or nephews will try and discover a little more about their past through what their aunt had experienced.

However, one thing is indisputable: Whatever may happen in the future with my blog, I'm certainly enjoying cataloguing my past right now.

By Lora Abernathy
Health and Wellness Editor, Salt Magazine
Southwest Group Online Editor, Ohio Community Media

Preparing your garden for winter

2011-11-16T19:20:00.003-05:00

A backyard garden in November can be a pathetic sight. The heat-loving plants of summer have withered away, the plot is littered with leaves and a general – and understandable – neglect has allowed the weeds to triumph. Your tomato plants might still be producing some late season fruit. Your bell peppers are probably clinging for life, and if you’re lucky (or smart) you remembered to plant some cold-season favorites like broccoli or kale to redeem your unsightly mess.

Maybe your garden doesn’t look like this, but mine sure does.

When your mindset shifts from fresh garden goodies to soups, stews and staying warm, it’s time to put your garden to bed for the winter. By taking a few pro-active steps in the fall, you can ensure your garden plot is ready to go when the last frost hits and warm weather returns. Here are five tips to get you started.

Clean it up
Some gardeners abandon their plots entirely when fall arrives, letting the spring and summer crops return to the earth in their own way. Most gardeners will agree that it’s better to clean out your dead plants to help prevent harmful disease or insects from taking hold. I’m generally in no hurry to pull up my tomatoes or peppers if I can eke out a few late in the season, but eventually it’s best to pull them out. Pull all of the out-of-season plants, roots and all, from the soil and set them aside.

Start a compost pile
If you don’t have one already, the fall is a great time to start a compost pile using the plants you’ve pulled from your garden plot. You’re likely to have a heaping pile of plant material and soil still clinging to the roots, both of which will make for great compost once they begin to decompose. To keep the elements out of your pile, I recommend building a four-sided structure to shelter your compost. Shipping palettes work great and most grocery stores will sell them to you cheap or give you broken ones. Nail them together and cover the finished structure with a tarp or other waterproof covering, and your pile will be safe from erosion or run-off. During the winter, add your egg shells and fruit and vegetable scraps to the pile, turning it every few weeks.

Plant a cover crop
After you’ve cleaned up your plot and tidied it for the following spring, you should take care to cover your soil in one way or another. Without a cover, your soil will suffer from erosion and be washed away by the winter rains and snowfall. One way to protect your soil is to plant a cover crop, or a crop you grow solely to let die and cover your soil throughout the winter. Some popular cover crops include rye, wheat, oats, clover and hairy vetch. In addition to providing a protective cover for your soil, the “green manure” of the cover crops will deposit valuable nutrients and minerals back into your soil once they decompose, making your soil all the richer come spring. To plant a cover crop, rake your soil and make sure it’s free of large stones and other debris. Spread your seeds across the plot according to that species’ planting instructions. Gently rake the soil again and water with a fine mist to avoid washing the seeds away.

Till in the fall
One alternative to planting a cover crop is to till and cover your soil by hand in the fall. Oftentimes, a wet spring will make soil too damp to work when you’re ready to plant, so some gardeners will till their plot before winter and cover the plot with straw or mulch to prevent weeds from taking hold. This method might be beneficial to gardeners in zones with particularly clay-ey soil (Clinton County gardeners especially).

Plan for the next garden season
Your mind might be elsewhere, but it’s not a bad idea to think about what you want to plant and where when the snow and cold temperatures retreat. For example, I reluctantly tried a new tract of land this past year for a raised-bed garden, only to find that the direct sunlight wasn’t nearly sufficient to really get the most out of my plants. I’ll be relocating the garden next season, and I’m using the off-season to determine where that will be. If you’re ambitious and the ground isn’t too wet, you can also prepare your beds or rows before the winter season by turning sod or tilling already flipped soil. Just make sure to cover them, or wind, rain and weeds will make short thrift of your garden soil.

By John Cropper
Editor, Salt Magazine

A quilt from home

2011-11-16T19:13:00.004-05:00

At first glance, a quilt is a masterpiece of rich colors pieced together by the artist, opening the mind to a new level of imagination and intrigue as the eyes take in the intricate pattern.

Look again. Deep within the fabric another pattern evolves of squares and loops and hearts, all skillfully placed by the quilter one stitch at a time, firmly connecting the quilt top to the batting (warm lining) and the backing.

Look again. Place the quilt around your shoulders and snuggle in. Take a deep, relaxing breath as generations of love passed from grandmother to mother to daughter envelope you in a hug.

An Amish tradition is for the family to give a quilt, or often two, from home to each child as he or she marries and establishes a home in which to raise the next generation. The Amish family’s faith and love go with them, along with the quilt.

When Mary Miller of Wheat Ridge Road in Adams County, Ohio, and her husband, Daniel Miller, were married, she received a quilt with rich, deep colors forming a broken star pattern from her mother. Daniel received from his mother a quilt with a triple broken star pattern in colors of light rose and steel blue.

Among the half dozen or so quilts the Millers have in their home, the most treasured one is Mary’s grandmother’s quilt from home, a pieced quilt of lilac and yellow. Mary says she doesn’t use it much because she doesn’t want to wash it.

“If you launder a quilt too often, the stitches will come out,” she says.

Mary is an experienced quilter. It was something to do while her five children, three boys and two girls, were younger. She would take in quilts assembled by other women and add the stitching that held the quilts together.

“I used to babysit and take care of my children and have a quilt in a frame,” she says. “In a couple of weeks, it would be out.”

A single quilt would take two to three large spools of thread or more to complete the quilt stitching, depending on the quilt. The fabric pattern used in either a pieced quilt or an appliqued quilt, as well as the stitching design is usually whatever the artist likes.

“Just so the pieces are even and lay flat. Every one must be exactly the same size,” Mary explains.

Although Mary no longer quilts at home due to other pursuits now that all of her children, ages seven to 21, are either in school or at work, she enjoys going to the community quiltings to help stitch quilts for charity or the local school auction. The women gather together to make six to eight quilts a year.

Covered dishes are brought in to share for the day, and quilt frames are used with two quilts in them at a time.

“There are lots of sides for us to work from,” Mary says. “There will be 20 to 30 people working on the quilts. Some of the older ones can only work for a couple of hours, as it is physically demanding. It is hard on the shoulders after sitting uneven for so long with one hand under the quilt and one hand on top. Also the first few times you quilt, your fingers get sore from being pricked so many times. After awhile though, you get used to it."

As they work together, grandmothers, sisters, neighbors, cousins and friends become firmly connected generation to generation with the love and the fond memories stitched into each quilt.

By Carleta Weyrich

At Bayview Campground, family comes first

2011-11-16T19:06:00.005-05:00

Todd and Amy Warren wanted to get away from the rat race and seek a quieter, more peaceful life. An opportunity to manage a new campground and outdoors store at Rocky Fork Lake in Highland County seemed like the perfect fit.

More than two years later, the couple couldn’t be happier with the choice they made.

“It seemed right,” said Todd, a Navy veteran who sports a mischievous grin. “We love the outdoors. We love living on the lake. We home school the kids.”

Todd and Amy are managers of Bayview Campground & Outpost, located on North Shore Drive, about six miles east of Hillsboro. Bayview boasts that it has the lake’s largest tackle inventory, hunting and fishing licenses, specialty bass baits, water sports, boating, camping and hunting supplies, and free coffee throughout the day.

“Yes, free coffee,” confirms Amy. “We like to encourage people to drop by and just hang around and talk.” In fact, the store has become a central gathering point at Rocky Fork.

Amy was raised in the country, and was working as an accountant for Kathleen Madison, a Wilmington businesswoman who owned Bayview, which at the time was a trailer park. Madison wanted to transform the park into a campground and outdoors facility, and turned to Todd and Amy to oversee the business.

As Todd describes the business and its amenities while relaxing inside one of two cabins on the property, Amy keeps a close eye on their 14-month-old toddler, Todd Jr., an obviously happy child who busily litters the floor with educational cards and small toys. Amy’s two older sons, Skylar, 14, and Hayden, 10, soon join them for a family photo. Amy is expecting another child in November, this time a girl whom they’ll name Abigail Keta-Marie Warren.

It’s appropriate that Bayview is operated by a family, because promoting a family atmosphere is what the Warren’s are working to achieve.

“People want more of a family atmosphere campground,” says Todd. “They want a place that’s safe for children and grandchildren.” At Bayview, children who are camping with their families at seasonal sites become part of a tight-knit community. “Everybody looks out for them,” says Todd. “They all play with each other, and everyone keeps an eye on them.”

Bayview offers 31 campsites with an abundance of shade and privacy. It’s a short walk to the docks and beach – “just 75 yards,” assures Todd -- and pull-through sites and seasonal camping are available and frequently booked. Pets are welcomed, and free Wi-Fi is also provided. Campers come from all over, but especially from Chillicothe, Columbus, Dayton and Xenia.

Clean new showers, flush toilets, a laundry facility and dump station are available onsite. The two available cottages with lake views sleep up to four, and include kitchen and bath.

The Warrens regularly plan events for campers and guests, ranging from corn hole tournaments to apple bobbing contests to chili cook-offs and pumpkin carving. The business caters to hunters and fishers, and the store has increased the kind of merchandise outdoorsmen are typically seeking. Bayview is also a check-in and weigh-in station.

The business has become a favorite destination for regional bass clubs and other organizations, and a draw for fishing tournaments. “Two or three tournaments have come here specifically because of Bayview’s outreach,” says Todd. Bayview gives back through various donations and events, such as free cookouts and campouts. And despite a poor economy, 2011 “has been our best year so far,” says Todd.

The Warrens make visitors feel right at home. When a participant in a fishing tournament recently found himself without accommodations, the Warrens invited him to spend the night on their couch, an invitation he happily accepted.

“That’s just the way we are,” says Todd.

Bayview Campground & Outpost is located at 11104 North Shore Drive. It can reached by phone at 937-393-3119, or by email at bayview@rockyforkparks.com. It is online at www.rockyforkparks.com.

By Gary Abernathy
Times-Gazette Publisher

Holidays 2011: 'Are they over yet?'

2011-11-16T18:57:00.003-05:00

It’s that time of year. Just like clockwork, the holidays are nearly upon us. Sadly, it’s not unusual for people to lament, “I just have to GET THROUGH the holidays!”

Really? Get through? Is that the best we can hope for? You get through a boring meeting. You get through a colonoscopy. Aren’t the holidays supposed to be the one time of year when you are bursting with peace and joy and good will towards men? And women? And people you can’t stand?

The root of holiday stress is the gulf between our expectations and the unmet Visions of Perfection. We start off with ambitious plans that rarely work out as we intend them to. The problem is that we are already stretched to our limits with kids, school, parents, in-laws, family, house work, yard work, “work work” and the myriad of other activities that occupy our every waking hour. And yet, here come the holidays, like a relentless freight train of stress, crashing into our fragile schedules.

So - other than dive under the covers for two months until it all goes away--what can we do to make sure that people don’t find pieces of us in the next county come Christmas Day?

The key to minimizing our holiday stress is to set realistic goals to begin with. Below is a handy checklist so that you can begin to plan how you will work these things into your already-crowded schedule.

It is not an exhaustive list (although I get exhausted just thinking about it!) But, I hope that it will help you to realize that the time to think about the holidays is NOW. Tick tock, tick tock. The later we wait, the more the stress begins to accrue. And that’s no fun
for anybody.

I now present to you (drum roll please):

The Holiday To-Do (or To-Don’t) Lists
You’ll notice that each category starts with the choice that involves the highest investment of time and energy and also has the highest potential for stress. The last choice in each category is—well, let’s face it—the easy way out. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. But most of us will not get the full holiday experience if we opt out of the activities altogether. There is a balance somewhere and only we as individuals can find where that place is for us. So, grab that #2 pencil and start check marking!

THANKSGIVING

Prepare a traditional turkey dinner with all of the trimmings, by yourself. (NOTE: if you choose this option, get yourself to the doctor PRONTO. It’s important that you get tested to determine if you are an actual human being and not a robot.)
Prepare the turkey and enlist others to bring the trimmings.
Get yourself invited to someone else’s house and take ONE “trimming.”
Go out to a restaurant. No mess, no fuss! If your family disowns you for taking this option, there will be plenty of families at the restaurant who will be happy to adopt you. Maybe it’s time to trade your old family in for a newer model anyway.

CHRISTMAS

GIFTS

Buy gifts for everyone you know or have ever known. (Come on, you know somebody like this. They are also the type of person who has everything bought, paid-for, wrapped and put away
by August 1. We hate them.)
Buy gifts for your entire family, down to second cousins.
Gift cards all around!
Give everyone the joy of giving … to YOU!

GREETING CARDS

Send them to everyone you’ve ever known or ever hope to know. Rationalize that you are just doing your part to keep the Post Office in business.
Send them only to people that live out of town (or out of state, or out of the country).
Send them only to the people who sent you cards last year. (Now THERE’S the holiday spirit!)
Opt out of sending cards altogether. Offer a friendly wave to the people you pass in your car and just figure you’ve done your part for demonstrating the holiday spirit.

DECORATING

Decorate the inside and the outside of your house. (See above about having a doctor verify if you are, in fact, human.)
Decorate the inside of your house.
Christmas tree only.
Skip decorating and just drive around town admiring everyone else’s hard work. Wave as you go by to demonstrate your holiday spirit.

PARTIES

Throw a big holiday bash and insist that people don’t bring anything but their appetites.
Go to every party you are invited to and crash a few others.
Only go to the parties with the best food.
Only go to the parties where your lack of attendance could cost you your job or your marriage.

BAKING

Plan on baking several different types of complicated, delectable goodies that would make Martha Stewart cringe with envy. (If this is the third or fourth Option #1 that you’ve chosen, don’t bother going to the doctor. I can already tell you that you are NOT of this world.)
Participate in a cookie exchange.
Buy all goodies, ready-made from the grocery store. (Did you hear that thud? It was the sound of your Great Aunt Millie collapsing on the floor from shock. That spinning sound is your great, great grandmother rolling over in her grave. Hey, don’t judge me, Grams. Back in the day, you didn’t have manicures, pedicures and a loaded Primetime TV schedule to keep up with.)
Skip the baked goods and just put out a full-length mirror. Invite your loved ones to take a look at themselves and then ask them, “Do you really think you need cookies?” (See above suggestion about what to do when your family disowns you.)

Remember that your choices for each holiday activity are essentially this: do it yourself, delegate it or let it go. The world will keep on spinning if you skip something. And your great, great grandma will keep on spinning as well.
And that’s okay.

Regardless of your level of involvement in holiday activities, you can still decide to make it a joyous time of year. At least plan to insure that by New Year’s Eve, you’re not so ragged-out that you fall face-first into your giant bowl of homemade egg nog. (Not that that’s happened to me. Ahem.)

Lastly, as you try to squeeze extra activities into an already over-crowded schedule remember that something’s gotta give. Don’t let it be your sanity or your sense of humor. Relax. Enjoy. Pass the store-bought cookies.

By Kay Frances

Memories in a box

2011-11-16T18:49:00.003-05:00

There is no better time to bring out family memories and keepsakes than during the holidays. The many items collected over the years can tend to get lost, leaving only memories when we take time to recall the wonderful things in our lives that pertain to our friends and family.

I have a wonderful suggestion that I would like to share with you! Hopefully, you will find it something your whole family can enjoy, too. You can preserve all of those precious items you collect by building a Memory Box for your family.

Many of you already have a pretty box with a lid or large tin that you can use to begin your box. If not, you will find that local craft and box stores have a large variety of decorative boxes that are fairly inexpensive. I suggest you buy a large one, as it will grow over the years and you will want plenty of room to keep your treasures.

These boxes may be plain or fancy, the choice is yours. You may even elect to find a plain box and decorate it as a family, getting the kids involved. Remember, things done in the past make tomorrow’s memories.

Each year on Christmas day, or whatever day you celebrate the holidays together, sit down and go over all of the items that you want to place in the box. I suggest things like a special newspaper clipping about someone in the family, a new family photo, an award someone won, a special drawing by a small one in your group, a lock of hair from a newborn family member, cards, programs or invitations to a memorable event or a trinket that represents a special memory.

I believe that all families should have traditions. In today’s hectic world we tend to be too busy to slow down and remember what the important things are in our collective lives. Yes, you might know that Johnny got the award for being the MVP on the baseball team this past summer, but do Sue and Uncle Bob? If not, you just lost a chance to create a memory for Johnny. Show him how important his achievement was and enter that recognition in your family memory box. I find that recital programs as well as wedding invitations are another great item to add to your box.

Then, ask someone in the family to be in charge of writing a short letter telling what this year has meant to each of you, or telling of a special experience you all shared. Be sure to date each letter or memory put in the box. Line the box with special acid free tissue paper that can be found in a craft store to protect your items. Seal your box with a ribbon and place it safely away until the following year when it will be re-opened and shared with the entire family. Then, the process begins again, with new items added each year by family members, creating new memories for the years to come.

I hope that each of you will find your own “memory box” and decorate it to fit your family’s life style and start thinking what you might place in this year’s box.

Remember that your parents and grandparents created lovely holiday memories for you, and it is your responsibility to create new ones for your family. As you enter the senior years, these will be even stronger loves of the heart for both you and your family.

By Sheryl Sollars

The making of memories

2011-11-16T18:45:00.002-05:00

What makes a memory?

Is it a particularly bad joke or a line from a great movie that sticks with us longer than it should? Is it grueling road trips with siblings packed like sardines in the trusty family van, or a Christmas Eve tradition passed down to a new generation? Is it simply the firing of neurons in our brain each time we taste, touch, smell, see or hear something, regardless of what that something is? It depends on who you ask. But if it’s me you’re asking, all of the above are true.

It’s impossible to count the number of things we have remembered throughout our life. It’s equally hard to pinpoint what makes those things worth remembering. But a few constants in my life seem to get my neurons firing more than others — friends, family and fun. (This is beginning to read like a cheesy, manufactured, feel-good column. Bear with me.)

Most of my favorite memories have one or a combination of the “three Fs.”

Driving across the American southwest and camping along the way — friends + fun.

Pizza fondue, “It’s a Wonderful Life” and midnight mass on Christmas Eve — family + fun.

My wedding day — friends + family + and a lot of fun.

There’s a pretty good chance that if it’s worth remembering, it took place with either my friends or my family, and it was fun. Of course, not all memories are happy and even sad things are worth remembering at times, but I can all but guarantee that when I’m bumping a grandchild on my knee and regaling her with the daring tales of her grandpa’s adventurous and brazen past — emphasis my own — it will be those stories heavy on the “three Fs” that come up each time. Family. Friends. Fun.

The holidays tend to be a time of year with an unlimited amount of good memories, both to be made and to remember. In this issue of Salt, we’ve compiled a number of articles that aim to address the making of memories. In reading, we hope you’ll draw on your own life and experiences and perhaps gain a better understanding of the truly important things in life. You know, like who gets Park Place and Boardwalk in that annual, cutthroat game of Monopoly.

As always, thanks for reading and Happy Holidays.

By John Cropper
Editor, Salt Magazine

A quilt for Casey

2011-11-16T18:44:00.002-05:00

Sometimes creating memories can be surprising as well as caring. No one knows the process better than Jean Crites, a long-time resident of Wilmington. Jean’s music students are spread across the nation. Her creations and gifts reach almost as far.

Jean loves to bestow hand-made gifts when friends and family have birthdays, babies, or weddings - a true testament of her love for others. Her quilt for Casey began as a surprise.

Jean was in a local store, Warings, getting materials to frame a picture, when she saw a picture on cloth. She was intrigued. Her granddaughter, Casey, was turning eighteen soon. The “wheels started turning,” and she thought, “Why not a quilt for my granddaughter?”

Later, as Jean reviewed her pictures, she was surprised at how fast the memories began to flood her mind. She began reminiscing about Casey’s birth, about Casey and her brother in the cockpit of a 737 their father, Joe, was flying for A/A, about Casey as a bridesmaid in a wedding and, finally, about Casey’s graduation from high school.

Jean organized the pictures and added some “embroidered old-fashioned girl squares.” When blue material, “girl squares,” and the pictures were pieced together, she knew the gift was special. Her eyes sparkle as she remembers, “A good friend and neighbor, Kelly Kay, did the quilting. It was really an exhilarating, fun experience. Casey’s at Ohio State - made the Dean’s List - and uses the quilt on her bed. Modern Homemakers had a party for my 90th birthday where I shared the quilt. Thus, the crown on my head in the picture.”

Perhaps Jean was taught long ago about creating memories. She has a priceless wedding ring quilt and an even more “expensive” story.

“My Wedding Ring Quilt is handed down from my mother,” says Jean. “When I was 10 years old, living in Struthers, Ohio, the neighbor’s cat came across the street and howled under my brothers’ bedroom window night after night. They’d finally had enough, and boys being boys, they shot the cat with a BB gun. The neighbor lady was furious even though my mother made the boys apologize. She wouldn’t speak to Mother for three or four long years.”

Jean smiles as she recalls that “one day she came over with this beautiful quilt, saying it was her penance for being angry. Quilter friends have said she must have been extra penitent, for she added an extra row of tiny pieces which are not a part of the original pattern!”

Understandably, Jean cherishes that quilt. When the quilt is passed on, the story goes with it. She’s written the story on cloth and attached it to the back - a surprising “flip side” to a time-consuming creation!

By Beverly Drapalik

Homemade gifts are nice, but try 'heartmade' gifts this year

2011-11-16T17:20:00.004-05:00

Many of you are crafters at heart and some of you only try your creative talents during the holidays. Then there are those of you who are like me, whose creative juices work 24/7 and you just keep filing the ideas away for a rainy day. Well, it is time for me to open my file and share with you some ideas that you can use during the upcoming holidays.

I think it is time for a change in what we call gifts that are made with our hands. The word “handmade” has lost its meaning. Since the thought of giving these gifts comes from the heart and they are actually made by you, I am going to refer to them as “heartmade”.

It is so easy to just hit the mall for a gift; but taking time to create a “heartmade” gift shows that you are giving of yourself more so than your pocketbook. These gifts will mean so much more to the recipient and they will warm their hearts. After all, isn’t that what true gift giving is all about?

Most of you think of candy, cookies and other food products when making a gift. But I want to give you some new suggestions. I know that for many of you, time is a big consideration when selecting a “heartmade” item and want something quick and easy. Cookie (or muffin) Ingredient Jars are always a great idea that take very little time since you are only layering the ingredients and attaching a recipe. In addition, you have saved yourself the time involved with the baking and presentation of baked items.

I like to layer the ingredients in an order that is most appealing to the eye. Then, using a recipe card, attach the recipe of how to make the cookie or food item in the jar. If you are real crafty this card can be created easily on the computer and then you can just print multiples if you are creating several jars. I like to add a little Christmas art and colorful ribbon to brighten the jar.

A new item that will be tucked in my Christmas gift bag this year is a colorful jar of Honey Cinnamon Butter. Now this is what I really call easy and delicious! You just mix the ingredients and pour them into a ½ to 1 pint jar, tie on a bright ribbon and attach your gift tag. On some of the jars I attached some self-stick jewels from the craft department and found their sparkle created a gorgeous gift. I guarantee that the recipient will be drooling over this neat “heartmade” item.

Since my creative juices work on overtime (I wish I got paid for every idea I come up with!) I found another unique gift idea. I was shopping in the kitchen department the other day and found some tall bottles with a hinged stopper. They were a pretty clear gold color and were on sale for only $1.75 each! I was so excited I bought all of them knowing that I could use them in creating wonderful presents for friends on my list. (Those of you on my list know who you are, so plug up your ears!) I decided to fill some of them with tasty Dipping Oils and others with Herbal Vinegar Bath Refresher.

It is funny how sometime you find an interesting article just when you need it. I found a great one in one of my magazines this month. It explained how the use of Apple Cider Vinegar in your bath water would help relieve dry skin and leave it soft and refreshed. Now I know that some of you are saying, “I don’t want to smell like vinegar,” so I am adding rosemary and honey to mine. The rosemary will give it a wonderful aroma and the honey will also pamper the skin. Another great combination is created by adding lavender and vanilla. I’ll just tuck this lovely bottle in a wine bottle gift bag and now I have a few more people crossed off my gift list.

My last gift idea is NOT for a kitchen fan but rather for the athletes on your Christmas list. That means three grandsons for me, two pole vaulters (Clinton Massie and Ohio State) and a serious high school wrestler. I came up with the idea of making sport pin shadow boxes. After a few hours on the Internet, I found rare, old Olympic pins for wrestling and pole vaulting. I then inserted them in shadow boxes that I purchased from a craft store. They are now being preserved and can be hung on the wall in their rooms.

I was amazed at what could be found if you take the time to research - and with a little sharp bidding you can get them really cheap! My favorite was the Romanian Communist pin from a 1932 wrestling competition. This can be done for any sport the person has an interest in and is something that can be added to each year.

Well, I have just about everyone on my Christmas list crossed off with “heartmade” items. Hopefully, with ideas I have given you, you can too!

Happy Gifting,
Sheryl Sollars

Keeping cherished moments can be done in ways big and small

2011-11-16T17:16:00.002-05:00

Do you miss opportunities to create memories? Your digital camera is your friend. Put that device into your purse!

Can you make cookies at least one time a year? The most important time would be Christmas, right? If your child is two years old, he can sit on the counter and hand you items as you prepare dough. He can also cut out cookies! Each year he’ll be able to mix, read directions, find ingredients, and before long he will be mixing the dough and chilling it in the refrigerator for the family event. Go out and buy a child’s apron and cookie cutters!

Easy cookie dough: 1 stick butter, ½ cup sugar, l/2 cup brown sugar, 1 egg, 1-l/2 cups self-rising flour, 1 teaspoon vanilla. Mix all. Divide into thirds. Use drops of food coloring to make red and green dough, leaving the third amount plain. Chill in fridge for about an hour. Have fun cutting out cookies. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Decorate and don’t worry about looks - the cookies taste great!

Have you heard about picaboo.com? If you have years of pictures housed in a huge box, consult this website and you’ll become a designer of a priceless digital book. The quality is tops. Also, check out the “specials” and save money.

Are you aware of the wooden chest-type boxes at craft stores? Instead of creating a scrapbook of memories, buy a box and paint it in a bright color. Buy a paint pen and add your child’s initials on the front. Then begin to file important pictures, school records and artwork. Actually, this is a very “masculine” keepsake. It’s a great place to keep all of the 3-D awards such as school pins and letters because – alas - letter jackets are not popular!

Where are all of those cross-stitch pictures from friends and family? Are they piled in a closet because you can’t seem to pitch hand-crafted textiles? Take the cross-stitching from the old frames. You may have several, so each one will be a different size. Add borders of material to some in order to make equally-sized squares for a pieced memory quilt. One wall hanging could be better than small outdated crafts!
Have you seen wooden trays? These trays come in all sizes and can be stained or painted. Gather your favorite pictures, make a collage that fits the inside of the tray, and finish with a decoupage medium. These trays can be seen on a daily basis as they hold car keys and other personal items.

Do your family members have favorite flowers and bushes? Create a memory garden in one part of the yard. Add plantings in honor of people. As babies are born, add to the yard. Take pictures of your loved ones next to their plants and notice the changes each year. Take pictures for grandparents or dry flowers and paste to candles. Bouquets are even faster!

Is e-mail still your friend? Have you converted solely to texting? Find family pictures. E-mail those family members and ask them three questions of your choice such as “favorite food, favorite gift ever received, and favorite song.” This easy task might guarantee an answer within a week. Simply print answers and add to a quick picture album.

By Beverly Drapalik

Front Porch Profile - Shane Wilkin

2011-11-16T16:47:00.004-05:00

Shane Wilkin - Highland County, Ohio Board of Commissioners President

What is your favorite movie?
Gladiator.

Where is the most interesting place you've traveled?
East Germany/East Berlin before the wall came down.

What is your favorite Elvis Presley song?
American Trilogy/Elvis' version of My Way.

What character from a book would you be?
Tom Sawyer. Always an adventure.

Cats or dogs?
Is this really a choice? Dogs.

What quote best defines how you live your life?
Don't miss it.

Winter, spring, summer or fall?
Fall.

Regular or decaf?
What's the point of decaf? Regular.

What is the thing you love most about your community?
The sense of family we have here in Highland County.

What is one of the funniest things a kid has said to you?
At church, a young boy had a prayer concern for his goldfish because the fish was swimming on its side. Then his praise 10 seconds later was, "At least my fish is not floating." It is all a matter of perception!

By Lora Abernathy
Health and Wellness Editor, Salt Magazine
Southwest Group Online Editor, Ohio Community Media

Honey, how do you use it?

2011-08-10T17:04:00.000-04:00

By Sharon Hughes ~ Hillsboro, Ohio

Honey has several purposes beyond being an additive in tea or being used as a home remedy to cure common ailments.

Times-Gazette Advertising Representative Sharon Hughes kicks her basic meatloaf up a notch by drizzling thick, sweet honey across the top of the loaf before baking.

"I am always trying new things in the kitchen; it's where I come up with my best creations," Hughes said. "I rarely follow a recipe to the letter and I like adding a little of this and a little of that."

Hughes prepares her meatloaf as usual and then tops the loaf with brown sugar and stripes of honey.

"Not only does the honey give a great taste, it keeps the meatloaf moist," she said.

Preparing more than enough, Hughes enjoys using the leftover meatloaf for sandwiches the following day.

"I also add a tablespoon of honey to my chili and sloppy Joe recipe," she said. "It gives that extra 'oomph.' Honey is great to have in your kitchen."

Building a small plot, raised-bed garden

2011-04-14T22:46:00.002-04:00

Story and photos by John Cropper

Of all the things I look forward to with the coming of spring — like baseball, outdoor patios and longer days — gardening is what keeps my mind rooted in warmer temperatures while the thermostat struggles to climb.
The first of several seed catalogs landed on my desk only a few weeks into the New Year. Since then, I’ve been poring over it, concocting a “fantasy garden” of exotic peppers, unique squashes and heirloom tomatoes. I’ve made lists of new seed varieties and scribbled notes onto a legal pad, the beginnings of an annual garden journal. Truthfully, the whole process seems better suited for gridiron sports than backyard greenthumbery, but it helps to know now what you want to plant later.

Since I’ve moved back to Wilmington, I’ve been faced with limited amounts of green space suitable for a garden. That’s the case again as my wife and I settle into a new house not far from downtown, where the only usable tracts of grass are either shrouded in shade, choked by vines or — worse — on a slope. To combat these conditions in the past, I built small plot, raised-bed gardens that I could manage easily. The raised beds let you keep weeds under control and maintain an ideal soil quality using additional topsoil, compost and peat.
In this article I’ll highlight the steps I take when considering where and how to build a garden. While I might be writing with the land-deprived in mind, raised-bed gardens are worth considering whether you live on one acre or 100.

Plan it before you plant it

The first step in building a new garden is planning — planning which kinds of food you would like to grow, where you want to grow them and how much space you want to use. Probably the most important thing to consider is the placement of your garden. Make sure that your garden will receive at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. Certain crops require less sunlight, and some require more. But six to seven hours a day is a safe and achievable number for optimal plant growth.
If it’s your first time planting a vegetable garden, brainstorm which vegetables you and your family like and will realistically eat. Make sure the plants you choose will grow well in your growing zone. (Either zone 5 or zone 6, depending on which county you live in. For more information about growing zones, consult your county’s Ohio State University extension office.) If it’s not your first year gardening, think about last year. What did you like and dislike? What did you have too much of and what wouldn’t grow fast enough? Adjust your planning accordingly and make the most of your garden space.
Once you’ve decided which fruit, vegetables and herbs you want to grow, grab a pencil and paper (graph paper, if possible) and sketch the layout of the garden-to-be. Keep in mind when mapping out your garden that each plant has different spacing and sunlight requirements for maximum growth. For beginning gardeners, I recommend using the square foot gardening approach made famous by Mel Bartholomew. This method breaks down the garden bed into 1’ by 1’ squares, which makes visualizing the layout all the easier. For experienced gardeners, think back on what worked in the past and what didn’t, and adjust your garden planning accordingly.
Because you will be constructing a wooden frame to house your garden, determine how big you want the bed to be depending on what you want to grow. This year, I chose a 5'x10' rectangle frame, which is slightly bigger than the 3'x8' frame I have used in the past. I know a little better now what works for my family, and I've altered my garden planning to match that.

Soil preparation

The soil quality in Ohio varies depending on the geography, and even then it varies depending on where you live in southwest Ohio. But I wouldn’t get too concerned about whether or not your soil is suitable for vegetable gardening. Instead, focus on two specific aspects of soil health: drainage and pH levels.
Soil is generally divided into three categories: clay soil, sandy soil or loamy soil. Clay soil is nutrient rich but doesn’t drain well. Sandy soil drains well but has trouble retaining nutrients and moisture. Loamy soil is somewhere in between, and is the most preferred soil for gardening. From my experience, the soil in Clinton County tends to be on the clayey side, which means it has drainage issues. Determine which soil you have now so you can make the proper fixes before planting time.
The pH level of soil is important for healthy plant growth but is often overlooked by budding gardeners. The pH scale runs from zero to fourteen, where one is very acidic and fourteen is very alkaline. Most plants grow best in neutral soil, around a pH level of six or seven. If the pH level of your soil is less then five or more than eight, it’s likely your plants won’t develop healthily. But fear not—the fix is easy. You can purchase cheap pH level test kits from most garden centers, or your county’s OSU Extension office will conduct soil tests for you. They’ll also be able to tell you how to amend your soil to get it back in neutral territory.
The first step in getting your soil ready for your soon-to-be garden is flipping the sod. By uprooting the grass and flipping over large chunks of sod, you’ll keep the grass from growing into your garden, and you’ll provide a nice base onto which you can add more soil. Here’s how I do it:
•
• Rope off the area where you want your garden to be. Make sure each side is square and the ground is level.
• With a square shovel or spade, perforate the outer perimeter of the grass rectangle about 6” to 10” deep. Perforate the rest of the rectangle in 1'x1' sections, putting downward pressure on the shovel blade to separate the roots from the ground. Keep the depth of the shovel consistent so the amount of sod you flip is likewise consistent.
• Once you have perforated your entire plot in moveable squares, beginning flipping the sod over until you have flipped the whole plot.

Supplies for raised bed construction and soil addition

The frame you will need for your raised-bed garden requires some very simple construction using 2'x4's or 2'x8's and wood screws. You will also need to purchase several bags of soil additives. I use a mixture of topsoil, composted manure and a peat moss mixture. Each of the additives can be found at your town’s garden center or home improvement store.
For my garden this year, I decided to stay with a simple raised-bed construction. Here’s what I left the hardware store with:
•
• 3 - 2'x5'x10' untreated pieces of lumber — Though untreated wood will not last as long as treated lumber, it’s considered safer when growing edible plants.
• 1 box of 3” wood screws — These will secure the boards together once they are placed in the ground.
• 3 bags of organic topsoil
• 3 bags of composted manure
• 2 bags of peat moss

To assemble your garden’s frame, first dig a small trench around the perimeter of your flipped sod. This will allow each board to rest inside the ground and will provide added stability. Once you’ve set each of your boards in the ground, adjust their posititioning as needed to ensure they’re square and the corners match up together. Screw the boards together from the outside edges. Add the soil amendments and mix together using a hoe or a garden rake.

Now that your frame is built and your soil is prepped for planting, all that’s left to do is plant your crops. The “unofficial official” planting date for growing zones in the midwest is Mother’s Day each year. The holiday lands on May 8 this year, which will make sure your seeds or seedlings don’t suffer from a late frost or a typical yet unexpected Ohio snow. But when the weather warms for good, take a trip to your local garden center and stock up on seeds, seedling transplants and any other garden supplies you’ll need throughout the growing season.

Springtime grilling | It’s burger season

2011-04-14T22:38:00.003-04:00

Story and recipes by Lori Holcomb

Photos by John Cropper

It seems that we have been experiencing more that the normal few spells of “Ohio weather” this spring. Warm, sunny days followed by clouds and snow. Shorts and flip-flops followed by mittens and scarves. It’s a dance of sorts, a sparring of possibly the worst case of the winter blues versus that optimistic hope of spring. After being cooped up inside for what seems an eternity this winter, I am itching to spend some time outside, clean out the flower beds, plant some new perennials, plan this years garden and get out the patio furniture. This tease of spring has also accelerated my desire to fire up the grill.

And that means BURGERS. While you can make a burger with almost any cooking method, a burger on the grill is elevated to a new level, the best of the best. If you ask me, burgers are also the perfect main dish. You can use many different proteins as the base - beef, bison, lamb, chicken, turkey, pork or even salmon - and with some fresh produce, herbs and dairy, really make a spectacular meal.

My husband and I absolutely love to wake up on a Saturday morning, grab a cup of coffee and wander around the Clinton County Farmer’s Market. With the abundance of produce, herbs, breads and so many other delicious finds, we have found the makings of some really great burgers. One of our favorite finds was ground lamb. Our first thought was a Greek lamb burger stuffed with feta cheese and topped with roasted red peppers, and tzatziki sauce. Tzatziki (cucumber, garlic, yogurt and dill) is also great on a salmon burger.

We also found homemade cracked black pepper cheddar rolls. The perfect base for a bison burger stuffed with Colby cheese and jalapeños and topped with bacon, tomato, red onion, bread and butter pickles and a Chipotle Sriracha mayonnaise. All made with locally produced and locally grown ingredients. Sounds good, right? I don’t think it could get any better than that!

Here are a few of our favorite burger combinations along with a few tasty sides. These burgers are stuffed with goodness for a little surprise in each bite! I hope you take the time to stroll around your local farmer’s market, pick up some fresh, local ingredients, get creative and fire up your grill. ENJOY!

Bison Burgers

Stuffed with Colby and Jalapeños

Bison is rich and lean. Filled with Colby and jalapeños and topped with a Chipotle Sriracha mayonnaise, smoky bacon and a sweet contrast of bread and butter pickles, these burgers are piled high with flavor!

1 lb. ground bison

Sliced colby cheese

Jalapeño slices

6 strips bacon (cooked)

3 slices tomato

3 slices red onion

Bread and butter pickles

3 sesame or onion rolls

½ cup mayonnaise

2-3 tbsp. Sriracha chile sauce

1tsp. chipotle chile powder

In a small bowl, mix mayonnaise, Sriracha chile sauce and chipotle chile powder. Refrigerate. Divide ground bison into 6 equal portions. Press each into patties. Place jalapeño rings and Colby cheese on center of three patties keeping filling ½” from edge. Top with additional patties, pressing edges to seal. Sprinkle each patty on both sides with salt and pepper and grill until cooked through.

To assemble, spoon Chipotle Sriracha Mayonnaise on bottom bun, top with burger, red onion, tomato bacon and bread and butter pickles.

Serves 3

Tip:

Purchase the cylindrical shaped Colby cheese. The small, round shape is perfect for a stuffed burger. Sriracha sauce is a Thai chile sauce usually found in the Asian food section of your local supermarket. You may recognize Sriracha sauce as the hot sauce with the green cap usually on the table at many Chinese restaurants.

Caprese Beef Burgers

Stuffed with Fresh Mozzarella Cheese, Topped with Basil Mayonnaise

Taking the lead from the familiar summer Caprese salad of fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, basil and extra virgin olive oil, these burgers are sure to please!

1 lb. ground angus beef

Sliced fresh mozzarella cheese

Italian seasoning blend

3 slices tomato

3 split ciabatta rolls

½ cup mayonnaise

15 basil leaves

2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

Balsamic vinegar (optional)

In a blender, mix mayonnaise, basil leaves and olive oil. Blend well. Add salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate. Divide ground beef into 6 equal portions. Press each into patties. Place fresh mozzarella cheese on center of three patties keeping filling 1/2” from edge. Top with additional patties, pressing edges to seal. Sprinkle each patty on both sides with Italian seasoning blend, salt and pepper. Grill until cooked through. Grill ciabatta rolls to warm through.

To assemble, spoon basil mayonnaise on bottom of roll, top with burger and tomato. Season tomato with salt and pepper. For a little added zing, drizzle burger with a little balsamic vinegar before serving.

Serves 3

Note:

Fresh Mozzarella is different than the standard mozzarella used for pizza. It is a mild, creamy, semi-soft cheese usually found in the specialty cheese department.

Greek Lamb Burgers

Stuffed with Feta Cheese, Topped with Tzatziki Sauce

Lamb is lean and mild. Filled with Feta cheese and topped with the traditional Greek Tzatziki sauce and roasted red peppers on grilled flatbread, these burgers are a favorite at our house.

1 lb. ground lamb

Crumbled feta cheese

Garlic salt

1 English Cucumber, peeled and coarsely chopped

16 oz. plain greek yogurt

1 tbsp. fresh dill (minced)

3 cloves garlic (minced)

2 tbsp. lemon juice

2 tbsp. olive oil

Roasted red pepper slices

3 split sandwich sized flatbread

To make Tzatziki, in a bowl, mix Greek yogurt, cucumber, dill, garlic, lemon juice and olive oil. Refrigerate several hours or overnight. Divide ground lamb into 6 equal portions. Press each into patties. Place Feta cheese crumbles on center of three patties keeping filling ½” from edge. Top with additional patties, pressing edges to seal. Sprinkle each patty on both sides with garlic salt and pepper. Grill until cooked through.

To assemble, spoon Tzatziki on bottom of flatbread, top with burger, roasted red pepper slices and a little more Tzatziki.

Tip: You can very easily roast your own red peppers at home. Slice peppers in half, clean out seed and remove stem. Drizzle outsides of pepper with olive oil and place skin side up under broiler in oven or skin side down on grill until skins blacken. Place peppers while still hot in a gallon Ziploc bag and allow to cool. This will loosen the skin. Carefully peel away blackened skin and cut peppers into strips.

Mom’s Mustard Potato Salad

From the kitchen of my Mom, Sandy Schum

5 lbs. Idaho Potatoes, peeled, cooked, cubed

6 eggs, hard-boiled, peeled and chopped

1-2 cups mayonnaise

3 tbsp. yellow mustard (add more or less to taste)

1 ½ tbsp. celery flakes

1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped

Salt and Pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients except mayonnaise in a bowl. Starting with one cup, add mayonnaise. Add more mayonnaise ½ cup at a time until desired texture. Salt and pepper to taste.

Lori’s Loaded Potato Salad

My twist on my Mom’s potato salad

3 lbs. Red Potatoes, skin on, cooked and cubed

1 package Ranch Dressing Mix

1 bundle green onion, chopped

1 ½ cups cheddar cheese, shredded

8-10 strips bacon, cooked, chopped

1 ½ - 2 cups Mayonnaise

Mix 1 ½ cups mayonnaise with ranch dressing packet. Combine with remaining ingredients, adding more mayonnaise if needed. Salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate.

Mom Holcomb’s Macaroni Salad

Before we were even married, I knew I had to get this recipe. It’s one of my husband’s favorites.

1 lb. elbow macaroni, cooked and drained

4-5 eggs, hard-boiled, shelled and chopped

1 medium onion, finely chopped

1 cucumber, seeded and finely chopped

1 large tomato, seeded and chopped

1 ½ – 2 cups miracle whip

1 tbsp. mustard

½ tsp. celery seed

Salt and pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Refrigerate 4-6 hours or overnight. Stir before serving. If needed, add an additional ½ cup Miracle Whip.

Granny’s Broccoli Salad

From the kitchen of my Granny, Faith Schum

3 crowns broccoli, stems removed, florets chopped

¾ cup raisins

1 medium red onion, very thinly sliced, chopped

¾ jar Hormel Real Bacon Pieces

1 cup mayonnaise

1 cup sour cream

¼ cup Sugar

¼ cup honey

¼ cup lime juice

Combine mayonnaise, sour cream, sugar, honey and lime juice in bowl. Stir until well blended. Add remaining ingredients, stir well and refrigerate 4-6 hours or overnight. Stir before serving.

Easy No-Fail Coleslaw

With a nod to my husband’s grandma Phyllis Holcomb and my grandmother Delores Swafford, this simple coleslaw is always a crowd pleaser.

1 cup Marzetti Slaw Dressing

8 cups cabbage, shredded

1 carrot, shredded

1 small yellow onion, shredded

Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Refrigerate 4-6 hours or overnight. Stir before serving.

Grilled Potato Packets

An easy side for any grilled meal

4 medium potatoes, skin on, sliced

Butter

Garlic and Herb seasoning blend

Salt

Water

Foil

Tear off a 12” square piece of foil. Place one sliced potato in center of foil. Dot with butter and sprinkle with seasoning blend and salt. Fold over foil and seal all edges except one. Drizzle about two tablespoons water in open end of packet and fold to seal. Grill until potatoes are tender. Serve.

Easy Grilled Pineapple Dessert

One of our family favorites, this dessert is simple and delicious

Fresh Pineapple rings

Brown Sugar

Vanilla Ice Cream

Honey

Place pineapple rings on grill. Grill until char marks appear on one side, flip. Sprinkle with brown sugar and grill until sugar begins to melt. Place a pineapple slice in a small bowl, top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and drizzle with honey. Serve immediately.

Latest issue in news stands / papers NOW!

2011-04-14T22:27:00.000-04:00

Salt spring issue hits newsstands April 13, 14
The spring issue of Salt Magazine hits the newsstands this week in Wilmington, Hillsboro, Washington Court-House, Georgetown and West Union. Readers of the News Journal, the Times Gazette, the News Democrat and the Record Herald will receive the magazine in their Thursday, April. 14 editions. The readers of the People’s Defender will get the magazine on Wednesday, April 13. Copies will also be available for purchase for $3 in the offices of each paper.

This latest issue of Salt dives head-first into spring with profiles of southern Ohio herb farmers, tips on how to prepare your spring and summer garden, dozens of grilling recipes and a unique look into a successful exercise routine that will help shave some of those winter pounds.

Salt is a quarterly lifestyle magazine produced by Ohio Community Media and distributed throughout southwest Ohio. Topics include home living tips, DIY tutorials, recipes and feature articles on our local communities.

Getting Organized Tips

2011-01-20T09:21:00.000-05:00

Tip #1
Figure out your new goals for the year and then evaluate everything you own and make sure those items are helping you reach your goals. If they aren’t helping you reach your goals then they may be keeping you from reaching them.

Tip #2
When you are presented with a task ask yourself can I do this in less than two minutes. If you can, do it now. Stop putting them off. You will find you get many more things done when you take the time to do small tasks now.

Tip #3
Monitor what you bring into your life whether it is an object or a piece of paper. Start asking yourself if I didn’t already have this would I request it or go out and get it. Remember free things can take up time, space, money and even affect your relationships if they become clutter.

Tip #4
Get rid of any clutter that is draining you emotionally. When you see that stack of unread magazines how do they make you feel. Bad? Toss them…more will take there place.

From our friends at EncoreOrganizers.com

Spritz Cookie Recipe Collection

2010-12-20T07:02:00.000-05:00

Yummy variations of a Holiday Favorite ...

Spritz Cookies
Use a cookie press to create lovely shapes in this easy, buttery cookie.

2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 cup butter
...1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

Heat oven to 400F. In large mixer bowl combine sugar, butter, egg, salt, and vanilla. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until mixture is light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add flour. Beat at low speed, scraping bowl often, until well mixed, 2 to 3 minutes. Place dough in cookie press. Form desired shapes 1 inch apart on cookie sheets. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.

Note: You can also color the dough with food coloring, and decorate with dragées and colored sugar.
---

Sour Cream Spritz

1 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 large egg yolk
1/3 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 3/4 cup all-purpose flour, sifted
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda

Preheat oven to 375 F. Beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg yolk, sour cream and vanilla. Sift together flour, cinnamon, salt and baking soda. Gradually stir flour mixture into butter mixture. Fill cookie press with dough, then form cookies on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 10-12 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Note: Can also be made using a pastry bag using a large pastry tip.

---

Egg Nog Spritz
2/3 cup sugar
1 cup butter -- softened
1 egg
...1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
For Glaze
1 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup butter -- softened
2 tablespoons water
1/4 teaspoon rum extract

Heat oven to 400F. In large mixer bowl combine sugar, butter, egg, salt, spices, and vanilla. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until mixture is light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add flour. Beat at low speed, scraping bowl often, until well mixed, 2 to 3 minutes. If dough is too soft, cover and refrigerate until firm enough to form cookies, 30 to 45 minutes. Place dough in cookie press. Form desired shapes 1 inch apart on cookie sheets. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. For Glaze, in small bowl stir together powdered sugar, butter, water, and rum extract until smooth. Drizzle or pipe over warm cookies.
---

Brown Sugar Spritz
Makes about 60

1 cup butter, softened
...1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder

for pineapple filling:
29 1/2 ounces crushed pineapple, drained
1 cup sugar
red and green food coloring

Make pineapple filling. In a saucepan stir together pineapple and sugar, bring to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer until mixture is very thick, 30 to 35 minutes, stirring often. Divide fruit filling in half. Using a few drops of food coloring, tint half of the filling red and the other half green. Cool thoroughly. Preheat oven to 400F. Cream together butter and brown sugar; beat in egg and vanilla. Stir together flour and baking powder; add gradually to creamed mixture, mixing until smooth. Do not chill. Place half of the dough in the cookie press. Using the ribbon plate, press dough in ten 10-inch strips on ungreased cookie sheets. Using star plate and remaining dough, press lengthwise rows of dough on top of each strip, making a rim along both edges. Spoon red or green pineapple filling between rims on top of ribbon strips. Bake cookies for 8 to 10 minutes. While hot, cut strips into 1 1/4 inch diagonals. Cool. Makes 78.
Note: Or, omit filling and force all of the dough through cookie press on ungreased cookie sheet into desired shapes. Shake ground almonds with a few drops red or green food coloring in a screw-top jar; sprinkle over cookies. Bake at 400F for 8 minutes.

Hassle-Free Holiday

2010-12-16T17:26:00.002-05:00

The Logistics of a Hassle-Free Holiday

(Family Features) - The holidays are supposed to be filled with love and good cheer, but the logistics of shopping for gifts, sending out cards, taking family trips and shipping packages can leave even the jolliest of people in a Scrooge-like mood.
Fortunately, there are some ways you can take the hassle out of the holidays and make them a little brighter for yourself and those around you.

Shop Smart

Avoid long lines, crowded parking lots and out-of-stock items with these helpful hints:
Get Ready - Before you head out to the mall, make a list of the gifts you want to buy and do some online price comparison. Use sites like BizRate, DealTime or Shopzilla, as well as check local ads to find the best price. You may want to call your local store to see if they have your item in stock, saving yourself a trip if they don't have it.
Shop Early - Plan to shop early in the day, and early in the season. Morning crowds tend to be lighter and sales assistants tend to be more attentive first thing. And the earlier in the season you shop, the less you have to deal with long lines and frustrated shoppers. Plus, this year, while there are 29 shopping days between Thanksgiving and Christmas, there are only 20 shipping days.
Wrap It Up - Pay a little extra and let a charity group at the store wrap your gifts for you. This saves you time later and frees you up to get other things done - and you help a good cause.
If you do any online or catalogue shopping, avoid having packages left on your doorstep by getting a mailbox at The UPS Store. You get a mailbox with a real street address, which accepts packages from all carriers. And, you can choose to receive an e-mail or text when you have a package waiting, avoiding unnecessary trips.

No-Hassle Holiday Packing

Make sure your carefully chosen gifts get to their destinations intact with these helpful tips:
DO

Check with experts before shipping fragile items (or items that might be considered hazardous or illegal to ship, such as perfume or cologne).
Use materials the professionals use - foam packaging peanuts, bubble cushioning and packaging tape - to protect your gifts.
Include a label on the inside of the package with both the destination and return addresses.
Use a shipping option which provides a package-tracking number.
Take batteries out of toys, electronics, etc., before shipping.
Ship wrapped presents ahead to your destination, especially if traveling by air.

DON'T

Wrap boxes in brown paper or tie with string.
Use materials like newspaper or real popcorn to cushion items.
Use old boxes or gift boxes for shipping items.
Use duct tape, masking tape or cellophane tape to seal your boxes for shipping.

For even less hassle, let the certified packing experts at The UPS Store handle the logistics of getting your gifts safely to your loved ones for the holidays. Participating locations offer the Pack & Ship Promise, which will reimburse customers in the event a center-packed item shipped via UPS is lost or damaged. Details are available at www.theupsstore.com.

Don't Lug Your Luggage

Navigating airport security, crowded terminals and long check-in lines can be stressful enough. Add luggage and gifts into the holiday travel mix and things can get really unpleasant. One solution travelers are turning to is shipping luggage to their destinations.
"Traveling without a suitcase is a tremendous convenience, especially during the hectic holiday travel season. Having your luggage awaiting your arrival and tracking it along the way is even better," said Bryan Vial, The UPS Store franchisee from Phoenix, Ariz. "Ship your luggage as is or place it in a box for shipment. Or, at select locations, you can purchase a luggage box and avoid a suitcase altogether."
Some major airline baggage fees can add up to over $100. Vial says that a luggage box of comparable size shipped via UPS Ground service is competitively priced and saves you time and hassle at the airport. If you are a member of the Automobile Association of America, you can receive a 15 percent discount off the full retail price of eligible products and services, and 5 percent off domestic U.S. shipping costs. Visit www.theupsstore.com for more information.

Luggage Shipping Tips

Because of the duties and taxes associated with international shipments, The UPS Store does not recommend shipping luggage internationally.
Federal Aviation Administration restrictions prohibit shipping hazardous materials, including colognes and perfumes, aerosol sprays, nail polish and cigarette lighters via air.
Include packaging tape and a return shipping label in the luggage box for use when returning home.

Dreaming of a Green Christmas?

Participating The UPS Store locations offer holiday shippers the option to neutralize the climate impact of their packages for a small fee when shipping with UPS. And, many locations accept clean foam packaging peanuts for reuse.
Key Dates for Holiday Shipping

Monday is the busiest shipping day of the week.
The busiest shipping week of the 2010 season is expected to be December 13 to 17.
If you are shipping international or to military personnel overseas, contact The UPS Store location nearest you to determine the best date to ensure on-time delivery.
Most ground packages require five days or less to reach their destination, but if you're shipping coast-to-coast, it may take longer.

Last-Minute Shipping Dates:

Tuesday, December 21 - Ship UPS 3 Day Select for delivery Friday, December 24.
Wednesday, December 22 - Ship UPS 2nd Day Air for delivery Friday, December 24.
Thursday, December 23 - Ship UPS Next Day Air for delivery Friday, December 24.

Happy Holiday Printing

Take the hassle out of printing holiday newsletters, programs and more. With online printing from The UPS Store, you can easily upload your documents, customize your printing and finishing options, preview the final project, and submit your project from the comfort of your home or office. Then, simply stop by to pick it up when you are shipping off holiday packages.
SOURCE:
The UPS Store

52 Loaves

2010-12-04T02:59:00.000-05:00

Karen Landwehr hasn’t always been a baker. As a girl, she would stand by her mother’s side in the kitchen, lost in the smell of freshly baked bread. Her mother would tell her how difficult baking yeast breads could be, and Karen, who lives near the Ohio border in Highland Heights, KY, didn’t try it for herself until she was an adult. “When I finally made it, I thought ‘this isn’t so hard’,” Landwehr said.

And thus it began: her year-long quest to bake a different bread recipe every week for 52 weeks. She started with a simple sweet-roll recipe which her friends and family had come to love, but with each new recipe she tweaked an ingredient here or added a new flavor there. “It all starts with that classic sweet bread recipe,” Landwehr said. “I get new ideas for recipes from research, and sometimes they just come to me. I’ll say ‘OK, what can I do with this?’”

Landwehr is documenting her challenge on her online blog called 52 Loaves of Bread (fiftytwoloaves.blogspot.com), where she posts the recipe for each week along with pictures of the final product and a narrative to accompany each one.

Every Monday Landwehr updates her readers, most of whom come from her Facebook page, where she posts the recipes for others to read. On three recent weeks, for example, the Kentucky baker made Chocolate Nut Cinnamon Swirl bread, Beer Bread and Date & Walnut Bread, all of which use her initial bread recipe as a backbone. Landwehr said the idea for her challenge came to her as she started to get more comfortable in the kitchen. “After that first couple of tries,

I challenged myself to make 52 new recipes,” she said. “I had to give myself a goal and a challenge. I wanted to hold myself accountable, so I decided to make a new recipe every week for a year.” If you do a Google search for 52 Loaves, you’ll almost certainly find results for a book of the same name written by William Alexander. Part memoir and part exploration of the ancient, doughy staple, Alexander’s book chronicles his journey to find the perfect loaf. Landwehr said it was a coincidence that she chose the same name for her blog (she had never heard of the book), but it’s an obvious overlap, given both of the authors varied but still similar missions.

At the time of writing, Landwehr was halfway finished with her 52 week challenge, but who knows how many more loaves await? “If I get to 52 and I want to keep going, I’ll keep going,” she said. “I’ll keep coming up with new recipes and pushing myself.”

Kneading with the enemy

2010-12-04T02:47:00.000-05:00

My history with bread making goes back a long way.

As a young newlywed, I loved to try the older recipes that often gave vague directions and not-so-precise measurements for ingredients. Like my grandma, teaching me how to make a pie crust. “How much water should I add?” I asked her. “You just know when it feels right,” she instructed. The potato bread recipe said to “place dough in a large bowl and let rise overnight.” I pulled out the largest bowl I had and placed the dough in it, covered it and left it on the kitchen counter. Before I went to bed that night, I went to check it out. I was shocked to find the dough had risen out of the bowl, onto the counter and was literally climbing down the side of the counter. By morning it could have eaten the whole kitchen I thought. I scooped it up and placed it on wax paper on the floor, covered it and left it till morning. Made about six loaves of bread and it was pretty good.

I spent some time in New Mexico where I had the opportunity to make bread with the Pueblo Indian women in preparation for one of their feasts. Big tin wash tubs were filled with dough rising over the top. They each took a hunk of the dough and offered me a hunk. I began to knead and then realized they were all staring at me and giggling. I didn’t understand until they began to knead. They were “kneading machines.” I would have been there till next week kneading bread as slow as I was. The round loaves were then shoveled in to the “horno”, an outdoor oven made of adobe. We made around seventy-five loaves of bread that day. Mmmm… mmm…

Bread making can be very therapeutic. The whole process of kneading and waiting and kneading and shaping. The aroma of bread baking in the oven and, oh, cutting into that loaf for the first bite. I love the way the loaf looks when it comes out… lightly browned on top and then glistening when brushed with butter. It’s like giving homage to time and space… a respite from the instant gratification culture that all too often consumes us. Homemade bread is the result of nurturing a recipe over the course of several hours… even days.

But not all bread making has been so relaxing for me. A few months ago, a glob of white, mucky, runny matter sealed in a couple of plastic bags showed up on my kitchen counter. It looked vaguely familiar and sure enough it was what I thought it was. The “Friendship Bread” instructions were left there with the bags courtesy of my daughter, Kara, who was living with us for the summer. I remember this stuff because it seems like it never quits. Everyday you tend to the little bags.

Day One… ‘Do nothing – go by the date on the bag”. Ok, I think, not much to do and I’ve got six days till I do anything more than mush. Day Two… “Mush the bag”. Day Three… “Mush the bag”. Uh oh, forgot to Day Two… I mush extra today to make up. Day Four… “Mush the bag”… Day Five… “Mush the bag”. Day Six “Add to the bag 1 cup of self-rising flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup milk… then, of course, mush the bag”. I get home late and, dang it, no self-rising flour on hand. Too tired to make a trip to Kroger. Day Seven… “Mush the bag”. I text Kara. “Please pick up self-rising flour before you come home.” She forgot. Day Eight… “Mush the bag”. I finally have the self-rising flour! I do the Day Six regimen. Day Nine… “Mush the bag”. I am faithful and mushing extra to make up for all the days I missed. Day Ten…I put off Day Ten because I am behind. The bags look like they will explode! I let the air out and they calm down. I trust they will be okay overnight. But that night, I dream they explode in the kitchen and create a mess all over the stove. When I wake up they are okay but the bag is swollen and again looks like it will burst. I relieve the trapped air and mush, mush, mush. I say a prayer that it will be okay till I get home from work. When I get home, the bags are like blown-up balloons. I proceed with Day 10 instructions on Day 13 (I think). Pour contents of the bag into a nonmetal bowl. Now remember, I have two bags. So I double the recipe. Add 1 cup of self-rising flour, 1 cup sugar, and 1 cup milk. Mix together generously. Measure out four separate 1 cup servings of batter into 4 separate onegallon Ziploc bags (date the bags first). Keep one for yourself so you’ll always have bread, and give the other three away with a copy of the recipe. I pull out the one-gallon bags. I send my husband to go get more. I am short two bags! I begin dipping the big bowl of batter in each one. I miss the bag and batter lands on the counter, on the floor, on the side of the bag. He arrives with the remainder of the bags. Oh! Then I remember, I was supposed to label the bags first! Now the sides are damp from cleaning the batter away and the Sharpie won’t write on the wet surface. The dates are a little wavy from writing on the batter. Of course I forget to preheat the oven, but manage to get the rest of the ingredients together. Finally, two loaves and a Bundt pan of Friendship Bread, which I have dubbed “Enemy Bread” because of all the drama that has ensued in my world as a result. I take the “Enemy Bread” to work and pass out the bags to co-workers. Ten days later the bread and those dang bags reappear on my desk. And I am still nursing the bag I kept. But we had lots of fun with it and there are so many variations that others brought in to share. I guess it’s not fair to be so derogatory in my reference.

When I reconnected with my friend, Karen Landwehr, on Facebook, I was intrigued by a project she had immersed herself in called 52 Loaves. We thought you would enjoy her adventure with bread making as well. Maybe you will be inspired to take some time to bake some bread. If you do, let us hear from you. Share your recipes with us. We would love to publish them in our next issue in January.

Until then… please pass the SALT!

Pamela Stricker, Publisher

pstricker@ohcommedia.com

Reader Submissions for the January issue

2010-11-30T08:18:00.000-05:00

Lots of opportunities to contribute to the next delicious issue of the SALT Magazine:

Send us your photos of Winter Fun, Salt Shakers, Cabins, and Your Home Brew. (E-mail editor@thesaltmagazine.com)
Submit your favorite soup, stew, or warm-you-up recipe. (Click on the Submit Recipe button above)
Let us know what you love about SALT, your local, lifestyle magazine.

Submissions due by Dec. 15.

Roasting your Turkey

2010-11-23T09:02:00.003-05:00

Roast Turkey

When it comes to making a turkey, many may be intimidated. But fear not– roasting a turkey is relatively simple. It just takes a little prep work and you are on your way to an impressive centerpiece for your holiday table. Most holiday turkeys are pre-frozen. While fresh birds are available, they are more expensive and a little harder to find. A good rule of thumb when selecting your turkey is to purchase one pound for each person. If you are serving 12, you will need a 12 pound bird. That said, you also want to account for leftovers and turkey lovers. In our family, I usually prepare a 20-24 pound turkey for 16 guests. That insures enough meat for the meal, with a good amount of leftovers to share.

Thawing: Thawing a turkey takes time so make sure you plan for it. You can slow thaw in the refrigerator or quick thaw in a sink of cool water. That said, even a quick thaw takes several hours. A quick reference guide from the USDA is shown below.

REMINDER: Remove the giblets from the turkey cavities after thawing. Check both cavities. There should be a neck and a bag of giblets. Make sure you remove both!

Roasting: Once you have your turkey selected, properly thawed and removed from the packaging, again, with all the giblets removed, it is time to roast.

Here is what you will need: Large roasting pan – with or without rack Bulb turkey baster or spoon 6-8 ribs celery with leaves 2-3 large onions 1-2 lemons (if not stuffing your bird)

Salt Pepper Butter Vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 325º.

Rinse your turkey, including the inside cavities, with cold water.

Let drain and pat dry with paper towels.

Tuck wing tips under the shoulders of the bird.

This will keep them from burning and make the bird more stable on the serving platter.

Salt and pepper the inside cavities.

If you are stuffing your bird, go ahead and lightly spoon in stuffing until the cavity is full, pressing lightly to keep stuffing together.

If you are not stuffing your bird, halve the lemons, peel and quarter 1 onion and cut 2-3 celery stalks into 3” pieces and place in cavity.

These will help flavor the bird and season the drippings.

Place 5-6 whole celery stalks across the bottom of your roasting pan along with 1-2 onions peeled and cut into large wedges.

These will flavor the pan drippings and also lift the bird off the bottom of the pan.

If you prefer to use a rack, place it atop the vegetables.

Once your bird is stuffed or filled with lemon, onion and celery, place the bird in the pan.

Very carefully lift the skin on the breast, gently running your hand between the two to separate.

Be careful not to tear the skin. You should have created a pocket all the way down both sides of the breast.

Place pats of butter in pocket between skin and meat.

This will help keep the meat moist. Drizzle oil over turkey and rub over whole bird making sure the bird is covered.

Salt and pepper the entire surface. Loosely cover with a tent of aluminum foil and place in oven.

After 1 to 1 1/2 hours remove foil to allow turkey to brown.

Continue baking. You can baste the turkey with the pan juices, if you wish, every 30 minutes or so using a bulb baster or a spoon.

About 30-45 minutes before recommended cooking time is expired , check the internal temperature of the turkey in the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast with a food thermometer.

The minimum internal temperature, including the stuffing temperature, should reach 165° for safety.

Finish baking until safe temperature is reached. Remove from oven.

Let the turkey stand for 20 minutes before carving to allow juices to set. Remove from pan and place on turkey platter garnished with fresh greens.

SALT – Nov. 2011 - By Lori Holcomb

Turkey Cooking Chart

2010-11-23T08:57:00.002-05:00

Turkey Thawing Chart

2010-11-23T08:52:00.001-05:00

Turkey Tips

2010-11-23T08:46:00.002-05:00

• Seasonings and dried herbs on the outside of the bird tend to burn. For more flavor without the unsightly burned bits, use an herb or garlic infused oil. Flavored dipping oils for bread are much less expensive than infused olive oil and work wonderfully. Just strain out any herbs before drizzling over the turkey.

• Safety First: Make sure you wash all surfaces, cutting boards, utensils, etc. that may come in contact with the uncooked turkey or its juices thoroughly with soap and water.

• You do not need a fancy roasting pan or rack. Foil pans that you can purchase at your local grocer or retail store work perfectly and make clean up a breeze.

• Use fresh kale to garnish your turkey platter. These tough greens look beautiful, are inexpensive and will stand up to the heat of the turkey without wilting. Blood orange or pink grapefruit slices, cranberries or red and green grapes also make for an elegant presentation.

• Leftovers getting bland? Chop turkey meat and mix with leftover gravy for turkey “sloppy joes” or grab a few tortillas and some cheese and make turkey quesadillas.

SALT – Nov. 2011- By Lori Holcomb

Congratulations Shaker & Recipe winners!

2010-10-28T02:29:00.003-04:00

Congratulations to
Danna Akers, New Vienna
Dena Kay Clifton, Blanchester
Tom Hughes, New Vienna
for finding the Shaker in the July issue and being the randomly drawn winners. You could win too, just look for the shaker in this issue then visit thesaltmagazine.com and click on the shaker button to enter.

Congratulations to Melissa Barrett of Greenfield who won a night at Effie’s Place Bed & Breakfast in
Wilmington! You could win too - just by submitting your recipe favorites to be considered for publication in SALT! A chance to win a night’s stay at The Rooster’s Nest, a Bed & Breakfast, Winchester, Ohio is yours! Recipes must be submitted by Dec. 1 to qualify to win. Visit
www.thesaltmagazine.com and click on the SUBMIT RECIPE link at the top of the site.

Don't miss out on the SALT Market Place and Cookshow

2010-10-21T15:06:00.004-04:00

Residents from throughout southwest Ohio enjoyed the cooking exhibition in 2008 and in previous years.

The show is back!

(WATCH THE VIDEO!)

Named the SALT Magazine Market Place and Cookshow, the event is modeled after past shows that were so popular.

There will be HUNDREDS OF DOOR PRIZES and MORE THAN 40 VENDORS!

Every ticket holder receives their own tote bag with COUPONS and more. CHEF PIERRE WOLFE, "Ohio's Chef," will present three complete holiday dinners that families are sure to enjoy.

The SALT Magazine Market Place and Cookshow is set for Tuesday, Oct. 26, at the Roberts Centre in Wilmington.

Doors open at 4 p.m. and the cookshow begins at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are $12 each and are available at the Wilmington News Journal (937-382-2574), the Hillsboro Times-Gazette (937-393-3456), the Washington C.H. Record-Herald (740-335-3611), the Georgetown News Democrat (937-378-9161), the West Union People's Defender (937-544-2391) and the Xenia Daily Gazette (937-372-4444).

Submit now for Holiday / Cook Show Special Issue

2010-09-14T23:39:00.002-04:00

Submit your holiday recipes, cookie tips and tricks, and holiday traditions for consideration in the next issue of SALT.

This holiday and cook show issue of SALT comes out the last week of October.

Readers should submit recipes and other items by Sept. 25 by emailing editor@thesaltmagazine.com or visiting www.thesaltmagazine.com and clicking on the submit recipe link. Also accepted for consideration are holiday decor photos. salt pics, and family tradition photos.

Featured in this next issue are traditions, the SALT Cook Show recipes, Holiday Dining from A to Z, Cookies, holiday tips and tricks, health & wellness, and more.

Trash to Treasure

2010-07-30T07:12:00.000-04:00

BY HEATHER HARMON

Everywhere I turn, I find the media espousing such terms as sustainable living, social responsibility, going green, and living frugally. These terms may have new meaning to many of the younger generation, but they are certainly not new concepts. Many of our grandparents were living sustainable lifestyles that were both frugal and socially responsible way before it was considered fashionable to do so. When I began doing the research for this article, I decided to focus on homes built mostly from salvaged material. I wanted to find more people who weren’t just buying “green” products for their home, but who had found ways to look at materials in a different way and keep them out of the landfills. Not having a clue where to start, I began by asking my own family if they had ever heard of anyone in this area that had done such a thing. To my utter amazement, my aunt told me to start with my grandfather. She informed me that the cabin my grandfather had built in St. Martin along the Little Miami River more than 40 years ago for a weekend/vacation home had been built almost entirely from salvaged materials. I should have known this, but it had just never really occurred to me to ask about it. I had been visiting or staying there since birth and I had always taken its presence for granted. Intrigued by this discovery, I decided to interview my grandpa, Stan Pfister, for this article and headed to St. Martin where we were celebrating his 90th birthday in May at his cabin.

It was the early 1950’s and Stan was living in Wilmington with his young wife Joanne. He was working at Cincinnati Milacron at the time as an engineer. He was working hard and liked to unwind in his free time by fishing along the Little Miami River. Having grown up near Lynchburg and St. Martin he knew the areas of the Little Miami that ran through this region well. He had one spot in particular he liked to spend most of his time. At the time, it belonged to a farmer friend of his. He would fish along the bank and daydream about having a cabin of his own in the woods at the top of the ridge that lined this portion of the river. He and his wife had not been married long and had just started their family. Money was pretty tight, but he asked the owner of the land if he would consider selling a small piece of it to him. The farmer turned him down at first. A short time later, the farmer, needing a little money, offered three acres of land to him and he accepted. He paid between $150-250 per acre for three acres which included his favorite fishing spot. Now all he had to do was come up with the money to build the cabin.

Stan knew he needed to be resourceful and wanted to find ways to build the cabin as cheaply as possible. He was trained by the United States Air Force during World War II as a mechanic and draftsman and later by Ohio State University as a Mechanical Engineer. He put his drafting skills and mechanical inclination to work trying to find ways to build this home for little to no cost. He began by clearing a small portion of the land where the cabin would sit and a few walnut trees were cut down. These trees were taken to the lumberyard and cut into boards for later use. He began asking around and thinking about other ways he could find the materials for the cabin for free. He called Dayton Power & Light and asked them what they did with all of their old utility poles. They were trying to get rid of a lot of old poles and offered them to Stan for free as long as he came and picked them up. Stan hired someone to haul them to a lumberyard and had them split into different size boards to be used for building. He used utility poles as supports and for the frame. He used the poles for the exterior siding and interior paneling. He cut some of the pieces into scalloped edging to border the window and door frames. Utility poles were used on the ceiling as beams.

Walnut and pine were used for the floors and ceiling. (Please note that utility poles were soaked with creosote which after prolonged exposure can be harmful). My favorite find was the downstairs flooring. I had always assumed that the tile floor had been leftovers from a project or torn out of an old building. They are white laminate tiles with gold specs like many of the floors or countertops found in the 1950 and 60’s. I was surprised to learn that Grandpa had called a local company that installed kitchen countertops and asked them what they did with the rectangular piece that is cut out for a kitchen sink. The owner said they didn’t do anything with them and he would sell them to Stan for .75 cents each. He used those countertop pieces and trimmed them with some of the walnut that had been harvested from the property to create the flooring.

The stone fireplace that provides the main focal point of the living area was built using cement blocks and then faced with rock brought up from the river’s edge. The fireplace mantel was fashioned from some of the harvested walnut. His kitchen cabinets were purchased at a place in South Lebanon that used to sell cabinets that had not worked or were being replaced in a renovation. Most of the bathroom fixtures were purchased at Pease Warehouse Outlet in Hamilton, Ohio. Light fixtures were harvested from other home projects and a few were purchased new at deeply discounted prices at different stores.

One particularly interesting light fixture was fashioned out of a wagon wheel Stan found at an antique/junk store in Sabina, Ohio. He then crafted lanterns out of copper sheeting he had purchased at a discount. He purchased the wire and bulbs and wired the wagon wheel as a lighting fixture. It serves as another focal point in the main living room hanging directly in front of the large stone fireplace.

Stan was working full-time, his wife attended school and their little family grew to seven. It was difficult to find time to work on the cabin, but the family and Stan’s brothers pitched in on various weekends and vacations to help Stan finish his dream cabin. With a great deal of creativity and resourcefulness, they finished the cabin having only put about $10,000 into it The cabin was used for many years as a weekend and summer retreat for the entire family including the grandchildren. Over the past ten years, the cabin has been a permanent residence for Stan and his wife Joanne until her passing five years ago. This cabin had an interesting beginning and now a memorable past. It has offered comfort and joy to my family for many years.

The lesson in this story is that you do not need a ton of money to create your dream home. You need ingenuity, creativity and the guts to ask for information. If you would like to remodel your home or build one, try looking for salvaged material. Contact the Habitat for Humanity Re-store for starters. They take donated materials leftover or taken from renovations. The materials are inexpensive and they are almost always in great condition. Ask around. Ask friends, family, neighbors and random strangers if they know where you can find salvaged lumber, cabinets, sinks, faucets, light fixtures, countertops or anything else you can imagine. Look at items in a new way. Would an old dining room table make a lovely farmhouse kitchen island? Would a fresh coat of paint liven up an old set of kitchen cabinets? How about a beautiful glass bowl for a sink basin? Think beyond an item’s original use. Imagine things in a different way. And if you do decide to remodel, try pulling out the old material and donating it to Habitat for Humanity. Your old kitchen may make a wonderful new kitchen for someone else.

ABOUT STANLEY
Stanley A. Pfister was born May 3, 1920 in Clinton County to Earl and Mary Pfister. He had an older sister, Elma and two older brothers, Earl and Leonard. Stan grew up on a farm near Lynchburg in Clinton County. He walked two miles each way to school with his brother Leonard while his older siblings managed five miles by horse and buggy to a high school in Martinsville. Their grandfather, who lived in Martinsville, looked after the horse. They grew most of their own food on their farm. The few items they did need or want on occasion like peanut butter, crackers and a rare treat of bologna could be bartered for eggs, cream and chickens. His sister Elma went on to Wilmington College where she received her teaching certification while the boys managed the farm.
Following the December 7, 1941 attacks on Pearl Harbor, Stan and his brothers joined different branches of the military. Stan joined the Army Air Force where he was trained as a pilot, aircraft mechanic, aerial gunner and instructor. While an instructor, he realized there was tighter security being applied to his crew and he later learned that their crew was an extension of a top secret mission later known as the “Manhattan Project”. Although his plane was not selected to drop one of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima or Nagasaki, he witnessed the devastation first hand having flown 13 missions over Japan before Japan surrendered.
Stan returned from the war in 1946 and went straight on to Ohio State University where he took advantage of the G.I. Bill. He graduated in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and married Margaret “Joanne” Mongold the same year. In 1951, he began working at Cincinnati Milacron as an engineer. He had five children, five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He retired from Cincinnati Milacron as Assistant Corporate Chief Engineer in 1984 where he holds 7 patents all related to machine tools. He continues to maintain his residence at the cabin in St. Martin.

July Winners

2010-07-29T05:32:00.000-04:00

Congratulation to Lynn Neal of Hillsboro who won a night @ The Inn at Cedar Falls, Logan, Ohio!
You could win too - just by submitting your recipe favorites to be considered for publication in SALT! A chance to win a night’s stay at Effie’s Place in Wilmington Bed and Breakfast is yours! Recipes must be submitted by Sept. 1 to qualify to win.

Click on the SUBMIT RECIPE link at the top of the site.
E-mail: editor@thesaltmagazine.com
Mail: 47 S. South St. | Wilmington, OH 45177

Embrace Summer!

2010-07-29T05:22:00.000-04:00

BY PAM STRICKER, PUBLISHER

That’s our theme for this issue of Salt. Embrace all that goes with this season of rest, relaxation, recreation and busyness. Embracing… the burst of juices in your mouth from a tomato just picked from the vine, the feel of soft blades of grass between barefooted toes, the aroma of freshly picked sweet corn steaming on a picnic table spread for dinner, lazy evenings and easy conversations on lawn chairs as the sun goes down giving relief to the heat from the day, sweet tea, county fairs, farmers’ markets, bursts of color from new flower blooms, hummingbirds,
fireflies…
A neurosurgeon told me recently that they see a significant drop in
patient appointments during the summer. The brain seems to respond so positively to the change in season and becomes more relaxed in summer with more exposure to sunshine.
Most of us spend a lot more time out of doors and our bodies embrace the change. Oh sure, there are those hot, humid southern Ohio days
that take their toll on us, but a dip in the lake or the shade of a tree can
bring on the relaxation we need.

When I reflect on summer, my mind drifts back to summers spent in southern Ohio especially at Grandma’s house… breakfast of fresh-picked blackberries covered in milk, snapping green beans as we sat on the glider in her breezeway, an afternoon nap atop a handmade cotton quilt, the lonesome sound of a whippoorwill on the other side of the tobacco field, picking the clover in the yard and making necklaces that wilted by bedtime.

The fair would come in midsummer. I recall my one and only 4-H project. Grandma helped me sew an apron on her old treadle Singer sewing machine. I was pretty proud of seeing that displayed at the
Adams County Fair and the ribbon that went with it (even if I couldn’t have done it without my grandmother’s guidance).

Each year, I get the opportunity to judge entries for the junior fair for
Clinton County. I’ve done it for years now and joyfully anticipate getting with the kids and seeing their projects. I started out judging cooking. I kind of miss the sampling part of that, but how different can fruit pizza taste when it all comes from the same recipe? I miss seeing the kids work a project like that in front of the judges. The things I judge now are primarily done before they present to me. Projects I judge now include creative writing and leadership projects. I have watched many of these kids grow up and develop their skills over the last several years. I am a firm supporter of 4-H and believe in the value it can instill in young lives.

One of the 4-H projects I judged this year was in the category of poetry. I asked one of the entrants, Merissa Melnickel, age 15, Clarksville, if she would mind if I shared it with you. She readily agreed. It captures some moments of summer to which most of us can relate.

I hope you find time to embrace the remainder of summer. I think the pages of Salt will help you do just that.

So, kick off your shoes, dip your toes in the water and
please pass the salt…

Flash
Zoom! There they go, flying by like tiny stars.
Their beauty captivates me, and I can’t look
away. They dance through the night, God’s little
warriors on a mission to light up my world.
Blink! My mind is filled with warmth as they
glow between the soft blades of billowy grass, allowing
me to find my way back. How would I be
able to get along without them?
For that I have no answer.
Click! The sound as I unscrew the lid of the
Mason jar is faint on this noisy, summer night. I
walk carefully on the path they have created for
me, sliding the jar along the grass until I see the
bright spot of light.
Flash! The tiny firefly glows in the jar, giving
me hope, showing me beauty I’d never thought
to fathom. These are the stars of my life, the
reason I find my way home… my warriors.
-Merissa Melnickel, age 15, Clarksville

It's Fair Time in Ohio

2010-07-04T08:03:00.000-04:00

Check out this cool site that shows you when all the fairs in Ohio are!

Ohio County Fairs

Out & About - the next week or so

2010-04-29T07:34:00.001-04:00

April 30- May 2 — Flora-Quest at Shawnee State Park and Forest & the Edge of Appalachia Preserve in Adams County. For more information visit www.floraquest. com (AC)

May 1 — Clinton County Bicentennial Ball, Two hundred years of history will be celebrated at the Clinton Memorial Hospital Regional Health System Foundation Auxiliary Bicentennial Ball being held at Roberts Centre o benefit the Foster J. Boyd, MD. Regional Cancer Center. (937) 382-9224. (CC)

May 1 — Adams County Longbeards Dave McCartney Free Fishing Day. Free fishing, food and games for the kids at Adams Lake in West Union. From noon to 4 p.m. (937) 549-4078 or (937) 544-2721. (AC)

May 7- 9 — Country Garden Mother’s Day Event at GoodSeed Farm from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Peebles. (937) 587-7021 or steve@goodseedfarm.com (AC)

May 8 — Mother’s Day Mini-Golf Tournament, Paint Creek State Park, (937) 365-3210 (HC)

May 8 — Murphy Theatre - Beauty and the Beast, presented by American Family Theater, a timeless classic brought to life through the magic of musical theater. Sponsored by National Bank & Trust. $16-Box; $12-Floor. (800) 274-3848 (CC)

Salt Notes

2010-04-28T04:08:00.000-04:00

Editor's Note By Sherri Krazl

Thank you to all of our readers for the feedback as SALT continues to grow.

This issue features a variety of articles surrounding the theme of gatherings. Of course I love people in general and love getting together with family and friends for any reason. But my new favorite is the kid party. My sister (who has four children) has pretty much mastered the art of the kid party. She lets each child pick a theme or idea and then she comes up with some of the coolest stuff, some of it’s what you would expect, but there is always something that she thinks of that blows me away. And best of all the kids love it too!

One of my favorites was Hannah’s Princess Birthday party. She had all the girls come dressed as princesses, they got their nails done, their hair done, and they decorated their own princess crowns. She had several games (see below) and the girls were all treated like royalty.

My favorite part was when all the girls were offered their snacks and treats on fancy trays as “the help” (the adults) walked around. The cake was instead fancy looking cupcakes and they drank out of fancy plastic stemware. All simple, inexpensive, fun additions that really made her day and mine too!

Here are some items from some of the other themed parties she has done:
Fear Factor - The kids got points for completing each challenge and won prizes.
-Crickets in a secret box with keys - stick hand in and pull out keys to unlock a lock (timed) not knowing, of course, what was in the box crawling on them.
-Kitty litter cake (recipe online)
-Toilet bowl punch (looked disgusting - the boys loved it)
-Grab and hold as many meal worms as you can in a minute
-Find the flags in the dark in two minutes
-Eat jelly beans that were gross flavors (mixed in with normal ones)

Science Party - There were science stations set up throughout the house.
-Volcano cake that erupted
-Made silly putty
-Made bouncy balls (from a kit)
-Made exploding film canister rockets
-Made balloon rockets and let them go to see whose went further.

Princess Party - A big Princess castle tent filled with balloons and girly things to do in every room.
-Princess and the pea game (sat on pillows until they found the pea which was a small ball).
-Sleeping beauty game.When the music went off they fell asleep to the floor. Last one to fall asleep was out.
-Cinderella’s ball (dance to the music and freeze when it stops.)
-Put lipstick on and kiss the frog poster (like pin the tail on the donkey.)

Hannah Montana Party - All things Hannah Montana with stations throughout.
-Decorated canvas purses (from a discount store) using fabric markers and glitter glue.
-Microphone cupcakes. Used cones and put iced cupcake on top with silver sprinkles.
-Hot potato with a microphone instead.
-Dance with music and freeze when it stops
-Two groups raced in a relay to dress up like Hannah Montana and then take it off for next person to do.
-Hannah Montana sing along - karaoke.

Visit www.thesaltmagazine.com and share your fun party ideas by posting comments to this story. And thank you, again, for welcoming SALT into your life. Please let us know what you think on-line at thesaltmagazine.com, via email at editor@thesaltmagazine.com, or mail me a note at SALT, 47 S. South St.,Wilmington, Ohio 451277.

Please pass the SALT!
Sherri

Hide & Shake April Winners

2010-04-28T03:59:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to:

Sally Baird, Lake Waynoka
Janet Bramel, Englewood
Adam Burchett, Hillsboro
Carolee Davis, Winchester
Frances Ladd, Stout

for finding the Shaker in the February issue and being the randomly drawn winners.
Winners will receive a $10 grocery certificate.

Submit your recipes to be entered to win!

2010-04-28T03:53:00.000-04:00

Send in your recipes and win a night@one of our featured B&Bs!

Submit your recipe favorites to be considered for publication in SALT and get a chance to win a night’s stay at a Bed and Breakfast! Recipes must be submitted by May 15 to qualify to win.

A night’s stay at Effie’s Place in Wilmington, Ohio
A night’s stay at The Inn at Cedar Falls, Logan, Ohio

Visit www.thesaltmagazine.com and click on the SUBMIT RECIPE link at the top of the site.

Alternate submission options:
E-mail: editor@thesaltmagazine.com
Mail: 47 S. South St. | Wilmington, OH 45177

Taking care of “busy-ness”

2010-04-28T03:28:00.001-04:00

SALT April 2010 - Publisher's Note

We live in a culture that defines our worth by how busy we are. The busier we are the more committed we are … to work … to church … to family. When people ask me how I am or what I’ve been up to, I often respond “I have been busy.” “Sorry I had to cancel, I was so busy.” Sorry I didn’t call, I’ve just been so busy.” “Busy-ness” gives us more worth, gives us more success, makes us more of a person to be admired. What a bunch of bunk!

The result is that we are worn out, tired, weary and unproductive. And the people we actually
care about the most are the ones who bear the brunt of our tired self. Now we are in the midst of a beautiful spring and in the midst of so many commitments and invitations to events we need and want to attend. But the renewed energy we experience with the sight of those first daffodils and the warm spring breeze that blows away the weariness of winter is often sucked away by everything we cram into the schedules of our life.

Too often we have abused the management of our lives to the point that we become ineffectual because we are spent. We are tired. All that we do takes energy from us and unless we balance that with an equal amount of energy coming back in to us, we will continue to be weary … continue to leave our relationships wanting and deficient.

I have learned to ask myself two key questions. And I think those questions are very applicable to have a great relationship … with God, with spouse, with friends, with family, with my co-workers.

The first question is this …
Who am I when I am at my best?
When I am at my best, I think I am patient, kind, serene, sensitive, compassionate, creative, productive.

The second question is this …
Who am I when I am not at my best? Who am I when I am at my worst?
When I am not rested, I am unfulfilled, weary … I am easily aggravated. I’m impatient. I’m self-centered - I don’t want to hear about your problem because I am consumed by my own stuff.
I become critical, snippy, nagging … I become less sensitive to the needs of others. I am sarcastic, temperamental. I see what’s wrong instead of right.
So how can we learn to live more often in the place where we are at our best? What is the key to living at our best? How do we learn to balance output of energy with input? How do we make rest part of the rhythm of our lives?
We have to apply ways to replenish ourselves. To have a time of refreshing, of restoration.

Here are the “3 R’s” I use to recharge …
1) Recreation
What kinds of things do you do for fun? If that is hard, think about what you did when you were a kid for fun. Personally, I enjoy reading, writing, hiking, bike rides, walks in the woods, canoeing, horseback riding. I love live music… bluegrass, symphony, John Mayer … I like to go antiquing.

2) Replenishing Relationships
I have lots of relationships, but not all are replenishing. Some are draining. In some relationships, I am doing most of the giving. I need those too, but what about the ones that are replenishing? Am I making time for them? I have a couple of girlfriends that I have met with monthly for lunch, dinner or breakfast for the past 12 years.
We all lead very busy lives and we have had to be very intentional about keeping this going. Why? Because we know how much it means to us to have each other. We are energized by the time we have together.

3) Renewal
Renewal for my spirit. This is beyond going to church. There are so many ways to feed our spirit. What is renewing, re-energizing to me may not be for you. I love early mornings being alone with God when no one else is stirring. Kleenex handy, Bibles, journals, books, concordance, note cards. This works for me on a daily basis. Missing this time is like starting my day without a shower. But I am also stimulated by out of doors – taking time to sit on the back patio … walks in the woods … taking in the majesty of creation is replenishing to my spirit. Serving others at our local soup kitchen is another way my spirit is revived. Sometimes it’s just listening to some calming music alone. I hope you will also take time to build in times of refreshing so you can be at your best! Let’s work at it together.

Here’s my top 10 ways to celebrate spring that I shared with the audience at the Homemaker Show in Hillsboro recently…

Top 10 ways to celebrate spring
10. Help clean up the highway ... Cook some road kill
9. Forgot to plant your tulip bulbs? Wait until dark and steal your neighbor’s.
8. Call someone you don’t like and tell them you just heard a big snow storm is coming.
7. Don’t clean.
6. Paint your vacuum yellow and green so your husband thinks it’s a John Deere and he’ll vacuum.
5. Streak in the rain.
4. Upholster your husband’s recliner in hot pink and lace so he’ll get out and do something.
3. Get rid of the black hose and break out the white.
2. Surprise your Easter dinner guests … decorate the table like Christmas.
1. And the number 1 way to celebrate the arrival of spring … in a word … SHAVE!

Happy Spring everyone!
And by the way … please pass the Salt!
Pamela Stricker, Publisher

Next Issue Coming Soon

2010-04-10T16:50:00.000-04:00

Stay tuned for the next issue in your Southwest Ohio Newspaper on April 28.
-Tips and recipes for your next brunch or gathering
-Gardening tips
-A Bed & Breakfast Sampler
-Food freezing tips
-Active and outdoors
& more!

Cash for Clutter

2010-02-27T09:34:00.003-05:00

Turning your Clutter Into Cash!
By Tara Roark

If you have more possession than you need or need a little more money than you have, maybe recycling those items through consignment or resale is the perfect plan for you! Below you will find not only a comprehensive list of the 5 county area consignment and resale shops but also some tips on how to get the most money for your items.

-Gather your discards and separate them by season and style. Consider only consigning items that are in good shape, stain-free and not too worn or more, and that you believe would be appealing to someone else.
-Visit a few shops as a consumer, paying close attention to the types, brand and prices.
-Check with each shop to get a clear idea about what type of clothes or items they buy: in-season only, antique, designer, etc.
-Inquire about each store's policy. At what percentage do they consign or purchase? When and how are payments made? How many days are consigned items kept? What will be done with nonselling items? Will they be returned to you or simply discarded or donated?
-Keep a record of what you consign, and if you don't hear from the store first, make a note to call a few days before your selling period ends.

Resell! Replace! Rejoice!

FEATURED SHOP
Déjà Vu
131 E. Court St.
Washington CH, OH, 43160
(740) 335-1360
10-6 Monday thru Friday, 10-4 Saturday, closed Sunday

All About Kids‎
Infant to 16-18 children's clothing, toys, gear, equipment, bedding, movies, tableware, feeding items and furniture.
Mon-Fri 10-5 & Sat 11-5
118 South Mulberry Street, Wilmington, OH‎
(937) 383-7827‎

Orion Rehabilitation Center Inc (aka Nike Center Community Store)
Resale of donated clothing and small miscellaneous household items. No furniture or appliances.
Thurs & Fri 9:30–2:30 & 1st Sat of each month 9-Noon
4425 State Route 730 Wilmington, OH
(937) 382-6674 or 481-2056 Linda Thomas

Once & Again‎
Consigns clothing, household, furniture & antiques and craft items.
Tu-Th 12-5, Fri 12-8 &; Sa
Equipment, CD, small appliances, jewelry, clothing accessories, collectables and antiques.
Mon-Sat 10-6
1230 N High St Hillsboro, OH
(937) 393-1003

Janie’s Closet‎
Resale clothes, furniture, crafts, primitive items
Mon-Sat 10-6
203 North High Street, Hillsboro, OH‎
(937) 393-2357‎

This-N-That Treasures‎
Consignment and resale of clothing, baby equipment, furniture, formal wear, movies, electronics, collectibles & antiques. No appliances.
Tues-Sat 10-5
154 West Main Street, Hillsboro, OH‎
(937) 393-0651‎

Next To New Apparel & Accessories‎
Consigns juniors and adult clothing, accessories such as shoes, purses and belts, formals and some jewelry.
Mon-Fri 11–6, Sat 11–4
14 North South Street, Wilmington, OH‎
(937) 383-2639‎

Chic Shanty
Consign vintage, antique or solid wood furniture.
Tues-Sat 10-4 (open later for special events)
36 West Main Street, Wilmington, OH
(937) 383-2710

Shoppes At The Old Mill
Resale antique glassware and furniture.
Mon-Sat 10-5:30
316 East Sugartree Street, Wilmington, OH
(937) 655-8181

Rosemary Hoffer's Antiques
Resale antiques specializing in furniture.
Mon-Sun 9-6
8611 W State Route 73, Wilmington, OH
(937) 382-2907

North Shore Primitives
Resale reproduction furniture, hand made items and candles.
Mon-Sat 10-6 Sun 1-4
153 S Hinde Street, Washington Court House, OH
(740) 335-6799

Memories Gate
Resale shabby and cottage style antiques.
Mon-Sa 10-4
210 E Court Street, Washington Court House, OH
(740) 335-1667

Thrift Stores of Ohio
Resale of donated clothing, household, furniture, appliances, baby equipment, sports equipments, electronics and antiques
Mon-Sat 9-9, Sun 11-6
100 Washington Sq Washington Court House, OH
(740) 333-4444

Goodwill Industries
Resale of donated clothing, children’s items, housewares, shoes and books.
Mon-Sat 9:30–5:30, Thurs 9:30–8, Sun 10–6
342 West Main Street, Williamsburg, OH
(513) 724-1402

Higginsport Mini Mall
Consign furniture, antiques and jewelry.
10-4 Thur-Sat Sun 1-4
312 Columbia Street, Higginsport, OH
(937) 375-6008

Grant Avenue School Antiques
Resale antiques, vintage clothing, rent ball gown and miscellaneous.
Wed-Sat 11-5
307 W Grant Avenue, Georgetown, OH
(937) 378-4866

Wrinkles
Resale glassware, furniture, pottery, vintage buttons, tools and antique jewelry.
M, Tu, Thur, Fri & Sat 10-5
225 W Main Street, Williamsburg, OH
(513) 724-1360

Sha-Daisz's Consignment & Backporch Primitives
Consigns name brand child thru adult clothing, baby equipment, antique electronics, household goods, dishware, sporting goods, bedding and jewelry.
Tu-Fri 11-6 Sat 10-5
109 West Main Street, Blanchester, OH
(937) 783-2288

The Rag Shop
Consign furniture, house wares, children’s items, electronics, appliances, books, dvds, jewelry, collectables, glassware & retail closeout.
Tues-Fri 10-5, Sat 12-4
208 E Locust Street, Wilmington
(937) 283-9400

For a Song and a Story
Consigns vintage and newer used books, sheet music, records/vinyl, musical instruments.
Mon, Tues & Thurs 11-9, Wed 11-6, Fri & Sat 10-5
201 E. Locust St, Wilmington
(937) 382-8558

Relax ... take a bath

2010-02-25T02:34:00.000-05:00

By Sheryl Sollars
I am known around Clinton County as the lady who writes the recipes, or the “kitchen lady,” but in this edition of SALT I am going to get a little more personal and come into your “bed and bath!” Even I find that I have to do something for myself outside of the kitchen. I can remember when I was a young mom of three sons I felt trapped and had to take some relaxing time out once in a while, just for me. Why is it that now that my boys are no longer around and I am semi-retired, I still do not take time for myself as I should. I guess part of the problem is that the time is there but I just don’t take it. I think we all have the illusion that we figure that when we get “old” no one expects us to look fresh. This is no excuse, so today I am going to try to inspire myself and my readers to take time to do some simple things to pamper ourselves.

    I find that this time of the year is the most stressful and most depressing for me. With the gloomy days I find it hard to get motivated and since I am not motivated, I get little done, thus causing stress and dreary times.
    You probably are saying that you are too busy for a special time out, especially if you have children and a family. That is not true. Put your spouse or older child in charge and take a “for me” break. Here is a great example of how it is done. Assuming that all of you like to read (book or magazine) and assuming that you drink tea or coffee, try this. Grab your current book and a cup of that favorite hot beverage then go hide and give yourself either one chapter or one cup (of drink) break, whichever comes first. You can take longer but the point is that just by taking 15-20 minutes out of your day you can calm your soul and refresh your life. By calming yourself, you will calm the lives of others. Here are a few other ideas:

1| I know winter is here and with it comes cold, cold nights but it also usually brings a beautiful moon and clear skies. After dinner and before you start any other project, pull on your jacket and take a quiet 10-minute walk. It is so relaxing and you’ll find the fresh air will even improve your sleep. Forget the power-walk this time. Just walk and relax under the moon and stars.

2| Don’t think that you have to go out to have a romantic evening with your spouse. Either plan or surprise him with an evening meal with candles, music, crystal and your best china. If none of these things are available, grab the paper plates and wing it! (Line up a grandma or grandpa to take the kids for the night.) Yes, you have had to work to cook it, but the relaxation and romance during the meal will make it very worthwhile. Make clean-up fun by doing it together that night and the next morning is yours to sleep in! Besides, in today’s economy, look how much money you have saved!

3|Work out a schedule so all of your household chores are done during six days and one day is totally yours. For dinner, pull out a frozen entrée that you have tucked away and serve it with a quick salad and take the rest of the day or evening to do whatever you want. Make this a regularly scheduled day. Not only will you enjoy that day but you will find that you have created an incentive to get the rest of your work done earlier in the week. Don’t change days as this will break the routine and soon the day will not exist.
I also want to give you some great make-at-home “pamper-me products” that you can enjoy yourself or give as gifts. Now that cold weather is here you will find that your skin will become dry and scaly. Check out the next page for some great recipes for making relaxing and moisturizing bath products that will make your life more enjoyable.
I hope these ideas have given you an incentive to make some of these bath products for yourself and others.
Enjoy yourself and take time to relax.

Spring Savings Time

2010-02-25T02:21:00.000-05:00

By Tara Roark

Maybe you have been wanting to save money, so, how are you doing? Saving money is one of those tasks that is so much easier said than done. It’s not just about spending less. It involves planning, discipline and patience. There are many reasons everyone should put money aside such as emergencies, education, unemployment and retirement for example. We all know we need to do it but how do we realistically get started? Try these manageable steps. (Grab a copy to see the full article.)

Step 1: Set savings goals.
Step 2: Determine time frames.
Step 3: Define weekly, monthly or per paycheck amount of saving.

Step 4: Record your expenses.
Step 5: Prioritize, eliminate and trim your expenses.
Step 6: Review your savings goals.
Step 7: Build a budget.
Step 8: Stop using credit cards.
Step 9: Open an interest-bearing savings account.
Step 10: Stay on track.
Step 11: Automate process.

In time, this will become easier and effortless. And you will have a great reserve for whatever life throws at you.

Organize treasures, not clutter

2010-02-25T02:18:00.000-05:00

By Barb Warner and Lori Firsdon, co-owners of Encore Professional Organizers
As professional organizers, we must be non-judgemental and very compassionate when working with our clients. Let’s face it…there are years and years worth of items which have been accumulating. Often the accumulation of items includes their own personal belongings, their children’s items they have been saving and the items they have inherited from their parents or grandparents. As a result, many people are using their garages and extra rooms to store, store, store.
Storing items is okay, if you plan to “treasure” them now or in the immediate future. Storing “clutter” is not so great, as it drains your energy and puts major constraints on your space. Evaluate your belongings…are you storing clutter or treasures? If you are among the few who are only storing treasures…are you enjoying them or displaying them?

Where do you begin to start the process of departing with those items which are cluttering your life? First…just start…and with one room only. Define the purpose of that room or space and get to know that room once again in 2010. Once the goal is defined, everything contained in the room which is not relevant to your goal, must be removed. Where does it go? Donation centers, trash/recycle, another room, sell, repair.
Work in the room you’re organizing, from top to bottom and left to right. Don’t skip around the room and do not leave the room for any interruption, except emergencies. Most people halt the organizing process because others have demands on them and excuses are made to answer the phone, get the mail, do laundry, clean, eat and so on. These distractions keep them from completing their project to get a room organized.
Finally, do not purchase any storage bins prior to organizing a room. Wait until you know what you have left to deal with before identifying storage solutions. You may not need anything. Tell a family member, friend or acquaintance what your goals are for the room and be held accountable by that individual.
Start enjoying the space you have available to you. Start now…a year from now, you will be glad you did. It’s easier than you think!

Encore Professional Organizers is based in Centerville, Ohio. Visit EncoreOrganizers.com for more information or to sign up for their free monthly e-newsletter.

Somebody needs a timeout!

2010-02-25T02:04:00.003-05:00

At the time of this writing, we are in the midst of a snowstorm… the second snowstorm in less than a week’s time. And as much as I love the snow and winter, I do find myself a bit weary of battling the elements. Scraping snow off the car in the parking lot, white-knuckling the steering wheel for a thirty-minute ride down 73 with eyes peeled for oncoming cars or that family of deer that wants to share the road with me can make for a pretty tiring end to an already jam-packed work day. Those muscles in my neck and shoulders are just screaming for some relaxation… and I know one way that I can give them major relief as well as the rest of my body, mind and spirit. Time for a hot bath…
with only the flame from a few surrounding candles, a little Norah Jones playing in the background, a tub of hot, steamy water with added bath salts and fragrances. It’s my little time of escape from the rest of the world, my timeout, and especially a time to relax.
When I get one of those calls from my daughter who I know has had it up to here with work, home, kids, husband… many times I have the same advice… “Go fix yourself a cup of chamomile tea and take a hot bath.” And many times it helps.
There was a TV commercial a couple of years ago where the brother and sister are having a tug-of-war over something and arguing back and forth while mom was trying to work on her laptop. Finally she jumps up and yells… “somebody needs a timeout!” and then retreats to her bedroom and closes the door, leaving the two kids staring after her with their mouths open.
How about you? I have had more than one day lately where I have needed a “timeout.” And I think shutting myself off from the rest of the world to indulge in a bath is sometimes a pretty good way to cope.
Perhaps growing up in Japan had an early influence on the way I regard bathing. After all, taking a bath in Japan is serious business. The Japanese bathtub, known as ofuro in Japanese, has a vital place in the privacy of the home, in the public Japanese bath house, and at hot spring resorts. The peace of one’s mind, body and spirit are very much tied to the ritual of the daily bath.
The lathering is done before ever setting foot in the tub and rinsing done by ladling the hot water from the tub over the body. The troubles of the day are rinsed away so one can soak in the comfort of the clean, hot water. Japanese tubs are generally much deeper, so someone sitting in the tub can easily sink down with the water at chin level. Japanese bath water also tends to be much hotter than what we might normally be used to. I remember the tub being heated by a wood fire somehow encased under the tub and fed from the outside of the house to keep it hot.
I am pleased that Sheryl Sollars is sharing some recipes for making bath salts and scrubs to help you or someone you know indulge in the pleasure of winding down with a bath.
Take some time out … take a leisurely bath and afterward, sit down with a cup of tea and your newest edition of SALT.

Pamela Stricker
Publisher

Get your copy

2010-02-25T01:59:00.000-05:00

Missed getting a copy of the newest issue? Copies also available at your Georgetown News Democrat, Ripley Bee, Hillsboro Times-Gazette, Washington CH Record-Herald, West Union People's Defender or Wilmington News Journal office for just $3.

Inside this issue of SALT

2010-02-25T01:56:00.001-05:00

-Plan you garden now
-Soups & Chili
-Cash for Clutter
-Spring Savings Time
-Get Organized
-Save money, eat well
-Relax... take a bath
-Exercise advice
-Caring Cooks
-and more

Mixin’ it up with Sheryl

2009-11-17T03:01:00.000-05:00

By Carol Chroust

Because of her many life experiences, Sheryl Sollars of Wilmington learned to work hard, be enterprising, take advantage of opportunities and discover a better and less expensive way to do things. Through it all, creativity was the key. She is right on target for the challenging needs of today’s world. “I like helping people,” said Sheryl who writes the ‘Your Kitchen or Mine’ column in area newspapers and the food column in SALT.

“My writing helps me. It’s fun and it makes me happy and it inspires creativity. I keep it simple. I use recipes that require basic ingredients, things you’ve got right in your kitchen.” “How I got started was when I was a young girl,

I was interested in cooking, sewing and homemaking,” said Sheryl. “My mother was taught by her mother; then she taught me. It was something they shared and we shared. I have an older sister who is a great cook, but she wasn’t as interested as I was. We had a coal oil stove. There were no temperature adjustments. You had no idea what the temperature was. I was so frustrated as a 12-year-old. I had to deal with that and learn, but it never discouraged me.

We had no running water or conveniences. We had no nice pots and pans. We used cast iron. “When I learned to sew, if I had a problem I called my Mom at work and she’d say, ‘I can’t help you here’. I think that’s how I learned things… by trial and error. Most of the time, it was more error than trial. “We had a treadle sewing machine. I started on that. It was horrible. You couldn’t do anything nice. Finally, my mother’s sister loaned us her electric machine. I went to Kingman High School which is part of Clinton-Massie now. The other girls took home economics because they had to take it. I took it because I wanted to. I got involved. It was important to me. I also had a good teacher.

“There wasn’t money to go buy a dress,” she said. “My mother could always get out enough money to buy fabric. We could make a dress for a couple of dollars. We also used feed sacks. I had many skirts made out of feed sacks. I soon learned I could have many things by conserving. In the 50s and 60s, most who graduated got a watch, but I asked for a sewing machine ... which I got.” “We were poor,” she explained. “As a 16-year-old, I had to make my own money. So I sold shoes in the Ft. Pitt Shoe Store. I earned 65 cents an hour. I got five cents for every pair of hose I could sell and earned 15 cents if I sold a purse. That’s when I first learned to sell. It’s funny. I was sort of insecure in school about getting up in front of the class to talk. After selling at the store, I had no problem getting up to talk. It also gave me the confidence of selling. Years later, when Tupperware became popular, I became well known for selling Tupperware.” After high school, Sheryl got married and took a job working for an optometrist. At one time, she even had her own line of handmade children’s clothes under the label of “kids & me”. “That carried me into working at a fabric store called Monique’s Fabrics,” she said.

When the boys got older, I wanted to do something so I got a job at the WKFI Radio Station and sold advertising. Sheryl also ran a dentist office and then an eye doctor’s office”. Sheryl and a friend, Ann Hunt, decided to open a fabric store of their own. They called it Threads, etc. In 2000, she retired and moved with her husband, Bob, to Dunnellon, Florida where she opened a shop called Creations by Sheryl. “I sold gifts, cards, cooking utensils, clothes and foods, including jams, jellies, relishes and salad dressings.” She began writing a food column that was published in Florida and now in Ohio where she resides. Sheryl’s column traveled internationally too, via the internet. A column on waffles made with yeast appeared on the Culinary Institute of America website was picked up from theWilmington News Journal by Associated Press. “On the side, I still enjoy advising people on home décor,” she said. “I can be their legs. I can visualize what it will look like. I love the creativity of decorating and shopping. I know where to go. I can drape the fabric and know how it’s going to hang. I know the texture and the feel. I touch everything. Touch is very important to me.” Three years ago, Sheryl lost her husband Bob after a lengthy illness.

She enjoys her friends and family, Jeff and Jill Borton, Doug and Diane Borton, Chad and Kelley Borton and grandchildren, Tyler and Zach, Megan and Anna, “I wish I had 15 or 20 more years in my working career,” she said. “At a young pace, I could go full speed ahead. There are things I still want to do, achievements, goals and a legacy I can leave behind. It’s not about business, but to experience it, to say, ‘I’ve done it’.” Sheryl shares a great gift-giving idea. Treat someone to a gift mix with your own special touch. They’ll appreciate it well after the holidays and Christmas cookies are gone.

Preventing Holiday Gains

2009-11-16T23:55:00.000-05:00

By Heather Harmon

I am not one to talk about avoiding weight gain altogether. I am better at advising on how to gain it. However, I have learned a thing or two about avoiding the weight many of us pick up over the food-laden holidays. After searching for the best advice that a budget of zero dollars can buy, these are a few of my favorite tips.

Avoid trying to diet during the holidays Attempting to maintain your weight is much easier than trying to lose weight when we know we are going to be surrounded by tempting treats for two months. Stop trying to make yourself miserable, have a great time and save the weight loss for your NewYear’s resolution.

Eat regular meals and snacks Never go to a party or event hungry. Eating regular snacks and meals will keep your blood sugar stable and will keep you from overeating. Try munching on a handful of almonds or cottage cheese and fruit before heading out to a party. A little protein will go along way to keeping your from overindulging.

If something doesn’t taste great, don’t eat it Save calories for the things you really love. Don’t worry about hurting Aunt Mary’s feelings when you don’t eat her sweet potato casserole if you don’t care for it. Sticking to eating only your favorite foods will save you some calories and you won’t feel deprived.

Bake your favorite foods and give them away Bake some Christmas cookies, eat a few and give the rest to friends, family, coworkers or families in need. Just be sure they aren’t also trying to avoid weight gain because that’s just plain cruel.

Avoid too many taste-tests Try not to taste the food you are preparing too often. It’s easy to consume too many calories before you sit down to the meal. If you really must taste it to be sure it is right, take a small taste when you think it is about done. If you do take more than one bite, be sure to use a clean spoon. This is not the year to spread germs.

Portion control and moderation How many times have we heard to eat in moderation? It’s true. Eat smaller or normal portions of your favorite foods. Know what a recommended portion is for someone your size before heading to your family’s Thanksgiving Day feast. For example, a serving of turkey should be the size of your palm. Use tablespoons instead of giant serving spoons to dish out all of the extras. You can eat anything you want just have some control over how much you are putting on your plate.

Exercise as a family I plan a Thanksgiving Day 5K race in Wilmington and a lot of families start planning ahead for this by getting out and walking or running together. Running the race on Thanksgiving morning ensures you burn off some of the calories you will inevitably consume during your family feast. If you aren’t near a 5K race, get out and take a brisk walk or run as a “family-first” thing in the morning. Then you won’t feel so bad when you plop down on the couch to watch football all afternoon.

Enjoy your family and friends Rediscover the true meaning of the holidays and focus on family and friends instead of food. Try sitting down with a hot beverage and catch up with your loved ones.You may find yourself renewing an old relationship and isn’t that much nicer than adding a few pounds to your backside?

Save calories for food and skip the alcohol Don’t waste your calories on alcoholic beverages if you prefer pumpkin pie. Drinking too much alcohol can add the calories and also keep you from making healthier choices. I know that once I have a couple glasses of wine, I no longer care if I eat one, two or ten cookies. Maintain a sensible frame of mind and do less damage to the cookie jar.

Eat your lean meat Fill up on the lean meat and less on the high carb, high fat, cheese and gravyladen side dishes. You won’t be hungry and you won’t feel bad about what you ate. Unless your turkey is deep fried, there is a lot of protein and very little fat in white meat turkey. Just be sure to skip the dark meat and the skin. Dark meat and skin add a lot of unhealthy fat to your meal.

Learn to enjoy your food and family without overdosing on Grandma’s pumpkin pie and eggnog. I know that I have a tendency to overdo everything especially when it comes to my favorite foods and this is especially true when I try to stick to a “diet” during the holidays (I will save my “down with diets” speech for another article). Save yourself some serious misery. Very few people can lose weight during the holiday season, so stop making yourself feel like a failure.

The Value of Money for Kids

2009-11-16T07:53:00.001-05:00

By Tara Roark

A penny saved is a penny earned. Money doesn’t grow on trees. Put your money where your mouth is. Show me the money! These are fun phrases but talking money is serious businesses for all ages and the sooner you begin conversing about currency the better. Whether you give your child an allowance, or pay based on household chores, be proactive in establishing a foundation of good financial budgeting skills.

Teach the child to understand and appreciate the value of monies received or earned by allowing them to make choices on how and when to spend or save. Our three-year-old daughter has the household chore of feeding the cat twice daily to which she earns a dime each time.We have taught her that when she goes to the store, her allowance is used to purchase items such as toys, coloring books and occasionally snacks. She may not understand the math behind having enough dollars, or “tickets” as she calls them, to afford a particular item but she has grown to accept and announce that she can buy it “after I save my money”.

Be a good example. Kids learn best by mimicking what they see. I can remember when my stepson was nine and we were at the county fair. A family had set up a booth in an effort to raise funds for their daughter who had many medical issues. I stopped by to drop a few dollars in their jar and explained to him what I had done and why after we walked away. He immediately exclaimed that he had money at home in his bank that he could give. And he did just that, the very next day. Every penny!

Include age-appropriate children in on household budgeting discussions. When teenagers see how much money is or isn’t left at the end of the month they can then understand why you said no to an expensive purchase request. And of course, don’t forget to train your kids how to be wise shoppers. Educate them on couponing, clearance racks, buying second hand and bargaining.

Add Flavor to Everday Life

2009-11-16T07:40:00.004-05:00

By Pamela Stricker Publisher

When making plans to publish our annual holiday cookbook made up of recipes submitted by our readers, we began thinking of how we could make it even more useful and attractive.

We know that many of us are looking forward to the holidays with guarded anticipation. We want to focus in on the real reason for celebration and keep it simple and affordable at the same time. We wanted to be able to help you anticipate the joy of sharing with friends and family without added anxiety. So we came up with SALT… a way to enhance our everyday lives with ideas and features on lifestyle topics that include health and wellness, recipes and cooking, ways to stretch household budgets, holiday traditions and gift giving.

But the most important ingredient to our theme is the local aspect… features about your neighbors, recipes you submit, ideas you share with us and local folks that inspire us. Another key element to SALT is that five percent of the revenue we generate from the advertising goes to local food pantries. The money will go to pantries in Adams, Brown, Clinton, Fayette, and Highland counties… the markets where SALT is circulated.

To make it interactive we’ve launched a companion website thesaltmagazine.com. Visit us there and interact with our team, read blog posts, share your thoughts, and participate in our contests.

Why did we name it SALT? Because a moderate amount of salt is necessary in all of our diets. Salt seasons. Salt enhances. Salt preserves. Salt cleanses. Salt is essential to our survival. Lack of salt or sodium can be harmful to our diets as can its excessive use. We need a balance. We need a sprinkling of salt which is readily found on most of our kitchen shelves.

There’s a scripture in Mark 9:50 that says, “Salt is good… have salt within yourselves, and be at peace and live in harmony with one another.” Hopefully, you will find that SALT is good. Our goal is that it will be a publication that contributes to the harmony of our communities, of our lives.

We welcome your comments and your suggestions. We have so many ideas for the upcoming issues and hope your input will help guide us as we determine that. So sit down with that cup of coffee or tea and enjoy… and pass the salt please… •

Sensible Gifting Solutions

2009-11-16T07:31:00.004-05:00

By Barb Warner and Lori Firsdon
Looking for ideas this holiday season? Try these simple non-clutter (mostly cost-conscious) gift giving ideas:

Children:
-Tokens to their favorite establishment which has games (i.e. Chuck E. Cheese)
-Annual subscriptions to museums, zoos, or amusement parks
-Movie tickets or take them to a movie

-The gift of time – park, lunch out, ice cream
-Take lunch to a child during their school lunch period
-Gift certificate to their favorite ice cream shop
-529 College Fund – college savings account
Adults:
-Treat your friend to lunch or dinner, in person, rather than a gift card
-Do a task from their chore list
-Offer to care for a child so the adult can have free time
-Help with home repairs
-Donate money to their favorite charity
-Plant flowers or bulbs for a friend’s yard
-Deliver a home-cooked meal
-Treat them to a service – cleaning, organizing, lawn care, interior decorator
-Offer to pay for a class (cooking class, exercise class)
-Pre-paid gas card
-Pet sit
Remember, people remember moments, not things. Too many items cause us not to treasure any of them.

Encore Professional Organizers, LLC specializes in offering professional organizing services to homes and businesses. Their focus is lifestyle change in many areas, to avoid being held victim to too much clutter in your life. Monitoring what you allow into your life and what you give to others, is key to reducing clutter. Gift giving often causes more clutter in homes.

Salt Notes

2009-11-13T15:34:00.003-05:00

By Sherri Krazl, Editor

This companion blog (in conjunction with the first print issue) for SALT is the result of many collaborations and contributions from wonderful people, people who are passionate about writing, cooking, sharing, and making life simply better. We hope you enjoy SALT online and in print.

theSALTmagazine.com is the place to visit between issues to join us in the fun of shaping future issues of your local lifestyle magazine through comments, feedback, contests, photo submissions, and questions.

From here you can bookmark this blog, check back, and visit our contributor's blogs. You may also follow us on Twitter and/or become a fan on Facebook.