Oven Door Towel Sale

We have added a lot of new oven door towels.  These oven door towels are very popular and make great gifts.  It is also rare that we have sales on the oven door towels, so you might want to pick some up while they are on sale.
Here is one of our new towels:

It is so gorgeous.

Cool down with our neck coolers

  The summer months are hot and relief is very much needed.

We yellow softball neck coolers for teams to wear during tournaments, etc.  These neck coolers are also sold separately.

There are also neck coolershttp://www.countrynmore.com/neck-coolers-68/ for wearing during the day, sporting events, etc.Currently, we are having a sale on the neck coolers, which are very reasonably priced. This sale is for a limited time only. Now, is the perfect time to pick up one, two, or more neck coolers.

We just added these cute neck coolers:

So cute, so cool.

Custom Canning Aprons at Country N' More

I am posting this because for some reason, it isn't letting me reply to comments. We have some aprons in the different sizes on our website, which are already to be shipped out to you or to that special person. A person wearing a size 12, would most likely wear a size medium. There are several aprons, which have the vintage look and some have been trimmed with vintage lace. We do make custom canning aprons in small, medium, and large. We have a large selection of prints to choose from.  If you don't see anything you like, then please feel free to contact us.  You will find the contact information at Country N' More  

Here are some custom canning aprons that I made for a customer in Florida.  She likes retro and tropical.

This is just one of those fun days, where things just don't want to work.  I was going to add another apron image, but it just will not let me.  Sigh.....

We will be adding some new canning aprons to the website soon.

Custom Apron For Customer

I have made three of these so far.  The last one for was for a show up in Northern California.  This one is for a customer who can't fasten the ties on the sides of the apron. This apron was designed to fasten in the front. 

I really liked the way that it turned out.

Embroidery Work for a play

I was asked by a fellow friend if I could do the embroidery work for the show.  Below is the before and images of the embroidery Dollar Store and the finished embroidery for the doctor role in the show.

I had a chance to get reacquainted with my embroidery software.  I don't get a chance to embroider like I would like, so this was a nice change.

25% Off Vintage Aprons

Country N' More is having its biggest discount on vintage aprons.  Yep, you heard me right.  We have a 25% discount on our vintage aprons.

Check them out

Custom Vintage Aprons

I was fortunate to receive a call from a place that I have done business with.  This led to a custom vintage apron using two of my favorite food prints.  The main apron and pockets were made using an apple pie recipe print.  For the straps, I chose to use an apple print.  I really like the way that this apron turned out.  I am always happy to make a special apron whenever possible for my customers.

The colors are rich and if you lose your recipe, it is easy to find a good one on this apron. 

A special and dear friend of mine also wanted this same apron, but in a gorgeous floral teapot print fabric.  After deliberating about the color for the seam binding, I chose a blue shade.The blue shade is darker than that depicted in the images. 

Sale-Vintage Canning, Waist Aprons, etc.

Yep, you heard it right.  Now is a great time to purchase those adorable vintage canning aprons and waist aprons at countrynmore.com.

We have added a few new canning aprons.

 Now, there is a bigger selection of canning aprons in the medium size.  Be sure to check back, as we will be adding more canning aprons and cobbler aprons.

Picking Fuji Apples

This is the first year that I we have large Fuji apples and it is all thanks to our bees.  Of course, there are small apples as well, but many of the apples are larger than one might find in a grocery store.  We still are fight the effects of the coding moth.  This year, we set up traps, which has also help with the fight.  I found a useful site, which I can assure you, that I will be using some of these methods next year.

Last night, I started picking the apples.  It is early, but the apples are still tasty at this stage in their life.  Not only do we have problems with the Coding Moth, but the squirrels find the apples tasty as well.  The squirrels start going after the apples when the apples are young, and you can bet that their eyes get big, when they see those large apples. 

There are plenty apples for homemade apples sauce, which I use for several recipes, and especially when I just want to eat apple sauce.  We use a lot of apples in baking, for use in pancakes, cakes, etc.

I just need to get out the tall ladder in order too reach those apples that are too high for me to reach.  Now, I am not one to be on a ladder, as I have a fear of heights.  Long story, but to sum it up, my brother saved my sister's life when he caught her by the hand and pulled up her up.  She would not have had the life that she had, if it were not for our brother.

Steam Juice Extractor-californica Roger's Red Grape

I am taking time off for sewing for now.  It is time to pick the Vitis californica grapes, also known as the
californica roger's red grape.  The thing about these grapes are that once the grapes have reached a certain size (before turning red), the grapes do not require water.  Not watering the grapes, creates a small, yet very sweet red grape. This year, we harvested 77 lbs. of Rodger's Red grapes. The first picking,we picked 18 lb. 9 oz., with a whopping 59 lbs. the second time around.

The Vitus californica grape is red through and through, but contains many small seeds.  We decided to plant this grape plant years ago and the plant has proven year after year to be a huge producer of grapes. Each year, we harvest the crop and I make fresh grape juice and jelly.  Each year, I try to find better ways to get as much juice out of these grapes as possible.

Last year, I found some information on juicing the grapes.  The site suggested using a juicer like you would use for making carrot juice.  The only problem was that I had to pluck off these tiny blueberry size grapes.  The juicer did get a lot of juice out of the grapes, but I was left with a mushy pulp mixture, still rich in juice.

This year, I discovered the steam juice extractor.  The nice thing is that I don't have to pluck off those grapes and I can put the whole stem along with the grapes in the steamer. This gives me some time to do other things.  Problem is, it is over 100 here in California, so this limits the time that I can cook.  I just don't want to heat up the house.  The evenings are cooler (around 74 degrees).

Grapes when first put in the steam juice extractor

This image shows what the grapes look like after cooking for a while.The grapes needed a little of help from a potato masher.  This type of grape is thick skinned.  After using the steamer for the long after the recommended time, showing amount of juice, we used a potato masher, which helped to open up the grapes, thus releasing more of the fine juice trapped inside.

Still hoping that this would be my solution, I was still stuck with the same mush at the end of the cooking. From research, it was discovered that some have pressed the grapes several times, which resulted in quite a bit of grape juice.


I placed the remaining leftover seeds and pulp in a strainer like my mom used.  I pulled out the stems, leaving me with just the seeds, pulp, and juice. All of the other batches produced more juice and less mush.  I was able to use a potato masher at the end using the large top section of the steam juicer, instead of using the funnel strainer.

Although there was still a lot of juice trapped in the pulp, I did manage to get a lot of juice out of the grapes using the strainer. As I do each batch, I change how I do it.  For example:  If I do smaller batches, which by the way are just smaller than the recommended (it cooks faster), and fill the bottom half way instead of all the way too the top with water(with our stove, the water bubbles all over the stove) and use a potato masher while the grapes are at the end stage (instead of using the strainer), all is well. It is about the same amount that I got using the juice machine that I used last year, but I didn't have to pluck off all of those grapes, leaving me more time to do the things that I enjoy. Well, for the time being that is.  I have about 8 plus batches to put in the steam juice extractor, and then comes making the homemade jelly, which is popular.  I have been told that the jelly made using these grapes, is better than the store brand.  Even people who don't normally eat grape jelly, love the jelly.

This year, we will have more jelly than we know what to do with.

We do not have an arch, but the bush underneath the grape vines provides support.  The grape vines provide shade and shelter for the underlying bush and since we don't water the grape vine during the summer months, we don't water the bush.  This is saving us on our watering bill.  Although it is a challenge to get some of the grapes, with the underlying bushes, we still manage.

Any ideas, please comment.

New Vintage Canning Aprons

I truly like this vintage style apron.  The vintage canning apron is perfect for protecting your clothes, whether you are working outdoors or prepare a favorite family meal. We have added 3 new canning aprons in size large.

This gorgeous apron, has fall leaves, pumpkins, fruit, and flowers.  The burgundy floral print goes so well with the colors in the apron.

Down on the farm, is this lovely country theme canning apron. The red and white gingham print really adds an added touch of country.  The pockets have a white ric-rac border.

The colors come alive in this Fall country theme canning apron.

Food Dyes Unhealthy-Causes Hyperactivity

Now, I don't eat Kraft Mac N' Cheese, but there are many people who do.  This interesting blog, depicts the behind story of getting the message across to Kraft and people around the country.  Food Babe, depicts her adventure, with interviews and taste tests.  It is a very interesting article to read.

Our family has chosen to change our eating habits.  I am not knocking the company, but people are concerned about their health and for the health of their children.  Our family has chosen to eat a large portion or organic vegetables as a part of our meals. 

Cherry And Plaid Vintage Waist Apron

We have a new handmade vintage half apron at countrynmore.com.  This vintage waist apron was made using a black and white checked or gingham print fabric.  The cherry pockets with the polka dot look fabulous against the plaid fabric.  We also used the cherry print for the waistband, while the straps were made using a polka dot print. 

See, I told you it was cute.

Vintage Canning Apron Sale At Country N' More

Country N' More is having a sale on the vintage canning aprons, embroidered kitchen tea towels, and grocery bag holders.

Canning aprons come in small, medium, and large. Sale ends April 13th.