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When her three grandkids' summer schedules opened up, Ann Kaiser arranged for them to spend a few days with Granny Annie at "Granny Camp".

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To work up an appetite for the first meal the kids prepared, Ann took them on a morning round of golf with their great-grandmother, Nano. Longtime readers of Country Woman recognize "Nano" as Ann's mom and Country Woman's first food editor, Nettie Gohlke.

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Campers ate well at their special luncheon with their great-grandmother! Ellie, age 10, chose this menu.

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Ryan made a new friend—a huge bullfrog—at "granny camp". Hoppy was happy to miss Ryan's special dinner that night.

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Audrey and friend

By Ann Kaiser
Contributing Editor

From the time they were tiny, my grandkids have loved to help in the kitchen—chopping, mixing, measuring and more. So cooking was on the “granny camp” agenda when Ryan, 12, Elizabeth, 10, and Audrey, 7, spent a few days with me last summer.

Poring over recipe books and searching Taste of Home’s online recipe data base, each one came up with a meal’s menu.   Grocery lists in hand, we headed to the store.

That afternoon my kitchen was alive with talking, laughing and learning as Ryan and Audrey helped Ellie prepare her tomato-basil tart, seafood pasta salad and chocolate chip muffins. They invited Great-Grandmother Nano (my mom, Nettie Gohlke, a former Country Woman food editor) to come for lunch the next day after a round of golf.

The exercise sharpened our appetites for Ellie’s delightful lunch. Nano was the perfect guest, all ears as the kids proudly told how they’d made everything.  Naturally, they ate up her compliments.

The next day Ryan caught a huge bullfrog, and I worried he might change his dinner entree to frog legs! Thankfully, he let the big guy go and stuck with chicken cordon bleu. Dad Rich (Mom was out of town) and Papa Louie were impressed with Ryan’s potato skin appetizers, ham-and-cheese-filled chicken rolls and fresh green beans. His Oreo cake with cookie chunks baked in the batter and sprinkled over the whipped cream topping rated a “Wow!”

Audrey waited patiently for her turn and treated us to a summer supper featuring fish tacos. She’d seen them on a restaurant menu, she told Louie while talking him into grilling the filets. Audrey’s dessert was as traditional as her tasty tacos were trendy. Carefully following the recipe and how-to pictures, she baked a delectable lattice-topped cherry pie.

I’m looking forward to this year’s granny camp—cooking up more meals and memories!

Ann Kaiser is the former editor of both Country Woman and Taste of Home magazines. Her beloved Editor in the Country series of workdays spent with readers continues to appear regularly in Country Woman. 

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Famed aviator Amelia Earhart's name lived on for years after her disappearance with a line of luggage and trunks. Photo by San Diego Art & Space Museum Archives.

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Two views of a trunk from the Amelia Earhart line.

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This trunk key does not bear Amelia Earhart's name; some in the line did, leading finders to believe they had her personal trunk.

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The logo for the Amelia Earhart line of luggage and trunks includes a red plane taking off.

When I bought this trunk in the early 1940s, there was a complete line of Amelia Earhart luggage. I’ve kept it all these years and am wondering about its history and value.

—M.W., Boise, Idaho

What’s It Worth?

A: At age 23, Amelia Mary Earhart paid a dollar for her first 10-minute plane ride; two years later she had her pilot’s license. A pioneer of American aviation, she went on to become the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Guided by her publicist and husband, George Putnam, she endorsed a variety of products to finance her expeditions, including a line of women’s clothing and luggage.

Your trunk is part of a popular set of canvas-covered plywood luggage that sold well into the 1990s. Manufactured by Orenstein Trunk of Newark, New Jersey, pieces came with a corrugated metal luggage key. (Some people reportedly believed they had Amelia’s personal suitcase key!) Long after her 1937 disappearance over the Pacific Ocean while attempting a daring flight around the globe, the famous aviator continues to capture the imagination of the world, and items bearing her name remain collectible. Your trunk is worth about $250.

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Aargh, matey! Wait until those pint-sized pirates get an eyeful of the loot awaiting them at this pirate birthday party!

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Our fun Jolly Rogers fly proudly from the birthday cupcakes.

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Sip some grog through tropical straws.

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Buccaneers will want to save their pirate party plunder in these easy-sew fabric treat bags, perfect for stashing all kinds of treasure.

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Adventure awaits at this pirate party! Send 'em on a treasure hunt, with "old" maps using familiar backyard landmarks.

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Bury your treasure in a few inches of clean sand scooped into a lined bin or inexpensive wooden chest.

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Young swashbucklers will enjoy this spin on an old favorite birthday party game.

Avast there, matey! Pirate parties are among the most popular themes for kids’ birthday parties. We’ve put together one with appropriate decorations, food and game ideas to help your favorite little swashbuckler celebrate. So invite your crew to come aboard as you set sail for adventure.

DIY Party Decorations

Kids love to help prepare for their special party, and our Pirate Flag Banner – with a cheery Jolly Roger motif — is easy enough that they can help put it together. You can customize it by choosing the flags you like.

Meanwhile, stitch up a few Fabric Treat Bags—the crew will need these to haul their bounty homeward after the party!  These go together fast, and you can either use your stash or find fun pirate-themed fabric.

Food:

Make Folded Paper Boats, one for each guest.  (They’re easy with our photo tutorial, like making old-fashioned newspaper hats. Have your kids help.) Top them, if you like with these Jolly Roger Sails. Just before the guests arrive, fill with wrapped snacks of your choosing. Gold-foil-wrapped coins are a natural, but also think about Hershey’s Nuggets (think bullion), root beer barrels and golden butterscotch discs. Or try individual packets of Goldfish crackers or Swedish fish.

Top off your matey’s favorite cupcakes with Pirate Cupcake Toppers. Or, if you’re not fond of cupcakes, try  Treasure Chest Birthday Cake for a showstopping cake.

Serve grog (that’s  Raspberry Punch or Citrus Lemonade to landlubbers)  with exotic Palm Tree Straws.

And if you’re hosting a meal, consider these kid favorites:  Pirate Ship Sandwich, Snack Loot and Octopus and Seaweed.

Games

Pirates love entertainment! There’s plenty of chances to earn plunder here.

1. Treasure Hunt (see photo)
An X marks the spot for treasure!  Using Kraft paper or brown paper grocery bags, make a big backyard treasure map, or several smaller ones,  to distribute, cutting to desired size. Then “age” it by crumpling and smoothing it back out and then rubbing a brown inkpad over the wrinkles.
Draw the map by hand, using scrapbook stickers or small photos of backyard landmarks as guides. Place clues or small prizes at each stop on the treasure map.
The youngest buccaneers will have an easier time following the map if an adult or older child helps direct them. The map can take them to the next game:

2. Buried Treasure  (see photo)
Before the party, line a large, sturdy container with a garbage bag or heavy plastic. We used an inexpensive wooden chest from a local craft store, but an aluminum or heavy-duty plastic bin will work, too.
Fill with inexpensive play sand (found at most local hardware stores). Bury age-appropriate favors a few inches under the sand; let some show above the surface.
Provide plastic shovels or let the kids use their hands to dig. If you like, you can refill with more favors throughout the party so the kids can enjoy the fun several times.

3. Pin the Eye Patch on the Pirate (see photo)
Help our pirate find his eye patch in this variation on pin the tail on the donkey.
Download our Pin the Patch on the Pirate images; print on letter-size white card stock. Cut out pieces. If you like, make the eyepatches sturdier by gluing them onto cardboard.
Use double-sided tape on the back of each eye patch, or roll loops of tape, sticky side out.
Blindfold each player, in turn, with a bandanna and point toward the pirate. The winner is the child who gets his or her patch closest to the pirate’s eye.

Tips for Fun And Safety

Whether your party includes multiple ages or kids of the same age, you’ll want to keep safety in mind and tailor activities and decorations as needed.

• Serving trays & dishware. Paper or plastic are safer than glass for small children.  For toddlers, consider spill-proof juice boxes or lidded cups.
• Foods. Keep common allergens and choking hazards in mind when planning a menu. Keep little ones seated at a table or other designated area while eating.
• Games, prizes & favors. Make them age-appropriate. If your party has a mix of ages, pair younger children with older ones in teams. Or recruit small guests’ parents to help.
• Guests. Name tags help keep track of little children. Plan for extra supervision by providing adult or responsible teen helpers, or put guests’ parents to work.

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Abby and Greg Duntz found the field of their dreams on rural property belonging to the bride’s parents—the rustic setting for their wedding reception.

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The charm of the farm won out over big-city venues when Chicagoans Abby and Greg picked a place to tie the knot.

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To suit the casual feel of their wedding, Abby and Greg designed invitations using a wood veneer paper stock.

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The wedding ceremony was held in a small local church. Abby’s father, a minister, helped officiate.

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A farmer friend planted corn to serve as a country-style backdrop to Abby and Greg’s wedding celebration.

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The wedding party posed amid head-high cornstalks.

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A windmill added a romantic country touch to a portrait of the happy twosome.

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A reception tent was set up at the edge of her parents’ backyard, Abby notes. “There was nothing but farmland to look at in every direction—which we loved!”

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To personalize the dinner tables, Abby and her mother selected Amy Butler fabrics, which they sewed into floral-patterned runners.

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Leftover fabric from the reception table runners was used to frame the wedding programs. “It was the hard work of Greg, my bridesmaids and a hot glue gun that got them done,” says Abby.

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Abby and Greg hit every antique store they could find to collect 80 vintage oil lamps they used as table decorations.

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Photos of the couple's dog, Cooper, made whimsical table numbers.

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Antique cheese boxes were used in nostalgic floral centerpieces.

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The guest book rested on one of the antique tables Abby’s parents collect.

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The scrapbook-style guest book invited guests to leave a note for the couple in their own little envelopes.

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Abby’s dad built a place card holder out of recycled barn wood.

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Hand-calligraphed place cards hung on mini clothespins.

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The bride and groom spent a full day mashing strawberries, mixing and canning their tasty wedding favors.

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Hay bale seats were set up around a campfire prepped for making s'mores.

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A friend who is a pastry chef made a small Boston cream wedding cake topped by wooden peg figures representing the couple and their pets.

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Hundreds of bars and pastries filled the dessert table.

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A waxing moon bathed the festivities in a loving light.

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A bluegrass band serenaded guests into the wee hours.

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The celebration ended sweetly with guests choosing from homemade marshmallows—in caramel, vanilla, chocolate and cinnamon flavors——to make gourmet s’mores.

When Abby Ernst and Greg Duntz started checking out cornfields, they weren’t preparing to harvest. They were planning their wedding.

Though they live in downtown Chicago, they found that big-city wedding venues didn’t suit them. But while visiting Abby’s parents near rural Franksville, Wisconsin, “we were relaxing in their backyard, surrounded by beautiful farmland,” Abby recalls, “and we knew—this place was us!”

In keeping with their dream of a wedding that was intimate, comfortable and personal—a chance for guests to experience real Midwestern charm—they made their special day as DIY as possible. With help from family and friends, they built, baked, canned, sewed, restored and recycled. “My father married us in a small neighborhood church,” says Abby, a pastor’s daughter. An outdoor celebration followed in a 40-by-60-foot tent on her parents’ lawn, bordered by acres of green-and-golden stalks.

“That was one of the best wedding presents of all,” Abby notes. “Mom and Dad’s neighbor is a farmer, and he knew we wanted a backdrop that really said country. So he planted corn just for the occasion!”

Less pomp, more personality
According to a 2012 survey of 18,500 brides conducted by theknot.com, more couples are choosing casual weddings. Last year, 17 percent of brides described their weddings as casual, compared to just 12 percent in 2009.

Do-it-yourself is another trend, with 48 percent of couples designing their own programs, 47 percent making their favors and 37 percent sending DIY invitations. In fact, rustic weddings, or those with rustic elements, have become so popular that they sparked an entire website in 2009, rusticweddingchic.com.

Photography by m three studio photography.

Readers just like you saw our Peeps Topiary and decided to make their own. Below are some of our favorite versions of this Country Woman craft.

My two grandsons, ages 8 and 5, made the Peeps Topiary with me. I'm not a crafter but I thought this was neat!! Thank you. —Lisa Bunker, Calvin, Oklahoma

Click here to get instructions to make Country Woman’s Peeps Topiary craft project.

This handsome wall regulator clock with brass pendulum dates from the first half of the 20th century, and once hung in a general merchandise store. It's sought after by collectors of Coke memorabilia.

My aunt and uncle owned a small-town general merchandise store in Kentucky, where this clock advertising “Coca-Cola in Bottles” hung for many years. I’m 85 and remember the clock from my childhood. They gave it to me; it still works. I’d love to know more.

—R.C., Utica, Kentucky

What’s It Worth?

A:  Once clocks were mass-produced in the 1800s, advertisers used them to help their products stand out in stores packed with merchandise. When shoppers checked the time on a store clock, why not give them a promotional message?

Coca-Cola worked with several clock companies from 1891 to 1910, then began a 30-year partnership with the William L. Gilbert Clock Co. of Winsted, Connecticut. Stores often got a regulator (or pendulum) clock like this in exchange for Coca-Cola orders.

The “In Bottles” note reminded shoppers that the drink once served only at soda fountains was now available to go.

Coke clocks are popular with collectors. Yours features pristine reverse-glass painting on the bottom panel, original hands and no face discoloration or fading. The fact that it’s in working order, with the original brass pendulum, an unscratched case and attached Gilbert label, makes it worth about $1,400.

—Barbara J. Eash (Country Woman Magazine’s Antiques Expert)

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Gold-medal-winning Olympian and softball great Jennie Finch has a ball as a busy country mother.

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Jennie's Stats: • Pitcher/First Base • No. 27 (in honor of the date of her parents’ first date) • Two-time Olympic medalist • “Most famous softball player in history” —Time magazine • Two-time Pan American gold medalist • Three-time World Cup Champion • National Pro Fastpitch pitcher for the Chicago Bandits • Won 60 consecutive games at the University of Arizona­­­­, an NCAA record; Photo by Getty Images

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Ace and little brother Diesel enjoy fishing with their mom and dad, Casey, on their family's southern Louisiana ranch.

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The bass pond Jennie and Casey put in together on their sprawling rural acreage is a popular spot for angling.

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"Our kids will definitely be involved in sports," Jennie says. "Athletics teaches life lessons."

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Hungry Boer and Saanen goats come looking for a handout from Jennie. "Our handsome buck goes by the name of Billy," she notes.

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Their team got a new member when baby Paisley arrived. Photo by Terri Dickerson

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Jennie balances family life with running girls' softball camps.

By Sharon Selz

You’d think competing in two Olympics would be challenge enough for anyone. But not for Jennie Finch. Born in the suburbs of Los Angeles, the star softball pitcher moved to rural Louisiana to raise her growing family. And she’s discovered country life fits her like a well-conditioned glove.

“In summer, we’re outside practically from the time we wake up until dark,” she reports from Sulphur, the hometown of her husband, former Major League Baseball pitcher Casey Daigle. Their property offers their kids—Ace, 7, Diesel, 2, and 5-month-old sister Paisley—100 spacious acres to explore, plus easy access to their grandparents, right across the road.

Both now retired from competitive sports, Jennie and Casey are happy with their new positions in the bleachers, cheering on their oldest son. “When Ace has practice or a game, we roll up in the truck with our whole family in tow,” she says. “I remember when I was his age how important it was for me to look up and see my mom and dad’s faces.”

The lanky baby sister of two athletic brothers, Jennie seemed destined for the diamond. “I wanted to do everything the boys did,” she says. Her parents signed her up for T-ball at age 5, but it was during a winter visit to her grandparents’ Iowa farm that she heaved a snowball out of sight. “I started pitching when I was 8,” she says, “and from then on, there was no turning back.”

From Gold to Gumbo
Her passion for the sport, and her 70 mph fastball, carried Jennie to the U.S. national team and on to the Olympics, where she earned a gold medal in 2004 and a silver four years later. “It was absolutely incredible to be able to represent my country,” she recalls. “My whole career has been more than I ever imagined.”

A marriage proposal from Casey (delivered on the softball field at the University of Arizona, her alma mater) and Ace’s birth convinced Jennie three years ago that it was time to set aside her glove. “I’d been feeling a strong tug at my heart to be with my family,” she says. “I knew I was ready.”

Life on a quiet bayou is a whole other ball game from the hectic, competitive world she knew. “My hobbies and interests are changing,” Jennie says. She regularly joins her boys as they tend to their goats, calves, horses and chickens—and recently learned to drive an excavator. “I helped Casey clear land for the bass pond he built,” she says. “Our family loves to fish. And we’re living in seafood heaven!

“Since Casey was raised on wonderful Southern food, I’m learning to cook Louisiana style,” Jennie says. “We’re hoping to plant a vegetable garden this year. I’d really like to get into canning.”

A League of Her Own
Still, Jennie hasn’t hung up her cleats for good. With help from her family, she runs softball camps for young girls around the country.

“My mother-in-law coordinates all the details, and I get to have fun working with girls who love the game, giving hitting and pitching clinics,” Jennie says. “We cover subjects that are important on and off the field—from self-esteem and keeping up their grades to having a good work ethic.

“Softball taught me about teamwork, leadership, discipline and balance, lessons that translate into everyday life. I share what I’ve learned with the girls. We also talk about getting through the trials and hard times, and not giving up.”

Her book, Throw Like a Girl, turns the classic schoolyard put-down into something young women can aspire to. “When I was 12, a coach told me I’d never be a champion pitcher,” Jennie recalls. She kept the comment in the back of her mind, determined to prove him wrong.

Jennie regularly sends words of encouragement to her over 100,000 Twitter followers, most of them young girls. “As a mother, I appreciate how important it is to be a good role model,” she says. “Every one of these girls is important to me and the future of the sport.”

An active ambassador for women’s athletics, Jennie found it “heartbreaking” when softball was dropped from the Olympics after the 2008 games, and is actively campaigning to get it back. A vote in September will determine whether to include softball in 2020.

Having a Ball
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Jennie has plenty of bases to cover. Besides running her online store (selling everything from jerseys to gloves to her signature glitter headbands at jenniefinch.com), she does motivational speaking and sports commentary and offers pointers to local girls’ softball teams. As for priorities, faith and family come first.

“We’re blessed to live in the country, where we can get on our four-wheelers and be out in nature every day,” Jennie says. “I enjoy just soaking it all in with our little ones and watching them discover their passion.”

And if that turns out to be playing competitive ball like Mom and Dad, or cattle ranching like their granddad? “If their heart is in it, I’m fine with whatever they choose,” Jennie says. “Just as long as they don’t move too far away.”

What Jennie loves about the country:

• Privacy. “I’m a social person, but I love being at home, where it’s just us, the land and our animals.”
• Family values. “It’s a blessing to be surrounded by family who love our little ones as much as we do. I get teary-eyed every time I have to be away.”
• Nature. “Our children are getting a special upbringing. The country is a great place to raise kids. They’re learning so much from nature.”
• A slower pace. “It’s nice escaping traffic and all the busyness of the city. Our nearest mall is 20 miles away.”

Photography by Jim Wieland; styling by Pam Stasney 

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Jaime Morrison Curtis (left) and Jacinda Boneau of Prudent Baby

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The birthday boy or girl will love seeing their age in this quick, inexpensive DIY party decoration. Click here for the how-to.

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Click here to make a scrappy fabric bowl.

Friends Jacinda Boneau and Jaime Morrison Curtis are on the same creative wavelength. As young mothers, they turned their nesting instinct into a DIY website aimed at helping crafty moms make their lives more stylish and beautiful. Here we talk with Jacinda about their blog, Prudent Baby. (http://prudentbaby.com).

CW: How did you two team up as blogging partners?

Jacinda: Years ago, when Jaime and I met, we clicked creatively and developed a great friendship. When we both became moms, crafting handmade items for our families turned into a mutual passion. It was Jaime’s idea to start a DIY site together, and Prudent Baby was born.

CW: How has your blog changed as it’s developed?

Jacinda: It will always have a solid foundation in crafting tutorials for families with babies and young children. But as our kids grow, we’re branching out into more family travel and style content. We’ve also been hard at work creating video tutorials for our YouTube channel.

It’s been amazing to hear that our site and our hands-on projects have given people, especially new mothers, a sense of accomplishment. We love to inspire our followers to take up new, creative hobbies.

CW: What kind of relationship do you have with your followers?

Jacinda: We adore them and cherish the community we’ve created together. When Jaime and I have a question about nearly anything, we head to our Facebook page to get information from our knowledgeable network of mamas. They’re always game to try our step-by-step projects. Our Pillowcase Baby Dress and Fabric Tassel Garland are particularly popular posts.

CW: Can you explain the name of your blog?

Jacinda: Our favorite definition of prudent is “acting with or showing care and thought for the future.” That’s what we’re all about. We try to help our readers as they shape who their children will become in the future—whether it’s through sewing clothes, cooking nutritious food or throwing a birthday party.

CW: What are the benefits of blogging as a pair?

Jacinda: It’s been a rewarding adventure to build a successful business with someone you care about and look forward to talking to every day. If anything, we wish that we lived in the same city so that we could share an office and work face-to-face more often. Thankfully, in this digital age, Jaime’s craft room in California and mine in Texas are just an e-mail apart.

CW: How do you balance family life with blogging?

Jacinda: At first, we were blogging in our spare time. Jaime was working another full-time job, and I was at home expecting baby number three. We spent many long nights and weekends working to keep the site fresh with daily projects. As we saw some success, we were both able to make Prudent Baby our full-time occupation. Now, the challenge is stepping away from work and being 100% present during family time

CW: Are you raising crafty kids?

Jacinda: Our children love to craft, and my oldest can’t wait to start sewing. Jaime lets her daughter, Scarlet, dive right into homemade projects, and I’m working on relaxing and letting my girls go crazy with crafting supplies. My 1-year-old son is sticking to mud and finger paints for now.

(Web Bonus: Check out Jacinda’s tutorials for the Birthday Number Sign and the Wrapped Fabric Bowl.)

For more information about Jacinda and Jaime and their blog, visit them at Prudent Baby.

Blogger portrait by  Kristen Rae Critz.

Other Photos by Jacinda Boneau of Prudent Baby.