Follow these steps on how to turn your Easies into a planter.
Tag us in a photo, we love to see your boot and Easies planters! @westernchief #westernchief
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It is that time of year when many of us are busily planting gardens, nurturing chicks, milking cows or goats and getting into the warm months of the year. Honestly, it's the start of my favorite time of year. Especially reaping the benefits of home grown, sun ripened, fresh from my garden tomatoes!!!
In all my years of growing tomatoes, I have found a few good tricks to getting healthy and productive tomato plants. Please remember, every person's garden space, garden soil, and climate vary. Meaning these tips are a sure-fire way to get a good start, but that ultimately, they cannot control your ongoing efforts or weather which long term determine what you will harvest from your own gardens.
If starting your tomatoes from seeds, remember to start them about 6-8 weeks BEFORE you wish to plant them. My first tip starts here.....
Tip 1: Start Tomato Seeds in Warm Moist Soil
This helps with germination! I personally pour boiling hot water into my dry seed starting soil. Be sure to stir with a wooden spoon to prevent burning yourself. Once soil has cooled enough to work with your hands, begin your seed starting process. The boiling water kills any unwanted bugs and allows your seeds to be warm and moist for the germination process.
Tip 2: Start Seeds with a Heating Mat and Grow Lights
I personally use LED shop lights. The heating mat helps maintain warm soil during the germination process and can be unplugged after your seeds have sprouted. The "grow lights" when hung correctly, can be the make or break for beautiful and healthy tomato starts. To hang them "correctly", hang the lights 3 inches above your seedlings.
As your seedlings grow, move the light up, maintaining 3 inches of space between your grow light and the seedlings. This keeps your seedlings from getting leggy on you. I try to up-pot my seedlings once before time to plant. However, that isn’t always the case. If you are able to up-pot your seedlings, be sure to cover all but the top 4 leaves with soil. This process makes for more roots on your seedling.
Tip 3: Dig a Trench and Lay Each Seedling on its Side to Plant
Regardless of if you started your seedlings or bought them, this tip is by far the most important tip in my personal opinion. After digging your trench, cover your seedlings up. Make sure to cover all but the top 4 leaves. This tip helps you obtain a better root system. by covering the whole lower part of your seedling, the plant forms roots where the hairy stem once was. It also allows the roots to be closer to the surface. Which is beneficial when it comes to sunlight and moisture of your tomatoes. the bigger your root system, the better your plant.
Tip 4: Pinch the Blossoms
Yep, you read that right.... pinch your blossoms. Most plants, and especially tomato plants, like to start blooming early. Before your mother plant has truly had the time to focus on a good root system. While early tomatoes always sound like a win, by leaving the blossoms on a young plant, the plant and its energy goes into multiple tasks instead of focusing on the roots. Don't take that wrong, if you leave the blossoms, you will still get tomatoes. However, by removing the blossoms, you will get an abundance of tomatoes and have a mother plant with roots strong enough to support the ongoing growth of your tomato plants. A good healthy start leads to a good healthy growing season. Pinching of the blossoms only needs done for the first few weeks of blossoms.
Tip 5: Good Maintenance AKA Pruning!
When I first learned to prune, I felt like it was a silly concept. I mean.... they are tomatoes! Why prune? Well, simply put, you prune to allow better air flow. Better air flow to the roots and to prevent diseases. Diseases like blight. Pruning also offers the benefit of making it easy to water your plants. To prune your tomatoes, simply remove the lower 2-4 branches. This is done throughout the growing season. the bigger your tomatoes get, you may find 4- 6 branches need to be removed. The trick is to ensure there is plenty of space for air movement. Be careful to not over prune. And be sure to tie up your plants as you go. Another way you help you plant have optimal air flow and make picking ripe tomatoes easier.
Tip 6: Water at the base of your plants.
Watering overhead can cause damage to your beautiful tomato plants. Not to mention it limits the amount of water the plant takes in from the roots. The roots are what feed and grow the plants, therefore, that is where the watering should take place. And where your plant benefits most from being watered. Mulching your rows helps hold back the weeds and hold in the moisture as well. Allowing watering to be spaced out a little further. Plus, weeds pull nutrients from the soil that your tomatoes need.
Tip 7: Bug control
More specifically, those pesky hornworms. you know, those huge green worms with a horn on their toosh that will demolish a tomato plant if gone unnoticed. Yea....those things! the epitome of every gardener with tomatoes in the ground.... or at least in my world they are the epitome. In any case, those little buggers can be a real "I spy" critter in the garden. They blend right in! Often, being left undetected until your plants look pitiful, and tomatoes are well bitten into. No worries, this is the year you conquer those Hornworms! you simply need one handy tool. A black light flashlight!!! After the sun begins to go down you can use a black light flashlight to spot the horn worms. look, I barely believed it myself until I tried it! They glow when hit with that black light.
If you use any of these great tips, please tag us on our Instagram @westernchief. We want to see all of the beautiful results!
For more gardening content, follow @muddyoakhennhouse on Instagram and always come back for more blog posts by our Western Chief partners!
Mickey Mouse
Hiya Pal! Let your child be small but mighty just like Mickey Mouse! Western Chief offers a rain gear set that your child can use while exploring the world! Get a 3 in 1 bundle of joy with Mickey Mouse Rain Gear Set! Whether your little one is playing under the rain or jumping in the muddy puddles, don’t let it stop their adventure! This rainboots + raincoat + umbrella gear set will save the day!
Frozen
Let it go, Let it go.. Let’s sing with Elsa and Anna! And to make it more special, Western Chief gives you Frozen Rain Gear Set! Your child will never be bothered by the cold or rain with our waterproof raincoat and easy-pull rainboots. The eye-catchy blending of colors and style made it more fun to wear. Be fearless like Anna and magical as Elsa!
Does your little one loves cars? Is he running so fast that you could not almost catch up? Well, Lightning McQueen would be the best choice! The fastest car in the children’s world. And you can never go wrong with Western Chief! Cause we got your back! Lightning McQueen Rain Gear Set offers a head to toe striking red color cover for your little racer. The rain boots have printed wheels on each side that will let your child feel more like a racing car. While the rain coat is more of a racer uniform with matching umbrella! Talking about awesomeness at its finest!
Batman
Ready to be a dark knight superhero? Let’s protect and save Gotham City! Your kid will surely love Western Chief’s Batman Rain Gear Set! Featuring the classic must-have dramatic cape for superheroes! A waterproof rain coat that will give an awesome look to all Batman wannabes! And wait… There’s more! An easy pull on rain boots that has a matching Batman cape, too! On top of that, get an umbrella that will bring you to Gotham City! A perfect gear set to make your child’s superhero adventure full of awesomeness!
You thought you have seen everything? Well, we just gave you a sneak peak! Western Chief has a lot more of these Character Rain Gear Sets! So what are you waiting for? Let's make our kids the happiest fanatics!
Share with us your exciting adventure wearing your favorite Western Chief Rain Gear Set! Tag us @westernchief!
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1. What family holiday traditions does your family partake in?
On Christmas Eve my family always goes to my husband, Day’s, grandparents’ house. They cook a huge dinner with tamales, turkey, ham, and all the best holiday foods. On Christmas day my husband, daughter, and I watch traditional Christmas movies every year and then dig into Christmas dinner. Most years it’s the ‘traditional dinner’ but last year we did pasta, and it might have been one of my favorite dinners.
2. What are your family members favorite foods?
My daughter Wyatt’s favorite holiday food is pumpkin pie, she helps make it every year from scratch starting with the pumpkins from our farm. As soon as she can get her hands on a pumpkin, it’s pumpkin pie time around here until the pumpkins run out. My favorite is green bean casserole, it’s the perfect comfort food; it always reminds me of the holiday season and was the first ‘holiday dish’ I learned how to make on my own. Day's favorite holiday dish is his family’s Puerto Rican stuffing that his grandfather makes with his father every year.
3. How do you decorate for Christmas?
We usually decorate right after Thanksgiving starting with the front porch and the farm, because those are my favorite spots to bring in the magic. Every year we get a real tree and decorate it with special ornaments from our family. My favorite is this set of snow globe Santas that were passed down in my family from my mother’s great grandmother. Wyatt loves to shake them and watch the snow fall.
4. What is the best present you have ever received?
My favorite holiday gift was from 2017, I was having a rough year because my father passed away in November and I felt lost. It was the first time I had ever experienced a loss that great. Day surprised me that year with a puppy for Christmas. I always told him I wanted a Christmas puppy, but never expected it. Dipity Shay is now a happy new member of our family, she truly saved me. Wyatt’s favorite present was her horse toy. She loves horses and can’t wait to own her very own one day, but for now horse lesson at a local ranch will have to do. Day’s favorite gift he has ever received is a silver knife from his younger brother. He carries it everywhere, and occasionally loses it, putting the whole house on a search party.
5. What does Christmas day look like for you and your family?
Christmas day is so much fun with my daughter. She wakes up super early; almost too early to see what Santa brought her. She has amazement twinkling in her eyes and every year is more excited than the last. I hope that never stops and the magic of Christmas is always with her.
We open presents early in the morning and then dig into breakfast. Afterwards we have presents with pets, then slip on our Western Chief boots and go outside for presents with the farm animals of course. The house is a cozy Christmas mess all day but, I wouldn’t want it any other way.
Shop the @hellotinyfarm looks here!
Women's tall adjustable rainboots here.
Men's cold weather neoprene work boots here
Kid's glitter rainboot collection here.
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We want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! If you and your family have any special holiday traditions please share them with us on social media @westernchief, we would love to see them!
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I don't know what it is about the start of fall that makes the majority of folks, myself included, want instant comfort and warm and cozy feels. From pumpkin spice and apple crisp to hot beverages and bowls of our favorite soups - the comfort foods are plenty. And nothing makes a big bowl of soup better (if that's even possible) then knit sweaters, blanket scarfs, and cozy-lined house slippers.
After a busy season in the garden and putting up the harvest, I kick off fall with a big bowl of Corn Chowder and trade my garden rain boots in for fuzzy slippers.
I'd love to share my recipe for this fall favorite with y'all and hope it helps you cozy up this fall!
Enjoy!
Hannah
What You'll Need:
Let's make chowder!!!
Time to serve this deliciousness! Top with bacon crumbs and cheddar cheese. Serves well with crackers or dinner rolls.
This soup does well in a crock pot on keep warm for the day and also freezes well for future quick meals.
Did you make this delicious chowder recipe? Share a photo with us @westernchief and with Hannah @muddyoakhennhouse!
What you'll need:
Choosing your ingredients:
First, pick your favorite edible flowers from the garden, even better if done in our cute and whimsical Western Chief printed garden clogs or boots!
Tip: Kame loves to pick her flowers in the morning when they are the most fresh.🌸
Then, decide what liquid you’ll be using. In this case, Kame used lemonade, but juice, fruit puree, yogurt or even alcoholic cocktails would work great. (Some spirits don’t freeze especially well, so be careful of alcoholic content.)
Preparation:
Step 1: Gently rinse your fresh flowers.
Step 2: Pick off the edible parts you’ll be using in your drinks.
Tip: Stick to petals and avoid putting stems in your creation (they can make it bitter)!
Kame picked the yellow petals off the marigolds here.
Step 3: Fill your popsicle molds with your chosen liquid and pay careful attention to the fill line indicator on your popsicle mold.
Step 4: Put in your flower petals (as many colors and combinations as your imagination can drum up).
Step 5: Use the popsicle stems/sticks to carefully position the petals throughout the liquid. Once you are satisfied with your work of art, place the sticks through the center of the mold.
Step 6: Pop the molds in the freezer for at least 2 hours.
Tip: If you have the time, we recommend leaving them in all night.
Step 7: Once they are fully frozen, take the molds out of the freezer and run the surface under warm water for easy extraction.
Step 8: Enjoyyyyy your delicious creation! Bon appétit!
If you make this delicious treat, please tag us on our Instagram @westernchief. We want to see all of the beautiful results!
For more gardening content, follow @whosinthegarden on Instagram and come back often for more blog posts by our Western Chief gardening partners!
Once you're finished creating your Time Capsule, make sure to snag a pair of Western Chief boots to pair with your 1st day of school outfit. Rain boots are great to keep at school in a locker or cubby to change into for recess or rainy days! Try out some of our favorite styles below:
Glitter Boots so your kiddo can shimmer and shine like the star they are.
Light Up Boots to dazzle the class and have more fun with every step.
Batman, Wonder Woman, and Firefighters are great superhero inspiration for your child!
Whether you've been gardening for years, or are just starting out, @omasgardens has great tips and tricks for planting terrific tomatoes.
Before you jump into your gardening extravaganza, don't forget to get the right gear! Oma loves our tried and true classic Western Chief Garden Play Rain Boots. These keep her feet dry and comfortable (they also match her garden 😊).
Directions:
For more gardening content, follow @whosinthegarden on Instagram and come back often for more blog posts by our Western Chief gardening partners!
Step 1:
Start trimming their lower branches as soon as the plant reaches about 5-6" tall
Step 2:
Keep trimming it as it grows!
This will force the stalks up, and to grow larger and stronger with the plant itself growing flowers at its top.
For more gardening tips, follow @omasgardens on Instagram and come back often for more blog posts by our Western Chief gardening partners!
Which way do squash grow? @newcastlefarmgirl is here with all the answers to your gardening questions!
Erin sports the Western Chief's Lovely Daisy Chelseas. Want to snag a pair? You can find them here on our website along with so many other great styles that are perfect for the garden.
So, when that squash sprouts out of the ground, which way is it going to grow and how can you tell?
"Squash plants will grow in the direction of their second real leaf."
Let's identify where the second real leaf is:
This is a cotyledon leaf (baby leaf) here on the right.
This is also a cotyledon leaf on the left.
This is your first true leaf, which means that, because squash always grows away from the first true leaf...
It will grow this way!
Simple, right? You're on your way to growing some GOURD-geous squash.😉
For more gardening tips, follow @newcastlefarmgirl on Instagram and come back often for more blog posts by our Western Chief gardening partners!
]]>The Earth deserves all the love it can get on Earth Day, and for all of us mud stompers at Western Chief, we have a lot to give back for! Celebrate with us and learn some fun tips on how to help out the planet this Earth Day.
When you need to run out for more fertilizer before you go right back to gardening, look cute running out the door with a pair of our Western Chief Women's Tranquil Floral Chelsea Rain Boots. You'll turn heads at the nursery!
We love seeing you show off the amazing plants your gardens have produced, so please be sure to use our #WesternChief and #WearABigSmile hashtags to show us pictures of your gardens on our Instagram and be featured on our website!
"When transplanting your tomato seedlings, remember to bury the plant all the way up to its first leaves. Roots will actually grow out of any part of the stem that's buried, giving you a healthier, stronger tomato plant."
When your backyard tomatoes are ripe on the vine, slip out the kitchen door with a pair of our Western Chief Women's Tranquil Floral Chelsea Rain Boots. Trust us, there's nothing easier to wash the mud off of!
We love seeing you show off the amazing plants your gardens have produced, so please be sure to use our #WesternChief and #WearABigSmile hashtags to show us pictures of your gardens on our Instagram and be featured on our website!
"Did you know that snap peas are one of those plants that, the more you pick, the more they produce?" Thanks to Erin (@newcastlefarmgirl), now we do! At Western Chief, we're always looking for the little things to enjoy in life, like spring sunshine, a pair of cute rain boots, and lots and lots of snap peas.
We also love helping you get the most out of your garden, so we'd like to help by sharing some great snap pea growing tips with the help of the lovely @newcastlefarmgirl, as well as the best pair of boots we could dream up for you to keep your feet warm, clean, and dry.
USDA Hardiness Zones 3-11, in full to partial sun.
Snap peas like well drained, loamy soil. Keep them moist not soggy, and side dress with compost if needed.
Plant 4-6 Weeks before last frost, with a depth of 1" in cooler weather and 1 1/2" to 2" in warmer weather.
Water 1/2 " per week until blooming, and then 1" per week until pods fill.
Pick often! When picking, support the vines. You can keep your snap peas 5 days in the refrigerator or freeze them for longer storage.
8 plants per square foot
In order to make sure you get to spend the most time out in the garden and the least time cleaning your shoes, we're here to help. What's better than a day out in the garden than a day in our cozy boots? We have some suggestions to look cute and stay productive in the garden beds:
For tromping through your freshly watered beds, the perfect pair of shoes is for sure our Western Chief Women's Top Pop Mid Rain Boots.
For tromping out the kitchen door quickly to snag a little harvest of sugar snap peas to make sure they keep multiplying, slip on a pair of our Western Chief Women's Tranquil Floral Chelsea Rain Boots.
We love seeing you show off the amazing plants your gardens have produced, so please be sure to use our #WesternChief and #WearABigSmile hashtags to show us pictures of your gardens on our Instagram and be featured on our website!
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High, low, near or far, there are always some eggs to be found on this coming Easter holiday! Whether they're hidden with the hens, hopping with the frogs, high in the trees, or covered in glitter, we are here to suggest a unique Easter basket idea that will help your family egg hunt to your heart's content!
Instead of a basket this Easter, fill a pair of Western Chief kids boots with treats and help the family greet the April showers with a spring in their step. We've got themes for all kinds of puddle jumpers and egg hunters with ideas and boots galore! Check them out below:
Did you know that the Easter bunny has lots of friends? Most of them live on the farm! What better way to share the love than to show off all the family farm friends right there on your feet with a farm-themed boot basket!
The best hoppers in the animal kingdom are bunnies, frogs... and kiddos of course! With our Western Chief kids Frog boots, jump into Easter with a splash and a boot basket of goodies. Get some sweet treats and frog loving gear and make your little tadpole jump with excitement. An idea for a little extra fun: fill up some Easter eggs with frog gummies that you can find at your local Target or grocery store.
Who says you won't find more than just colorful eggs on your Easter hunt? Gear up for a spring full of adventures with this adventure themed Boot Basket ― the most mud-proof Easter basket you'll ever find! Toss in a field guide, some sweet snacks for the trail and let the family fun begin.
Is Easter a magical holiday? Of course it is! Is this glittery boot basket the most delightful thing you've ever seen? I think it's safe to say, absolutely! Fill your glitter lover's boots with the whimsy they deserve in our glitterific Western Chief kids Glitter boots.
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What's a motto or personal mantra/words you strive to live by?
"Discipline is the bridge between your goals and accomplishment." - Jim Rohn
What advice do you have for someone just starting out their career?
Try new things. Don’t be afraid of change. Find what you are good at and throw everything you have into it.
What’s the most important thing you’ve learned in your time with the company?
I’ve learned so many new and valuable skills with this company that most schools will simply not teach you.
What do you like best about working for the company?
I love working with so many people that are dedicated to their job and this company. I’m also so thankful for everything this company has given me. I was hired straight out of college with $1,000 to my name and I’m certain I had no idea how far I would come in 5 years. I have to attribute that to this company giving me all the opportunities in the world to challenge myself to improve.
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Hannah from @muddyoakhenhouse wearing our fleece lined Danielle mid rubber boot to gather fresh eggs from her own chicken coop.
"As the winter sets in and Christmas is quick approaching, easy comfort food recipes are what I tend to reach for. Especially around Christmas meal planning. We all know Christmas dinner takes time. Easy meals that fill us up are great to have on hand. This is my quiche recipe that is great for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner! It's quick and easy, making it a perfect Christmas Eve dinner or Christmas morning breakfast. While I gather eggs fresh from the hen house, please be assured this recipe is delicious even if your unable to get fresh from the coop eggs. Enjoy! And may you and your loved ones have a very merry Christmas no matter how it may look this season." -Hannah
Farmhouse Winter Quiche
You will need:
1 pie crust
6 eggs
3/4 cup whole milk
1/2 lb cooked bacon
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
Salt & pepper to taste
2 sprigs each fresh Thyme and sweet Marjoram (about 1 1/2 teaspoon)
1 clove garlic or teaspoon garlic
***For meat lovers - add 1/2 cooked diced ham and 1/2 cup cooked ground sausage***
1. In a standard size pie plate - put down pie crust and poke several holes with fork to the bottom.
2. Lay down cooked bacon (and other meats if desired meat lovers) sprinkle parmesan and sharp cheddar evenly.
3. In a separate bowl, beat together eggs, milk, salt, pepper, garlic, thyme, and sweet Marjoram until well blended.
4. Pour over cheese and bacon.
5. Bake at 375⁰ F for 45-50 minutes.
6. Enjoy!
Photos by @muddyoakhenhouse
If you decide to make this for you or your family, make sure to tag us @westernchief #westernchief, so we can enjoy your creation!
Follow the fun on Instagram @westernchief
]]>There are hundreds of ways to wrap a present, but how many will make a box into a cute animal that your kid will love? Bring our favorite Fritz and Friends characters to life under the tree with this easy step-by-step tutorial. This is the perfect way to wrap your Western Chief boot boxes for holiday gifting. Make this Christmas unFROGettable!
1. Choose which animal you will be creating
Will it be Fritz the Frog? Khloe the Kitty? Lucy the Ladybug? We love our classic characters (that match our Western Chief boots and rain gear sets)! But with a little creativity, you can certainly make any animal you like.
2. Wrap your gift in the appropriate color
This is where you can get creative because there is no one stopping you from making a blue frog, a purple cat, or a yellow ladybug - that will get some laughs on Christmas morning! However, we stuck with the traditional colors for our example.
3. Print out the features
We created an easy print out with the main features of each character, so you can print (resize as needed to fit your box!), cut, and glue them to the box. This will include Khloe's ears and nose, Lucy's antennae and spots, Fritz's mouth, and all of the googly eyes! You can repurpose any of these features for another animal by tracing the shape on the appropriate colored paper.
Tip: Right click on the below images and click "Save Image As." Open the image from your computer and print from there!
4. Draw in the details
Put on the finishing touches! Grab some markers and fill in the details of these cute Western Chief character faces...whiskers, freckles, smiles, or even eyelashes! Get creative with the colors or stick with black to make it look realistic.
5. Repeat with other gifts and have FUN! These cute characters are sure to bring smiles to the whole family.
Did you try this craft? Share your gift wrapped character creations with us by tagging @westernchief and #westernchief
Follow the fun on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westernchief/
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November is a great time to reflect on what we are thankful for and consider sharing with others. This year, Western Chief’s non-profit partner, Wear A Big Smile, recognized the increased need of many families across the country.
Wear A Big Smile expanded their giving network to donate over 7,600 boots, rain coats, and umbrellas to Western Chief kids and families in the United States. As the weather cools and winter settles in, quality Western Chief boots are essential to keep feet dry and warm.
Since 2016, Wear A Big Smile has partnered with Western Chief to provide footwear to community organizations and schools, and has donated a total of 37,556 boots and 1,688 rain coats. Western Chief is thankful to spread smiles to those in need.
Check out these awesome photos from this year!
Want to receive Western Chief boots or volunteer/donate? Join us in our mission to give back and provide footwear to our community!
Learn more about Wear A Big Smile Foundation here: https://www.wearabigsmile.org/
]]>With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it's a great time to reflect on traditions and all of the things we're grateful for. We chatted with some of our favorite Western Chief collaborators to learn about the fun activities they partake in with their families year after year. Read all about it below!
Hannah from @muddyoakhenhouse
"Its hard to believe it is already time to give Thanks!!
Our family starts each Thanksgiving day with Pumpkin pancakes, maple syrup, bacon and orange juice. It's a tradition we started several years ago to have time just for us before a busy day of driving and eating.
For Thanksgiving dinner, we take a small drive to my parents house to meet up with them and my siblings and their families. It is usually a very traditional dinner...turkey, ham, stuffing, cranberry sauce, potatoes, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, and deviled eggs. And rolls!
I make pumpkin pie from scratch before we head over and my brother typically brings chocolate pie and pecan pie. Needless to say, we roll away stuffed and thankful for time well spent with family. A tradition many aren't able to have."
Chelsey from @chelseywesterlund
"Thanksgiving is such a wonderful holiday celebrated in our family. It’s the perfect pause button that we need to stop the businesses just for a moment and look around at what we’re truly grateful for.
Personally, I hold Thanksgiving near to me. We have a very large family that is difficult to get everyone together, but Thanksgiving is a never failing holiday with all of our loved ones near.
Although the holiday traditions have changed throughout the years, building bigger families and getting older, one thing remains the same, family. Family is always there and we will always get together, relax and appreciate each other. You can always count on leaving with a full tummy and an even fuller heart."
Annette from @azurefarm
"Thanksgiving is a special time of year for me and I love doing some family traditions with our little Ava. My two favorites are doing a "Give Thanks Wall" and also singing a song together at the dinner table on Thanksgiving day.
For the wall you can have family members write down things they are thankful for the weeks leading up to thanksgiving. I like to order kraft paper leaves and hang them by little hooks on string on a prominent wall in the home. You can also attach the leaves to your fridge, etc.
On Thanksgiving you can look back together with your family and see all you have been grateful for this year. When we sit down to eat on Thanksgiving it has been our tradition to sing a song together before the meal. It's a song that includes a blessing for the meal and it's a special time to hold hands, sing, and give thanks as a family!"
Photo by @jessicaellephotography_
Abby from @thegatewayfarm
"Our Thanksgiving family tradition starts in the spring. As farmers we plant the seeds in spring for our harvest in the fall. We raise pasture raised turkeys for our family and our local community - this brings so much honor and feelings of gratefulness each year come harvest time. Being able to raise and grow majority of the food served on our table is something we hope our children will continue.
The maple syrup handcrafted on our farm is used in many of the desserts prepared, all made together with the help of our children. Our traditions are simple, traditional, and much more about the time spent together and appreciating the work that goes into the bounty when we sit down as a family to celebrate.
We brine our turkey before roasting. My children already know the neck of the bird is used in a big ol' pot to enhance the flavor of the gravy that will be made later on. They each partake in peeling potatoes from the garden for their favorite side dish. They know the butternut squash is tough to cut and they leave that for mommy.
The green bean casserole is made a little bit differently than the recipe calls for because we use frozen garden beans instead of canned ones. Homemade rolls they know takes a long time (mostly waiting around) but kneading their little hands in the dough is one of their favorite things.
Maple Pumpkin Pie and Maple Oatmeal Pie being two of the favorite desserts includes the handcrafted maple syrup they helped us make in the spring. Above all, the time spent together prepping and baking is unmatched and will always be our favorite part of Thanksgiving."
Maple Pumpkin Pie
Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). On floured surface, roll out pastry to 1/8-inch (3 mm) thickness.
Fit pastry into 10-inch (25 cm) pie plate; press into bottom and up sides of plate. Trim overhang and flute edges.
Whisk together pumpkin purée, sugar, eggs, flour, spices and salt in large bowl until smooth and well combined; gradually whisk in evaporated milk and maple syrup. Fill pie shell with evaporated milk mixture. Bake in bottom third of oven for 60 to 70 minutes or until set. Let cool completely on rack.
We loved hearing all of the wonderful and very special traditions from all of these Western Chief families. Now we're also feeling pretty hungry and ready to try Abby's maple pumpkin pie recipe! 😄
Do you have a favorite family recipe? What's your special family tradition? We'd love to hear from you! Share with us @westernchief
Need new Western Chief rainboots for your family? Shop HERE.
Follow the fun on social media:
]]>How To Make
Recipe and photo source: https://www.iheartnaptime.net/nutter-butter-turkey-cookies/
Can't eat this one? Try this pinecone turkey craft!
https://www.livecrafteat.com/craft/painted-pinecone-turkeys-thanksgiving-craft-for-kids/
Make sure to tag @westernchief when posting your turkey creations!
Need new Western Chief rain boots for your family? https://www.westernchief.com/
Follow the fun on social media:
https://www.instagram.com/westernchief/
https://www.facebook.com/WesternChief
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What’s the most important thing you’ve learned in your time with the company?
I've learned that it's best to change the situation, not the person.
What do you like best about working for the company?
The people genuinely care about each other whether it's personally or with work. Everyone works together well as a team.
What advice do you have for someone just starting out their career?
Be yourself; work hard and be kind. I know its sounds simple, but I've learned to live by those words every day.
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Motto or personal mantra/words to live by?
Do what you love, love what you do!
What advice do you have for someone just starting out their career?
Listen more than you speak. Don’t be in a hurry to figure everything out and remember where you start isn’t always where you end up.
What do you like to do when you’re not in the office?
When I’m not in the office, I’m usually spending time with family and friends, working out or enjoying a glass of wine.
What do you like best about working for the company?
One of the things I like most about working for Washington Shoe/Western Chief is the culture. It truly feels like one big family. We work hard and we have fun!
]]>🍎 While we love apples for a school snack, we also like the idea of turning them into a fun back-to-class treat! 🍎
Check out this fun and super simple recipe below. Make as a treat for your family, or bring the kiddos into the kitchen for an A+ activity!
Western Chief wishes you a wonderful new school year.
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