The On-line Version of our E-mail Newsletter

VOLUME 2002-3     October 2002

Hello everyone!

Don't forget to check out the bottom of this newsletter for special SUBSCRIBERS ONLY savings on some of our most popular products.

If you just can't wait to check out the specials then click on the link below:

Note: These specials are expired.

As autumn marks the winding down of yet another year, it also marks the beginning of the years' busiest retail season. School has already begun while the summers' last picnic has faded into memory. We begin now with the witching time, when the air fills with tiny cool fingers that caress the back of your neck when you least expect it, when pumpkins steal silently from the fields to take on their own mischievous personality with a wink and a grin, when beggars ring your doorbell in the dead of night, in search of a treat, cloaked in every manner of ghoulish disguise.

Yankee Harvest is preparing for a busy month with Halloween quickly approaching and the various holidays just around the corner. Even while we scramble to help our customers create the Haunted Halloween of their dreams, the expectations of the next two months become increasingly important. It is not too soon to begin planning and buying. In fact, the earlier, the better...!

Our sources at the United States Postal Service tell us that circumstances have not significantly changed since 9/11 and the postal scares of a year ago.

PRIORITY MAIL is two to three business days approximately, and also depending on zip code. Hawaii and Alaska may, and probably will, take longer.

PARCEL POST is seven to ten business days, approximately, depending on zip code.

EXPRESS MAIL is next day delivery to most zip codes; however, some outlying areas or extreme rural locations will receive their parcels "second day".

International packages are shipped via Air Mail and do take up to, and exceeding two weeks depending on destination. Keep in mind that the Economy Surface method of shipping overseas is economical, but can take four to six weeks! Global Priority and Global Express are other overseas options.

PEASE NOTE: International parcels, including those going into Canada, are still being opened at random, inspected, and re-packaged. This may cause significant delay.

Special attention to APO's and FPO's: Shipping to APO and FPO zip codes using any method usually stays within the above shipping parameters. However, once the parcel reaches the New York or California zip code it is essentially out of USPS hands and in the hands of the government. From that point, shipping overseas to the military remains on a "space available" situation. Please... plan your holiday shopping accordingly. The USPS recommends that all APO and FPO shipments be in the hands of the postal service by December 1st.

Keep in mind that Yankee Harvest tries it's best to get your purchases to you as quickly as possible. Things can, and do, go wrong, things that are beyond our control. To avoid some problems, Yankee Harvest has taken on the additional expense of Delivery Confirmation, attaching it to all parcels whose total invoice is valued at twenty dollars or more. We will supply to you the tracking number if the need arises. Contact your local post office and they will be able to locate the package through use of that number. When all is said and done, and for everyone's peace of mind... order early...! It is the easiest way to a joyous and stress free holiday experience.

Scarecrows: Making Harvest Figures and Other Yard Folks The Big Book of Halloween Old Yankee Library of the Supernatural

Yankee Halloween takes center stage this month with dozens of Pumpkin Masters carving, decorating and trick-or-treat ideas. For the first time this year, we have in stock over one hundred (100) Pumpkin Masters patterns in various formats. Included are the 2000, 2001, 2002 carving kits, carving party sets, sculpting kits, current, vintage, and limited edition pattern books. The most exciting new Pumpkin Masters item for this year is the Pattern Maker CD and carving tools. This new technology will assist you in creating literally hundreds of custom patterns using this special software. Pumpkin Masters has introduced some really spooky design and decorating ideas' for this Halloween season and, once again, we are proud to be able to place these fun and creative kits, patterns and exclusive design elements at your fingertips.

In addition, the Graveside Store has brushed the cobwebs off of the shelves and accumulated some great things that are bound to stimulate your passion for Halloween decorating.

We've added four new books this year, books that will guide you and inspire you to the most devilishly haunted place in your neighborhood. We have also introduced the Old Yankee Library where we have gathered the eerie answers to lives most haunting questions. Enter if you dare. Remember... New England boasts an abundance of ghosts and specters and things that go "bump in the night". Learn all about them in the Old Yankee Library. Oh yes, and while you are there, we have a gift for you. Gather 'round and listen to Campfire Tales, written by our staff for everyone out there who revels in the spirit of Halloween. Two tales of the unexplained and the unimaginable yours to download and recite whenever the spirit moves you. Great fun for parties, classroom, story time and yes, for around the campfire anytime, these stories stimulate the imagination by placing ghostly images in the most unlikely of places. Consider yourself warned...!

Pumpkin Masters Products: http://www.yankeehalloween.com/pmaster.html

The Yankee Halloween Graveside Store: http://www.yankeehalloween.com/store.html

Old Yankee Halloween Library of the Supernatural:
http://www.yankeehalloween.com/halloweenlibrary.html

Halloween Craft Books:

• Scarecrows: Making Harvest Figures and Other Yard Folks:
  http://www.yankeehalloween.com/scarecrowbook.html
  
  
• The Pumpkin Carving Book:
  http://www.yankeehalloween.com/carvebook.html
  
  
• The Big Book of Halloween:
  http://www.yankeehalloween.com/bigbook.html
  
  
• The Halloween Decorating Book:
  http://www.yankeehalloween.com/decbook.html

Mister Baker's Sourdough Starter

Yankee Grocery is on-line. All of our food related items have been moved to their respective locations and aisles within Yankee Grocery. We have under consideration several new taste sensations that should be available by the first of the year. As they do become available we will be offering these items to our subscribers at discounted prices, for you to enjoy. So stay tuned in...! It just gets better...!

Visit Yankee Grocery: http://www.yankeegrocery.com/

North Country Garden Bells Cast Iron Garden Insects, Bird Feeders & Garden Fairy X-Acto Knife Sets (On Yankee Harvest)

Don't forget to check out Yankee Gardener for many wonderful gift giving ideas. As we said, the holidays will be here before you know it and it is never too early to plan. Consider a Duet Set, 2 oz. Weldbond Adhesive and an X-acto Knife to accompany a Colonial Birdhouse or Feeder. Or try giving one of our beautiful country posters to a teacher, scout or club leader. North Country Garden Bells are just the ticket for lovers of the sea and Florian Pruners are ideal for the avid gardener.

Yankee Gardener Web Site:
http://www.yankeegardener.com

Yankee Gardener Country Posters:
http://www.yankeegardener.com/posters/index.html

North Country Garden Bells:
http://www.yankeegardener.com/northcountrybells/index.html

Florian Pruners:
http://www.yankeegardener.com/florian.html

Colonial Birdhouses and X-Acto Knife Sets:
http://www.yankeegardener.com/colbirdhouse/index.html

More X-Acto Knives on Yankee Harvest:
http://www.yankeeharvest.com/xacto/index.html

Do you have a special hobby, pet, friend or family member that you might like to immortalize on the face of your Halloween pumpkin this year? Have you ever thought about customizing a pattern for a special event that will take place right around the witching season? Yankee Harvest has just the source for custom designed patterns for pumpkins and watermelons, as well as custom carved pumpkins. Whatever the function, the master carver at Masterpiece Pumpkins can help you design and create the perfect carved masterpieces for Halloween and any other holiday event. How about a portrait of each family member lining your front steps this year, or your house and house number at the foot of the driveway? If you can imagine it, the master carver at Masterpiece Pumpkins can create it.

New this year... we are asking our friends and customers to e-mail or send us a photograph of their favorite Jack-O-Lantern or other carving creations for our Pumpkin Friends Gallery. We hope to receive pictures from all over the world. What a nice way to share our Halloween experiences with each other... on an international scale, no less. Just send the photograph with location only: City and State, or City and Country and we will put them up on the Pumpkin Gallery portion of our Yankee Halloween web site. Pictures of carving parties, Halloween parties, Haunted Houses and any other spooktacular haunted places are welcome...!

All of the Yankee Harvest family if web sites are dedicated to bringing you, our valued customers, the best in gift, craft, and food experiences for any occasion. Feel free to browse. Read the home pages for they will set the stage and create a mood. And, as always, if you have any questions, please e-mail us or pick up the phone and give us a call at 203-776-2091.

Beginning September 15, 2002 through December 20, 2002 our store hours will be 8:30 AM. EST till 8:30 PM. EST, Monday through Saturday for all telephone orders. All on-line and fax orders are, as always, 24/7.

NOTE: Orders placed after 10-20-02 (Halloween) or 12-15-02 (Christmas) must be shipped Priority Mail. Orders placed after 10-26-02 (Halloween) or 12-20-02 (Christmas) cannot be guaranteed to arrive at it's destination in a timely fashion. Please keep this mind when ordering because EXPRESS MAIL is the only other option and is very costly.

Regardless of whether your particular Halloween is warm and balmy or a typical, crisp New England autumn night, it is extremely difficult to keep youngsters at the dinner table and even harder to get them to eat. Perhaps in your house the younger children venture out earlier with adult supervision while the older goblins gather with friends and spook the neighborhood until nine or ten o'clock. The best option for a busy night of haunting is something that can be served in shifts with the least amount of fuss and can be made ahead... a hot bowl of homemade soup or stew and biscuits or a special bread. Here in New England Navy Bean Soup is almost as high on the ladder as Boston Baked Beans. We have a particularly yummy recipe for our version of Navy Bean Soup which is thick and hearty, full of vegetables and protein rich beans:

• 1 lb. White Navy Beans, soaked over night
• 1 good meaty ham-bone with excess fat removed or small bone-in ham steak (in a pinch)
• 2 medium carrots, scrubbed, not peeled
• 1 large onion, coarsely chopped
• 1 large celery stick, coarsely chopped
• 1 large clove garlic, minced
• 1 Tbsp butter
• 2 Tbsp each fresh chopped basil and parsley
• 2 15 oz cans chicken broth
• 1 quart water
• Salt and pepper to taste

In stockpot, sauté onions and celery in the butter until translucent; add garlic, sauté for one minute. Add fresh herbs, stir until limp. Add chicken broth, water and ham bone. Drain beans and add to stockpot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer.

Simmer covered, for one hour. Meanwhile, scrub the carrots and cut each into quarters. Add to stock with pepper to taste. Soup should simmer three to four hours before tasting. Add salt to taste if necessary (Ham is in itself, salty. Don't overdue) Soup will thicken as it cooks. If it becomes too thick or you prefer a thinner soup, add water to desired consistency. Break up carrots with a fork; remove ham bone. Stir vigorously.

Serve with a generous sprinkle of good Romano cheese and hot bread of your choice. This soup is filling and nutritious...a good choice for little ghosts and goblins.

Hint: Make a day ahead. Soup is always better prepared the day before. And, if a thin film of grease should appear, it can be easily skimmed away.

Everyday, somewhere in our country, the safety of a child is being compromised. DO NOT allow children younger than thirteen to go out alone or in an unsupervised group (no matter how hard they protest). Stay out of the big picture, however by staying in the street or on the sidewalk, away from them so as to give them space, but close enough to be observant and on hand in case of a crisis. Insist that younger teens go in a group and adhere to a specific route. Know WHO they are going with and choose a reasonable curfew. Give them a cell phone if you have one. Remember, all trick-or-treaters are in disguise and some adults, feeling the spirit of the night, may dress up as well. On Halloween night, recognition is debatable, identifying someone may be out of the question.

Please click on to Halloween Resources for additional hints and tips for a safe and secure Halloween for all. Booooo...!

Yankee Halloween Resources:
http://www.yankeehalloween.com/resource.html

YANKEE GAZETTE SUBSCRIBERS ONLY SPECIALS:

ALL SPECIALS ARE GOOD FROM NOW THROUGH October 15, 2002

Note: These specials are expired.

Sale Items:

• The patented original Pumpkin Carving Kit...!
• Includes 16 Halloween pumpkin carving patterns.
• Includes a Turkey Pattern for Thanksgiving Day centerpieces.

This very special "Unbound Limited Edition" carving pattern set features 15 new 2001 Contest Winners Pumpkin Carving Patterns, including "American Heroes", a tribute to the New York Fire Department. These patterns are exclusive to Yankee Harvest.

The Ultimate "Must-Have PC/Mac Software" for the pumpkin carving enthusiast. Everything you need, including the pumpkin carving tools to create your Pumpkin Carving Masterpieces for Halloween...!

Eight (8) Vintage 1999 "Contest Winners Volume 1" Carving Patterns, including: Tiffany Cat, Pat E. Melt, Death Skull, Draculantern, Ghost Story, Wicked Witch, Nevermore, Howling Werewolf, Look Who's Landed, Primary and Shadow Patterns.

Eight (8) Vintage 1993 "Favorites" Pumpkin Carving Patterns, including: Scaredy Bat, Gimme Candy, Star Witch, Pretty Kitty, Hot Head, Death Skull, Trick or Eek, Happy Halloween, Free "Bat Shadows".

Eight (8) Vintage 1994 "Favorites" Pumpkin Carving Patterns, including: Zippy Cat, Harvest Moon, Boofus, Black Widow, Draculantern, Skeleteeth, Graveside Manor, Halloween Hound.

Jack-O-Lantern candle burns "Extra Bright" and it "Smokes" too...!!! This gives your Jack-O-Lantern masterpiece, the right spooky Halloween look.

The Ultimate "Must-Have" Collection for the carving enthusiast. Everything you need to create Pumpkin Masterpieces for Halloween and Decorative Watermelon Party Centerpieces all year round...!

Consists of:

• (1) PMCK2 Pumpkin Masters Pumpkin Carving Kit.
• (1) PMSS Pumpkin Masters Scraper Scoop.
• (1) PCAH Pumpkin Masters Candles and Holders.
• (1) PLCS Pumpkin Masters Lid-Cutter Saw.
• (1) PMPSK Pumpkin Masters Pumpkin Sculpting Kit.
• (1) PMWTCK Pumpkin Masters Watermelon Carving Kit.

Pumpkin Dunk'N is a pumpkin preservative for your carved Jack-O-Lantern masterpiece. Pumpkin Dunk'N will add 20 or more days to the life of your carved Jack-O-Lantern.

The Carriage House Bird Feeder is a roofed tray feeder intended to hold seeds, nuts, grains, fruit and similar bird foods. Its narrow openings make it especially attractive to small birds. Don't let its good looks fool you! The Carriage House is fully functional, designed to withstand the elements and provide many years of bird-watching enjoyment.

The Vermont Shed Birdhouse will attract chickadees, wrens, and other similar sized birds. Colonial Birdhouses are patterned after traditional New England building designs. The kits produce high quality, finely detailed birdhouses and feeders that are fun to assemble and promote many years of bird watching enjoyment. Assembled or in kit form, they make wonderful gifts and are an especially nice way to dress up the yard while providing shelter for many varieties of birds.

Berries, berries everywhere...! Blueberries, Strawberries, Blackberries, Cranberries and Raspberries. Healthy and delicious, millions of people enjoy berries by the handful and by utilizing them in baked goods, relishes, salads and yes, soups. Read on...! There are approximately 90 pages of recipes that range from appetizers to yummy desserts with a few other fruit surprises sprinkled in.

Pecans are one of the most popular and versatile nuts available today. In addition to the cookies, bars, cakes, breads and pies that are a familiar treat, pecans lend themselves to delicious appetizers, snacks, salads, main dishes and vegetables. Try Nutty Turkey and Blue Cheese Salad or Orange Pecan Honeyed Chicken. Indulge with Apple Pecan Ice Cream. There are approximately 100 pages of recipes that range from appetizers to yummy desserts with a few surprises sprinkled in.

With the holidays just around the corner, this wonderful cookbook is just the ticket for adding some new life to your baking experience now, and all year long...!

Note: These specials are expired.

Remember, this is YOUR NEWSLETTER and we'd love to hear from you on what you'd like to see in future editions. Please e-mail your suggestions to: info@yankeeharvest.com

That’s it for now folks. Until next month take care of yourselves and God Bless...!

Regards,
Your Friends at Yankee Harvest