Newsletter - January

      The average temperature for Heuvelton in January is somewhere between 6 and 24 degrees F and this year, has been no exception.  Recovering from the Holiday rush while staying warm is the name of the game this time of year and Pickens General is not immune to the harshness of a Northern New York January.  While everyone stays as close to the hearth fire at home, the staff here has donned their wooly sweaters and dug into the back stock.  As winter continues on its unchanging path through Heuvelton, the girls tend to get a little restless and have been known to change the store around completely.  It really begins with the dismantling of Christmas displays and soon snowballs to near total renovations.

Now is also the time for market research.  The survey group usually consists of our local coffee drinkers, friends and family who stop in for the warmth, a quick rock in our rockers, and a cup of coffee or hot chocolate.  The coffee costs 75 cents, but the conversation and camaraderie is worth more than money.  Our store may not be over flowing with customers, but the simple joys of sharing warmth and small town friendship are what we believe make our store truly unique.

On the Pickens General Store Website this month, the name of the game is staying warm!  Our featured products include a variety of products selected to keep you warm, body and soul.  Our stainless steel coffee percolators come in three sizes to fit anyone’s needs.  Brew a hot cup of coffee on a cold January morning without having to plug it in.  Great for camps, ice fishing houses, or just a good old fashioned cuppa- joe any time of day!

Another great way to stay warm on frigid January days is to make a hearty soup. But not everyone has the time to simmer a soup all day.  So try one of Rada's quick soup mixes.  Just half an hour of cook time makes you a great pot of soup for warming up on a winter day.  Rada also has some delectably hearty pound cake mixes that go great with a cup of coffee and are delicious paired with one of our local Sillman's Fruit spreads.  Warm pound cake topped with a taste of summer fruit can warm up the coldest of days.

For those of you adventurous meal makers, try taking on an old favorite from "Grandma's Cook Book".  This recipe book contains the hearty meals passed down for generations designed to feed hard working farm families.  If you are looking for something for beginners try "The Basics Cook Book".  It contains simple recipes that are easy to master, but will still fill you up.  We also feature "Practical Produce Cook Book" which holds recipes for anyone that knows hearty meals aren't just for steak and potato people but vegetable lovers too!  Fruits and Vegetables are also a great way to eat hearty and stay healthy after all the holiday foods of the last two months!

We may be facing 2-3 more months of harsh weather, cold temperatures, and early dusk but don't get the winter blues.  Just because the tree has been put to the curb doesn't mean the warmth of the holidays is gone.  There are snow days to be had and still a whole winter to be weathered together.  Remember the simple things this new year and seek the joys of friends and family, hearth and home, the sleep at night after a day's hard work, and the warmth of a quilt against the morning chill.