Country Living articles from December 2006

Country Living archives from December 2006

Editor's journal.
December 1, 2006... One of the things about the holidays that always inspires me is the care people take in celebrating them. That very personal response we have to the holidays reflects not only creativity, but also a wish to tell people how much we care for...

Your letters.(dear country living)(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2006... Country Living's October issue took me back to my hometown in beautiful Bucks County, Pa., where I lived for 50 years. There is nowhere on earth I would rather be in the fall than on the East Coast. I could almost smell the fresh, crisp air as...

Dream homes.(dear country living)(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2006... I love receiving your magazine each month. I like to peruse the colorful, vivid pages. One of my favorite columns is Real Estate Sampler. I dream of one day finding my vacation/retirement home within those pages. In the meantime, I love reading...

Community quilting.(dear country living)(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2006... Thank you for your attention in the October issue to the power of quilting in our American communities. I am including a photo of the 30th annual Georgetown Maine Quilt (center panel, "Harbor Island 2006"), entirely hand sewn by the women of...

To the rescue.(dear country living)(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2006... I was touched when I read about the thousands of greyhounds destroyed each year because they are of no more use to their owners (You & Your Pet, October 2006). Two years ago, I lost my little poodle of 14 years and I vowed to never again own a...

Reader to reader.(dear country living)(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2006... I read with interest "a solider's birthday cake" in Dear Country Living (September 2006). Like Cissi Glendening, I, too, have a son stationed in Iraq. He is also a helicopter pilot and celebrated his birthday halfway around the world. I had...

A home full of tartan.(dear country living)(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2006... Thank you for all the fantastic ideas in "The Art in Tartan" (October 2006). In preparation for my move to an area called "Scottish Homes" in Keswick, Va., I have been collecting all sorts of plaid and tartan items. Your article showed me many...

This month on the web.(on the web)
December 1, 2006... For 50 ways to trim your tree, make a gingerbread house or win a new video camera, visit countryliving.com TREES O TANNENBAUM Trimming the Christmas tree may be an ageless tradition, but that doesn't mean it has to look traditional....

Holiday gifts.(country classics)
December 1, 2006... Pretty holiday packages are fun for those who give and receive. "Presentation creates excitement," says event designer Preston Bailey. "Establish a color theme for big impact." Then turn the page for great gift ideas--all $65 and under. SEE...

Tree-trimming two ways: always fresh and bright, the classic red-and-white holiday palette offers inspiration here in two different ways.(simple projects)(Cover story)
December 1, 2006... Give them the moon and stars. This tree celebrates the heavens with cookie decorations, baked with ready-made dough. Plaid ribbon doubles as garland and packages are wrapped to match. For how-tos and variations, turn the page. SEE SHOPPING...

All about pinecones.(idea notebook)
December 1, 2006... decorating with pinecones 1 BRAWNY SUGAR PINECONE swags anchor a mixed-cone garland above the fireplace. Make it yourself with a variable-speed drill and braided picture hanger wire. Place inverted cones in urns to create pinecone...

Antique Judaica.(antiques)
December 1, 2006... Prior to 1850, European Jews were excluded from joining the crafts guilds, so early Judaica was made mostly by Christian artisans. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In December, as Hanukkah approaches, Jewish families are readying...

Victorian Christmas cards: professional appraiser Helaine Fendelman identifies and evaluates your collectibles and antiques.(what is it? what is it worth?)
December 1, 2006... valued at: $35 This circa 1880 chromolithographed paper Christmas card trimmed with blue silk fringe (7 1/2"W x 9"H) was likely made by Hildesheimer & Faulkner in London, England. It is in good condition with its fringe intact. Victorian...

Light up the holidays.(holiday lighting)
December 1, 2006... Evocative and soothing, candlelight creates the right ambience for the holidays. Lit candles are more than decorative objects, highlighting seasonal festivities and fostering a celebratory mood. let there be light A chandelier that is...

Season's grrreetings! What's on the beastly shopping list? Gifts for pampered pets and the people who adore them.(you & your pet)
December 1, 2006... making merry 1 "Noble Cats" cards are purrfect for holiday correspondence. $14.95/20; teneues.com. 2 This biscuit tin looks festive long after its contents vanish. $28; sundancecatalog.com. 3 A basket corrals pets' toys. $80; baileyandwags.com....

House plans you can buy.(house plans)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... The Cottonwood features: 2 bedrooms 2 1/2 baths Total sq. ft.: 1,838 A spacious front porch and a mix of brick and siding introduce this Craftsman-style bungalow. The foyer is flanked on the left by a bedroom and on the...

Slope-side: here, a look this month at houses for sale in areas of the country noted for their heavy snowfalls.(real estate sampler)
December 1, 2006... Originally built in 1949 as a sawmill, this 4,000-square-foot home later operated as a restaurant and bar before being converted to a private residence in 1988. Last year, the current owners completed a total renovation of all 12 rooms,...

Christmas in Vermont.(weekending)
December 1, 2006... Old-fashioned holiday bonhomie runs deep during Woodstock. Vt.'s, annual Wassail Weekend. The stately 142-room Woodstock Inn (pictured), which fronts busy Woodstock Green, makes a comfortable home base for all of the village's yuletide...

December: our monthly listing of antiques shows, crafts fairs, food festivals, garden events, and other notable happenings.(Calendar)
December 1, 2006... 'tis the season for fun Reserve a seat at one of the New York City Ballet's holiday performances of George Balanchine's The Nutcracker. Through Dec. 30. (212) 870 5570: nycballet.com. Explore Raleigh, N.C.'s elegantly decorated Victorian...

Sparkle plenty: in her all-white home in British Columbia, Cheryl Krecsy welcomes the holidays with shimmering collection and creations. For her, holiday decorating is all about keeping it light and bright.
December 1, 2006... Even the fresh greenery is flocked with white in Cheryl Krecsy's great room. She's sought far and wide for the ornaments on her tree, which are also carried in her local shops. The furnishings she loves, such as the coffee table (with four...

Here comes Santa Claus: the history of Christmas decorating can be glimpsed in the holiday collections displayed in this Texas home.(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... For Barbara White, an antiques dealer turned interior-design consultant in Fredericksburg, Tex., Christmas comes early--at Thanksgiving. That's when the children and grandchildren come to visit Barbara and her husband, Wayne, and she starts...

The life of main street: in upstate New York, Larry Ruhl and Jeff Serouya have learned how to live, work, and entertain, all under one roof.(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... "Living above the store" takes on a new meaning when the store itself is a beautiful place to entertain, especially at holidays. When decked for the holidays in wreaths and garlands of fragrant California bay, High Falls Mercantile feels as...

The more the merrier! Why limit yourself to just one Christmas tree? These mini versions, placed in unexpected spots, bring added joy. Just as delightful, they're quick to decorate--no lights necessary!--and invite whimsical palettes and themes.(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... 1 sparkling SHIMMERING VINTAGE-STYLE TINSEL TREES light up a seldom-used area, such as an alcove beneath the stairs, creating an ideal spot to stow gifts for guests. When placed together, different-sized trees--each set in a classic urn...

A neigh in a manger: at their farm north of Toronto, a couple makes a tradition of holiday entertaining with European flair, catering to two- and four-legged friends and family during the festive season and around the year.(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... DRAGONFLY FARM the homestead of the Wiesen family in Canada's Caledon Hills, is a snow-blanketed magnet for warm holiday get-togethers. The owners, Pia and Stefan Wiesen, hail from Germany, where Christmas entertaining is a serious affair....

Good enough to eat.(cook * book)(edible decorations)(Recipe)
December 1, 2006... edible decorations Edible decorations, such as these easy-to-make gingerbread houses, make for unforgettable holiday moments. Expand the tradition with herbal wreaths and trees, cookie ornaments--even a white-chocolate truffle snow globe!...

Party-perfect presents: show your appreciation at holiday get-togethers with fun, food-inspired gifts any host or hostess would love.(word of mouth)
December 1, 2006... {wrap it up} Patterned wrapping paper, stationery, and cheerful paper scraps add graphic appeal to homemade cookie-dough logs bundled in waxed paper and secured with ribbon. Present your edible gift with sprinkles and tiny chocolate chips...

Shopping guide.(reader's resource)
December 1, 2006... country classics PAGE 17: Trees: Anthropologie Cotton Trees: Small: $14; Medium: $18; Large: $24. (800) 309-2500: anthropologie.com. Silver Star Garland: $24; Silver Mini Star Ornament: $29/set of 12; Flocked Green and Ivory Ball...

Simple country pleasures.
December 1, 2006... Celebrate the happiness that friends are always giving, make every day a holiday and celebrate just living!