Country Living articles from December 2007

Country Living archives from December 2007

December.(editor's journal)(country living family on a winter vacation)
December 1, 2007... This is the first holiday season my family and I are spending in our new house, and already each of us is anticipating that experience. My son, Asher, is awaiting a snowfall sufficient to go sledding--or for a snowball fight with friends. My...

We were pleasantly surprised by the article about Keene, N.H., that appeared in your October issue.(your letters)(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2007... We were pleasantly surprised by the article about Keene, N.H., that appeared in your October issue. Our oldest daughter graduated from Keene State College, and we started going to the Pumpkin Festival in 1994--and still enjoy it to this day!...

Bonus treat.(your letters)(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2007... A tear-out recipe in your October 2007 "Autumn Treats" Bonus CookBook recently came in handy. I work with sixth- through twelfth-grade girls at our church, and we hosted a candy-making party for our sixth-graders. We used the caramel apple...

Adding a dash of fun.(your letters)(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2007... Country Living is very interesting, and I must say I found a great recipe in your October issue for my husband who cannot eat wheat products. The Indian Shuck Bread (Cook*Book, page 148) soothes the tummy and the tastebuds just fine. For...

Treasure trunk.(your letters)(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2007... We just received our October issue of Country Living. What a wonderful magazine. I would like to offer some additional information on the Norwegian trunk (What Is It? What Is It Worth?). I am a folk art painter and have been studying the...

From junk to jewel.(your letters)(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2007... In your September 2007 issue, I was impressed by the bathtub on page 43 (Idea Notebook). Surprisingly, we had a similar one at home and were just about to throw it away as a thing of no use. When I saw the picture in your magazine, I decided to...

Holiday gift guide.(country classics)(Buyers guide)
December 1, 2007... for him Napa Soap Co. offers a Shaving Brush, a Mug, and a Soap that's packed with wheat protein, French clay, and vitamin E, $29.95; napasoap.com. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] all in one Now Designs' Snowflower Breakfast Set makes...

Holiday wreaths: repurpose ordinary items to create extraordinary wreaths. Here, three alternatives to the classic evergreen.(simple projects)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... 1 DECOR-FRIENDLY Bypass traditional colors this holiday, and design a wreath that complements your decor. Hot glue pinecones to a grapevine base; let dry. Paint the wreath in a hue that coordinates with your room; allow to dry. Using a...

Golden Potato Pancakes: a classic Hanukkah dish, these warm, crispy potato pancakes (called latkes) also make a comforting winter snack.(under an hour)
December 1, 2007... Potato Pancakes MAKES 12 THREE-INCH PANCAKES WORKING TIME: 30 MINS. | TOTAL TIME: 1 HR. 1 pound russet potatoes, peeled and grated 1 medium yellow onion, peeled and grated 1 egg, lightly beaten 2 tablespoons...

Let it snow!(holiday decorating)
December 1, 2007... In a flurry Enjoy the enchantment and serenity of a winter snowfall without the chill. Spend an afternoon making some of these snowflake-inspired ideas from stylist and crafter Paul Lowe. Assemble your materials first; you can accomplish...

Vintage chocolate molds.(antiques)
December 1, 2007... Somewhere inside our grown-up selves, there are childhood pleasures that never fade with the passage of time. Like the taste of chocolate. Or even the residual delight in small sculptural objects that shrink the adult-sized world to dimensions...

Shiny Brite ornaments: professional appraiser Helaine Fendelman evaluates and appraises your collectibles and antiques.(what is it? what is it worth?)
December 1, 2007... Valued at: $18 In the late 1930s, Max Eckardt & Sons' Shiny Brite was a leading ornament manufacturer in the United States. The New York-based company made this festive box of glass Christmas ornaments, among the first of its assortments,...

Holiday central.(organization)(wrapping stations)
December 1, 2007... make a wrapping station Pretty papers and ribbons make holiday gift-giving festive and heighten everyone's anticipation--but only if you can find them. So why not spend a few hours creating a well-equipped wrapping station? Start with a...

Prepare your house and garden for winter.(HOME MAINTENANCE)(Calendar)
December 1, 2007... As the air turns frosty, the comforts of a warm, cozy house become irresistible. Make good use of extra time spent indoors to tackle chores you ordinarily might not get to--organizing winter gear, replacing furnace filters, and recaulking...

House plans you can buy.(house plans)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... To order house plans, log on to the House Plans Finder at countryliving.com/house-plans or call (866) 473-4069. THE CARROLTON: plenty of storage space Features: 3 bedrooms 2 1/2 baths dual rear skylights 4 walk-in closets...

Log homes: here, a look this month at log homes that are for sale around the country.(real estate sampler)
December 1, 2007... Originally the home of Will Terry, a Civil War soldier, the Briscoe-Coleman-Terry Place is one of Panola County, Miss.'s oldest properties. Built in the 1850s, the house has been carefully restored by the current owners and boasts original...

It's holiday time.(holiday pursuits)
December 1, 2007... 5 Places to Savor the Season The weather outside may be frightful, but that's no reason to stay at home. Here, five fun, out-of-the-ordinary winter adventures that promise to make braving the cold pure enjoyment. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Hey, Mr. Postman!(foods by mail)(Buyers guide)
December 1, 2007... During the holidays, there is nothing quite like the appearance of a smiling mailman with a gift package containing food from far away--not just some plastic-wrapped grapefruits from Florida but foods unique to regional America that may be...

December events: our monthly listing of antiques shows, food festivals, house tours, and other notable holiday happenings.(Calendar)
December 1, 2007... The Season for Giving Spread a bit of cheer this holiday season with gifts that give back. * Treat loved ones to chocolate cookies (left) from Dancing Deer's Sweet Home Project and 35 percent of the sales will benefit One Family, a...

Log Cabin Christmas: a country holiday; Situated in the woods along a meandering river, this house stood empty for eight years before Bridget Potter fell in love with it at first sight.(Cover story)
December 1, 2007... Merry Christmas Card anything be casier than yuletide in a log cabin? On holiday cards, log cabins are depicted in snowy woodlands, windows aglow with a fire in the hearth and a wreath on the door. Inviting and cozy, they are symbols...

Sweet home Alabama.
December 1, 2007... "Moving here has been wonderful," explains Billy Reid of the decision to leave New York City and Dallas and to relocate his family and his business to Florence, Ala. "I've never been so inspired in my life." Reid designs both men's and women's...

Highland fling: a love of plaid imbues the interiors of a rustic 18th-century Pennsylvania farmhouse with graphic punch and color.
December 1, 2007... "When the owners bought this house five years ago, it was unusable," says Philadelphia interior designer Bennett Weinstock. It required extensive restoration to bring its three sections--a log cabin that dates to 1760 (left wing, above); a...

Making the Yuletide bright: a suburban Chicago family brings the festivities of Christmas into the kitchen--their favorite room at home.(Kendall family)
December 1, 2007... The Victorian kitchen was no place for the family. Typically reserved for hired help, the room was designed for hard work and no play. "Kitchens are so much more homey and beautiful now," says Pam Kendall, the homeowner, with her husband, Mark,...

Shopping guide.(reader's resource)
December 1, 2007... PAGE 21: Fireplace Bolton MDF mantel kit, $287: Decorative Concepts. Engineered Prefinished Hardwood Floors in Maple and Charcoal, $8 to $12 per sq. ft.: Mirage Floors. Vintage Hydrangea, $58: RedEnvelope, Available in Purple or Red. Silvergate...

Simple country pleasures.
December 1, 2007... The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other. --BURTON HILLIS

Holiday cookies; Simplity your holiday baking this season: with just one dough recipe, you can create dozens of distinctive cookies.
December 1, 2007... EVERYONE POSSESSES THE TALENT TO BE A PROLIFIC COOKIE ARTIST! Whether you're leaving cookies out for Santa, making them for a swap with friends, or giving them as gifts, "the holidays are just a cookie time of year," says Cheryl Slocum,...

Wrapping: a beautifully wrapped present heightens fun and anticipation. Here, some creative ways to tackle this task.(TIPS & TRICKS)
December 1, 2007... Creative gift wrap is an opportunity to express both yourself and how much the recipient means to you. Try layering papers--mixing and matching patterns, colors, and textures. LEFT: Variations on classic holiday colors were used in...

Merry makings: enticing goods and techniques guaranteed to put the busiest baker in the holiday spirit.(TIPS & TRICKS)(bakeware)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... No-fuss desserts Need a quick way to impress guests? High-end mixes make excellent shortcuts. Saxon Chocolates' versions for brownies, molten cake, and chocolate bread take only minutes to prepare but taste homemade, $13; saxonchocolates.com....

Mailing: want to assure your holiday goods get to their destination safely and in style? Try any of these appealing techniques.(TIPS & TRICKS)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... The first priority when mailing gifts is that they arrive in one piece. And Country Living contributing editors Teri Edwards and Serena Thompson, a.k.a. the Farm Chicks, also advise that packing materials be as appealing as the present itself....

Warming sips: it seems that every moment of the holiday season calls for a warm, flavorful drink.(beverages)
December 1, 2007... Throughout the holiday season and winter months, there are so many occasions that call for a hot drink--a gathering by the living room fireplace, following an afternoon of ice-skating, a tree-trimming party, or just simply while writing holiday...