Country Living articles from October 2007

Country Living archives from October 2007

Editor's journal: when my doorbell rings Halloween night, I can imagine the anticipation of the children, ready to show off their costumes.
October 1, 2007... One of my fondest childhood memories is trick-or-treating for Halloween. I would spend a month planning my costume (with my mom) and would wake up days before with tremendous excitement and anticipation. I would seek the largest pillowcase from...

All about the home.(Brief article)(Book review)
October 1, 2007... As a new homeowner, one of the most exciting but often daunting tasks is how to fill your rooms with furnishings and decorative accessories. In Country Living's newly published 500 Quick & Easy Decorating Projects & Ideas (Hearst Books:...

Dear country living.(Letter to the editor)
October 1, 2007... I just received my August issue of Country Living magazine today. I was pleasantly surprised to see the cute lunch box in the top right-hand corner of page 125 in your Cook-Book section and how familiar it looked. I went to the storage closet,...

Going for a ride.(dear country living)(Letter to the editor)
October 1, 2007... I opened up the August 2007 issue to "Classic Bikes" (Collecting) just as I was pulling my 1974 aqua blue Schwinn Continental bicycle out of the basement. Each summer for the past 33 years, I have enjoyed riding my Schwinn bike. Ah......

A creative spirit.(dear country living)(Letter to the editor)
October 1, 2007... I'm a military wife, and traveling has given me a great appreciation for home life and country living. I have been so impressed with your crafts, antiques, recipes, and decorating tips--you name it, Country Living has touched every aspect of my...

Keeping busy.(dear country living)(Letter to the editor)
October 1, 2007... Your magazine is simply wonderful. Everything about it is grand. I forever enjoy "playing house," which is what I call decorating. I can always find fun things to do and ways to accent my "toys" 94 with your guidance. Thank you and keep up the...

Dressed for tea.(dear country living)(Letter to the editor)
October 1, 2007... I loved your "Come for Tea" 94 article in the May 2007 issue, and I used it as inspiration for a recent celebration I had. My youngest niece, Kathryn, asked to have a tea party at my house for her 8th birthday. Having raised two sons, I was...

Fans in Kansas City.(dear country living)(Letter to the editor)
October 1, 2007... My husband and I--in fact, 11 of us in all--visited Missouri in the summer and could not have done it without your coverage of Kansas City in the May 2007 issue ("Going to Kansas City"). Just as you had suggested in the magazine, we ate at...

Good habits.
October 1, 2007... I read my magazines two or three times before giving them to a friend. When done, she gives them to her mother-in-law. Magazines are timeless. I encourage people to take their issues to nursing homes, doctors' offices, and the lunchroom in...

What a treat!(country classics)(Buyers guide)
October 1, 2007... cute containers Store your favorite candies in Seasons of Cannon Falls' hand-painted Pumpkin and Tiny Witch containers, $15 each; for a store locator, call (800) 377-3335. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] harvest home Sina Pearson...

Woodland crafts: make use of nature's raw materials with these homespun projects from expert crafter Melissa Neufeld.(simple projects)
October 1, 2007... MATERIALS In her wooded backyard, Melissa gathers twigs, acorns, pinecones, and leaves for use in her projects. With a few additional supplies--wool felt, velvet ribbon, pinking shears, and baling wire--you, too, can create keepsakes that...

In stitches: fashionistas are discovering what crafters have long known: quilting is cool! Look for patchwork style this fall in clothing, bags, stationery. Then turn to the latest collections from some of our favorite Fabric designers.(quilter's journal)
October 1, 2007... For a virtual vacation from the everyday, take a trip to amy karol.com. There you'll find links to crafter Amy Karol's blog, Angry Chicken, as well as King Pod, which includes Amy's craft activity club. For all things apron-y, click on , "Tie...

The maven of haven: for 30 years, Chris Madden has merged a stylish life with a career creating lifestyle products. How does she do it?(entrepreneur)
October 1, 2007... She's written 16 books. hosted a TV show for eight seasons, and as a home furnishings designer currently has her name on 2,000 products for JCPenney. And that's her second career; she began her working life in the photo department at Sports...

Autumn's harvest.(inspirations)(Brief article)(Photograph)
October 1, 2007... ENCHANTING autumn arrangements can be crafted with items from your yard, a farm stand, even the supermarket. Create this wreath on a square wreath base or a picture frame; tie the end of a spool of waxed floral wire to the base then use an...

Easy to do.(get the look)(Brief article)(Photograph)
October 1, 2007... EXTEND a colorful welcome with this pumpkin basket floral arrangement. It's as easy to make as a jack-o-lantern, and the pumpkin's rich color is a natural foil for a bunch of seasonal market flowers or the last gleanings from your garden. ...

Find delight in these seasonal displays.(get the look)
October 1, 2007... THIS IVY PLANTER CHANDELIER from Aidan Gray Home has a rustic finish and lends a country French feel to a room. Establish a focal point with a realistic-but-lightweight artificial pump kin from Funkins. A faux crow from Seasons of Cannon Falls,...

Biscuit tins; Antique english biscuit tins are as sweet as the confections they once housed. In 1925, the english manufacturer Huntley, Boorne & Stevens produced this lithographed tudor-style cottage biscuit tin ($325) for the holiday season. It retailed then for about $1.(antiques)
October 1, 2007... The need for biscuit tins, since the mid-1800s, was great, as biscuits were a staple of the British diet. And the tins had a purpose: to keep cookies fresh, which were stored in a box within the tin. By 1900, the leading English biscuit...

Vintage Halloween costumes: professional appraiser Helaine Fendelman evaluates and appraises your collectibles and antiques.(what is it? what is it worth?)
October 1, 2007... Valued at: $75 Beginning in the late 1940s, Ben Cooper Inc. of Brooklyn was one of the leading Halloween costume manufacturers in the United States. This boxed c. 1958 boy's pumpkin masquerade costume features a plastic mask and a cotton...

Seen and noted.(Buyers guide)(Brief article)(Photograph)
October 1, 2007... GREAT FINDS Senior Editor Monica Michael Willis paid $20 each for a pair of c. 1940s shoe bins (right) at Wilson Ross Antiques' booth at last year's Country Living Fair. The painted cardboard shoe bins came from a factory in Milton, Pa. Now...

Reference shelf-worthy.
October 1, 2007... Looking to brush up on your history of 20th-century American collectibles--especially jewelry, pottery, furniture, and kitchenware? Pick up the comprehensive guide Kovels' American Collectibles (Random House; $27.95), by antiques experts Ralph...

Visit countryliving.com for online appraisal.(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... APPRAISAL AMOUNT BASED ON INSURANCE VALUE. I.E., REPLACEMENT COST OR WHAT ONE MIGHT PAY FOR A SIMILAR OBJECT. SEND INQUIRY WITH A CLEAR COLOR PHOTO (NO POLAROIDS) OR CD ALONG WITH A DIGITAL PRINTOUT AT CAMERA'S HIGHEST SETTING TO HELAINE...

Spinning a good yarn: Virginia LaChance was 10 years old when she learned to knit. She has been using wool in creative ways ever since.(country living guild)(Photograph)
October 1, 2007... VIRGINIA LaCHANCE'S FARMHOUSE 1807 On a Missouri road stands a farmhouse and general store where you can buy Virginia's wool, yarn, and hand-knit garments. 20637 S. State Hwy. 21, Caledonia, MO (573) 779-3869; farmhousel807.com. ...

Fall fix-ups.(fall to-dos)
October 1, 2007... While autumn's weather remains relatively mild, spend some quality time caring for your home and yard. Read on for reminders on which tasks to tackle this time of year and for some great products and tips to help you enjoy your lawn and garden...

Romance from the past: antique iron beds offer something special.(Cathousebeds.com)(Website overview)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Craig Spencer, owner of CathouseBeds.com, has over 30 years of experience in amassing and restoring the largest collection of fancy antique iron beds in the country. What started as a then $10 gift for a girlfriend, soon turned into a passion...

Cultivating compost: turn kitchen scraps and garden waste into black gold--nutrient-rich, soil-like compost.(your garden)
October 1, 2007... Looking for a practical, inexpensive, and ecologically sound way to grow your best garden ever? With compost you can improve the soil, deter disease, mulch, prevent weeds, conserve water, and fertilize plants. Compost happens when the right...

Saltbox Living: here, a look this month at saltbox-style homes that are for sale around the country.(real estate sampler)
October 1, 2007... Although it was built in 1990, this 2-story home contains numerous old-fashioned country details, including post-and-beam construction, an open-floor plan, 2 fireplaces, custom maple cabinetry in the kitchen, and fieldstone garden walls. There...

Tooth and consequences: staying faithful to a tooth-cleaning regimen makes pets more kissable--and could save their lives.(you & your pet)
October 1, 2007... About 85 percent of dogs and cats over 4 years of age suffer periodontal disease. The American Veterinary Medical Association (avma.org) has declared October National Pet Wellness Month. Let's all brush up to make pet oral health a priority,...

House plans you can buy: to order house plans, log on to the house plans finder at countryliving.com/house-plans or call (866) 473-4069.(house plans)(Brief article)(Photograph)
October 1, 2007... THE CLARISSA: with a lofted second floor A distinctive roofline accented by classic white trim sets this house apart from other similarly sized residences. The covered porch leads inside to the foyer, which opens to the dining room on the...

Where pumpkins reign.(weekending)
October 1, 2007... Each October, on one magical night, Keene. N.H. (pop. 22,500), triples in size, as visitors flock to see the thousands of jack-o'-lanterns that line main street. Since 1991, the Pumpkin Festival has set a Guinness World Record eight times for...

October Events; Our monthly listing of antiques shows, craft fairs, food festivals, garden events, and other notable happenings.(calendar)(Calendar)
October 1, 2007... This month, Hershey's Kisses, Nuggets, Syrup, and York Peppermint Patties will be available in limited edition pink packaging, and the Hershey Co. will donate $300,000 to the nonprofit organization Young Survival Coalition; hersheys.com. ...

Inn of the month: star inn, Cape May, N.J.
October 1, 2007... Calling the Star in Cape May, N.J., a motel is a bit of misnomer. You can park right outside your door, but that's where the similarities end. Located just 100 yards from the Atlantic in Cape May's Victorian historic district, the Star is chic...

Giving back.
October 1, 2007... Attention trick-or-treaters: In addition to all that candy, this Halloween collect donations to benefit the Trick-or-Treat for Unicef campaign, a 57-year-old fund-raiser that provides underprivileged children with food, vaccinations, clean...

A site to see.(BnBFinder.com)(Website overview)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... a site to see With Halloween approaching, there's no better time to stay at a haunted hotel. Choose from more than 100 inns nation wide at BnBFinder.com, which offers getaways to places such as Jamestown, Calif.'s 1859 Historic National Hotel,...

Giveaway.
October 1, 2007... GIVEAWAY Celebrate National Popcorn month with a free bag (or two!) of crunchy, decadent Chocolate Chunk N' Caramel or Peanut Butter & White Chocolate DrizzleCorn from gourmet popcorn purveyors Dale and Thomas. Log on to dale andthomas.com/free...

Leaf-peeping trips.(Directory)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Witness one of nature's loveliest displays--the turning of autumn leaves--on one of these leisurely country drives. Don't forget your camera! [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * Acadia National Park's historic 27-mile Park Loop Road offers...

This year, Georgia's.
October 1, 2007... THIS YEAR, GEORGIA'S Rock City Gardens, one of the Southeast's most scenic nature preserves, celebrates its 75th anniversary. First opened in 1932. Rock City now draws millions of visitors with 15 acres of ancient caves, rock formations,...

Save the date.(Brief article)(Photograph)(Calendar)
October 1, 2007... Save the Date Join the crowds of avid antiquers during Round Top's Antiques Week. In the fall, this tiny Texas town will host thousands of dealers selling everything from fine patchwork quilts and transferware to decommissioned road signs and...

9 Events not to miss.(Calendar)
October 1, 2007... CALIFORNIA FALL HARVEST FESTIVAL. WHEN: Through Oct. 31. PLACE: Underwood Family Farms, Moorpark. Celebrate the autumn harvest by snacking on kettle corn, hitching horse-drawn wagon rides, picking pumpkins, and shopping farm produce stands at...

Pilgrimage to Port Royal; Inspired by the natural world around them, two men fill their Philadelphia retreat with whatever's growing right outside their door.(Sightseeing in October)(Ernie Sesskin and Brian Foster )
October 1, 2007... Against the backdrop of twilight's blue, windows glow amber and jack-o'-lanterns beckon. A chilly gust sends up a swirl of leaves. Set out on a walking tour of autumn. Take in the sights of cornfields and hay bales and sunflowers. The views...

This country life.(Brief article)(Photograph)
October 1, 2007... AUTUMN is Christine Hoffman's favorite season. She was married in October, four years ago to Steve Sollien, here in Black River Falls, Wisc. Christine baked 14 pies, wore a $4.99 Pendleton jacket over a sparkly dress, and danced the day away in...

Snug Harbor.
October 1, 2007... When Richard Ferrari was searching for a house in Sag Harbor, New York, he looked no further than across the street, where his friend Bob Tortora was restoring an early 1800s home Richard, working with architectural renovator Bob Tortora,...

Come as you aren't: make-believe takes center stage at a Halloween party inspired by and decorated with antiques from Bruce Elsass's extraordinary collection.
October 1, 2007... At twilight on an October evening, the Connecticut woods behind designer Bruce Elsass's home assumes the sort of Halloween glow that typically can be found only in illustrations. Lanterns swing from branches, casting a golden light across a bed...

The collected kitchen.
October 1, 2007... Cabinet and kitchen designer David T. Smith joined old with new in a 21st-century country kitchen, making the center of this Kentucky home cozy yet completely up-to-date Designer David T. Smith achieves his signature heirloom look by...

All About Autumn.(autumn entertaining)(Recipe)
October 1, 2007... "Fall is when I feel most like hosting parties, and we throw two kinds here," says Susan Branch, who 20 years ago moved to Martha's Vineyard, where she writes and illustrates cookbooks, "those with just us, meaning my six girlfriends, or else...

Setting the table: from the individual place setting to the overall tabletop, Susan's guests remember they're welcome inside her home.
October 1, 2007... PLACECARDS Susan suggests writing the name in icing on a pear-shaped Ginger Crisp (recipe, page 159). Or gather leaves and write the name in gold metallic pen. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CANDLES For her autumn table. Susan carves out...

Fabulous fall cakes: a touch of pumpkin gives two bewitching cakes a look and taste that reflect the season.(word of mouth)(Recipe)
October 1, 2007... Chocolate Pumpkin Cake MAKES 14 SERVINGS WORKING TIME: 20 MINS. | TOTAL TIME: 55 MINS. 1 1/2 cups flour 2/3 cup cocoa 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup...

Decorate this cake in 2 simple steps.(word of mouth)(Recipe)
October 1, 2007... * Step 1: FROST Beat 6 ounces softened cream cheese using a mixer set on medium-high speed until fluffy. Add 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar, 2 1/4 teaspoons cocoa, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, and 3/4 teaspoon vanilla and beat on low speed...

Editor's pick.(Brief article)(Photograph)
October 1, 2007... "With their cartoonish eyes and rhythmic swinging tails, California Clock Co.'s Kit-Cat Klocks were destined to become a classic," says Associate Decorating Editor Sarah Newell. "I love their retro look and the cute smirk on the cat's face,"...