Country Living articles from September 2008

Country Living archives from September 2008

Family ties.(THE COUNTRY CLUB)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2008... Thank you for sharing the story of Pennington Farms (July 2008) with your readers. That family's love for one another, the land they work on, and the results of their work ethic are heartwarming. What a joy to see Cathy and Sam holding hands....

Girlfriend getaways.(THE COUNTRY CLUB)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2008... I can't wait to receive Country Living magazine each month. I am a Jersey girl and loved "Girlfriend's Weekend on the Jersey Shore" in the July 2008 issue. Growing up, I spent most of my summers at Sandy Hook, Seaside Heights, and Asbury Park....

Country Living Fair.(EDITOR'S JOURNAL)
September 1, 2008... Eight years ago, I had an idea to produce a Country Living Fair. Inspired by the one hosted by our sister publication in Great Britain, I wanted the fair to reflect the personality, spirit, creativity, and accessibility that we feature each and...

Rule the roost! These functional farmhouse favorites lend any room playful appeal.(marketplace)(Buyers guide)
September 1, 2008... RISE & SHINE A familiar symbol of farm life, roosters--suck as these ceramic figurines--are cropping up in country decor as a way to incorporate cheerful colors and patterns into everyday objects. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The...

Twin headboards makeover: a set of garage sale headboards gets a totally new look-and purpose.(make me over)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... SOURCE When editors Larry Bilotti and Robin Long Mayer spotted these twin headboards at a garage sale en route to scouting a location, they snatched them up for $5 each. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] POTENTIAL Paint or stain would...

DETAILS do the TRICK.(make me over)
September 1, 2008... 3 STEPS TO STYLE SIMPLER THAN IT LOOKS! In just two weekends, the project was complete. The first step was constructing the side rails and applying the finish. The second, affixing the fabric panels and trims. 1 PAINT Carol...

If you like ... blue and white: get the look with a tone-on-tone mix of painted pieces and collections.(get the look)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... WHAT PULLS IT TOGETHER: SHADES OF WHITE unify furniture from different style periods, and the variations in tone add comfort and warmth. Consider distressing one piece for a vintage feel. POPS OF BLUE give visual interest. Invest in...

Letter-perfect craft ideas: for a house that speaks volumes, make clever-and thrifty-use of words.(inspiration)
September 1, 2008... A picture may be worth a thousand words, but words can create a pretty picture, too. That's what stylist Paul Lowe set out to celebrate when he determined to make artful use of books and letters that, too often, end up in the trash. "There's...

Home sweet home.(inspiration)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... THREE big WORDS Decorative wall decals like this one from Harmonie Interieure, which can be custom-made in words of your choice, set the tone for a room and provide, by way of the font, a playful nod to the pattern on the chair's...

DIY.(Supply Closet)
September 1, 2008... 1 scripted Learn about the art of calligraphy from your local guild. Visit cynscribe.com for a directory of societies in your area. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 2 STENCIL IT Plaid offers a number of alphabet stencils in a variety of...

Win this.(Supply Closet)
September 1, 2008... The In Bloom scrap-booking paint kit from Making Memories includes six colors of acrylic paint, foam brushes, and a palette, $13; makingmemories.com. For details, go to countryliving.com/sweeps or see page 145. Enter to win an In Bloom...

Put it in writing.(Supply Closet)
September 1, 2008... Try displaying favorite lines of verse on a wall at home with easy-to-apply self-adhesive decals. Blik Surface Graphics will customize the size, color, and font to your specifications. You just supply the words. Prose, from $75; whatisblik.com....

Briefly noted.(Supply Closet)
September 1, 2008... These tiny blank notecards are made from the leftover paper bits, or off-cuts, of Dauphine Press's heavy-weight stock. Off-cuts Capriccio notecards, $10; (707) 776-0790. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Project: print-making.(Supply Closet)
September 1, 2008... In Lotta Prints: How to Print with Anything, from Potatoes to Linoleum (Chronicle), Scandinavian designer Lotta Jansdotter offers detailed instructions on printing projects and includes stencils of her hand-drawn patterns. $20;...

To the letter.(Supply Closet)
September 1, 2008... Fashion a personalized garland or mobile, or use these small chipboard letters in a scrapbook. Chipboard alphabet sets, from $5; kandycompany.com. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Expert advice.(Supply Closet)
September 1, 2008... When decoupaging under glass, I recommend using Elmer's glue (dilute it to 85 percent glue, 15 percent water) and a household brush. And work with copies--not the original print. --John Derian OWNER OF JOHN DERIAN CO., NEW YORK...

The Doll Show: collectors are gearing up for one of the country's most inclusive and popular doll venues.(antiques)
September 1, 2008... ELEGANT EXTRAS For doll lovers, collectibles extend to examples of wardrobe, like this day dress made c. 1900. A frothy confection of Belgian lace, its fine needlework alone would incite any collector's passion. Dolls found in...

Pie safe: professional appraiser helaine fendelman evaluates and appraises your collectibles and antiques.(what is it? what is it worth?)
September 1, 2008... WHAT IS IT? In the early to mid-19th century, pie safes provided ventilated storage space for home-baked goods and meat products. A pie safe was also referred to as a pie cupboard or a meat safe. The pierced tin panels facilitated air...

At the brimfield Antiques show: at brimfield, mass., this fall, meet three bearded dealers with three distinct specialties.(SNAPshot)(Ed Hill, Stan Farmer, William B. Spencer)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... ED HILL, owner of Any Antique Will Do in Hopkinton, R.I., has been selling art glass and sterling silver for about 30 years. His booth is always stocked with silver flatware starting at $10 per piece, as well as a variety of hollowware for $35...

The Vintage Barn Antiques show: twice a year, Rolane and dean hopper host an old-fashioned barn sale at their farm in rural Idaho.(antiques across america)
September 1, 2008... SHOW Vintage Barn Antiques Show LOCATION Rathdrum, Idaho PHONE (208) 640-1318 WEB barnbarnbaby.com Sunny skies and great buys await visitors at the Vintage Barn Antiques Show: VendorKris Brennan, a neighbor of show founder Rolane Hopper,...

Transferware: refresh the dining table for autumn with an array of classic blue-and-white dishes and serving pieces.(seen & noted)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... 1 Sugar bowl, 1820-1835, $575, Country Dining Room Antiques; (413) 528-5050. 2 Vegetable dish, 1820-1835, $725. Country Dining Room Antiques. 3 Pitcher, 1820-1835, $525, Country Dining Room Antiques. 4 Teapot, 1825-1835, $395, Dennis & Dad...

The allure of lavender: this easy-to-grow herb delights with its beauty and fragrance.(in the garden)
September 1, 2008... What's not to love about lavender? It's low maintenance and droughttolerant, once established. It attracts bees and butterflies but is deer-and rabbit-resistant. It can be used in cosmetics, medicine, and cuisine. And the beloved fragrance,...

Win this.(Clippings)
September 1, 2008... After a long day of gardening, restore yourself with Jurlique's lavender skin care products, which are made from botanicals grown organically and have a true lavender scent. Keep yourself refreshed with the hydrating mist. Later soak away the...

Garden chic: hand tools.(Clippings)
September 1, 2008... Garden in real style with these hand tools that are decorated with Arts and Crafts Movement artist William Morris's Cray print. The lightweight tools are made of aluminum and have ergonomic grips. Trowel and cultivator set, $34; nybgshop.org....

Expert advice.(Clippings)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Make a mobile succulent garden. Pull together a trio of your favorite species, cactus soil mix, and a striking container; top with a mineral mulch. Admire it on a terrace in summer and move it to a sunny window in winter. --Flora gruff ...

Editor's pick.(Clippings)
September 1, 2008... Invite friends to lunch to enjoy summer's late blooms with these flower garden notecards by R. Nichols. Box of 10 blank, flat cards and envelopes, $20; r-nichols.com. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Grow flowers that last.(Clippings)
September 1, 2008... Lavender, hydrangea, globe amaranth, and yarrow are just a few of the summer flwoers that retain their shape and most of their color when dried. Arrange these blooms in vases or wreathe.

Digging in.(Clippings)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... DIGGING IN 1 Get a head start on fall garden tasks. Prepare a plan for fall planting. Sterilize pruners and loppers with a diluted bleach solution and sharpen them with a blade sharpener. 2 Be sure to order your favorite...

Buy local now: thanks to increased supply, all it takes to serve up foods grown on small family farms is a trip to the grocer.(our countryside)
September 1, 2008... Locally grown. Organic. Sustainable. With all of these culinary buzzwords floating around, a simple trip to the supermarket can seem completely overwhelming. But knowing where your food came from is a trend worth following. And now it's easier...

The Smithy: how one store sells only local products--and supports 50-plus area vendors!(our countryside)
September 1, 2008... GO LOCAL! GET STARTED Ready to become a locavore? Visit countryliving.com/local to find stores, restaurants, and Web sites that utilize and promote local agriculture and manufacturers. CHECK OUT the blog eatlocalchallenge.com, written...

Cottage industry: a stay at a lakeside town prompted Sharon Middendorf to build her own rental business.(entrepreneur)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Scenic Lake Placid, N.Y., has long been a respite from city life for Sharon Middendorf and her husband, Todd Carter. Today it's the site of her business: two airy cottage rentals. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] How did you get started? My...

Prepare your house and garden for autumn.(THE COUNTRY LIVING HOME ALMANAC)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Of the many tasks necessary this season--cleaning furnace filters, inspecting the chimney, repairing roof leaks--creating a compost heap is one of the simplest. Repeated raking yields plenty of carbon-rich material with which to start: Form a...

Bird feeder facts.(THE COUNTRY LIVING HOME ALMANAC)
September 1, 2008... Attract winter resident birds to your yard by hanging a birdhouse or feeder in mid-fall. "Pick a southeast exposure to catch the morning sun," says Steven Saffier of the National Audubon Society (audubon.org). Clean birdhouses before birds...

Leafy greens that last.(Hardy Vegetables)
September 1, 2008... Kale, collards, spinach, and certain lettuce Varieties are at their best during the cold season. Sow seeds in early fall to enjoy fresh greens through winter. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] oldhouseweb.com a wealth of information for...

Dates to remember.(THE COUNTRY LIVING HOME ALMANAC)(Calendar)
September 1, 2008... SEPTEMBER 1: Labor Day Traveling by car this weekend? Visit ftc.gov/savegas for tips that will help you pay less at the pump. 9: The 30th anniversary (October) issue of Country Living hits newsstands nationwide. Pick up a...

A quick clean: caring for your hardwood.(THE COUNTRY LIVING HOME ALMANAC)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... FURNITURE LOOKING A BIT DULL? "Traditional wax-based cleaners can build up and actually attract dust," says general contractor Patrick Brown. Luckily, many new products will keep your wood furniture and floors shining--minus the wax:...

Safely dispose of toxic waste.(THE COUNTRY LIVING HOME ALMANAC)
September 1, 2008... While winterizing your home, you may find potentially hazardous items lurking in the garage or shed. Here are some guidelines for disposal, but be sure to check first with your municipality for rules specific to your area. 1 LATEX...

Classic & fun: lifestyle editor Frances bailey enhances her fall wardrobe with playful basics for a style that is ...(ready to wear)
September 1, 2008... "I love Yves Saint Laurent's adage that fashion fades but style is eternal." --Frances Bailey 1 simple elegance Cashmere looks right day or night. Lands' End tee, $90; landsend.com. Garnet Hill V-neck, $128; garnethill.com. 2...

12 family-friendly events not to miss.(COUNTRY CALENDAR)(Calendar)
September 1, 2008... AUG. 21-SEPT. 1 EVERGREEN STATE FAIR Centennial Evergreen State Fairgrounds, Monroe, Wash. Fireworks, carnival rides, and live country music mark this fair's 100th anniversary; evergreenfair.org. AUG.29-SEPT.1 A TASTE OF COLORADO Civic...

Inn of the month: Murphin Ridge Inn, West Union, Ohio.
September 1, 2008... If you're planning to attend this year's Country Living Fair, consider extending your trip and staying at Murphin Ridge Inn. Located in West Union (about two hours from the fair site), the inn sits on 142 acres in southwestern Ohio's Amish...

Save the date.(Brief article)(Calendar)
September 1, 2008... Sept. 19-28 This month the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, N.C., will host its Field-to-Table Festival, a 10-day celebration of the South's rich culinary heritage. Tour the Biltmore's working River Bend Farm, where you can help gather eggs...

Milestone: 75 years of drive-in movies!
September 1, 2008... Catch a double feature--and the last warm days of summer--at one of the country's more than 400 drive-in movie theaters. First opened 75 years ago in Camden, N.J., these pop-culture relics of the 1950s and '60s have recently experienced a...

Editor's pick.(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... A roomy shape, over-the-shoulder straps, and fun hot-pink lining make Tamara's Alegria Black Scroll Weekender ($136) the perfect pick-up-and-go bag for short trips. Special Features Director Monica Willis totes one around all year: "I can pack...

Romancing the stone; A couple take on the renovation of a 19th-century stone house in the Texas Hill Country and find unexpected delights.
September 1, 2008... Here's what a few idyllic weekends in the country will do to your life: They'll upend it. After visiting Fredericksburg, arguably the Texas Hill Country's cutest town, a Houston couple bought an old stone house--even though it had been...

The artist's eye painter Donna Krakovitz Feiner uses the fruitful land as a vivid canvas for herself and her family in bucks county, PA.
September 1, 2008... DONNA KRAKOVITZ FEINER A CHIAROSCURO still-life painter, she has a BFA from the Philadelphia College of Art, then studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and privately. HER INSPIRATION is Flemish and Dutch art. "I paint what I...

The hoedown at Brykill farm: an organic farm in New York's Hudson river valley is the setting for an old-fashioned, all-American hoe-down. host Susan Eckhardt sets the mood with cornstalks, straw bales, and bandannas as she and her guests bid a lively farewell to summer.
September 1, 2008... Three tables joined together and covered with simple, inexpensive burlap create a long single dining table for Susan's 16 guests; railroad lanterns provide illumination as night falls. During a break from dancing, guest Nadine Lemmon chats with...

Shipshape; Alana Hedley's love of blue and white is the decorative anchor for her seaside California cottage.
September 1, 2008... "My dream has always been to have a house on the water," says Alana Hedley. Three years ago she got her wish when she and her husband, George, bought this home in Beacon Bay, Calif., a waterfront community that's part of Newport Beach. Alana...

In praise of polenta: this humble, satisfying grain offers endless possibilities to home cooks.(polenta)(Recipe)
September 1, 2008... A rustic old-world favorite, polenta has long been a robust and affordable staple in Northern Italian kitchens. Made from cornmeal, polenta is generally slow-cooked into a creamy porridge, or molded, cooled, and sliced, then panfried and served...

Expert advice.(Tastings)
September 1, 2008... Instead of cinnamon, stir pumpkin pie spice into applesauce. The blend of nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon, and ginger pairs perfectly with apples. Cheryl Slocum SENIOR FOOD EDITOR, COUNTRY LIVING

Win this!(Tastings)
September 1, 2008... Replace brown bags with the LunchBox, a reusable container and spork made from dishwasher- and microwave-safe plastic. $10; lightmyfireusa.com. To win one of 10 sets, visit countryliving.com/sweeps or see page 145. Enter to win one of 10...

Editor's pick.(Tastings)
September 1, 2008... Pressed with fresh lemon, Agrumato's extra-virgin olive oil has a bright, citrusy flavor ideal for drizzling on salads and for finishing grilled meats, sea food, and polenta. $23; formaggio kitchen.com. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Mrs. Wilkes's Boardinghouse Savannah.(EAT HERE)(Restaurant review)
September 1, 2008... For Southern classics such as fried chicken, beef stew, black-eyed peas, candied yams, collards, and cornbread, head to Mrs. Wilkes's Boardinghouse. Located at 107 W. Jones St. in the historic district, the former rooming house has been drawing...

Events.(Tastings)
September 1, 2008... 1 ROAD TRIPS Get a behind-the-scenes look at Memphis barbecue, Kentucky bourbon, or other regional specialties on a three-day American Table Culinary Tour. Did we mention there are tastings, too? tabletours.org. 2 BANKING...

In season: cauliflower.(Tastings)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... A great source of fiber, folate, and vitamin C--and a milder, sweeter alternative to broccoli--cauliflower is abundant in September. When choosing fall varieties, such as the spiral-shaped Romanesco, look for firm heads with no bruises. Add...

Game night.(FAMILY FUN)
September 1, 2008... On those weekend evenings when you choose to stay in, why not host a game night? More than just dusting off a Scrabble board and snacking on microwave popcorn, the gathering, with the aid of a few artful touches, can become a tradition for...

Comfort food for a crowd: make these delicious, comforting dishes and serve them for a weeknight dinner or freeze for a future gathering.(Recipe)
September 1, 2008... Herbed Meatball Soup MAKES 7 SERVINGS 1 POUND GROUND BEEF 1/2 POUND GROUND PORK 1 CUP ONION, FINELY CHOPPED 4 GARLIC CLOVES, FINELY CHOPPED 1 1/2 TEASPOONS INSTANT TAPIOCA 1 LEMON ZEST...

House plans you can buy: the mountain brook: relax in COZY outdoor spaces.(HOUSE PLANS)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... A covered porch and gambrel roof define the exterior of this Dutch Colonial-style home. Inside, the foyer offers access to stairs to the second floor, a powder room, and a coat closet before ending at the great room, which has vaulted ceilings...

Editor's pick.(reading glasses by Hilary London)
September 1, 2008... When Decorating Director Robin Long Mayer needed new reading glasses, she was thrilled to discover Hilary London's stylish cheaters. "The six Pucci-inspired color combinations make such pretty alternatives to the usual drugstore offerings,"...

Great find.
September 1, 2008... Embrace your inner rock star with Rockcycle's binders, purses, notebooks, and coasters. Handmade from vintage records and album covers that were destined for the landfill, these nostalgic creations feature such legendary artists as the Beatles,...