Indholdsfortegnelse for November/December 2024 i Victoria

Dear Friends In the opening chapter of Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, the twenty-fifth of December finds Margaret March brimming with holiday spirit. Before the matriarch sits down to sample the modest meal that has been prepared for her household, she relays unfortunate news: There is a nearby family in dire need. Compassion for those six children, huddled close to brace against winter’s icy chill, prompts “Marmee” and her four daughters to venture into the snow with baskets of food and firewood. In giving their own meager resources, the Marches discover the true meaning of the season. “That was a very happy breakfast, though they didn’t get any of it,” Alcott writes, “and when they went away, leaving comfort behind, I think there were not in all the city…

In one of the South’s smallest rural counties, where a community of impassioned preservationists tirelessly safeguards the stories and architecture of the region, one home has been given new life—and a new name—by its latest stewards. The circa 1860 dwelling was dubbed Laura Ann in honor of these new owners, Laura and Kent Tabor, who more than five years ago took on an extensive project to restore the home’s original design. Proud and lofty 14-foot ceilings were reinstated, mid-century paneling was withdrawn, and forgotten fireplaces were even rebuilt. Once the frame was perfected, the interiors had to be also. Enter Lance Britt: friend, neighbor, and antiques dealer who quickly became Laura Ann’s chief designer. The role arose naturally, beginning when the Tabors patroned The Brittany House—Lance’s renowned antiques store—and culminating…

Trimmed with sparkling beads and shimmering sequins, pinned to create designs ranging from simple motifs or geometric patterns to classic holiday symbols such as snowflakes and stars, vintage handcrafted ornaments are beloved. Collectors admire the baubles for their beauty, and family members treasure the sentimental value of assemblages fashioned over the years, perhaps with assistance from the hands of children. One such collection makes an appearance each Christmas at the home of Carol Puckett. Carol recalls that her interest in crafting ornaments began in the early 1970s, when she and other church members collected antique jewelry to fashion ornaments for the Christmas tree. “Kits to make ornaments also came out that year, and we bought some,” she shares. With her husband serving overseas in the Army, assembling the ornaments alongside…

Visit our website to read this issue’s online stories and to find more of the content you love. Take a closer look at some of our favorite November/December features: A Golden Thanksgiving To complement the lustrous table settings highlighted in this issue, find a menu worth sharing with a gathering of loved ones on this special day of gratitude. Moments of Respite Our reflections continue the thoughts of Reader-to-Reader, where letters offer inspiration for traditions of contented bliss. Heart of the Home Continue our tour of the lovely historic property on page 63, with a leisurely afternoon spent sampling fresh-baked treats in Grandmother’s kitchen. Upon the Boughs Peruse Victoria’s list of ten favorite Christmas trees—a perennially popular web post that showcases varied approaches to decking the halls with festive charm. We…

When daylight shortens, we celebrate holiday traditions with evergreens, winter blooms, and twinkling candles whose light reflects from a crystal vase. Mistletoe hung from the ceiling is a welcome excuse to offer a kiss to those we cherish. This celebrated sprig, a token of love, is also the perfect base layer to any arrangement. The alluring balm of eucalyptus, together with the heavenly scent of the tuberose and roses, fills the home with lasting fragrance, allowing us to experience the presence of this combination with all our senses. Amaryllis, which begins as a tight bud, emerges with confidence and determination, pushing ever upward before exploding with a splash of crimson. This cultivar provides an entertaining spectacle that can last for up to two weeks. To bring attention to its wondrous…

“WHETHER YOU’RE HERE FOR CHRISTMAS TOURS OR A WEDDING, WE WANT YOU TO LEAVE FEELING REFRESHED.”—Chris Dempsey December arrives with a flourish at Fiddler’s Green, an event venue owned by Heather and Chris Dempsey and christened in honor of a mythical place in folklore where sailors and soldiers find rejuvenation for their spirits. The couple hopes all who visit their premises in Jacksonville, Alabama—at Christmastide or during another season—will experience a similar sense of amenity. Resting upon expansive acreages owned by the family for seven generations, the Dempsey’s graceful Southern-style abode and surrounding edifices are bedecked with cascades of fig ivy, variegated holly, and glossy magnolia leaves foraged from the nearby yard of Chris’s grandmother. Ornaments collected on a trip to London sparkle amidst boughs of a freshly cut evergreen…

“COME, YE THANKFUL PEOPLE, COME RAISE THE SONG OF HARVEST HOME! ALL IS SAFELY GATHERED IN, ERE THE WINTER STORMS BEGIN.”—Henry Alford…

WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE Pages 13–15: Jennifer L. Scott authors the popular blog and YouTube channel The Daily Connoisseur. Her New York Times best-selling books include Lessons from Madame Chic, At Home with Madame Chic, and Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic, all of which chronicle lessons learned in Paris when Jennifer lived abroad. She and her family divide their time between Southern California and the English countryside. Follow along with Jennifer at dailyconnoisseur.blogspot.com and @dailyconnoisseur on Instagram. ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE Pages 17–18: Natasja Sadi is the creative entrepreneur behind Cake Atelier Amsterdam, an artisanal bakery specializing in wedding and event cakes, distinguished by their lifelike sugar flower adornments and Dutchstill life–style photography. In 2023, Natasja debuted her book, A Sweet Floral Life: Romantic Arrangements for Fresh and Sugar Flowers. She teaches the art of…

My antidote to all the holiday hubbub is a quiet, solitary walk on Christmas Eve. Three city blocks from our home, there is a tiny church that hosts a contemplative candlelit service. Shortly before midnight, bundled up against winter’s chill, I step into the crisp night air. Within moments, I feel my pace slow, my shoulders relax, and my breathing deepen. I look about and take in the festive décor gracing my neighbors’ homes as well as glimpses of the warmth of friends and family members gathered inside. I gaze up at the stars, the same lights that have led and inspired generations of seekers like me. Certainly, the service I am attending will feed my soul, but I find that the journey to that destination—as well as the one…

Shortly after my husband and I bought our first house, I bought another. Eight inches high and just about that wide, this abode was made of porcelain, part of a vast array of Christmas village pieces. Little did I know that this first purchase would be one of many over the coming decades, eventually growing into a collection all my own that spread from one room of our home to another. From the bookshelves in the living room to the china cabinets in the dining room, neighborhoods bloomed, complete with roads and lights and every accessory but real snow. My Christmas village, which my husband called “Jillville” from Day One, was meant to take the place of a tree. We have always had several cats and, at the time, we…