Indholdsfortegnelse for February/March 2023 i Country Living

I was recently reading about the hibernation habits of chipmunks, as one does in their spare time, and learned that—contrary to popular belief—chipmunks don’t fully hibernate like many of their furry-tailed counterparts. Instead, during the winter season, they retreat to their burrows for bouts of suspended activity, and then they emerge from their dens every few days to address their pertinent chipmunk chores, whatever those might be. (I’ll admit, I didn’t dig that deeply into my rodent research, although I like to imagine their duties entail sorting tiny socks and squirreling away nuts in their pint-size pantries.) This time of year, I, too, find myself drifting between similar states of dormancy and doing. There are some days when you’ll likely find me curling up with a book from my wobbly…

Time Flies Born in the 1600s in the Black Forest region of Germany, cuckoo clocks push air through wooden whistles to produce the two-note call of the common European bird for which they are named. Most are fabricated in the Bahnhäusleuhr style or the more traditional Jagdstück style (shown here), which is marked by forest motifs. Trending again thanks to a revived interest in wooden accents, Jagdstücks from the 1960s and ’70s fetch between $100 for small pieces and $1,500 for larger varieties. Clocks with working top automatons are particularly coveted. Songbirds 18th-century Swiss clock-maker Pierre Jaquet-Droz is credited with developing the singing bird box, which was often affixed to ornate snuff boxes and sold to European royalty. Over the centuries, the windup mechanisms were simplified to suit mass production,…

Around the Table: Floral designer and online shop owner Kate Holt (thearkelements.com), alongside friends, family, and pup Whiskey Pastoral Approach: “I live in Los Angeles now, but my roots are in the Midwest. I grew up on an acre of land, where my time was spent climbing trees, running through the grass, and catching fireflies. I circle back to those moments when I’m creating tablescapes such as this.” (Pictured: “Climbing Rose” tablecloth and “Livi Periwinkle” napkins; thearkelements.com) On the Menu: “As a vegetarian, I love to bust the common misconception that our food has no grit, and both the Asparagus Frittata with Burrata and Herb Pesto and Smashed Potatoes with Paprika and Cumin leave guests feeling full and satisfied. When it’s time for dessert, I love this versatile Olive Oil Cake…

Town Stats POPULATION 1,335 STOPLIGHT COUNT Just the one! DISTANCE TO CANADIAN BORDER 38 miles NAMED BY Fur-trading French-Canadian voyageurs in the 1700s (the name translates to “great marsh”) “Keep your eyes peeled for a moose while cross-country skiing through frozen forests…” …and 19 more ways to capture the wonder of a clear winter day. Get Crackin’: No matter what time your morning begins, oversize omelets await at breakfast-all-day eatery Blue Water Café. Go for the three-meat Viking or a hollandaise-topped Wild Country. Celebrate the Season: Cheer on dogsled derbies during March’s annual Dog Days of Winter festival, which caps off with s’mores and hot cocoa at Trail Center Lodge. Or, set off from the lodge for a leisurely session of cross-country skiing (and moose spotting!) along Superior National Forest’s 57-mile Gunflint…

1 Starting the day with a cup of coffee in a cozy nook 2 The joy of perfecting your bread-baking—and the taste-testing that comes with it 3 That warmth of sunlight that floods a room with the notion that spring is on its way 4 Tinkering around with ideas to display your favorite collections 5 Justifying the purchase of just one more beautiful basket in the name of getting organized. (See pg. 34 for more vintage vessel inspiration.) 6 Coming in from the cold to the aroma of soup simmering on the stove (Check out the savory soup recipes on pg. 49.) 7 Cozying up to loved ones of both the two- and four-legged varieties 8 The planning and plotting of a flower-filled spring garden Follow us on Instagram @countrylivingmag for a daily dose of Simple Country Pleasures.…

Object Lesson Been There, Hauled That: The introduction of steam-powered engines fueled an explosion in leisurely trips during the late 19th to early 20th centuries, heralding the golden age of travel. (Think of the polished wood walls of a quiet train car or the multicourse dinners served aboard the White Star Line fleet.) With that, the boxy travel trunk—the suitcase of the day—became both a must-have accessory and a subtle status symbol. Trunk Traits: Trunks made during this period were often constructed of simple pine frames and covered in painted canvas or leather for weatherproofing. Most trunks from this era are often incorrectly grouped under the umbrella term “steamer trunks,” but experts like to reserve this label only for pieces less than 14 inches high, as this was the maximum height…

Crate Cubby The small slots of those old wooden soda crates are perfectly poised to contain your most reached-for herbs and spices. Just stack the crates on their sides, and fill as desired. More Use-What-You-Have Organizing Ideas Sure, you could stock up on plastic bins from a big-box store, but there’s not a whole lot of country farmhouse charm to be found in that, now is there? № 1 Crock Corral Timeless stoneware crocks are ideal for containing everyday utensils. № 2 Reinvented Rack A plate rack can also be used to store cooking tools and assorted baking vessels (think pie plates, cooling racks, baking sheets, and more). № 3 Baking Tin Bundle bags of dry ingredients (flour, sugar, etc.) in a low-walled tin for easy baking back-and-forth. № 4 Drip Catcher Place fluted…

Leek and Ye Shall Find Tender, mild, and sweet when roasted, leeks add savory flavor to these three dishes. Recipes, pg. 100…

Inspired by: The start of the annual sap harvest in maple tree forests dotting the Northeast Local Flavor: It takes 15 to 20 gallons of sticky-sweet sap to make just a half-gallon of pure maple syrup—but you won’t need nearly that much to whip up this creamy dessert. With a custard-like filling and flourish of flaky sea salt, it’s a supreme salute to sweet and savory. Recipe, pg. 105…

While their high school classmates were holding hands at the movies, sweethearts Stephenie and Chase Watts were spending their Friday nights wandering through Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware, dreaming of someday decorating their own home. “Those were our date nights,” Chase says. Today, the couple, who now own an interior design studio (Watts Design House; @stepheniewatts), is more likely to spend their evenings cuddled up with their two children inside their 1639 shingled cottage in Sandwich, Massachusetts. “The house sat on the market for two months,” says Chase, who is also a real estate agent and discovered the listing two-and-a-half years ago while scrolling on his phone. “I guess not everyone wants a house that’s more than 380 years old.” The cottage is a time capsule, sitting on its original…

Roast Chicken with Braised Leeks and Fingerling Potatoes WORKING TIME 20 minutes  TOTAL TIME 3 hours 35 minutes MAKES 4 to 6 servings 1 whole chicken (4 to 5 pounds), legs tied togetherKosher salt and freshly ground black pepper2 pounds fingerling potatoes, halved lengthwise3 large leeks, white and light green parts only, halved lengthwise and cut into 3-inch pieces2 tablespoons olive oil½ cup dry white wine2 tablespoons capers 1. Place chicken on a small rimmed baking sheet or plate, and season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate at least 2 hours and up to 8 hours. 2. Preheat oven to 450°F. Toss together potatoes, leeks, and oil in roasting pan or 9 - by 13-inch baking dish. Season with salt and pepper. Top with chicken. Roast 45 minutes. 3. Remove pan from oven. Pour…

This column is a collaboration with Shana Novak of The Heirloomist (theheirloomist.com). Turn to pg. 106 to find out how you can participate. THIS WOODEN SEWING BOX BELONGED TO my great-grandmother, Fannie Wibberley Hamilton. It was made for her by my great-grandfather, John Hamilton, a carpenter by trade. The inlaid maiden name tells me the gift predates their marriage in 1879, and I am fascinated that, all these years later, no one ever removed the pins that spell out Fannie’s initials in the pincushion. The joy of sewing has been a constant thread throughout my family’s lives. My grandmother was skilled with any type of needle, my mother was an incredible knitter, and by the time I was in eighth grade, I knew how to make my own clothes. I even…

The unofficial anthem of book lovers all over might as well be just one more—as in, just one more page, just one more chapter, just one more book, just one more precariously built bundle on the nightstand reflecting the best of your reading intentions. As Henry Ward Beecher said: “Books are not made for furniture, but there is nothing else that so beautifully furnishes a house.” And why limit such beauty to the confines of shelves? There’s no warmer welcome than well-worn hardcovers occupying every surface. Walking into a home with books that spill into every nook and out of every cranny evokes an eclectic charm and a limitless curiosity, providing a friendly, get-to-know-ya glimpse at whatever makes the homeowner’s spirit sing, be it historical fiction, offbeat British humor, or…

$225,000 Conover, NC 2 BR; 1 BA; 1,536 SQ. FT. WHY YOU’LL LOVE IT: Stepping into this English-style cottage feels like stepping into a storybook. Its arched doorways, impressive fieldstone fireplace, 6-over-6 sash windows, and an entire wall of built-in cabinetry in the dining area guarantee an architectural happily ever after. AGENT: Mariette Gagne; mariettesells.com WORK REQUIRED: The CL Fixer-Upper Scale MOVE-IN READY NEEDS MINOR IMPROVEMENTS INVEST IN A DECENT DRILL PUT THAT CONTRACTOR ON SPEED DIAL $779,000 Altamont, NY 6 BR; 10 BA; 5,024 SQ. FT. WHY YOU’LL LOVE IT: This historic ashlar stone Colonial sits on close to three bucolic acres complete with a red barn and a brick smokehouse. Inside, find original stone hearths, exposed beams, a huge gourmet kitchen, and a window-wrapped sunroom. Bonus: There are…

OBJECT LESSON: Arcade Mfg. Co. Coffee Mills WHAT TO KNOW: Freeport, Illinois-based Arcade Mfg. Co. began as an iron foundry in 1885 and was well-known for its molding machines, which made cast-iron toys—such as the famous Yellow Cab, inexpensive home shop tools and woodworking machinery, and other home objects, including coffee mills. By 1897, American coffee consumption was growing so much that Arcade increased production of its variety of mills to include eight wall-mounted hopper versions, like the “Golden Rule,” “Bell,” “No. 25” (far left), and “Crystal” Nos. 1 through 4. The glass canisters typically had a one-pound capacity for beans and a cast-iron grinder that was finished in a white, black, or blue enamel. A glass catch cup held the ground coffee (a bonus if found still intact today!). Rockwell…

“THERE’S NOTHING QUITE LIKE coming in from the cold to a big hearty bowl—or mug!—of soup,” says designer Lela Rose (lelarose.com). And after a day spent frolicking in the snow of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, the hunger factor is guaranteed to be high. That’s why Lela looks to hearty soups to satiate fellow frolickers, served alongside crispy toppings—“I love a little crunch in my dishes,” she says—and assorted flavors of grissini (aka Italian-style breadsticks). To keep the whole high-altitude affair feeling appropriately elevated, Lela doesn’t skimp on refined, festive details like copper serving pots, stoneware mugs, and glazed French wine jugs. And should guests still feel peckish post-pozole, they’ll find even more cold-weather comfort in freshly baked whisper-thin chocolate chip cookies as crisp as the temperatures outside. Grab the Ladle LELA’S ADVICE FOR…

It’s rare to discover your life’s work at five years old, but that’s precisely what happened to Temple, New Hampshire, native Ben Fisk while visiting a maple sugar house on a preschool field trip. “I wouldn’t stop talking about it, so my parents built me a small sugar house,” says Ben. “We started with 13 taps, which made less than a gallon of syrup. I sold it alongside lemonade at a stand at the end of our driveway.” As Ben grew, so did his passion. In 2004, when he was just 15, he became the youngest winner ever of the Granite State’s Maple Producers Carlisle Trophy for best syrup. “I decided to graduate high school early to focus on making maple syrup for a living,” he says. Now, 19 years…

IN SEASON Paperwhites These petite petaled perennials thrive indoors throughout the winter months, growing up to a foot-and-a-half tall. Create a fragrant arrangement by layering pebbles in the bottom of a lined vintage basket of any shape or size, nestling in a few bulbs, then topping with moss. COAST TO COAST COUNTRY CALENDAR Mosey on over to these folk festivals celebrating local culture across various artistic mediums. Deep Winter Blues February 18 I Pickens, SC Head to a historic mill for a day filled with deep roots music performances, folklife and traditional arts demos, and shopping for one-of-a-kind keepsakes at the Heritage Pavilion. hagoodmillhistoric.com Fearrington Folk Art Show February 18–19 I Pittsboro, NC Spend the weekend at a cozy inn on a converted dairy farm, where you’ll sip wine and…

Country Classic PAGE 17 “Emerson” in Ivory on Sky wallpaper; fschumacher.com. In With the Old PAGE 29 “Raphael Green” wallpaper; sandbergwallpaper.com. Wingback chair; @betty_margaret_the_nest. Wooden side table; lolofrenchantiques.com. Cuckoo clocks: Savage Clockworx, savageclockworx.etsy.com; Carrigan’s, carrigans.com. PAGES 30-31 “Garret” side table; madegoods.com. Bird books: Rare Book Cellar, rarebookcellar.com; Endnotes Studio, endnotesstudio.etsy.com; Vintage Rosie Shop, vintagerosieshop.etsy.com; Vintage Inspiring, vintageinspiring.etsy.com; Fresh Pie Vintage, freshpie.etsy.com; Chicory Nook, chicorynook.etsy.com. Sewing birds: Teal Mercantile Co., tealmercantileco.etsy.com. PAGES 32-33 Hanging charts: Karin Winter, @karinwinter art; Sputnik Vintage, sputnikvintagebe.etsy.com; Pine Springs Cottage, pinespringscottage.etsy.com. Blue Bird Toffee tins: RetroDromme, retrodromme.etsy.com; Dig Vintage Stuff, digvintagestuff.etsy.com; 100 Cells Vintage, 100cellsvintage.etsy.com; Artizmo Eclectic; artizmoeclectic.etsy.com; Vintage Wants Not Needs, vintagewantsnotneeds.etsy.com. Secondhandmade PAGE 37 Antique marmalade jars; thevintagebreadbox.etsy.com. Picnics & Parties PAGES 47-50 “Doris” placemat and “Agave” napkin; heathceramics.com. Copper bucket; adamsantiquesandthepotager.com. Dutch oven; misen.com. “Hillcrest Green” plates; sohohome.com. Portal to the Past PAGES 86-93 THROUGHOUT Tartan blankets; us.tartanblanketco.com. PAGE 88 Striped pillow; piperclassics.com. PAGE 89 Blue chenille…