Indholdsfortegnelse for December/January 2024 i Country Living

I hesitate to point this out because now you’ll be on watch, but in any given issue, at least in its earliest rough draft stages, there are certain words that our writers and editors lean on a little too heavily—so much so that our eagle-eyed Copy Editor Stephanie Lepore will gently nudge us to, ahem, find another way to say it. The word “verdant” blossoms in the spring season, and we tend to hit our “cozy” quota pretty quickly come October. As I started to peruse the pages of this issue, I noticed a whole lot of “magical,” so I queried whether we needed to swap out a few instances with a suitable synonym. But it turns out, there’s no good substitute: Paranormal? Too spooky. Mystical? Too hemp shop. As…

Calling All Anglophiles! This column highlights dreamy properties featured in our sister publication, Country Living UK. Lay of the Land LOCATION In the Village of Upper Basildon near the River Thames in West Berkshire County CLAIM TO FAME Basildon is the birthplace of Jethro Tull. He helped bring about Britain’s 18th-century Agricultural Revolution. LOCAL CHARM The village church, St. Stephens, is built in the shape of a fish. When Jules and Ben Covey were ready to leave London and so began their search for a home closer to where they both grew up in the English countryside, one requirement was that the interiors actually feel a little dated. “We knew that we’d want to make the house our own, so it seemed mad to buy something that had been updated…

Turn to pg. 36 for more info on the quilt tree project shown here. № 1 Blanket Statement (pg. 34) For a striking display, start with a green quilt (we scored ours at etsy.com/shop/folklorefibersstudio). Cut a 1/2-inch-thick piece of foam core to the desired triangle size. Wrap your quilt tightly around the foam core and secure in place with straight pins (no cutting needed!). Set on a picnic basket “tree trunk.” № 2 Button Bevy For this kid-friendly craft, cut a 14-inch-long piece of craft wire and bend in the middle to create a U-shape. Thread both ends of the wire through button holes, starting with the brown buttons for the stump, then moving on to the body of the tree in largest-to-smallest order. Top with a yellow wooden craft…

Fine-Tuned Festivities HOW TO MAKE SURE YOUR PARTY HITS A HIGH NOTE Be There With Bells On. When wired to an evergreen wreath (lynchcreekwreaths.com), antique copper bells will cheerfully ring in each guest’s arrival. For another thematic touch, tuck in paper leaves made from holiday sheet music. Tip: Ivory-colored card stock evokes a “ye olde” feel. Sing for Your Supper. A spread of grab-and-go snacks, including Asiago Cheese Biscuits with Proscuitto, Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Peppadews, and Herb-Spiced Cashews, will provide enough sustenance to serenade the whole block. Serve the cashews in paper cones made from sheet music (far right). Craft a Souvenir Songbook. Print out a few of your favorite carols (holidaysheetmusic.net), and nestle them beneath a custom card stock cover (countryliving.com/caroling) secured with red waxed twine around the center spine…

A SHORT AND SWEET HISTORY OF Spritz Cookies Hailing from Scandinavia, this buttery cookie’s name is derived from the German word spritzen, which means “to squirt,” because the dough is pushed through a cookie press. You can thank Mirro, an aluminum factory in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, for introducing the metal cookie press stateside in the 1930s. Vintage models can be scooped up for around $40. A SHORT AND SWEET HISTORY OF Speculaas Popular in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany around the Feast of St. Nicholas, these highly spiced cookies are made by pressing dough into carved wooden molds known as speculaas planks. With their intricate designs of windmills and houses, antique molds are also popular as wall art. A SHORT AND SWEET HISTORY OF Madeleines Technically a cake, the madeleine originated…

Sit a spell with a cowboy Santa and take in a pony parade… …plus 15 more ways to play the Lone Star way this holiday season. Fill Your Cup: The decadent drinks at Gruene Coffee Haus, where beans are roasted on-site in a machine affectionately dubbed “Rachel,” include cookie butter and waffe lattes. Get in the Spirit: Christmas in Gruene officially kicks off on December 2 with the Pony Express Ride (next page), a tradition that sees a horseback cavalcade carry a message of yuletide cheer from the state governor straight through town. Nearby, a temporary post office hand-cancels cards addressed to friends, family, and the North Pole with a commemorative stamp (top right). Cap off the day at the open-air Gruene Christmas Market Days and the annual Gruene Town…

HOW CLEVER IS THAT… Sleigh Bell Garland In lieu of a traditional garland, the Evanses 14-foot tree is trimmed with leather-and-sleigh bell “garland” reminiscent of horse-drawn sleigh rides. Antlers and simple ornaments made of red and clear glass and brown-flecked velvet complement the home’s year-round decor. COWBOY CHRISTMAS ANTLER EMBELLISHMENTS Despite its soaring 25-foot ceiling, the log home’s great room feels sufficiently cozy courtesy of soft textures (plaid pillows, tartan blankets, Navajo-style rug) and cabin classics, including a 60-inch chandelier by The Peak Antler Company (peakantlers.com). The massive Montana moss stone fireplace gets gussied up for Christmas with plaid stockings, an abundant garland, and a few more antlers. “Hanging greenery around Benny the bison’s neck is a real Montana move!” says designer Jeremiah Young. After 30 years of making treasured…

The Decorating Begins: The end of October. It’s never too early to start enjoying my favorite season—right?! Tree Tradition: Every year we cut down our tree at Howard Tree Farm (howardtreefarm.com) in Perry, about 20 minutes away. Scott pulls the kids on the sled out to the lot and we vote for “the one.” We also hide a pickle ornament in our main tree—the first to find it wins a prize. Go-To Holiday Candle: We have flameless taper candles all over the house. They are so realistic looking and make it feel so cozy and festive. Countdown Style: We love the chocolate-filled advent calendars from World Market. Music on Repeat: Everyone gets a kick out of “That Spirit of Christmas” by Ray Charles because it’s what plays in National Lampoon’s…

IN SEASON Amaryllis Named for the Greek word amarysso (which means “to sparkle”), these tender, trumpet-like perennials are known to rebloom for more than 25 years. To craft a festive display, arrange bulbs in an assortment of vintage brass vessels—each should be roughly one inch wider than its bulb—with well-draining potting mix. COAST TO COAST The Country Calendar Get your Christmas lights fix (without the electric bill!) at one of these high-wattage wonderlands. Christmas Light Drive-Thru December 1-30 I Elizabethtown, PA Load up the truck for a three-mile drive through countryside displays that include a covered bridge and 18-foot trees trimmed with lights before heading to cocktails and dinner in The Star Barn. stonegablesestate.com The Legendary Lights of Historic Clifton Mill December 1-30 I Clifton, OH Slide on your snow…

1 How the scent of cinnamon rolls lures even the deepest of dreamers from their slumber 2 Hearing a knock on the door and realizing it’s Christmas carolers (See pg. 48 for how to host your own caroling party.) 3 Dreaming up your version of a white Christmas, courtesy of collectibles like ironstone 4 The squatty lil’ tree on the lot that may not be everyone’s cup of tea—and that’s why you love it 5 The quiet of the first big snowfall, preferably enjoyed from inside a quaint cabin 6 How the slightly watery hot chocolate at the tree farm tastes like the best you’ve ever had 7 Decking the halls with nature, from pine cones to paperwhites 8 Those three magical words: No assembly required. Be sure to follow us on Instagram @countrylivingmag for a daily dose…

Why We Love Them Their Rags-to-Riches Story: Prior to being used on grain sacks and cushion covers, stripes of all shades were reserved for those at the bottom of the social order, especially in medieval Europe, where they were worn by court jesters and servants, according to author and historian Michel Pastoureau, who penned the definitive history of stripes in his 2003 book, The Devil’s Cloth: A History of Stripes. Their Sudden Cool Cred: While stripes never go out of style, red-and-white stripes in particular recently made their way back into the decorating mainstream, thanks to trendsetting designers including Matilda Goad, Flora Soames, and Alice Palmer. Their Country Practicality: In the days before shipping labels, farming families wove colorful stripes and sewed initials into grain sacks to help customers identify…

Favored Blend: “Twinings Earl Grey with a bit of milk. My grandmother used to have it with just a slice of lemon.” Cup or Mug: “I have a lot of Cornish Blue crockery, but I tend to have my tea in one of my hand-thrown WonkiWear mugs from South Africa (wonkiwear.com). I love mixing and matching the colors and that each piece is slightly different.” Proper Provisions: “I’m not a major biscuit person, so usually it’s just the tea in the afternoon unless my daughter has been baking.” Sipping Spot: “Often I’ll have it while working at my kitchen table desk, but in the summer, I like to wander around the garden. We have a beautiful apple tree that is more than 100 years old and an amazing magnolia in…

OBJECT LESSON: Brach’s Candy Display Drum WHAT TO KNOW: German immigrant Emil J. Brach founded his first candy store, the “Brach’s Palace of Sweets,” in Chicago in 1904. By 1922, he had not only expanded Brach’s footprint by building the largest candy manufacturing plant in the United States—with a weekly output of more than 1,000 tons!—but by also developing methods for selling his candy in bulk. Some of Brach’s popular confections included caramels, Star Brite Mints, Butterscotch Disks, and candy corn. The candies often appeared in seasonal store displays like these circa-1937 cardboard toy drums, which housed Brach’s crème candies. In the 1950s, Brach’s pioneered the first pick-a-mix display concept, where a variety of candy could be purchased by the pound. Now owned by the Ferrara Candy Company, Brach’s still…

Around the Table: Home and lifestyle blogger Paula Sutton (hillhousevintage.com), alongside friends and family. “My husband, Duncan, and I have three children [Tobias, 22, and twins Phoebe and Daisy, 19], and they’ve reached that fabulous age where they are hilarious, entertaining, and all-around great company.” Sit and Stay Awhile: “I love a good dining space. If a room can hold a table, then I will put one in it! Our formal dining room has high-backed upholstered chairs to encourage people to stay and chat long after the meal is finished.” Moody Blues: “During the holidays, I love using my Spode ‘Blue Italian.’ I also have a selection of huge tureens and lidded and footed soupiers. Against the flickering candlelight, they look very dramatic and Dickensian. I live in an 1822…

Inspired by: Kolarik Farms in Leelanau County, Michigan Local Flavor: Located on the pinkie finger of the Mitten State, little Leelanau County accounts for 25 percent of U.S. tart cherries. But it’s not all fruit in these parts. When the holiday season rolls around, Kolarik Farms’ cherry orchard gives way to rows of fir trees. We packed the best of both bounties into these party-ready pastries featuring a cherry-almond filling in a festive tree shape. Recipe, pg. 136…

PRESENTED BY HALLMARK CHANNEL December calendars are so jam-packed that getting together can feel more like “hustle and bustle” than “comfort and joy.” So why not host a cozy night in where pajamas are welcome and simple pleasures are mint to be? Whether it’s a gathering with your college besties, a mother-daughter moment, a girls’ night, or even a romantic evening with your partner, try pairing these activity and recipe ideas with the latest Hallmark Channel Holiday Movies for your sweetest Countdown to Christmas ever! Craft It! Get! ’em in the spirit—and. help deck their Jron, front door, too—with this. DIY party favor. Peppermint Wreath To craft this fun wreath, you'll want to start by spray-painting flat wood rounds and wooden balls in various sizes and a biodegradable floral craft ring with…

You could say designer Heather Taylor has a checkered past. “When I think back to my childhood bedroom in the 1980s, there were a lot of ginghams and plaids. For me, that’s what feels cozy,” she says. Perhaps that same sense of nostalgia is why her eponymous line of high-quality, handcrafted textiles (heathertaylorhome.com) has charmed a notable roster of devotees in the short decade since it launched, including high-end boutiques and mass retailers such as West Elm. “I’ve found that people prefer items that their family can grow with—items that aren’t trendy, that can remain on hand as a backdrop for family memories,” she says. So when it came time to outfit a cabin for her own family (including husband Alex de Cordoba and daughters Scarlett, 9, and Goldie, 6) in…

The Decorating Begins: At the start of December Tree Tradition: Our new ritual is having my husband go into the forest and cut down a hand-picked Christmas tree. Best Santa Sighting: Santa always makes an appearance at the Livingston Christmas Stroll (livingston-chamber.com). The town is all decorated with lights and there is a huge Christmas tree near the Livingston Depot Center. Go-To Holiday Scent: I love the Noble Fir Garland candle by Voluspa. Countdown Style: I usually buy a chocolate-filled advent calendar. Movies on Repeat: We love to watch A Christmas Story or How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Music on Repeat: The old classics by Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and Tony Bennett are our favorites. But, of course, I always like to throw some Mariah Carey in there, too. Eggnog…

HOW CLEVER IS THAT… Buoy Tree Topper Like a nautical twist on a gold star, a yellow buoy (nauticalseasons.com) floats above a colorful coastal-themed tree, featuring garland made of recycled lobster rope and vintage Shiny Brite ornaments. The fir is one of nine—yes, nine!—trees that happy up the house. ’TIS THE SEASON NAUTICAL KNICKKNACKS While the coastal-themed wallcovering (Kennebunk even makes a cameo!) and red-painted floor came with the house, they perfectly complement Tiffany Mizzell’s ever-growing collection of vintage New England treasures, including carved sea captains, a giant bobber, model boats, and colorful buoys, all of which she’s picked up during shopping trips to nearby antiquing haunts (Bo-Mar Hall Antiques & Collectibles, Antiques USA in Arundel) or on family adventures. “We once found a buoy on a hike in Lubec,…

Pork Tenderloin with Cinnamon-Clove Clementine Glaze WORKING TIME 15 minutes TOTAL TIME 1 day 40 minutes (includes chilling) MAKES 8 servings ¾ cup packed light brown sugar1 clementine, skin on, quartered, plus more, sliced, for garnish1 tablespoon white wine vinegar1½ teaspoons fresh rosemary, plus sprigs for garnish1½ teaspoons country-style Dijon mustard1 teaspoon ground cinnamon⅛ teaspoon ground clovesKosher salt and freshly ground black pepper2 pork tenderloins (3 to 4 pounds total) 1. Pulse together sugar, quartered clementine, vinegar, rosemary, mustard, cinnamon, and cloves in a food processor or blender until finely chopped. Chill 24 hours. 2. Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place pork on prepared baking sheet and season with salt and pepper. Brush tenderloins on all sides with glaze. Roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted in…

When decking the halls, people tend to love a theme. Whether it’s a color scheme or a motif, some unifying concept helps bring cohesion to a decorative display. And then the season’s greetings start to pour in. According to the Greeting Card Association, there are approximately 1.3 billion Christmas cards sent annually, and, if you’re lucky enough, some of those glad tidings find their way to your mailbox.* A happy chaos of color, photography, and typography (think “JOY” splashed in all caps), the merry missives are as varied as the people who send them—close friends, former coworkers, distant cousins. Whether you plaster them across the refrigerator door, clip them to a garland, or let them grow like Christmas kudzu along a mantel, the jolly jumble may not fit with your…

YEAR BUILT 1730 $1,450,000 McLean, VA 3 BR; 4 BA; 3,250 SQ. FT. WHY YOU’LL LOVE IT: Despite the hefty price tag, you’ll discover historic “Drover’s Rest” is well worth every penny! Throughout, modern amenities pair perfectly with original features such as chinked log walls and old-growth floors. Plus: There’s a cute cottage and a studio attached to the original smokehouse on the picturesque grounds. AGENT: Nate Guggenheim; wfp.com WORK REQUIRED: $695,000 Newark, OH 3 BR; 2 BA; 2,009 SQ. FT. WHY YOU’LL LOVE IT: Meticulously restored interiors, including original hardwoods, impressive millwork, and a checkered kitchen floor, embody the refinement of a bygone era. The idyllic surrounding eight acres include multiple outbuildings. AGENT: Carol Marr; carolmarr.com WORK REQUIRED: YEAR BUILT 1849 YEAR BUILT 1898 $325,000 Rochester, NY BR; 3…

Cloth Encounters As at-home parties proliferated post-Prohibition, cloth cocktail napkins were passed around gatherings to make guests more comfortable while holding cold drinks. Styles transitioned from smaller, simply embroidered pieces in the 1940s and ’50s (candy cane) to larger screen-printed linens in the 1960s (top right), with designers such as Lewis Garland and Vera Neumann (look for her signature) often turning out motifs created specifically for the holiday season. Today, sets from the midcentury run $15 to $80, with costs increasing based on condition and brand name. Looking Glass In the 1950s and ’60s, decorative glasses were considered a staple of every at-home bar cart, and pieces from this period remain popular among cocktail enthusiasts. While companies such as Hazel Atlas turned out sippers in simpler, more mass-market styles (wreath,…

From the Farm to Your Table Here, five ways to embrace peak clementine season. Recipes, pg. 128 FIELD NOTES How to Choose Clementines A ripe clementine should be wholly orange (no green spots), have a bright sheen, and feel firm when gently squeezed. (For more intense flavor, choose smaller, heavier fruit.) Clementines will last two weeks in the refrigerator’s crisper drawer or one week if kept on the counter (in a wire basket for ventilation)—but we suspect you’ll eat ’em faster than that.…

Matt Skoglund sure didn’t learn ranching growing up in suburban Chicago. Instead, he became an environmental lawyer. Wanting to be closer to nature, he and his wife, Sarah, moved to Bozeman, Montana, in 2008, where he worked for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and they raised their children, Otto, now 10, and Greta, now 6. “But I was really craving to do something for the environment that was entrepreneurial, tangible, and land-based. And then I read an article in the local newspaper about bison ranching,” Matt says with a laugh. The more he thought about it, the more the idea appealed to him, leading to a Google search for “bison ranching consultant.” “The production and consumption of food has a massive environmental and social impact,” he says. Raised in…

It’s a chilly winter’s day in the Scottish village of St. Boswells, but inside The Mainstreet Trading Company (mainstreetbooks.co.uk), all is merry and bright. Visitors who have come to browse the more than 7,000 titles filling the shelves are greeted with four trees festooned with shoppable ornaments and the savory aroma of mince pies that wafts from the café. “Each year, our baker, Sue, tries to beat her record for pies made,” says Bill de la Hey, who, along with wife Rosamund, owns the store. “She’s up to 1,017.” The couple moved from London in 2003 to raise their children in the countryside. “I first wanted to open a children’s book store,” says Rosamund, the former children’s marketing director at Bloomsbury Publishing, who helped launch the Harry Potter series. “But…

COME FOR THE… Cozy Cabins and Winter Fun In late November, sisters and co-owners Lisa Karvellas and Stephanie Baynton transform their 500-acre Cedar Lakes property—which began life as a church camp in 1929—into a cold-weather wonderland open for individual bookings. “There’s really only one word for it: magic,” says Lisa of the experience. Groups of two to 10 can while away a long weekend in one of 36 freestanding cabins and cottages as they enjoy cooking classes, mixology lessons, cross-stitch sessions, game nights, and plenty of outdoor activities. STAY FOR THE… Baked French Toast with Candied Bacon Ordered à la carte in the wood-beamed dining pavilion, breakfast at Cedar Lakes is a decadent affair. Those with a sweet tooth should try the bread pudding-inspired riff on French toast, which is…

The Decorating Begins: Right after Thanksgiving, during that first week of December Best Santa Sighting: The weekend after Thanksgiving is huge in Idyllwild. Santa’s there, and all the town lights up. Go-To Holiday Scent: My friend [event planner] Annie Campbell turned me on to the Ralph Lauren Holiday Candle ($60; ralphlauren.com). It’s the saddest thing to put away at the end of the season. Movies on Repeat: We love watching the old Miracle on 34th Street—and we all cry! We also watch a lot of Home Alone and Little Women (1994 edition). Music on Repeat: From December 1st onward, it’s The Nutcracker Suite. Eggnog or Mulled Wine: Mulled wine—and hot cocoa for the kids Snow Day Standby: Art Department is the perfect place to go when you’re getting stir crazy—you…

The Decorating Begins: When the Halloween decorations come down! Tree Tradition: Almost every room in our house gets a tree, each with its own unique theme, including a “Maine” tree trimmed entirely with decorations made by local Maine and New England artists. Santa Sighting: During Christmas Prelude (November 30–December 10; christmasprelude.com) in nearby Kennebunkport, when Santa arrives into port on his lobster boat with Mrs. Claus and his lobster friends Go- to Holiday Candle: The colorful hand-dipped taper candles by Danica Design, which I get at the Copper Candle in Kennebunkport Toy Emporium: The Beach Funatic (beachfunatic.com) on Short Sands Beach in York smells like salty air and is right next to the saltwater taffy store, The Goldenrod (thegoldenrod.com). Movie on Repeat: Home Alone. All of them! Music on Repeat: We…

Perfectly Imperfect PAGE 8 Christmas cards; dogwood-hill.com. In With the Old PAGE 29 Cocktail napkins: Medium Rare Finds, mediumrarefinds.etsy.com; What the Kat Dragged In, whatthekatdraggedin.etsy.com; Dalby Lane Vintage, dalbylanevintage.etsy.com; Main Street Trading Company, mainsttradingcompany.etsy.com; Two Swans Swimming, twoswansswimming.etsy.com; Vintage Tampa, vintagetampa.etsy.com. PAGE 30 Glassware: Retro Solstice, retrosolstice.com; Cooke’s Books & Goods, cookesbooksandgoods.etsy.com; Strutco, strutco.etsy.com; Shop Penn Vintage, shoppennvintage.etsy.com; Dalby Lane Vintage, dalbylanevintage.etsy.com; Lady May Uncommon Goods, ladymayuncommongoods.etsy.com. PAGE 31 “Winslow Plaid” wallpaper; thibautdesign.com. Champagne buckets: Batterby House, batterbyhousehudson.com; Plum Vintage Barware, @the_plumvintagebarware; The Holly House Co., thehollyhouseco.etsy.com; Contessa’s Collection, contessascollection.com; Trendquility, trendquility.etsy.com; The Antique Yard, theantiqueyardllc.etsy.com; Heritage 1956, heritage1956.etsy.com. Cocktail books: Grandma Georgies House, grandmageorgieshouse.etsy.com. PAGE 32 Records: Analog Urge Records, analogurgerecords.etsy.com; Thirsty Owl Vintage, thirstyowlvintage.com; The Merchant of Mayberry, merchantofmayberry.etsy.com. Apron: Lily Dog Antiques; lilydogantiques.etsy.com. PAGE 33 Tom & Jerry punch bowls: Vintage At the Shore, vintageattheshore.etsy.com; Domenick’s Antiques, domenicksantiques.etsy.com; Red’s…