Indholdsfortegnelse for September 2021 i Southern Lady

Getting a handwritten card or note in the mail has always made my day, especially in this age of email and texting. I used to love getting letters from my grandmothers, usually jotted down in pencil with recounts of farm life, and I would open and read them over and over. I still have some and cherish the memories they bring. While few of us have time to pen a long missive these days, there’s an easy alternative: postcards. I became fascinated with these beauties as a child, and I enjoy sending them as much as receiving them. On page 99, we share the tradition of collecting vintage postcards. What intrigue there is in reading messages from the past and imagining long-ago lives and loves! Whether you pick up a…

In less than a year, specialty plant boutique Bluem has become a fixture of downtown Rome, Georgia. Perhaps it’s the abundance of potted greenery, decorative vessels, and bottled botanicals that enchant patrons upon entering the beautifully restored circa-1930s storefront. Maybe it’s the friendly face of founder Carol Rutledge, a native daughter whose ties to the close-knit city run deep—much like the 1987 blue Toyota Land Cruiser often parked outside. “That truck is a big deal in this town. Friends called it Old Blue or Blue, and it’s a name that just stuck through the years,” says Carol, who delivers plants with the widely recognized vehicle her husband, Ralph, drove until his death in 2016. “When he would drive that truck, people would throw up a hand. If they saw Blue,…

“THE MIND SHOULD BE ALLOWED SOME RELAXATION, THAT IT MAY RETURN TO ITS WORK ALL THE BETTER FOR THE REST.”—SENECA…

A TOUCH OF HEART Southern women are known for their determination and grit, especially when following their dreams. Few things make us happier than sharing the stories of ladies around the South who have done just that. As the September issue came together, this inspiring theme became clear—it is filled with proof that pursuing your passion can lead to a uniquely beautiful life. Tour a very special New Orleans garden that landscape designer Kim Alvarez has nurtured for two decades, page 55. On page 13, Carol Rutledge shares the poignant tale of carrying on her late husband’s legacy through a thriving new botanical shop in north Georgia. Alyson Terrel, page 17, left a corporate job to land at the helm of her parents’ Tennessee apple orchard. And on page 19,…

Tawny blossoms contrast with the verdant branches that adorn Herend’s Livia Rust salad plate, which offers versatility without sacrificing grandeur. To play up the lavish tone that befits autumn’s arrival, pair the plate with its matching teacup and saucer. An embroidered linen in creamy yellow hues echoes the tablescape’s floral motif, furthered by the dinner plate’s subtle lacy border. Emphasize each pattern’s gold rim with gilded flatware and a gleaming napkin ring to tie together the scheme. A miniature arrangement of orange roses and chartreuse hydrangeas imparts a final flourish.…

EASYGOING AMBIENCE Take a hiatus from everyday ado for a much-deserved date night at home. Fluffed with creature comforts like downy blankets and oversize cushions, a banquette encourages cozying up for a flavorful repast and scintillating chitchat. China sporting dainty flora and fruit inspires the overall palette, accented by purple-rimmed service plates, amethyst water goblets, delicate blue place mats, and a bowlful of ripe pomegranates. An ecru damask linen creates a soft backdrop for the tabletop’s saturated color show, which culminates with a robust mix of peonies and ranunculus at center stage. Rich red and aubergine florals pop against feathery pink and cream blooms, while branches of greenery top off the splashy arrangement. Two-tone flatware and mercury glass votives glimmer in the day’s waning light, casting a subtle glow that’s…

Bacon-Cheddar Angel Biscuits MAKES ABOUT 14 ⅓ cup warm water (105° to 110°)2 teaspoons active dry yeast2½ cups all-purpose flour3 tablespoons sugar1 teaspoon baking powder1 teaspoon kosher salt½ cup all-vegetable shortening1 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese, divided¾ cup cooked crumbled bacon, divided⅓ cup whole buttermilk2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives1 large egg, beaten 1. In a small bowl, combine ⅓ cup warm water and yeast. Let stand until mixture is bubbly, about 5 minutes. 2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Using two forks or a pastry blender, cut in shortening until mixture is crumbly. Stir in ¾ cup cheese, ½ cup bacon, buttermilk, yeast mixture, and chives until a shaggy dough forms. 3. Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface, and knead until…

Having come to the U.S. at age 13 with a bare-bones English vocabulary, Marcela Carmichael is no stranger to the combined power of grit and sheer faith. She drew on both as the buzz around her husband’s raw, unfiltered honey spread from local shops to national retailers, and she found herself at the helm of the bustling operation. “I don’t have a background in business whatsoever,” says Marcela, a registered nurse who has called Louisiana home since leaving Brazil in 2000. Her spouse, Nathan, needed help managing the booming venture he had jump-started with $500 from his family and aspirations of selling his pure hive-to-bottle product to retail giants. “Right from the beginning, Nathan’s vision was very big,” Marcela explains. “The first thing he said was, ‘I want to do…

FLORIFEROUS SERENADE Come September, sweltering days marked by lively color slowly surrender to fall’s beautiful touch, and a time of sweet reprieve accompanies a refreshing air and a dazzling backdrop. In the wake of this welcome clime, while away an afternoon with a cherished companion at an alfresco table for two that borrows from the transitional showcase unfurling all around. A flowing tablecloth bearing amber blooms conjures scenes of golden brown to come, while pink and coral accents impart traces of warmth with a toned-down tint. A mix of organic wares suits the mood, from rustic elements such as woven chargers and wooden embellishments to softer, sophisticated inclusions like retro tulip glasses, napkins in a classic floral pattern, and dashes of vintage gold. Pottery featuring hand-painted designs bridges the two…

TRANSITIONAL ALLURE When taking time to savor the present, no place fosters congeniality quite like a well-appointed veranda. Bridge the gap between late summer and early fall by blending accents in sunny yellow, lively green, and sky blue with notes of crimson and orange. Jolts of color enliven earthenware embellished with a whimsical motif: a single exotic bird poised amid budding beauties. A linen depicting lush, meandering vines celebrates the final days of verdure, enhanced by radiant emerald glassware. Tucked into vintage brass vases along the table’s center, a trio of flower arrangements joins candlesticks bearing a similar mellow patina. Yarrow, alstroemeria, craspedia, mums, cosmos, and waxflowers bob cheerfully alongside variegated foliage. Glossy leaves plucked from the surrounding garden double as place cards for guests who will gladly tarry the…

COVER Styling by Sidney Bragiel. Photography by Stephanie Welbourne Steele. ENTERTAINING TOUCHES: HINTS OF SCENT Page 23: Grissini Breadsticks; Italian Food Online Store. PRETTY THINGS: RELAX & REJUVENATE Pages 25–26: Antique altar stick, Florentine chest, and large hanging relic; Maison de France. Antique cane-back chair and prayer rug; Tricia’s Treasures. MIX & MATCH: AIR OF GRACE Pages 35–36: Livia Rust salad plate and teacup and saucer; Herend. Mikasa Antique Lace dinner plate, Waterford Alana white wine glass, and Hampton Silversmith Versailles goldplate 5-piece place setting; Replacements, Ltd. Bodrum Picot napkin in willow/white and Laurel Leaf Gold napkin ring; Bodrum Linens. Page 37: Livia Rust salad plate; Herend. Sage Flatware 5-piece place setting and Woven Swirl Palm place mat in natural and sage; The Avenue. Bria dinner plate; Blue Pheasant. Caroline…