Indholdsfortegnelse for October 2018 i Victoria

Mary Jo Putney is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author who has written over sixty novels and novellas. A ten-time finalist for the Romance Writers of America (RWA) RITA Award, she has won the honor twice and is on the RWA Honor Roll for best-selling authors. In 2013, she was awarded the RWA Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award. Though most of her books have been historical romances, she has also published contemporary romances, historical fantasy, and young adult paranormal historical fiction. She lives in Maryland with her kin, both two- and four-footed. Website: maryjoputney.com  | Facebook: facebook.com/MaryJoPutneyAuthorBlog: wordwenches.typepad.com/word_wenches…

“AN OWNER MAY HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR DECADES TO PRODUCE A CHAMPION, AND THEY WANT THAT MEMORIALIZED.” —Julie Wear Julie Wear remembers well the graceful curves and contours of every horse she has had the pleasure to paint. The slope of the withers, the flawless conformation, the heart-melting brown eyes—they are all part of the detailed evaluation she makes before putting pencil to paper for the initial sketch that eventually will become a masterpiece of equine art. As a child growing up in Indiana, Julie was either drawing horses or pretending to be one. Four-legged friends romped across every scrap of paper she could get her little hands on. She was, she readily admits, “horse crazy.” And while many young girls identify with that label, few could equal her natural…

Whether in town for one day or several, a stop by Concord’s Colonial Inn is in order. The original structure was built more than three hundred years ago, and one of the buildings was used as an arms storehouse during the Revolutionary War. Thoreau stayed here from 1835 to 1837 while attending Harvard, and now with fifty-six rooms, modern-day travelers can stay here, too. Open to the public, visitors can make reservations for Sunday brunch or afternoon tea (only on weekends), and dining options are available throughout the week for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.…

Take a closer look at some of our favorite October features: Classic Inspirations Discover literary Concord with a foray into the fascinating lives and histories of Louisa May Alcott, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry David Thoreau. An Insider’s Guide Designer Kathryn Greeley, author of The Collected Tabletop: Inspirations for Creative Entertaining, shares her secrets for successful hospitality in an exclusive feature. A Lovely Excursion With award-winning cuisine, history-steeped inns, and one-of-a-kind shops, serene Middleburg, Virginia, is a haven of enchantment and relaxation. Timeless Treasures Renowned equestrian painter Julie Wear has, in truth, many talents, among them sculpting and creating beautiful designs that translate into tableware. Visit our website to read this issue’s online stories and to find more of the content you love.…

SEE MORE ON THE WEB at victoriamag.com…

“TIME UNFOLDS BEAUTY, WONDER, AND MYSTERY TO REVEAL THE AUSPICIOUS TAPESTRY OF LIFE.” —A. D. Posey…

On a west-facing, wooded slope in Waynesville, North Carolina, a pair of towering oaks guides visitors to the home of interior decorator and author Kathryn Greeley. Neatly manicured boxwood hedges, espaliered fruit trees, topiaries, and rose bushes give a formal look to the front lawn, while stone walkways meandering the back gardens invite relaxation among deep perennial borders brimming with late-blooming dahlias, a bounty of hydrangeas, and many other old-fashioned flowers. At the heart of this verdant oasis is Chestnut Cottage, an abode worthy of its idyllic setting. Kathryn discovered the property while single, and it was love at first sight. “The little cottage seemed to have a soul; I felt it as soon as I crossed the threshold,” she says. “I instantly had a vision of a pretty English…

Although it is best to leave the restoration of valuable pieces to professionals, here are some tips for keeping a collection in prime condition. → Pewter does not tarnish like silver, but it acquires a patina that can range from muted silver to charcoal gray. Many pieces merely need wiping down with a sponge dipped in warm, soapy water. Then rinse, and dry with a soft cloth. → Be sure to clean any sediment after use to avoid pitting. → Darkened pieces may be brightened with an all-purpose metal polish. → Some collectors prefer the deeper patina that comes with age. In this case, periodic dusting is all that is required.…

A HARVEST OF FLAVORS Honey-Balsamic Roasted Duck Makes 8 to 10 servings 1 (6-pound) whole duck 2 teaspoons kosher salt 1 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 onion, quartered 4 cloves garlic, peeled and halved ½ cup balsamic vinegar 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice ¼ cup honey Duck-Fat Roasted Vegetables (recipe follows) 1. Preheat oven to 350°. 2. Remove giblets from duck. Pat dry with paper towels. 3. Using a sharp knife, score duck breast in a diamond pattern, careful to cut only the skin without reaching the meat. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place duck, breast-side up, on the rack of a large roasting pan. Insert onion and garlic into duck cavity; tie legs with butcher’s twine. 4. Roast duck for 1 hour. Remove from oven, turn duck over, and…

ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE Pages 2, 7, and 97: To learn more about Valerie Greeley, visit her website, valeriegreeley.com, and her shop at etsy.com/uk/shop/acornmoon. WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE Pages 13–14: Rebecca McClanahan, a poet, essayist, and memoirist, is the author of ten books. To sample more of Rebecca’s work, visit her website, rebeccamcclanahanwriter.com. IN THE MANNER OF DUTCH MASTERS Pages 15–16: Arte Italica: Vintage Pewter Medium 2-arm Candleholder, $180, Vintage Small Pitcher, $157, Vintage Pewter Large Pitcher, $630; 888-336-4535, arteitalica.com. French Louis XIV armchair, call for availability; from Maison de France Antiques, 205-699-6330. At Home Furnishings: Oushak yastik rug, $165, Antique Rug Pillow, $80; from At Home Furnishings, 205-879-3510, athome-furnishings.com. Pages 17–18: Vietri: Melagrana Blu Soup Tureen, $185; 919-245-4180, vietri.com. Herend: Salad plate in Chinese Bouquet Blue, $100, Tea Cup in Chinese Bouquet Blue, $100, Tea…

I have loved Victoria magazine from the first issue. Many years ago (1991, to be exact), while considering names for our expected child, I wanted to include the name Victoria, after the magazine. When she was born, we decided on the name Ashley Victoria Christine, a name as beautiful as she is. Thank you for the beautiful articles. I always look forward to reading Victoria from cover to cover. JAN ROBINSON St. Stephen, Canada Victoria magazine holds a very special place in my heart. The first issue I ever bought was the Valentine issue of 1991, mere months before marrying my college sweetheart. The white lacy cake featured in the issue was the inspiration for our wedding cake, which turned out beautifully. I still keep my first copy of the…

Finding a good mate has never been easy! While the modern view is that marriage should first be about love, historically it was very much about family, because family meant security. Competition in the Regency high society for a suitable marriage was fierce. Wealthy men and heiresses were the big prizes, and to have a chance at such a good marriage, one needed access to eligible candidates. In Britain during the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries, that meant visiting London during the season—the social whirl that coincided with parliamentary sessions. The most exclusive balls and musicales and other events took place in the great aristocratic mansions, so gaining access was the first step. This is where family could come into play. Your family might not be quite top-drawer, but perhaps…

“TODAY, IN OCTOBER SUN, IT’S ALL GOLD—SKY AND TREE AND WATER.” —Eudora Welty…

Thankfully, Tom and I have strong backs. It seems like every morning this month I have been picking up twigs that squirrels have chewed off the oak trees in their race against time. As fast as the acorns tumbled to the ground with the twigs, the woodland creatures would stash the nuts away for winter. In the distance, I would often see Tom bent over, a pail in one hand, pulling the dark broadleaf weed that has invaded our lawns with abandon. Another job done before the snow flies. Besides digging carrots and gathering a few cherry tomatoes that miraculously crept into the tall grasses for cover—all optimistic preludes to winter—our outdoor days have become numbered. “ The sky was a strong indigo blue that day, the air dry, the…