Indholdsfortegnelse for October 2015 i Victoria

“For pottage and puddings and custards and pies, Our pumpkins and parsnips are common supplies, We have pumpkins at morning and pumpkins at noon, If it were not for pumpkins we should be undoon.” —PILGRIM VERSE, CIRCA 1633 It is commonly known among my family and friends that I have a particular fondness for pumpkins. I think they are one of the ideal fruits—the shape, the color, the versatility—perfect. They make wonderful accents for the home during their short period of availability; a pie prepared from this gourd can be the centerpiece—with a turkey, of course—at Thanksgiving; and what else can be carved and lit by a candle at Halloween? I have among my collection of cross-stitch sampler patterns a design with vivid orange pumpkins and the poem above. I…

“ In the entire circle of the year there are no days so delightful as those of a fine October … .” —Alexander Smith “There is a harmony in autumn and a luster in its sky … ” —Percy Bysshe Shelley Few events are awaited with as much anticipation as the annual debut of pumpkins at local markets and country farm stands. Their early-October appearance is almost always accompanied by the first crisp mornings of the season—a reassuring reminder that the heat of summer will soon give way to cooler, more comfortable temperatures. With hundreds of varieties available, from giant ‘Howden’ to petite ‘Baby Bear’, these gourds make colorful additions to both indoor and outdoor arrangements. Stacked on the porch amid pots of chrysanthemums, nestled among leaves on a three-tiered…

The screened door opens with a faint creak as guests step into the welcoming environs of Camp Wool, a haven of crafting supplies and antiques set in historic downtown Kennebunk, Maine. Restored to its original 1840s appearance, the former mercantile boasts post-and-beam architecture, hardwood ceilings, and vintage general-store fixtures. Shelves laden with a rare selection of notions, along with yards of hand-dyed fibers, beckon patrons to explore decorative arts long popular in the Northeast, such as rug hooking, braiding, counted cross-stitch, appliqué, needle felting, and punch-needle embroidery. Proprietress LeAnn Hodgson discovered her passion for rug hooking decades ago in a Minnesota quilt shop, where a cupboard full of yarn drew her eye to a placard announcing an upcoming class. The avid needleworker, who had learned to crochet at age 5…

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Alluring hand-painted metal trays, urns, and baskets cast a spell of history and romance. Painted with great skill and typically featuring floral or Asian motifs, these prized collectibles are both decorative and functional. Toleware refers to objects, dating from 1600–1900, made of tinned metal lacquered and adorned with a design. John Hanbury, who began his metalware business in the Welsh town of Pontypool in the 1600s, is credited with inventing the method of japanning. This process is used to alleviate rust on metal by coating the painted surface with a mixture of asphalt and shellac resembling the glossy lacquer finish on Japanese trays. Distinguished by lacy, openwork rims, Pontypool trays continue to be some of the most sought-after tole pieces. The French developed their own interpretations that boast brightly colored…

In quaint Canterbury, New Hampshire, morning dawns crisp and cool over Canterbury Shaker Village, illuminating stately wooden structures tucked among organic gardens, glistening millponds, and orchards laden with fruit. Sunlight is a gift in this agrarian oasis—a natural resource to be utilized reverently. From tours and demonstrations to seasonal classes and festivals, visitors can make the most of golden hours passed in these historic environs. Followers of Mother Ann Lee, founder of the religious group formally known as the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, launched a settlement in the rural area in 1792. Abiding by the principles of offering “hands to work and hearts to God,” the utopian community grew to three hundred people who lodged, worshipped, and labored in more than one hundred buildings spread across…

Strolling through the autumn woods near her Asheville home is more than a form of exercise for Amber Mahler, the metal artist behind North Carolina–based Mani Designs. With each rustling step, she discovers the artistic potential in spent seedpods or crooked twigs. The scavenger hunt continues in her own garden, where blueberry bushes mingle with snap-pea, grape, and miniature-kiwi vines, and succulent sedum plants form a carpet of foliage and flowers—all provender for her art. “The true beauty of casting from nature is that the texture is already inherently present in each plant specimen,” says Amber. “My role is to put it in its best light and make it wearable.” In her skilled hands, Lilliputian buds and tiny branches become goldvermeil or silver necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings, and stickpins. Her…

GLORIOUS GRAPES Begins on page 29 Wine-Brined Chicken with Roasted Grapes and Shallots p.30 Makes 4 servings 1 (450-ml) bottle white wine 3 cups water ¼ cup plus 1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided1 lemon, halved and juiced, juice and peelsreserved2 bay leaves 2 tablespoons black peppercorns 8 sprigs rosemary, divided4 skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs 1 teaspoon ground black pepper 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided4 tablespoons butter 6 cloves garlic 4 shallots, quartered1 bulb fennel, chopped1 bunch green grapes, divided into 4 bunches1 small bunch red grapes, divided into 4 bunches 1. In a stockpot, combine wine, water, ¼ cup salt, lemon halves and juice, bay leaves, peppercorns, and 4 sprigs rosemary. Bring mixture to a boil over high heat; reduce heat to simmer, and cook until salt is dissolved. Remove…

Twelve years ago, I walked by a garage sale and was inexplicably drawn to a large block of ceramic clay selling for $2. Ceramics has never interested me (I had no desire to be a potter), and as I trudged home with the 5-pound bag in tow, I wasn’t sure why I had bought it except that it seemed like a lot of clay for the money. Yet, the minute I dug my fingers into the soft, cool material, I felt my hands rejoice—as if they had been longing for their entire life to be mixed up with the stuff. There is something mysterious about the way one’s hands fill with desire to do something creative and then, just as suddenly, lose the impetus, as though they have a mind…

“The leaves fall, the wind blows, and the farm country slowly changes from the summer cottons into its winter wools” —HENRY BESTON…

Artist Jim Denevan is well known for his ephemeral sand drawings, etched across the beaches of his native California. But fifteen years ago, that creative spirit took a different turn when he founded Outstanding in the Field (OITF)—an enterprise that brings together chefs and farmers in brilliant collaborations all across the country. The same attention to detail that makes Jim’s artwork so remarkable is a common thread at each highly anticipated event. The entrepreneur’s connections to food run deep. He is a former chef who ran a successful restaurant for twelve years, and his older brother is an organic farmer. “I started OITF to bring recognition to farmers and chefs—anyone who helps put food on the table,” Jim says. At the time, the popularity of celebrity chefs was on the…

Amid ruffled leaves and curling tendrils, flowers blossom in glossy profusion on Beverly Ruff ’s stunning barbotineware collection. Enchanted with its lifelike shapes and hues, the antiques dealer began acquiring the exquisite porcelain for clients a decade ago when she opened her eponymous shop in Birmingham, Alabama. Through the years, the pieces she could not part with became her personal heirlooms. Barbotine, a French variation of majolica, has been produced around the world for ages. In practiced hands, pure white kaolin clay is thinned with water and worked until malleable. Centuries ago, the mixture was piped onto the surfaces of vessels to add simple decorative details. But beginning in the 1800s, models of fruit, flora, and animals were cast in elaborate moulds. The resulting adornments were then colored and affixed…

Scattering leaves of amber, russet, and gold across rich fields of bluegrass, autumn unfurls its majesty over the scenic byways of Central Kentucky. Like a blazing welcome mat, this most colorful of seasons ushers in a vibrant mix of travelers—scholars of early-American culture, outdoor enthusiasts, and renowned figures in Thoroughbred racing—to the Gratz Park Inn. The establishment, set within the heart of downtown Lexington, provides a distinctive taste of local character. Greeting these esteemed patrons are Certified Southern Ambassadors, hospitality professionals who have been schooled about the hotel’s past, along with neighborhood folklore about the brick Colonial that was constructed in 1916 as a doctors’ pavilion. “Our staff members have unique stories to tell,” says General Manager Zedtta Wellman, adding that this personal connection gives guests a more complete understanding…

COVER Copper tumbler, call for pricing; from Bromberg’s, 205-871-3276. Antique brown-and-white transferware, call for availability; from Mulberry Heights Antiques, 205-870-1300. ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE Page 2 : To view and purchase Laura Hooper’s calligraphy, visit lhcalligraphy.com, or contact her at hello@lhcalligraphy.com. WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE Pages 11–12 : For more information about author and teacher Phyllis Theroux, visit her website, nightwriters.com. FLASHES OF COPPER Page 13 : Bison Bookbinding Pine Cones Note Book, $15, and Handsome Sketch Book in Orange, $22; 360-734-0481, bisonbookbinding.com. Crane & Co. Hand Engraved Ginkgo Leaf Note, $29 for 15, and Copper Scallop Frame Correspondence Card, $19 for 10; 800-268-2281, crane.com. Paddywax Bergamot and Mahogany Copper Metallic Candle, $29, and Bergamot and Mahogany 3-wick Metallic Candle, $37; 866-723-3992, paddywax.com. Make & Stow Medium Keepsake Box in Caraway, $94; makeandstow.com. Page 14 :…

The telltale light is the first hint of autumn’s imminent approach. Suddenly, during the day, it sparkles before bursting into flames, then is followed by embers at dusk. If I had no calendar—even if no one reminded me of dates, commitments, and appointments—when the air finally cleared, I would sense fall’s arrival. Meanwhile, the climate sends other signals of the seasonal change. Some messages are subtle, like dawn’s heavy dew settling on the garden. But gradually, those cues become unmistakable calls to action. The chill arrives earlier every evening until, if I put my nose to the air in October, there’s a slight hint of wood smoke somewhere in the neighborhood. I walk more briskly; I add layers; I look more and more like a sheep. That’s how I know…