Innehållsförteckning för July - August 2009 från Victoria

Throughout the cold, gray days of winter, I secretly dream of walking on the beach, the sand warm beneath my feet and shorebirds wheeling overhead. I am sustained by envisioning the summer to come. And when July arrives, I can be found relaxing with friends at one of my favorite ocean-side rental cottages. A typical day at the beach begins when I pack a bag with sunscreen, an old blanket, and a couple of books, then grab an umbrella and a small cooler filled with bottled water before heading to the shore. For this summer’s jaunt, I’m taking a few copies of my recently published book, Honey, It’s All in the Shoes. I think my friends will enjoy reading the essays I’ve put together that detail how past events have…

It wasn’t until after we purchased our summer cottage on Martha’s Vineyard that we realized we could see the Fourth of July fireworks from an upstairs window. Although the display was visible only above a line of trees, we thought it was amazing— especially because it was an unexpected gift. So, rather than head to the harbor in Edgartown, we stayed home, made popcorn, and carried it upstairs to our splendid little vantage point in a guest bedroom. The grown-ups sat on the beds while the children bunched together merrily by the windowsill, clapping their hands and rejoicing after every thunderous boom and blaze of lights. The Vineyard originally was settled by the Wampanoag Indians, who called the island Noe-pe, which means “amid the waters.” Located 7 miles off the…

TO LEARN HOW TO PRESERVE FRESH PEACHES, VISIT VICTORIAMAG.COM. Peach cobbler, second only to apple pie, is among the most classic of American desserts. With a pillowy, biscuitlike crust, the best cobbler is simply prepared, allowing the full flavor of the fruit to shine. Similarly, preserves— the perfect way to enjoy the ephemeral fruit for weeks after harvest—need little more than sugar and a hint of vanilla to fully accentuate the taste of the peaches. An ideal match for sweet and savory applications alike, this salad makes a wonderful addition to a seasonal meal. White peaches, which tend to be more floral and even sweeter than yellow varieties, offer a lovely counterpoint to salty prosciutto. Basil and crisp corn echo the fruit’s flowery, honeyed notes.…

Her love of retail was born when Sara Garza was a little girl visiting her grandfather’s country store. “It’s always been in my blood to establish myself somewhere,” she says. In the ten years since Sara opened Sheppard Street Antiques, she has filled it with pieces reminiscent of her past and reflective of her affection for gardening and all things fresh, botanical, and beautiful. The store’s home is in Carytown, a six-block area of Richmond that is timeless and creative. With changing scenery and bustling restaurants, boutiques, and coffee shops, friends and neighbors stroll, shop, and stop in to visit their favorite haunts. There’s always something “new” to discover at Sheppard Street Antiques to captivate and inspire. As customers enter, they are greeted with the tantalizing aromas of freshly brewed…

“If you love what you do, success will follow, and you will never feel as if you are working. Don’t put a dream on the back burner. It just might stay there forever.” —LESLIE LINSLEY Like Queen Victoria more than a century ago, Leslie Linsley discovered a pure adoration for the ornate craftsmanship of decoupage. She was intrigued from the moment her mother introduced her to the process as a young girl, when Leslie’s grandfather, an architect, designed small boxes and gave them to his daughter and granddaughter to work their decorating magic. A family business was born, selling the lovely, quaint boxes to high-end stores, such as Tiffany & Co., Bergdorf Goodman, and Henri Bendel. “Cartier used my jewelry boxes in their display windows,” Leslie recalls. “My grandfather left…

Inspired by a sincere love for cooking and gardening, Sheryl Lozier and her husband, Marshall, refurbished their family property with greenhouses and a flourishing herb garden. “Opening the farm was our opportunity to create something on the land we love and to connect with the community,” explains Sheryl, whose favorite part of the day is walking in the garden. Located in Flinn Springs, California, just thirty minutes from San Diego, Summers Past Farms specializes in fresh herbal soaps and other bath products. Since her childhood, Judy Stanley has had a passion for herbs. In 2002, that adoration resulted in a partnership with beekeeper Greg Kiefer that is now known as Hay Hollow Farm & Nursery in Folsom, Louisiana. On 10 acres, the duo grows culinary herbs and perennials and tends…

Canadian Open Sand Sculpting Competition Parksville, British Columbia, Canada | August 7–30 Visitors arrive from all over the world to marvel at the unbelievable feats of artistry and engineering produced at the Canadian Open Sand Sculpting Competition in Parksville, British Columbia. The building of the sand creations takes place throughout a three-day period, at the end of which prizes ranging from $300 to $7,300 are awarded to the winning teams and individuals. The masterpieces are on display for an additional three weeks. The celebration also features a variety of other family-friendly activities, including beach volleyball and croquet tournaments; Kidfest, with entertainment and a children’s sand castle event; and an exciting fireworks display. For more information, visit parksvillebeachfest.ca. Admirers of Jane Austen and her literature will want to mark their calendars…

A Passion for Sea Glass, by C.S. Lambert with photographs by Amy A. Wilton (Down East). There’s something about the weathered beauty of sea glass that captures the imagination of anyone who loves the romance and mystery of the ocean. In this book illustrated with gorgeous images, Lambert introduces readers to a variety of collectors and artists who transform these shoreline finds into amazingly intricate mosaics, jewelry, wind chimes, stained glass, and more. Seashells, by Sandy Carlson with photographs by Josie Iselin (Harry N. Abrams, Inc.). Whether glistening at the water’s edge or hidden beneath the sand, seashells compel beachcombers the world over to hunt doggedly for the most exquisite specimens. With fascinatingly detailed photos, this book presents hundreds of seashells with myriad surface patterns, colors, and forms. Combining aesthetics…

Imagine slipping into the ultimate state of relaxation, enveloped in a satiny lush fabric embellished with soothing patterns and stunning detail. Influenced by her grandmother’s paintings and her mother’s teachings, Maura Fickett found creativity and natural talent deeply embedded within her. She captures the art of design and the intimate experience of repose in her intricate prints that adorn soft pajamas and novelties that are sure to enrich the spirit. After spending twenty-five years engaging in various endeavors, Maura and her husband, Dan, decided to combine their skills and “establish a company that satisfied both our souls,” she remarks. On 12 secluded acres in the beautiful Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts, Maura designs each unique pattern with grace, while Dan assumes the business and sales responsibilities for their successful venture.…

MAGNOLIA HOUSE Grayton Beach, Florida There is nothing more soothing than the delicate sound of piano keys engaged in an enchanting, uninterrupted melody. Enter Magnolia House, situated in the quaint historical fishing village of Grayton Beach, Florida, and you’re sure to be lulled into blissful serenity by the entrancing sounds of the sea and the mesmerizing notes from the baby grand piano being played by Nancy Veldman, the shop’s owner. Beyond a gracious porch, guests are welcomed by her tranquil music and surrounded by delightful wares. Named after the street where the store is located, Magnolia House has become a place where people “can enjoy themselves and find things that fit their lifestyles and make their homes interesting,” says Nancy. “I enjoy pulling wonderful pieces from all over the world…

FOR MORE SUMMERWORTHY COLD SOUP RECIPES, VISIT VICTORIAMAG.COM.…

COVER Starfish dinner plate in white, style #IMA- 1100, $46; Shell salad plate in aqua, style #IMA-1101AQ, $44, vietri.com Vietri Shell centerpiece, $243, Match wine glasses, $53, available through Bromberg’s, 205-871-3276, brombergs.com Kim Seybert All Coral napkins #6198, $32 each, kimseybert.com MASTHEAD Pages 6 & 8: Lee Jofa “Belle Rive” in blue, style # 990125-5, $276/yard, available to the trade, 800-453-3563. FAVORITE THINGS Page 18: Couronne Co. 8.5-ounce spice jar, $5; 8.5-ounce rectangular glass bottle, $5; 800-573-4367, couronneco.com Folk chemise, $245, 888-628-8361, matteohome.com for retail locations. Bertha linen dress, $195, available at Suite Dreams, 205-414-1922. Page 19: Painting by Itsuko McKinney, for similar works, 205-915-9475. Outdora bakers– style willow picnic basket, $85, 888-688-3672, outdora.com Mothology blue milk glass plate, $21 (medium); Blue milk glass hurricane, $18 (small); mothology.com Carole Amper…

BEACHSIDE ENTERTAINING Learn how to create this beautiful tablescape, as well as other simple yet elegant ideas for hosting a perfect summer soiree. From sparkling tableware to fine linens and seaside-inspired accessories, we’ll show you how to make the most of your summer. DIY DECOUPAGE Inspired by the charming wares of a Nantucket artist, we’ll show you how to create your own decoupage piece. CANNING PEACHES The next-best thing to ripe peaches eaten at the height of summer is getting to sample the fruit in winter months. Learn how to preserve the delectable flavor of this ephemeral summer time fruit. ON THE WEB Look for this symbol throughout the magazine for more online information. OUR LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE MOUNT This fabled estate is a longtime favorite of the readers…

“There was just enough heat to enhance the value of the breeze, and just enough wind to keep the whole sea in motion, to make the waves come bounding to the shore, foaming and sparkling,as if wild with glee.” —Anne Brontë “As I gaze upon the sea! All the old romantic legends, all my dreams, come back to me.” —Henry Wadsworth Longfellow "Gather a shell…And listen at its lips: they sigh…The echo of the whole sea's speech." —Dante Gabriel Rossetti…

Legend and history mingle at The Greenbrier, West Virginia’s iconic resort tucked away in the Allegheny Mountains. Tales of the healing sulphur springs, originally used by the Shawnee Indians, enticed settlers to the remote area to “take the waters.” By the late 1830s, a resort community had formed there. Now a luxurious getaway whose former guests include twenty-six presidents, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Bing Crosby, and Bill Gates, The Greenbrier remains the ideal mountain escape. The surrounding 6,500 majestic acres have changed little throughout the decades, and the resort’s historian, Robert Conte, asserts, “If you hadn’t been to the property in 150 years and magically returned, it would still look very familiar.” Strolling around the grounds is like taking a journey through American history. From the 1835 Springhouse…

The stark palette of intense blue sky and fields of golden wheat as far as the eye can see inspires silence and contemplation—two pastimes known well to MaryJane Butters. Trained as a backcountry ranger, she spent eight years in the wilds of the West. Working alone in the woods left plenty of time for imagining. In 1986, MaryJane transformed those daydreams into the reality of a small farm in northwestern Idaho. A single mother with two young children, she had a strong desire to live off the land. This determination, coupled with an inherent cando entrepreneurial spirit, quickly led to the development of a modest farm-based business: an organic backpacking food line. The simplicity and goodness of the dried goods, as well as the sparkling spirit of the woman behind…

“IT IS OUR PHILOSOPHY THAT EVERYTHING WE SERVE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR COMES FROM THE GREATER PACIFIC NORTHWEST.” —RON ZIMMERMAN At The Herbfarm, a beautifully quaint restaurant in Woodinville, Washington, almost every ingredient that touches the plate is sourced locally, and much of what comprises the elaborate nine-course menu is grown in the kitchen gardens and on the nearby organic farm. The menu changes daily to reflect what is freshest, and it is sometimes finalized only hours before service to showcase the best of what is available. The homegrown theme at The Herbfarm is only fitting, given its beginnings. Some thirty-five years ago, Bill and Lola Zimmerman bought a farm in rural Fall City, Washington. When Lola had a few pots of chives that she didn’t have room for in her…

FRESH PEACHES FROM THE ORCHARD Begins on page 40 Peach Cobbler Makes 1 (9x9-inch) cobbler 6 large ripe peaches, peeled, pitted, and cut into thin wedges ½ cup firmly packed light brown sugar ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise and scraped, seeds reserved ¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, divided 2½ tablespoons sugar ½ teaspoon baking powder ¼teaspoon baking soda ¼teaspoon salt ⅓ cup buttermilk 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, 3 tablespoons melted and 3 tablespoons softened, divided ¼teaspoon vanilla extract 1. Preheat oven to 425?. Lightly spray a (9x9-inch) baking dish with nonstick cooking spray; set aside. 2. In a large bowl, combine the peaches, brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla bean seeds, and 2 tablespoons flour, and toss until evenly coated. 3. Pour the peach mixture into…