Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2016 i Country Living

My grandmother Zelma—known to our family as “Z”—was an avid gardener, and one of my earliest memories of her involves shelling peas, for hours, on the front porch. An unflappable spirit, Z was undoubtedly the most unshakable branch of the Hardage family tree—the sort of person who described even the most trying experiences as “the fullness of life.” Looking back I attribute this inner peace, in part, to the peas. This issue is not about shelling, specifically, but it is about the equally therapeutic art of porching. And let’s face it: The practice of plucking peas would not be as good for the soul if it took place indoors, on the sofa, while watching the Real Housewives of Anywhere. For the past few years, a front porch resurgence has been…

When your pup is one-ina-million, she deserves treats that are just as special as she is. Rachelle Blondel’s new book, DIY For Your Dog, offers 30 budget-friendly ideas and easy instructions for making everything from pet-friendly birthday cakes, dog bowls, and neckerchiefs to fetch toys and made-to-order beds like the one shown here. The assortment of simple crocheting, sewing, baking, and knitting tasks ensures that every lucky dog—and crafty owner— has her day!…

DESIGNER LARA FISHMAN “My childhood home was not complete until we had pops of turquoise velvet. It was a staple of my mother’s. I’ll never forget our dining room’s oyster linen drapes with turquoise velvet trim.” DESIGNER FRANCES MERRILL “My mom is really inspired by travel. One house she did when I was a kid had a lot of stuff from a trip to South America—Bolivian frazadas [wool blankets], a mirror from Peru, and so on. They finished another house after a trip through India, and she painted the living room a saffron yellow.” DESIGNER HOLLY MATHIS “My mom was doing gallery walls long before Pinterest. She mixed and matched good art with cutouts from the phone book displayed in garage sale frames. She is a true talent, and my…

No porch? No problem! Most of these ideas apply to patios, decks, and plain old backyards. HOW TO Decorate BRING ON THE BLUES In the Gullah culture of South Carolina, a watery-green shade of paint was said to keep evil spirits, known as haints, from invading the home. These days, “haint blue” ceilings can be found in and beyond the Lowcountry, but you can try your luck with a smaller dose of the shade. (Just don’t say we didn’t warn you.) GUSSY UP A SCREEN DOOR CL Crafts Director Charlyne Mattox tricked out a plain door three ways. EASIEST Charlyne glammed up this one using nothing but screws and corner brackets and headers (vintagewoodworks.com). No saw or drill needed! Cost: $135 EASY Using a hacksaw, she cut ¾-inch square dowels…

TOMATO-MANCHEGO TARTLETS MAKES 8 to 10 servings WORKING TIME 30 minutes TOTAL TIME 1 hour All-purpose flour, for work surface 2 sheets frozen puff pastry (from one 17.3-ounce package), thawed 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard 3 ounces Manchego cheese, grated (about ¾ cup) 4 small to medium tomatoes (about 1 pound), sliced into 24 slices 4 teaspoons olive oil Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper Chopped chives, for garnish 1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. 2. On a floured work surface, roll puff pastry into two 10-by-13-inch rectangles. Cut 24 rounds using a 3-inch cookie cutter. Prick rounds all over with a fork. Arrange on prepared baking sheets. Freeze 10 minutes. 3. Dab the center of each pastry with mustard and sprinkle with cheese, dividing evenly. Top with…

1. “Attending our town’s Memorial Day parade.” REGINA MANOLIS, POMPTON LAKES, NJ 2. “Packing up my beach bag for a day in the sun.” SHEILA KELLEY, SAVANNAH, GA 3. “Road tripping with my family.” GRACE JENNINGS, DUNMORE, PA 4. “Mint juleps and seersucker!” RACHEL NORMAN, WATERTOWN, MA 5. “Warm sunshine and spring breezes through open windows.” ANNE NAUSE, MONTICELLO, WI 6. “Green grass to mow.” MARLENE MINCEY, WARSAW, NY 7. “Homemade peach ice cream made from fruit purchased at the roadside stand.” TERRI MAHANAY, MCKINNEY, TX 8. “Bright sundresses.” ARLENE OLSON, CHARLOTTE, NC 9. “Unwinding at cookouts with friends.” SHELLY ANDREAS, GALENA, OH 10. “Delivering May Day baskets.” KAREN ROBISON, OREM, UT Editor’s Note: See page 16, Karen! 11. “Mother’s Day. Remembering my mom while celebrating with my daughter and her…

FAVORITE GETAWAY “The Glamis Sand Dunes in Southern California. At night we have campfires under the stars.” Marshmallow Forks, $16 for 8; target.com SPRING RITUAL “Making dinner with food from the garden.” Watering Can, $24; shop terrain.com RECENT DIY “A succulent wall garden for our back patio. I’m unreasonably proud of it.” Wall Planter Kit, $110; uncommon goods.com MEMORIAL DAY MUST-HAVE “Oversize swan floats!” 4.5-foot Pool Float, $70; bed bathandbeyond.com WEEKEND UNIFORM “I start from the ground up with Birkenstocks.” Sandals, $100; birkenstock usa.com KICK-BACK SOUND TRACK “My favorite jam is ‘Drunk On You’ by Luke Bryan.” Tailgates & Tanlines, $8; walmart.com DECORATING STAPLE “I’ve never met a throw pillow I didn’t like.” Pillow, $54; westelm.com LATEST ETSY BUY “This kid’s growth chart!” Growth Chart, $65; thrilled2design.etsy.com WOMAN’S BEST FRIEND…

“I found this child’s rocking chair on Craigslist. I think it could be a Stickley Arts & Crafts style piece, but I can’t find a maker’s stamp. What do you think?” —K.C., AINSWORTH, WI WHAT IT IS: CHILD’S ROCKER “Whether you call this chair Arts and Crafts, Mission, or Craftsman, it’s really cute,” says Heritage Auction’s Marsha Dixey. “However, I don’t believe Stickley made chairs with the type of design features—the cutouts, for instance—of your rocker, so I wouldn’t expect there to be a maker mark embossed in the wood.” The chair is in good condition though, and worth holding onto. WHAT IT’S WORTH: $200 “My aunt gave me her 1970s Pucci sunglasses. I know classic couture clothing is in demand. Is the same true for sunglasses?” —D.W., FRESNO, CA…

Q Our miniature donkey isn’t shedding her winter coat. Should I clip her fur, or do some breeds stay fuzzy year round? —S.B., CLYDE, NC A Healthy donkeys will shed their winter coats as the days become longer and the weather gets warmer, although a late start to spring could cause a delay. You might jump-start the process by using a shedding blade to gently work out the dry, longer coat. It’s better than clipping, which would leave her suddenly exposed to any lingering chilly weather. Take note that failing to shed her coat altogether could be a sign of illness. So if your mini is still hanging on to her winter coat now that the cool weather is long gone, you should give your veterinarian a call. HAVE A…

Ricotta & Strawberry Toast Top 1 slice multigrain bread with 3 Tbsp. ricotta, 1 Tbsp. orange marmalade, and ¼ cup diced strawberries. Makes: 1 serving Grilled Chicken-and-Strawberry Cobb Salad Whisk together ¼ cup olive oil, 2 tsp. lime zest, 3 Tbsp. lime juice, and 1 ½ tsp. honey. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Serve drizzled over 1 head torn romaine lettuce, 2 sliced grilled chicken breasts, 2 cups sliced strawberries, 4 oz. crumbled feta, 1 cup cooked peas, 1 sliced avocado, and ½ cup sliced red onion. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Makes: 4 servings Roasted Strawberry-Port Sauce Cook 1 lb. halved strawberries, ⅓ cup port wine, 3 Tbsp. sugar, and a pinch kosher salt in a lightly greased 9-by-13-inch baking dish in a…

SPINDLE BED Made of traditional pine, the Gwendoline is a timeless statement piece handmade by artisans in California. From $2,399 for twin; sweetelle.com/countryliving PINK BLOOMS Surprise Mom with a mix of garden roses this Mother’s Day. $75 for a dozen (free shipping); flowermuse.com/countryliving FLORAL ARTWORK Deann Hebert’s limitededition Sweet Tea has a special UV coating that makes it perfect for the walls of a covered porch. $95 for 10" by 10" (up to 36" by 36"); deanndesigns.com/countryliving Use code SWEET10 for a 10% discount. STONEWARE VASE Blooms get a boost, thanks to this simple and elegant Countryman vessel. $65 for 3.5" by 5"; www.farmhousepottery.com/collections/countryliving BUTTERFLY PRINTS Artist Mary Gregory celebrates butterflies with her Flights of Fancy set. $145 for three 10" by 8" prints in reclaimed wood frames or $54…

1. HANGING LAMP The weathered finish on this new fixture gives vintage versions a run for their money. $120; cgsparks.com 2. MIRROR Add a bit of equestrian edge with this leatheraccented mirror. $255; www.octoberdesigncompany.com 3. COFFEE TABLE Priced at less than $200, this table is a hands-down winner. $199; brookstone.com 4. CHECKED SOFA Saddle up for the long haul with this plush gingham pick. $2,049; ballarddesigns.com 5. BURLAP PILLOW Deck your space in its Derby best with this 18-inch-by-18-inch accent. $133; belmonthomedecor.com 6. WREATH This understated arrangement offers guests the cool scent of eucalyptus. $70; williams-sonoma.com 7. WOOD CHEST Made of reclaimed wood, this two-door media cabinet puts a halter on clutter. $640; cgsparks.com 8. TROPHY LAMP Hit a stylish stride with this black-and-brass lamp. $479; ethanallen.com 9. WINDY SKY…

BLUE CALICO Chintz dinnerware first emerged in the early 1900s, but this late bloomer didn’t hit tables until 1968. An instant classic, the English earthenware is still in production today by Burgess & Leigh. VALUE: $26 for dinner plate TOBACCO LEAF The 18th century’s most coveted china pattern, the flowering motif was first developed in China circa 1780. (The original manufacturer remains unknown.) Today, the design is made by Mottahedeh using 27 colors and 22-karat gold. VALUE: $170 for dinner plate BUTTERCUP A less cheery version of Buttercup was introduced by Spode in 1885. But it wasn’t until this sunny colorway arrived in 1924 that the happy pattern became a collector favorite. VALUE: $32 for dinner plate LADY CARLYLE Based on popular 19th-century English china patterns, this refined dinnerware was…

Porch season is in full swing! Kick back and enjoy this rockin’ celebration of outdoor rooms with a view, including a trip to the porch capital of America (page 62), a stunning New York home that embraces its equally stunning surroundings (page 66), a farmhouse with a breathtaking wraparound (page 76), and—finally!—the definitive guide to the art of porching (page 84). Sit and stay awhile. BRIGHT IDEA! Celebrate National Porching Day with Country Living on Saturday, May 21. (Night owls, take note: A full moon that evening means maximal glow!) Share your porching moments from dawn ‘til dusk at #clporchingday.…

Pasta with Sautéed Peppers, Zucchini, and Smoked Mozzarella MAKES 4 servings PREP TIME 10 minutes TOTAL TIME 30 minutes 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 tablespoon olive oil 3 small bell peppers, thinly sliced 1 small onion, thinly sliced Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 medium zucchini, cut into ½-inch-thick slices 12 ounces fettuccine or tagliatelle pasta 4 ounces smoked mozzarella, grated (about 1 cup), plus more for serving ¼ cup fresh basil, torn, plus more for serving 1. Heat butter and oil in a large skillet over mediumhigh heat. Add peppers and onion. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until almost tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Add zucchini and cook until peppers are tender and zucchini is crisptender, 4 to 6 minutes. 2. Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package…

COVER Porch design by Andrew Howard; andrewjhoward.com. Pacifica sofa; serenaandlily.com. Chatham rocker; frontgate.com. Celerie Kemble Sweet Celia tile; mirthstudio.com. Fiddle Leaf Fig fabric in sea glass; ferrickmason.com. Rajmata fabric in blue and Kashmir paisley in tea/peacock; both from peterdunhamtextiles.com. Ticking stripe blue fabric and small check sky blue fabric; both from chelseatextiles.com. Kamala pillow in Seaglass by John Robshaw; kuhl-linscomb.com. Location, The Prairie by Rachel Ashwell; theprairiebyrachelashwell.com WHAT IS IT? WHAT IS IT WORTH? PAGE 36 Pucci sunglasses; ophertyciocci.com. Bar cart; atouchofthepast.net. PAGE 38 Outdoor furniture; xaviernicod.com. PAGE 41 Badminton rackets; calloohcallay.etsy.com. Derby glasses; retrosolstice.com. THE PORCH CAPITAL OF AMERICA THROUGHOUT Plant design by Carmen Johnston; carmenjohnstongardens.com. Planters from Resource; 770-463-1105. Bicycles; peachtreebikes.com. THE LURE OF THE LAKE THROUGHOUT General contractor, Dominick Caroselli; dvcincorp.com. Architect, Randy Peacock; randallfpeacock@gmail.com. Builder, Shawn Condino; shawn.tld@gmail.com. PAGE 70 Beach Comber seagrass basket; potterybarn.com. PAGE 72 Montauk Linen Compass…