Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2014 i Victoria

The arrival of crystal-clear sapphire skies and a rainbow of colorful leaves brings to mind author L. M. Montgomery’s sentiment: “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” We are celebrating autumn with a nod to my favorite harvest bounty, the versatile pumpkin, in an outdoor fireside-décor story, on page 45. You’ll find inspirational ideas for hosting a gathering with friends, surrounded by fall’s classic symbols. Arrange appetizers, cheeses, and olives; set up a drinks bar; and enjoy the evening. We rejoiced with millions of Mitford fans when we learned that Jan Karon, our friend and former Victoria Writer-in-Residence, has indeed returned to the fictional North Carolina mountain town to breathe new life into some of our favorite characters. If you love Father Tim Kavanagh; his…

For almost a decade, fans of Jan Karon’s heartwarming book series, set in the quaint town of Mitford, North Carolina, have had to be content with rereading the volumes that provide a window to the lives of an unassuming Episcopal priest and the flock he shepherds. With the publication of her latest work, the author honors the wishes of her network of devotees and satisfies their desire to know more about Father Tim Kavanagh; his supportive wife, Cynthia; and the large cast of favorite locals. The beloved saga brings us up to date with changes in the sleepy mountain village. After leaving Lord’s Chapel three years earlier, the gentle priest has returned from a trip to Ireland and is struggling to adjust to retirement. With son Dooley away at college…

TO SEE MORE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE’S LAKES REGION, GO TO VICTORIAMAG.COM…

“To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment.” —JANE AUSTEN…

The expansive work space just beyond the entrance to Peacock Alley Design Studio in Dallas, Texas, may seem like neutral territory. But step farther into this stylish haven—brimming with sumptuous textiles ranging from whisper-soft alabaster hues to earthy grays and browns—and realization dawns. This is a state of grace. Peacock Alley founder Mary Ella Gabler achieved success in the 1960s as one of the first female stockbrokers on Wall Street, but the mother of two aspired to work from home. An entrepreneur at heart, she started making decorative pillows at her kitchen table. Within a few years, thanks to her business acumen and an innate sense of fashion, this modest sewing endeavor blossomed into a full array of bedding for the department store Neiman Marcus. Mary Ella developed an eager…

ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE Pages 7 and 33: To view and purchase Carrie Di Costanzo’s prints and original artwork, visit carriedicostanzo.com, or call 732-627-9801. A RETURN TO MITFORD Page 13: For more information on Jan Karon and her latest book, Somewhere Safe With Somebody Good, visit mitfordbooks.com. WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE Pages 15–16: To learn more about Rebecca Rego Barry and her work, visit rebeccaregobarry.com. HOME COMFORTS Pages 17–18: Montes Doggett Effortless Small Bowl, $17.50, and Pedestal Bowl, $86; 866-834-9857, montesdoggett.com. Sir/Madam Apron in Emerald, $88; 718-797-5750, sirmadam.com for retailers. The Blaithin Blair Shop 24" Fall Harvest Wreath, $139.95; theblaithinblairshop.etsy.com. B&W Woolery Wenslydale Handspun Yarn in Pumpkin, $31.62, Blue Faced Leicester Hand-spun Yarn in Lilac, $30, Suri Alpaca, Romney and Silk Hand-spun Yarn in Autumn Morning and Rocket Girl, $25; bwwoolery@outlook.com, bwwoolery.etsy.com. CrochetObjet Cotton Yarns Plum,…

“The Making of Gone with the Wind is the largest and most comprehensive exhibit on the classic film ever mounted. The details can be exhausting, but for GWTW enthusiasts, the objects and the stories they tell are riveting and contextualize the movie’s controversial history and legacy.” This year marks the seventy-fifth anniversary of one of my favorite films, Gone with the Wind. Like several other movies released in 1939, it exemplified Hollywood’s Golden Age. GWTW became the highest-grossing motion picture for a quarter of a century. Nominated for thirteen Academy Awards and winner of ten, it, of course, also earned the adoration of fans everywhere. But making the film was no easy feat. It took producer David O. Selznick three long years to adapt Margaret Mitchell’s best-selling novel, first published…

"Then summer fades and passes, and October comes. We’ll smell smoke then, and feel an unexpected sharpness, a thrill of nervousness, swift elation, a sense of sadness and departure.” —THOMAS WOLFE…

Once an iconic financial institution in the heart of Belfast, Ireland, The Merchant Hotel entices guests to discover riches of a different sort— its sumptuously appointed rooms and suites offering the ultimate in grandeur. The dignified sandstone exterior of the former Ulster Bank headquarters has mellowed with the brushstrokes of time, blending shades of umber, ocher, and russet with hints of moss green in its marbled patina. The exquisite architectural details of this Victorian-era building, along with the central location, convinced a prestigious Irish concern, the Beannchor Group, to transform the property. Painstakingly carved accents can be found throughout the main floor. Corinthian columns surround a central dome highlighted with a shimmering 16-foot crystal chandelier created exclusively for the rotunda by a master of the ornamental art. Within the elegant…

See Recipe Index, page 89, for recipe information.…

I have experienced many wonderful autumns in my life, and October has always been my favorite month. Every year, I treat myself to a quiet drive up the canyons of Utah’s Wasatch Mountains. I park off the road and go for a walk in the forest, taking in all the vibrantly colored foliage and the crisp, clean air around me. Utah has some of the most gorgeous terrain in the country, and in the fall, you can witness literally every shade of red, orange, and yellow. My best childhood memories include having picnics during this season. Dad would drive us up into the canyons with a basket of chicken and a thermos of hot coffee. We would hike to his favorite spot and stay there until the sun went down.…

Autumn burned brightly, a running flame through the mountains, a torch flung to the trees”. —FAITH BALDWIN…

“ OUR ARTISANS AND CHEFS EMBODY THE WISDOM OF GENERATIONS OF HOME COOKS WHO WORKED WITH WHAT THE MOUNTAINS, FIELDS, AND STREAMS GAVE THEM.” —Sam Beall VISIT VICTORIAMAG.COM TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BLACKBERRY FARM Following September’s equinox, October afternoons are suffused with a slant of light more gentle in its illumination, tinting skies a deeper azure and foliage a rich, mature green that gradually gives way to dramatic shades of rust and gold. At Blackberry Farm in Walland, Tennessee, it is a time when the fields’ autumnal offerings are supplemented by the land’s generosity. “There’s a collision between summer and fall, and I think everyone in the South loves the change,” says garden manager Jeff Ross. “The days are shorter, and the sun is not quite as intense. We can…

VISIT VICTORIAMAG.COM FOR SILVER-POLISHING TIPS AND TECHNIQUES “ SLOWLY, SILENTLY, NOW THE MOON WALKS THE NIGHT IN HER SILVER SHOON; THIS WAY, AND THAT, SHE PEERS, AND SEES SILVER FRUIT UPON SILVER TREES … .” —Walter de la Mare From an early age, Nan Teninbaum has been enthralled by the lustrous allure of silver. Although many owners use their pieces only to grace tables for special occasions and festive holidays, she determined long ago that in her home, these argent objects would be used to make every affair memorable. “I look at silver as artwork created by a master craftsman,” she says. “They make the die, pour the molten metal in, and art emerges. It makes me happy just to look at it. I admire things that are very detailed…

When Carol Pyykkonen was a child, she watched with fascination the simple movements of a knitting needle hooking and gliding among colorful threads in a lively dance of dexterity. The beauty produced from the intertwined hues seemed enchanting—like a butterfly emerging from a chrysalis—an impression that persisted as she learned to knit, often incorporating beads into her patterns for added flair. Young Carol guided metal and yarn in intricate formations to create works as artful as if she had applied paintbrush to canvas. “TAKE YOUR NEEDLE, MY CHILD, AND WORK AT YOUR PATTERN; IT WILL COME OUT A ROSE BY AND BY. LIFE IS LIKE THAT—ONE STITCH AT A TIME TAKEN PATIENTLY AND THE PATTERN WILL COME OUT ALL RIGHT LIKE THE EMBROIDERY.” —Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. When a car…

A BOUNTIFUL HARVEST REPAST Begins on page 33 Caramelized-Red-Onion Dip p.33 Makes 3 cups 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons butter 1 large red onion, chopped 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened ¼ cup mayonnaise 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives 1 tablespoon chopped shallot 1 tablespoon hot sauce 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 (16-ounce) container fresh ricotta cheese 6 slices pancetta, cooked and crumbled Garnish: fresh chopped chives and thyme Sweet-potato chips 1. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, heat olive oil. Add butter, and heat until melted. Add onion, and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 15 minutes, or until tender and lightly browned. Remove from heat, and let cool completely. 2. In the work…

On bright mornings, when the stained-glass window splashed a sparkling palette on the parlor floor, we sisters piled on the couch to peer through its red, blue, and green panes. Via that rectangular portal to the world, nothing appeared ordinary. It transformed our home, too, from an old Victorian in need of countless repairs to a beautiful work in progress. My father presented the window to Mama shortly after they bought the house, and she warned us to play very cautiously when we were near it. I was brought up to think of books in much the same manner as that window. My parents revered them. Reading to us from the ends of our beds each night, my mother touched the book covers and pages with all the tenderness worthy…