Innholdsfortegnelse for July/August 2019 i Victoria

“I walked far down the beach,” Anne Morrow Lindbergh writes in Gift from the Sea, “soothed by the rhythm of the waves, the sun on my bare back and legs, the wind and mist from the spray on my hair.” When I discovered this inimitable volume—our current Victoria Classics Book Club selection—thoughts drifted naturally to my mother, who has always sought solace along the shore. Living near the coast during my childhood, our family often slipped out on Sunday afternoons to picnic in the sand. Unfettered by distractions, we made the best memories together, and I remember keenly how at ease my parents seemed in those unhurried hours whiled away amid salt-tinged breezes. Years later, when raising my boys, I recognized that familiar glow as I watched Mother stroll the…

Trouble in paradise. How often it lurks under an aura of perfection. That year, spring’s exuberant expression rose over the top. Plentiful rain and early warmth had coaxed lilac, dogwood, jasmine, and roses all into intersecting bloom. A cool interlude followed as early summer approached, and the display held. I remember it even now because I recorded the astonishment one morning, taking coffee and a notepad outside. Birds flew every which way, and Annabelle, our little cat, seemed overwhelmed. She just sat regarding the scene from her favorite post under the birdbath. It’s too early in the season for the Yellow Baron, I thought, as I heard the faint, unmistakable drone of his fast, low-flying, brightly colored plane. The neighbors tended to shake their heads when mentioning him because he…

Towering Haystack Rock emerges from the vanishing morning mist, as seagulls tiptoe through tidal pools where brightly colored starfish stretch out their arms in the sun. As early risers stroll along the sandy strand, the Pacific Ocean curls at the edge of the shore, like lacy trim on a summer dress, and the fresh sea air is tinged with salt and the promise of a truly unforgettable day in Northwest Oregon. As tempting as it is to spend long hours drowsing in this paradise, there is much to experience beyond the beach in this charming coastal destination. Hemlock Street, Cannon Beach’s main drive, is lined with an alluring cache of boutiques, galleries, and restaurants. Sesame and Lilies’ wares comprise a marvelous mix, including bleached-wood furniture, nature-inspired artwork, and antique transfer-ware.…

When Southern contractor Price McGiffert bought an unusual, octagon-shaped house in the neighborhood where his wife, Elizabeth, had grown up, his initial plan was to remodel and sell it. But somewhere in the process, it became clear to him that this could be the perfect residence for their family of five. Convincing his spouse of that was another matter. “Though I’d loved that house all my life, I thought I was already living in my dream home,” she says, “but Price is very talented, and he could visualize its potential.” What followed was a thoughtful renovation that respected the character of the original architecture while adding more square footage and features important to the couple and their children. Since all the previous rooms were octagonal, the new rooms were as…

A gravel drive leads to The Oaks, a traditional antebellum mansion in Texas. Built in 1850 for steamboat captain Robert Hodge, the aging structure was sagging from the weight of five layers of roof when Carolyn discovered it. She could see beyond the tumble-down façade to the beauty it could be. Ignoring the peeling paint, she imagined gardens and porches and her children playing in the yard. It took a work crew a full year to make the house habitable before Carolyn could turn her attention to making it a home. She had inherited from her artist-designer mother, Charlotte, an appreciation for antiques, as well as for modern trends—and an ability for mixing the two. She also shared Charlotte’s affinity for French style, but it wasn’t until Carolyn visited Paris…

Take a closer look at some of our favorite July/August features: Plein Air Preservation Learn more about a talented trio of Florida artists who wield their paintbrushes to safeguard the distinctive character of a beloved coastal community. Her Signature Look Find inspiration among the elegantly adorned environs of interior designer and author Carolyn Westbrook, whose Texas abode mingles French style with gracious Southern charm. Bursting with Sweetness Savor summer’s freshest picks with desserts developed by the Victoria test kitchens to highlight the season’s most vibrant berries. New England Flavor Bring home a taste of Vermont’s historic Basin Harbor with the stunning lakeside resort’s prized recipe for Herbed Crab Cakes with Sweet Corn Sauce—perfect fare for a day on the water. Digital Edition Subscribe to Victoria on your favorite reading platform…

“RIPE STRAWBERRIES HUNG FROM THE LITTLE PLANTS, ROW AFTER ROW. THEY GLEAMED LIKE BAUBLES, BRIGHT AND RED AMONG THE LEAVES, WEIGHING DOWN THEIR STALKS.” —Odo Hirsch SEE RECIPE INDEX, PAGE 105, FOR RECIPE INFORMATION. Find summer-perfect berry recipes and more at victoriamag.com.…

Windowsills and balconies may not be the first image in one’s mind when visualizing a garden, but even the most urban locales can house cascading greenery and bountiful blooms. Using containers, growers can add versatility to larger beds or nurture vibrant flora on an otherwise barren surface. The first step to creating a container garden is selecting a vessel. Various shapes and sizes can be used, but keep in mind the capsule’s capacity, color, and material, among other features. Beginning gardeners may have more success using larger pots that are less likely to dry out between waterings. When choosing the pot’s material, consider where it will be located, as balconies and windowsills may have a weight limit. Also note how well the receptacle conducts heat, as high temperature fluctuation can…

“TARRAGON WITH ITS GENTLE LICORICE REMINDS US NOT TO FORGET THAT MIRACLES ARE POSSIBLE.”—N. M. Kelby “BASIL, THYME, CORIANDER, AND BROAD LEAF PARSLEY GREW IN BILLOWING CLOUDS OF GREEN; THE SMELL SO FRESH YOUR MOUTH WATERED AND YOU BEGAN TO PLAN THE NEXT MEAL.”—Ellen Herrick…

WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE Pages 13–14: Carol Rizzoli, an essayist, memoirist, and journalist, is the author of several books. To sample more of Carol’s work, visit her website at carolrizzoli.org. ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE Pages 15–16: To explore artisan Stephanie Monahan’s range of papers, craft supplies, and other wares, visit her website at monahanpapers.com. CHERISHED HEIRLOOMS Page 17: Olivia Riegel: 7 oz. Windsor Flute, $250/ set of 2, 4"x6" Kensington Frame, $95, 5"x7" Laurel Frame, $95, 8"x10" Remy Frame, $160; 866-267-6787, oliviariegel.com. Waterford: Giftology Lismore Honey 5 in. Bowl, $75; 877-720-3485, waterford.com. Wedgwood: With Love 4 in. Keepsake Box Square, $60, Vera Infinity 7.5 in. Keepsake Box Round, $75, Vera Infinity 10 in. Sentiment Tray, $85; 877-720-3486, wedgwood.com. Pages 17–18 and 20: Pandora de Balthazár Fine Linens: Italian Embroidered Square Bedcover, call for availability and pricing;…

The gifts to be found at the water’s edge are many and profound. When I was a child, I discovered that the little bubbles that occur when the waves roll back, when excavated just a bit, yield odd little eels that I would gleefully place in a sand bucket with my youthful dream of keeping them as pets. Since then, I have seen similar tiny bubbles under receding waves, but never again have they yielded such exciting live treasures. In my grown-up sojourns, I look for unusual conchs, mostly in shades of white, and prize them for their graceful beauty, even when broken. A recent trip to Florida yielded the prize of prizes: an open, pearlized conch ready-made to hold other treasures. It is a natural showcase for jewelry. The…

Dogs may have always had their days, but in Europe they didn’t always live in the lap of luxury. Granted, there is plenty of evidence that ancient civilizations and Asian cultures loved their pets, but by and large, dogs in England in the centuries before the Victorian era were sporting, hunting, or working animals. The very names of the breeds spoke to their purpose. That’s why some of the earliest were pointers, setters, retrievers—all gun dogs. Foxhounds hunted foxes, shepherds herded sheep, bulldogs baited bulls. Turnspit dogs literally turned spits in kitchens by walking inside a wheel connected to the spit (some believe that this breed was akin to the Welsh corgi). That’s not to say that pets did not exist earlier in England. It is not difficult to find…

An aromatic bouquet of rosemary, sage, tarragon, and dozens of other piquant plants mingles with the salt-tinged breeze blowing up from the Bay of Fundy. Beverly McClare carefully threads her way through the brimful rows of herbs, picking perfect specimens destined for jellies, jams, chutneys, and the other sweet and savory wares she and her team produce on this idyllic Canadian plot known as Tangled Garden. Beverly points to three pivotal experiences that ultimately led her to this beautiful place. The cut-grass scent of fresh parsley atop bowls of chowder, the mesmerizing sight of homemade tarragon vinegar in a wine bottle, and an article about herb jellies all fascinated this artist and former café owner. She wanted to start a business built around herb-infused products, and the first step was…

Visual harmony is an important consideration when selecting which plants to combine, but it is most vital that each variety in the container requires roughly the same amount of sunlight and water. • Placed in full sunlight, a combination of salvia, angelonia, pentas, variegated ivy, vinca, and dusty miller makes a splendid display of pastel hues, shown opposite, below left. • Bright and colorful and suited for the heat of summer, red kangaroo paw and yellow lantana provide a multitude of blooms easily mastered with any level of skill. • For a fall color scheme and partially sunny location, combine the berry-producing firethorn with geranium, coleus, and calibrachoa. • Herbs are a practical choice, although water-loving chives and mint should be separated from variations that prefer well-drained soil, such as…

A stone’s throw from the busy metropolis of Tampa–St. Petersburg, Indian Rocks Beach embodies the very best of “Old Florida,” a term referring to a time before Mr. Disney built his magical kingdom, an era when the coastline was dotted with brightly hued bungalows, not tall towers. The town is a close-knit community known for its generosity and kind-hearted residents, who turn off their outdoor lights so that newly hatched sea turtles can use the moon and the stars to navigate their way to the water. Nostalgic character, coupled with white-sand shores, certainly makes Indian Rocks Beach an ideal haven, but it’s the colorful cottages that distinguish these shores from newer neighbors. When developers began eyeing the area for sky-scraping condominium complexes, they didn’t expect to encounter a preservation effort…

“There’s a story to go with these,” Mom said, opening the flaps on the cardboard carton. Written on the side in my grandmother’s neat hand were the words Good Dishes. Gramma, gentle, patient, always there from my earliest memories on, was gone now. Among other mementos, I had been bequeathed this box of tableware I had never seen. Reaching for a cup carefully wrapped in newspaper, I looked eagerly to my mother. “What story? Tell me.” “Mom’s hands were busy as she talked, unwrapping the crackly, old paper and revealing a dinner plate strewn with green and brown florals painted with broad, bold brushstrokes. ” “Back in 1950, I’d gotten my very first real job working at the dime store,” she said. “It would be Mom and Dad’s anniversary soon,…