Dear Readers, At the time of this writing (December 18th to be exact), I am battling a bad cold, the tree is up with lights but no ornaments, the paper whites and amaryllis bulbs are growing at a snail’s pace and not likely to bloom for Christmas (again), and the outside of my house is […]
Sometimes there is nothing better than to dig into my stash of old magazine clippings (I know you have them too). Why? Why do we have them? Why dig into them? For inspiration and escape, I suppose (and because aren’t we all a bit frazzled this time of year?). In the 2015 issue of Veranda […]
Tis the season for wreaths. They have a long history dating back to ancient Egypt and can mean many things, like protection and honor and hope and joy. They have always symbolized the bounty and beauty of nature. For us, in these modern times, they most often say Welcome!
The amaryllis is a show-stopper. But—you’ve got to get busy if you want to have the show for the holidays. You can usually find amaryllis bulbs in kits in grocery stores and in nurseries this time of year. They are pre-frozen and ready to go. And don’t worry: they look very grand—and they are—but they […]
Around my house, I’m embracing the autumn days instead of rushing the holidays. I’m lingering on the falling leaves, the changing light, and the cool air that means sweaters and blankets and fires because this season is fleeting, unlike winter, which stays and stays. My mother decorated seasonally (it was one of her great talents […]
